title: Armed Robbery of Marijuana Stash House in Oklahoma City Lands Four Men in Federal Prison for 25 Years Collectively

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – WILLIAM LEWIS DANIELS , 26, of Texas, has been sentenced to serve 96 months in federal prison for interference with commerce by robbery, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and being a drug user in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On July 31, 2024, Daniels was charged by Superseding Information with interference with commerce by robbery, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and being a drug user in possession of a firearm. According to public record, on February 8, 2024, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD) responded to a reported armed robbery at a metro home. Victims in the home told authorities that three men, later identified as Daniels and codefendants JORDON ISAIH WATSON , 26, and KELDON SHERROD WILLIAMS , 27, both of Texas, entered the home and ordered the victims onto the floor where their hands were restrained with zip-ties. The victims told police that one of the defendants, later identified as Daniels, had a firearm and held them at gunpoint. The defendants then ransacked the house and stole more than $36,000 in cash, more than 600 pounds of marijuana stuffed into trash bags, and other items. OCPD officers quickly determined the residence was a black-market marijuana stash house. Security footage from an adjacent property showed four vehicles leaving the stash house after the robbery, including a getaway car driven by codefendant BRANDON MICHAEL NORMAN , 26, of Florida, and a car that Daniels stole from the victims. The stolen car was later located by OCPD officers in a nearby business parking lot, where the perpetrators met and swapped out vehicles. Authorities pulled over two of the suspect vehicles shortly thereafter without incident, and arrested Watson, Williams, and Norman. Daniels, however, led authorities on a high-speed chase in his personal vehicle down Interstate 235 during rush hour traffic, wrecked his vehicle, and fled briefly on foot before he was arrested. Between the three vehicles, OCPD recovered 690 pounds of marijuana, $40,710.00 in cash, and one firearm. On August 7, 2024, Daniels pleaded guilty to the Superseding Information, and admitted he took cash and marijuana from the victims, possessed marijuana which he intended to distribute to others, and possessed a firearm despite knowing he was an unlawful user of a controlled dangerous substance. At the sentencing hearing on May 1, 2025, U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Jones sentenced Daniels to serve 96 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Jones noted the serious and violent nature of the offenses, the need to protect the public, and the need to adequately deter others from engaging in similar criminal conduct which endangers the community. Watson, Williams, and Norman have each been sentenced after pleading guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, with Watson sentenced to serve 96 months, Williams sentenced to serve 60 months, and Norman sentenced to serve 48 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for each defendant. This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew E. Davis prosecuted the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Defendant Convicted of Armed Robbery at a Brooklyn Convenience Store

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, a federal jury convicted Michael Rutledge on all counts of a superseding indictment charging him with Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy, Hobbs Act robbery, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The charges arose from a robbery committed at gunpoint by Rutledge and two co-conspirators on February 10, 2023. The verdict followed a five-day trial before United States District Judge Frederic Block. When sentenced, Rutledge faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, New York Field Office (ATF); and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the verdict. “Rutledge and his co-conspirators meticulously planned a violent robbery in a neighborhood convenience store in Clinton Hill, during which a customer was brutally pistol-whipped and shot, and a hard-working store clerk was held at knifepoint while thieves lined their pockets with thousands of dollars in cash,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Thanks to exceptional investigative work by the ATF and the NYPD, the defendant was identified, apprehended, and rightly convicted today.” This conviction is a testament to the strength of New York City’s law enforcement partnerships and our shared commitment to protecting the public from violent gun crime,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Miller. “The brazen and violent acts committed in this case are unacceptable. Thanks to the tireless work of the ATF/NYPD SPARTA Group (Strategic Pattern Armed Robbery Technical Apprehension), NYPD 88th Precinct Detective Squad and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District, this defendant has been held accountable and will face the consequences of his actions. We will remain relentless in our efforts to identify, investigate, and stop those who use illegal firearms to terrorize people in our communities.” “Michael Rutledge didn’t just act as a getaway driver—he aided and abetted violent criminals who held a store clerk at knifepoint, stole thousands of dollars from his business, and shot an unassuming victim in a targeted attack,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “Today’s guilty verdict holds him accountable for his role in this senseless violence and his attempt to evade justice. We remain committed to working with all of our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who threaten the safety of our communities face the full consequences of their actions.” As proven at trial, Rutledge drove co-defendant Angel Gomez and their other co-conspirator (Co-Conspirator) from the Bronx to Brooklyn’s Clinton Hill neighborhood to execute their plan to rob a convenience store on Myrtle Avenue. Rutledge parked their vehicle while Gomez and Co-Conspirator walked to the store. Inside, Gomez displayed a gun and Co-Conspirator pulled out a knife, menacing the store worker. Co-Conspirator then rifled through two cash registers, removing more than $4,000 in cash. Meanwhile, Gomez pointed his gun at a customer, struck the customer in the head repeatedly with the gun, and shot him in the hip. The robbery duo fled back to the meet-up location where Rutledge was waiting to drive them away. Rutledge was apprehended on June 21, 2023 after law enforcement executed a search warrant at an address in the Bronx where he was staying and where he fled after completing the robbery. They recovered the clothing he wore on the night of the robbery. On February 12, 2025, Gomez pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Gomez is awaiting sentencing. Co-Conspirator remains at large. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorneys James R. Simmons and Vincent M. Chiappini are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Matias Burdman and Criminal Investigations Unit Intelligence Research Specialist Ashley Hinkson. The Defendant : MICHAEL RUTLEDGE Age: 45 Bronx, New York Defendant Who Previously Pleaded Guilty: ANGEL GOMEZ Age: 45 Bronx, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-269 (S-1) (FB)


title: Franklinton Mail Contractor Guilty of Forged Check Scam and Theft of U.S. Mail

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that RACHEL WATTS SANDERS (“SANDERS”) , age 40, of Loranger, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on May 8, 2025 to wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, and mail theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1708. According to court documents, SANDERS admitted stealing over forty (40) checks from the U.S. mail, forging endorsements on the stolen checks, and then depositing the checks into her own bank account. SANDERS faces a maximum penalty of twenty (20) years of imprisonment, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 for wire fraud; and a maximum penalty of five (5) years of imprisonment, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.00 for the theft of mail. SANDERS also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count. The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Christine Calogero and Duane A. Evans of the General Crimes Unit are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Federal Prosecutors Charge 34 Defendants This Week with Being Illegal Aliens Found in the United States Following Removal

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – Working alongside law enforcement partners at United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, federal prosecutors filed criminal charges against 34 defendants this week who allegedly were found in the U.S. following removal, the Justice Department announced today. Many of the defendants charged were previously convicted of felonies before they were removed from the United States. The crime of being found in the United States following removal carries a base sentence of up to two years in federal prison. Defendants who were removed after being convicted of a felony face a maximum 10-year prison sentence and defendants removed after being convicted of an aggravated felony face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. Some of the recently filed cases are summarized below: Jesús Aguilar García, 34, of Mexico, is charged via a federal criminal complaint with being an illegal alien found in the United States after removal. Aguilar, who was removed from the U.S. in 2008 and again in 2011, has a state conviction for unlawful intercourse by a person over 21 with a person under 16 in 2023, for which he was sentenced to two years’ probation. He also has prior state convictions for felon in possession of a firearm in 2021, carrying a concealed weapon with a criminal street gang allegation in 2010, and possession of a controlled substance for sale in 2010, each of which received sentences of 16 months’ imprisonment. Finally, he has a 2013 federal conviction for 1326 for which he received a sentence of 30 months’ imprisonment. Assistant United States Attorney John A. Balla of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating these matters. A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Ohio Man Charged with Threatening State Public Officials

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: A New Albany, Ohio, man has been charged with federal crimes related to sending at least 65 letters and emails to 34 victims, including state public officials, a local TV station and law enforcement, threatening to kill Ohio public officials. Many of the letters included a white powder and one letter included a bullet etched with the victim’s last name. Ronald Lidderdale, 39, appeared in federal court in Columbus this afternoon. He is charged with making interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure, mailing threatening communications, false information and hoaxes, and cyberstalking. According to charging documents, Lidderdale allegedly sent the threatening communications to publicly elected officials holding statewide office in Ohio, elected officials holding office in the federal government, and individuals involved in Ohio politics. It is alleged that Lidderdale sent at least 49 letters containing suspicious white powders, which at times the sender claimed to be Ricin. To date, 29 victims received the white powder letters. One letter contained a 9mm bullet with the last name of the public official etched on it. For example, between July and early August 2024, it is alleged that Lidderdale sent a dozen threatening letters via the mail in five different mailings. The return labels on the letters contained mailing information for individuals who were either currently or previously employed by the targeted public official. Lidderdale allegedly threatened violence against the letter recipients in each of the letters, including language like, “I will kill you for your ignorant loyalty to your pedophilic party” and “I will kill you for the good of The People. Your death will come when you least expect it.” Last week, Lidderdale allegedly sent letters to eight victims containing a hitlist of eight individuals he said he would kill in the month of May. Court documents allege that Lidderdale sent a letter to a local TV station and emails to federal and local law enforcement outlining his plans. It is further alleged that Lidderdale sent threatening emails to public officials stating, “Each [victim] will receive the gift of their names etched onto a single bullet. Their skull is the target the bullet is the gift.” On May 8, Lidderdale allegedly told FBI agents that he had sent the letters and emails with the intent to incite fear, including the fear of bodily injury, and to make threats with the goal of changing behavior. Mailing threatening communications carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Making interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure, mailing threatening communications, conveying false information and hoaxes, and cyberstalking are all federal crimes punishable by up to five years in prison. Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris for the Southern District of Ohio; Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office; and Inspector in Charge Lesley Allison of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); as well as the U.S. Capitol Police, Ohio State Highway Patrol and several Ohio police departments announced the charges filed today. Deputy Criminal Chief Brian J. Martinez and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Damoun Delaviz and Jessica W. Knight for the Southern District of Ohio, and Trial Attorney James Donnelly of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are representing the United States in this case. A criminal complaint merely contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Drug Conspiracy and Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Jesus Alejandro Bojorquez-Moreno, 37, of Mexico, was sentenced on May 6, 2025, by United States District Court Judge Angela M. Martinez to 120 months in prison. Bojorquez-Moreno previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin and Fentanyl, Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, and Reentry of a Removed Alien. Between June and September of 2022, Bojorquez-Moreno set up five separate deals involving distribution-sized amounts of heroin and fentanyl with undercover federal agents. Bojorquez-Moreno negotiated the amounts and prices of the drugs and directed other members of the conspiracy to deliver the drugs to locations in Tucson and Indianapolis, Indiana. Agents seized a total of 10 kilograms of heroin and 100,000 fentanyl pills before Bojorquez-Moreno stopped communicating with the undercover agents. On June 3, 2023, Bojorquez-Moreno was arrested by United States Border Patrol agents near Douglas, Arizona, for illegally reentering the United States. He had previously been deported in 2019 and had not received legal authorization to return to the United States. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The Drug Enforcement Administration and United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR 23-00922-TUC-AMM, CR 23-01558-TUC-AMM RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-075_Bojorquez-Moreno # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Foreign National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Entry Into the United States

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Lordson Mboko Mavungu, 23, a citizen of the Democratic Republic of Congo, pleaded guilty to a criminal complaint charging him with illegally entering the United States at a time or place other than designated for entering the country by immigration authorities. According to court records, on May 3, 2025, at approximately 2:00 a.m., the Royal Canadian Mounted Police notified U.S. Border Patrol of two individuals with a small child that were about to cross the international border from Canada into the U.S. in the area of Guay Farm Rd in Troy, VT. U.S. Border Patrol agents drove down Guay Farm Rd and observed the individuals matching the description they had received. The three subjects were encountered shortly after crossing the border. The Border Patrol agents conducted an immigration inspection. Mavungu presented a Democratic Republic of Congo identification card. The agents determined that Mavungu had unlawfully entered the U.S. from Canada, and the agents placed Mavungu under arrest. Mavungu had his initial court appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle on May 5, 2025, where Mavungu pleaded not guilty and was ordered detained. On May 8, 2025, before Judge Doyle, Mavungu pleaded guilty and received a time-served sentence. Mavungu had faced up to 6 months’ imprisonment. Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Gilman. Mavungu is represented by Lisa B. Shelkrot, Esq. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: KC Man Sentenced to Three Years for ‘Swatting’ Phone Call That Targeted IRS Employee, Led to Lockdown

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court on Wednesday, May 7, to making a hoax telephone call that led to an IRS employee being detained and the IRS office on Pershing Road being locked down. Anthony M. Alford, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Stephen R. Bough to three years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Alford to serve supervised release for three years following his incarceration. On Sept. 10, 2024, Alford placed a hoax telephone call to 911 in Kansas City, Missouri, claiming falsely that an individual identified in court documents as “Victim One” was armed with a firearm and was threatening to shoot up the Internal Revenue Service Building at 333 W. Pershing Road in Kansas City, Missouri. Victim One is an employee of the IRS. Kansas City police officers were dispatched to the building, where they contacted IRS security and Federal Protective Service officers. Victim One had been detained and searched for weapons based on the 911 call. Following the 911 call, the B-Wing of the IRS building was locked down. The IRS announced that there was an active shooter in the building and told those in the B-Wing to stay locked down. Victim One, though, was unarmed and had no intent to harm anyone. Victim One told investigators she had been dating Alford for about a month and was trying to break up with him. Alford had never been violent, she said, but had exhibited controlling, possessive, and jealous behavior. Alford had repeatedly called and messaged her the previous night, she said, and earlier that morning sent her messages threatening to involve the police. Alford messaged Victim One saying he was “[o] n the phone with IRS police have fun when you get there ” and later he said “ … just wait until you get to work .” Alford was arrested on Sept. 25, 2024. Alford told investigators that Victim One did not threaten to shoot up the IRS Building, as he had said in the 911 call. He said he had been drinking alcohol and was upset when he made the false 911 call. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean T. Foley. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Service, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.


title: Former D.C.-Area Attorney Charged with Tax Crimes and Making False Statements to Federal Authorities

component: Tax Division

body_text: An indictment was unsealed today charging an attorney with evading taxes on approximately $1 million of income, as well as filing false tax returns and making false statements to federal authorities. Richard Graham Foote O’Donoghue previously lived in Washington, D.C., but currently lives in the United Kingdom. He was arrested on entering the United States on May 9, based on the criminal charges. The following is according to the indictment: from 2012 through 2015, O’Donoghue made substantial income first as an independent contractor for several non-U.S. businesses, including a defense contractor based out of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and then as CEO of that contractor. While he was CEO, O’Donoghue also allegedly received significant bonuses and benefits including a car and driver and a rented luxury villa for his family. According to the indictment, O’Donoghue did not timely file tax returns for tax years 2012 through 2014. In 2016, however, O’Donoghue hired a return preparer to prepare tax returns for 2012 through tax year 2015. O’Donoghue allegedly provided false information to his return preparer about his employment and income. For example, O’Donoghue allegedly told the return preparer that he was the general manager of the company, not the CEO, and concealed his bonuses and the expenses the company paid on his behalf. These lies allegedly caused the return preparer to prepare and file false tax returns for those years that underreported his income by approximately $1 million. Because O’Donoghue had previously made estimated payments, his false returns allegedly requested refunds from the IRS of more than $247,000 — much of which the IRS paid out. The indictment further alleges that in February 2023, O’Donoghue made false statements about his income and other matters to law enforcement agents and Department of Justice prosecutors. If convicted, O’Donoghue faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each tax evasion count, a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of subscribing to a false tax return, and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the false statements count. O’Donoghue also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. for the District of Columbia made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation and the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction are investigating the case, with assistance from His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs of the United Kingdom. Assistance was also provided by the Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5), which brings together the taxing authorities of Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Assistant Chief Sarah Ranney and Trial Attorney Ezra Spiro of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: 3 Illegal Aliens from Europe Plead Guilty to Federal Charges Related to Fraudulent Withdrawal of Benefits Intended for Low-Income People

body_text: LOS ANGELES – Three illegal aliens from Europe pleaded guilty today to using information from “skimmed” electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to clone counterfeit cards and steal funds that the State of California had disbursed to low-income individuals. Each of these defendants separately pleaded guilty today to one count of unauthorized use of access devices, a felony that carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison: Ionut Calciu, 31, of Romania; Florian Serban, 51, of Romania; and Mohamed Hichem El Mabrouk, 35, of France. The defendants were arrested as part of a multi-agency law enforcement operation targeting the theft of EBT funds in California. All three defendants have been in federal custody since February 2. During the operation in early February 2025, approximately 70 law enforcement officers began monitoring ATM locations across the Los Angeles area to identify individuals who were making multiple cash withdrawals with cards encoded with information that had been stolen from cards used by the California Department of Social Services (DSS) to provide CalFresh and CalWORKs benefits to qualified recipients. Authorities made arrests after determining that the suspects making withdrawals at the ATMs were not entitled to access funds that had been deposited into accounts belonging to legitimate EBT beneficiaries. Calciu admitted in his plea agreement to withdrawing from ATMs at least $31,000 from EBT bank accounts on February 2 without the account holders’ authorization and with intent to defraud two banks of funds within their custody and control. United States District Judge Cynthia Valenzuela scheduled an August 29 sentencing hearing for Calciu. Serban acted as the driver and lookout while Calciu made and attempted to make illegal ATM withdrawals of EBT funds. United States District Judge Cynthia Valenzuela scheduled an August 29 sentencing hearing for Serban. El Mabrouk on February 1 illegally withdrew from ATMs $25,480 from EBT bank accounts and, the next day, illegally withdrew an additional $2,420 from EBT bank accounts. El Mabrouk and a co-conspirator jointly possessed at least 32 fraudulently encoded EBT cards. United States District Judge Michelle Williams Court scheduled a September 5 sentencing for El Mabrouk. DSS detected more than $126.8 million stolen from victim EBT cards in 2024, according to court documents. This fraud has targeted CalWORKs and CalFresh (previously known as “food stamps”), both of which are intended to help low-income individuals purchase food and provide for basic needs. The investigation has revealed that the fraudulent withdrawal of these benefits is done with “cloned” cards, which are debit cards, gift cards or other devices with magnetic strips that have been encoded with information from legitimate EBT cards. Law enforcement believes at least some of those involved in the fraudulent withdrawals also possessed “skimming” devices that could be used to record personal identification information from victims. Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) El Camino Real Task Force, which includes special agents with HSI and the United States Secret Service, as well as officers with the Los Angeles Police Department, is conducting the investigations in this matter. A number of law enforcement agencies provided significant support during the early February 2025 operation, including the California Department of Social Services; the United States Marshals Service; the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office; the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; the Hermosa Beach Police Department; the Baldwin Park Police Department; the Culver City Police Department; the El Monte Police Department; the Inglewood Police Department; the Orange County District Attorney’s Office; and the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General. Special Assistant United States Attorney Yervant P. Hagopian of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting Calciu and Serban. Special Assistant United States Attorney Robert Quealy of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting El Mabrouk.


title: Monongalia County Woman Sentenced for Drug Charges

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Stephanie Ann Allen, 34, West Virginia, was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, officers observed Allen engaged in suspicious activity while in a parking lot in Morgantown. A search of her vehicle resulted in the seizure of 73 grams of methamphetamine and 7 grams of fentanyl. Allen has a criminal history that includes burglary, robbery, and drug possession. Allen will serve three years of supervised release following her sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda Wesley prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.


title: Grayson County felon sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for gun violation

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

body_text: PLANO, Texas – A Sherman convicted felon has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. Mouaidad Mohamad, 30, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on May 9, 2025. According to information presented in court, on August 5, 2022, law enforcement officers responded to a report of shots fired in Sherman. They discovered that Mohamad had fired two shots from the window of a vehicle before forcing his girlfriend to drive away from the scene. Mohamad was located later in the day in the same vehicle and taken into custody. Further investigation revealed Mohamad to be a convicted felon having several state felony convictions including robbery and burglary of a habitation. As a convicted felon, Mohamad is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Sherman Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William R. Tatum. ###


title: Laurel man sentenced to 3 years in prison for possessing stolen firearm after breaking into law enforcement vehicles

body_text: BILLINGS – A Laurel man who broke into law enforcement vehicles and possessed a stolen firearm was sentenced today to 36 months in prison to be followed by3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Jacob Charles Berger, 28, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to possession of a stolen firearm. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that beginning on March 5, 2024, and continuing until March 15, 2024, an unknown male vandalized five different law enforcement vehicles. The suspect stole multiple items from inside the vehicles, including medical kits; body armor; and, on one occasion, a 12-gauge shotgun and ammunition. The Billings Police Department began investigating the thefts. Law enforcement officers obtained home surveillance footage from one of the thefts which showed the suspect was wearing black “skater” shoes and was riding a black and red bicycle with skinny tires. The bicycle appeared to have been wrapped in black electrical tape. Investigators recovered the bicycle on March 15, and processed it for fingerprints. Three latent fingerprints on the bicycle were identified as Berger’s. On March 20, 2024, law enforcement arrested Berger on an unrelated warrant. He admitted to breaking into police vehicles and taking body armor, medical supplies, and a shotgun. Investigators searched Berger’s garage and seized the shotgun, as well as eight other firearms that had been reported stolen between July 2023 and March 2024. They also located the medical kits and body armor Berger stole from the police vehicles. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Yerger prosecuted the case, and the investigation was conducted by the ATF and Billings Police Department. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . XXX


title: Southern District charges over 300 individuals in border security-related cases this week

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A total of 300 cases have been filed charging 302 people from May 2-8 in continuing efforts to secure the southern border, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. As part of the cases, 93 face allegations of illegally reentering the country. The majority have prior felony convictions for narcotics, prior immigration crimes and more. A total of 193 people face charges of illegally entering the country, while 11 cases allege various instances of human smuggling with the remainder involving other immigration-related crimes. Those charged by criminal complaint include two convicted felons authorities had allegedly discovered illegally in the country near Roma. Milton Elias Lara-Lara and Alejandro Tamayo-Velazquez have convictions related to fentanyl and marijuana, respectively, and had previously been removed from the United States, according to their charges. Two more charged this week for unlawfully returning to the United States are Marco Antonio Rangel-Hernandez and Jose Guadalupe Valero-Lavanzate. The charges against them allege both are Mexican nationals who had previously served sentences for illegal reentry. As part of the ongoing efforts, others have also admitted they failed to register and be fingerprinted. One of those was Elver Emmanual Ollervidez-Tapia. He admitted he had previously waded across the Rio Grande River and illegally entered the country. Upon arrival, he failed to register and be fingerprinted as required by law. He was charged with that crime and for illegally entering the country and has pleaded guilty. In addition to the new cases, a five-time DUI illegal alien offender was ordered to federal prison for 70 months. In imposing the term of imprisonment, the court considered the dangerousness of Isidor Lagunas-Estrada’s crimes, his lack of respect for the law and need for deterrence. Lagunas-Estrada was removed from the United States in 2020 following his fourth DUI conviction. The investigation revealed he illegally reentered again and was found in the United States in October 2022 when he was arrested and later convicted for his fifth DUI. Also announced was an illegal alien who had allegedly attempted to export stolen vehicles for the cartel. Authorities found Angel David Salas-Herrera in a stolen jeep Gladiator, according to the charges. A search allegedly resulted in the discovery of multiple key fobs and a device utilized to program them. The charges allege the Gladiator was intended to be exported to Mexico for the Gulf Cartel. Law enforcement was also able to recover two additional stolen vehicles that were allegedly intended for the same purpose. If convicted, Salas-Herrera faces up to 10 years in federal prison. In Brownsville, an armed repeat illegal alien admitted to human smuggling and firearms charges. The investigation revealed Alejandro Ramirez-Carranza was a river guide and had conspired with Issac Azuara-Vasquez to transport and smuggle illegal aliens in the bed of a truck after they illegally arrived from Mexico via boat on the Rio Grande River. Ramirez-Carranza, Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, admitted to transporting and bringing an alien into the United States as well as illegal reentry and being an alien in possession of a firearm. Mexican citizen Azuara-Vasquez entered his plea April 10 to the same smuggling-related charges as well as selling a firearm to Ramirez-Carranza, an illegal alien. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood . Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX). Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. The SDTX remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: New Albany man charged with threatening public officials

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A New Albany man has been charged with federal crimes related to sending at least 65 threatening letters and electronic communications to approximately 34 victims, including public officials, a local TV station and law enforcement. Many of the letters included a white powder and one letter included a bullet etched with the victim’s last name. “Perpetrators who violate federal law by sending such serious threats in the mail or online will not remain anonymous. Actual or threatened political violence in any form must be condemned,” said Acting United States Attorney Kelly A. Norris. “We will work with our law enforcement partners to identify these bad actors and prosecute them.” “Targeting public officials with threatening messages and substances is a serious federal crime that won’t go unpunished,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola. “FBI agents have worked closely with our local, state, and federal partners to investigate these incidents and arrest the suspected offender.” Ronald Lidderdale, 39, appeared in federal court in Columbus this afternoon. He is charged with making interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure, mailing threatening communications, false information and hoaxes, and cyberstalking. According to charging documents, Lidderdale allegedly sent the threatening communications to publicly elected officials holding statewide office in Ohio, elected officials holding office in the federal government, and individuals involved in Ohio politics. It is alleged that Lidderdale sent at least 49 letters containing suspicious white powders, which at times the sender claimed to be Ricin. To date, 29 victims received the white powder letters. One letter contained a 9mm bullet with the last name of the public official etched on it. For example, between July and early August 2024, it is alleged that Lidderdale sent a dozen threatening letters via the mail in five different mailings. The return labels on the letters contained mailing information for individuals who were either currently or previously employed by the targeted public official. In the letters, Lidderdale allegedly threatened violence against the letter recipients, including language like, “I will kill you for your ignorant loyalty to your pedophilic party” and “I will kill you for the good of The People. Your death will come when you least expect it.” Last week, Lidderdale allegedly sent letters to eight victims containing a hitlist of eight individuals he said he would kill in the month of May. Court documents allege that Lidderdale sent a letter to a local TV station and emails to federal and local law enforcement outlining his plans. It is further alleged that Lidderdale sent threatening emails to public officials stating, “Each [victim] will receive the gift of their names etched onto a single bullet. Their skull is the target the bullet is the gift.” On May 8, Lidderdale allegedly told FBI agents that he had sent the letters and emails with the intent to incite fear, including the fear of bodily injury, and to make threats with the goal of changing behavior. Mailing threatening communications carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Making interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure, conveying false information and hoaxes, and cyberstalking are all federal crimes punishable by up to five years in prison. Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); as well as the U.S. Capitol Police, Ohio State Highway Patrol and several Ohio police departments; announced the charges filed today. Deputy Criminal Chief Brian J. Martinez and Assistant United States Attorneys Damoun Delaviz and Jessica W. Knight, National Security Division Counterterrorism Section Trial Attorney James Donnelly and Trial Attorney Aaron L. Jennen of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section are representing the United States in this case. A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Round Rock Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking and Unlicensed Dealing of Firearms

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A Round Rock man pleaded guilty in a federal court in San Antonio today to one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms and one count of dealing in firearms without a license. According to court documents, Job Eliezer De La Torre, 50, was engaged in the business of dealing in firearms without a license from Jan. 1, 2020 to Nov. 1, 2023. During that time, he purchased approximately 356 firearms for resale, approximately 24 of which were recovered by law enforcement. Approximately 12 of those 24 were recovered in Mexico. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives executed a search warrant on De La Torre’s Round Rock residence on Nov. 2, 2023, seizing his cell phone, 44 firearms, more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, ledgers of sales for firearms, $26,000 in cash, as well as precious metals. De La Torre stated he advertised guns for sale online and made between $20 and $200 in profit per firearm sold. Messages on his phone reflected his business dealings. From May to September 2023 alone, De La Torre sold approximately 50 firearms for $196,850 to one co-conspirator. The deal included AR-15 5.56 caliber firearms, six AR-10 .308 caliber firearms, an AK pistol, an FN SCAR 17S rifle, and FightLite MCR builds. De La Torre faces up to 15 years in federal prison for the conspiracy offense and up to five years for dealing in firearms without a license. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The ATF and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Calve 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 (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). ###


title: Florida man pleads guilty to defrauding bettors through gambling websites

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Florida man pled guilty today to wire fraud in connection with his online betting scheme. According to court documents, Phillip James Krnyaich, 43, of Clermont, is a professional gambler who operated as a “bookie,” using WAGERHUB888.COM and other websites to manage his customers’ bets. Krnyaich purchased “sales leads” spreadsheets from an entity named “CapperTek” that contained the names and contact information for thousands of individuals Krnyaich contacted to advertise his gambling business. From April 2020 through April 2023, Krnyaich sought out individuals interested in online gambling, managed their bets, and then, on numerous occasions, failed to pay them after they attempted to withdraw their funds. When those individuals sought return of their funds, Krnyaich, using aliases and multiple email addresses, provided false reasons for failing to pay. In some cases, Krnyaich consistently solicited additional money under the false pretense that providing additional funds would allow him to return bettors’ previously provided funds. Krnyaich used bettor funds to make personal purchases. In total, Krnyaich fraudulently obtained over $550,000 in connection with his various gambling websites. Krnyaich is scheduled to be sentenced on July 29 and faces up to 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Sean Ryan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Ray is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-57.


title: Justice Department and City of Albuquerque Seek Termination of Consent Decree Covering the Albuquerque Police Department

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Note: View joint motion here. The Justice Department and the City of Albuquerque filed a joint motion today seeking U.S. District Court approval to terminate the federal consent decree covering the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) since 2015. The joint motion follows a long record of findings that APD has maintained full compliance with the decree. “This consent decree has run its course successfully,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We are proud to stand by the men and women of the Albuquerque Police Department and ask the court to terminate this consent decree. Albuquerque Police operates constitutionally. It is now appropriate to end federal oversight and return full control of local law enforcement to the city.” “The Albuquerque Police Department has made meaningful progress toward constitutional policing and a culture of accountability,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison for the District of New Mexico. “This progress builds on nearly a decade of hard work and partnership with the community, laying a strong foundation for the future and opening the door to a new chapter. This chapter demands leadership that listens, a community that stays engaged, and a department committed to doing what is right, even when it is difficult, in service of a safer, more just Albuquerque for all.”


title: Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSEPH GIOVANNI SOTO, 34, of West Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 168 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine. According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force identified a cocaine trafficking operation that involved the shipment of parcels containing kilogram quantities of cocaine from U.S. Post Offices in Puerto Rico to various “drop addresses” in New Britain and Meriden, Connecticut, as well as addresses in Holyoke and West Springfield, Massachusetts. The organization used “runners” to pick up the parcels from the drop addresses and deliver them to Soto’s residence in Bloomfield and the residence of Soto’s uncle, Ramon Soto, in New Britain. Typically, Ramon Soto, at Joseph Soto’s direction, then delivered the cocaine to individuals in the Bronx, New York, and elsewhere, in return for payment. During the investigation, task force members intercepted and seized 10 suspicious parcels, each of which contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine, and identified approximately 280 suspicious parcels likely containing kilogram quantities of cocaine that had been delivered to the various drop addresses. Joseph Soto was arrested on May 1, 2023. On that date, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of his residence and seized two loaded firearms, a drum magazine, ammunition, body armor, approximately two kilograms of cocaine, drug packaging material, and approximately $12,000 in cash. One of the seized firearms was fitted with a switch making it fully automatic, and investigators also found a second, uninstalled switch. A search of Ramon Soto’s residence on that date revealed a loaded Ruger handgun, firearm magazines, ammunition, two money counters, a digital scale with cocaine residue, and more than $1,000 in cash. On February 7, 2025, Joseph Soto pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Released on a $100,000 bond, he is required to report to prison on June 25. Ramon Soto pleaded guilty to a related charge and, on January 8, 2025, was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. This matter was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, which includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, and the Hartford, Plainville, and Meriden Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Levick and Konstantin Lantsman.


title: District of Arizona Charges 314 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week

number: 2025-076_May 9 Immigration Enforcement

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from May 3, 2025, through May 9, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 314 defendants. Specifically, the United States filed 117 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 166 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 25 cases against 31 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Recent matters of interest include: United States v. Marco Antonio Ruelas-Solis : On May 3, 2025, Marco Antonio Ruelas-Solis, of Mexico, was found in possession of an FNS-9C 9-millimeter pistol and 40 rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition while target shooting along Forest Road 403 in the Tonto National Forest in Maricopa County. Ruelas-Solis was charged with Possession of a Firearm by Alien Unlawfully Present in the United States and Reentry of a Removed Alien. [Case Numbers: MJ-25-0178; MJ-25-6183] United States v. Clayton Line Wilhite : On May 4, 2025, Clayton Line Wilhite was arrested and charged with Transportation of an Illegal Alien after he failed to yield at an immigration checkpoint. After Wilhite failed to yield, law enforcement officers from Border Patrol and Customs and Border Protection responded to the scene and attempted to effectuate a stop. Wilhite led officers on a short vehicle chase before striking another car from behind and pulling over. Two illegal aliens from Mexico then exited the vehicle and tried to flee but were detained by agents. Wilhite remained in the driver’s seat and was arrested without further incident. [Case number: MJ-25-07795] A criminal complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-076_May 9 Immigration Enforcement # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Investigation into Black-Market Marijuana Operation Leads to 10 Defendants being Sentenced to Serve More Than 38 Years Collectively in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: Approximately 3,500 Pounds of Marijuana and More than $400,000 Seized During Investigation OKLAHOMA CITY – NAIQING LIN , 37, a Chinese national living in New York, has been sentenced to serve 37 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to possess and distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana and 1,000 or more marijuana plants, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. The sentencing is the culmination of a four year-long investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, involving ten defendants sentenced to serve 463 months collectively in federal prison. On July 5, 2023, a federal Grand Jury returned a 47-count Indictment against Naiqing and several co-defendants, charging them for their roles in a major black-market marijuana drug trafficking organization (DTO). According to public record, from January 2019 through May 10, 2023, co-conspirators FEI XIE , 36, and NAIGANG LIN , 38, operated as business partners who directed the DTO, of which Naiqing worked as one of the marijuana distributors. The DTO originally operated out of Michigan, where it specialized in the cultivation, brokering, and distribution of black-market marijuana across the country, and relied on a network of individuals, black-market marijuana grows, and stash houses for its operation. In early 2022, after several law enforcement actions in Michigan, the DTO relocated to the Western District of Oklahoma and established a black-market marijuana grow in Ada, Oklahoma. Just as in Michigan, the DTO relied on a network of stash houses in Oklahoma City to store bulk amounts of marijuana prior to it being transported to customers out of state. During the period of the conspiracy, the DTO used a variety of monetary instruments and financial transactions in an effort to launder their criminally derived proceeds, including wire transfers, funnel and straw bank accounts, vehicle purchases, and the purchase of cashier’s checks and real estate. All told, during the investigation, law enforcement seized: approximately 3,500 pounds of marijuana; approximately 5,000 marijuana plants; $409,883.04 in U.S. currency; $4,669,671.64 in real property (10 properties); and 10 vehicles. On August 23, 2024, following a three-day trial, a federal jury found both Naiqing and Xie guilty of drug conspiracy. At the sentencing hearing on April 29, 2025, U.S. District Judge Joe Heaton sentenced Naiqing to serve 37 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Heaton noted that the Defendant played an active role in what was a significant drug trafficking operation. “This criminal organization exploited Oklahoma to expand their illicit large-scale black-market marijuana and money laundering operation across the country,” said United States Attorney Robert J. Troester. “The closure of this case is yet another example of law enforcement’s persistent, coordinated efforts by investigators and prosecutors and demonstrates the government’s continued, relentless pursuit of these criminal enterprises.” “Defendants like these who attempt to run illegal drug trafficking organizations will eventually account for their criminal activity,“ said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard. “The collective sentences imposed should serve as a stern reminder that money laundering and drug trafficking schemes will be thoroughly investigated by HSI and our law enforcement partners.” “This sentencing marks the end of a years-long investigation that dismantled a sophisticated black-market drug and money laundering operation,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “HSI special agents, working closely with partners across multiple states, exposed an illicit network that exploited communities and abused financial systems to fuel their criminal enterprise.” The other defendants charged in this case have been sentenced as follows: Naigang Lin , of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 120 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for drug conspiracy and monetary transaction in criminally derived property; Naiyang Lin , 36, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 32 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for drug conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy; Fei Xie , 36, of Kirkland, Washington, was sentenced to serve 120 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for drug conspiracy; Li Jin Yang , 60, a Chinese national living in Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for drug conspiracy; Chang-Hui Chen , 46, a Chinese national living in Michigan, was sentenced to serve 37 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for drug conspiracy; Meiyan Xiao , 34, a Chinese national living in New York, was sentenced to serve 16 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for drug conspiracy; Daniel Walsh , 35, of Savannah, Georgia, was sentenced to serve four months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for drug conspiracy; Terrance Jamahl Allen , 43, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was sentenced to serve 46 months in federal prison for drug conspiracy; Ahmed Salim Harrold , 46, of Wyoming, Michigan, was sentenced to serve 22 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for drug conspiracy; and Juan Lyu , 35, a Chinese national living in Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 60 months of supervised release for money laundering conspiracy. This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations. It is also a part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nick Coffey, Travis Leverett, Danielle M. Connolly, and Thomas Snyder prosecuted the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Last of Five Defendants Pleads Guilty in Pawn Shop Break-In, Theft of Arsenal of Firearms

body_text: WASHINGTON – CyJuan Hemsley, 18, of District Heights, Maryland, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in connection with the December 2023 break-in and burglary of 34 firearms from a Maryland pawn shop. The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. Hemsley, pleaded guilty May 7, 2025, to conspiracy to commit theft from a firearms licensee and to one count of possession of stolen firearms. Others who pleaded guilty in the conspiracy include District residents Tyjuan McNeal, 28, Vincent Alston 23, Niquan Odumn 23, and Juwon Anderson, 22. U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson scheduled Hemsley’s sentencing hearing for August 6, 2025. According to court documents, on Dec. 13, 2023, the co-conspirators drove from Washington, D.C. to the A&D Pawn Shop, a Federal Firearms Licensee, in Glen Burnie, Maryland. At the pawn shop, one of the co-conspirators used a portable saw to cut the locks on a pull-down security gate. Another co-conspirator then used a crowbar-type tool to pry open the main door. Inside, the quintet grabbed an array of rifles, shotguns, and pistols from the shelves and display racks. They fled with at least 34 of the firearms. The co-conspirators later used social media to advertise the sale of the stolen firearms. Hemsley was arrested on March 22, 2024, and has been detained since. To date, law enforcement has recovered 17 of the stolen guns. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division and the Metropolitan Police Department, with assistance from the ATF Baltimore Field Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Lipes. 23cr452


title: Tennessee Man Pleads Guilty to Aiding Police Officer in Destroying Evidence of Fatal Shooting

body_text: Joshua M. Rogers of Memphis, Tennessee, pleaded guilty yesterday to a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c) for his role in destroying evidence related to a police officer’s fatal shooting of a man identified by the initials R.H. With the plea, Rogers admitted that he acted to impair the integrity or availability of R.H.’s body for use in an official proceeding and, in so doing, shield his co-defendant from criminal liability. Rogers and his co-defendant, a former Memphis Police Department officer, faced charges following the death of R.H. The indictment alleged that, on Jan. 5, 2021, the officer kidnapped R.H. and shot him in the head. The indictment further alleged that Rogers and the officer sought to cover up the fatal shooting by disposing of R.H.’s body. Specifically, Rogers and the officer transported R.H.’s body in Rogers’ vehicle, and affixed chains, padlocks, and cinder blocks to R.H.’s body. Rogers and the officer then drove to the Wolf River in Memphis, where the two dumped R.H.’s body. “The defendant in this case obstructed law enforcement from investigating and seeking justice on behalf of the victim, his family and friends,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “I am proud of the great work by the Department of Justice in their prosecution of this case.” A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 6. Rogers faces a maximum penalty of 70 months in prison based on the terms of the plea agreement. A federal judge will determine any sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The remaining defendant faces civil rights, kidnapping, weapons, and obstruction charges in connection with the fatal shooting of R.H. Trial is set for Nov. 3. The FBI Memphis Field Office and the Memphis Police Department investigated the case. Trial Attorney MarLa Duncan of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.


title: Former Colombian Port Official Sentenced to Over Twelve Years in Prison for Money Laundering

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Colombian national was sentenced yesterday to 12 years and seven months in prison for conspiring to launder proceeds of bribes. The defendant was also ordered to forfeit a 2017 Lamborghini Huracan Spyder and a 2017 Porsche Cayenne that were involved in the money laundering scheme. According to court documents, Omar Ambuila, 64, of Cali, Colombia, pleaded guilty on Jan. 28 to a single count of conspiracy to launder money. As part of his plea, Ambuila admitted that while he was a port official in Colombia, he accepted at least $1,000,000 in illegal bribes that he and co-conspirators laundered to the United States from Colombia. As part of the scheme, Ambuila and his co-conspirators laundered the funds for Ambuila’s benefit and used the funds to purchase luxury vehicles and pay rent on waterfront property, among other things. “Criminals who exploit our financial system to launder their illegal gains threaten the security of the United States,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “When you try to abuse the financial system hard working Americans rely upon, we will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.” “HSI special agents, in close coordination with all their law enforcement partners, will always work diligently to pursue those individuals and those networks of bad actors who exploit the legitimate financial system to support criminal activity,” said Special Agent in Charge John Condon of Homeland Security Investigation Tampa. “This is just another great example of this work.” “Let this sentencing serve as a powerful reminder: the United States will not be a sanctuary for those seeking to launder the proceeds of crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Tampa Field Office. “We are relentless in our pursuit of criminals who attempt to exploit our financial systems, and we will use every tool at our disposal to ensure that they face justice. This case underscores our commitment to dismantling transnational criminal operations and holding those responsible accountable, no matter where they try to hide.” “This investigation exemplifies the FBI’s commitment to our federal law enforcement partnerships and the unified effort in identifying, investigating, and prosecuting money laundering schemes,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor of the FBI Tampa Division. The case was investigated by HSI, IRS-CI, and the FBI. Trial Attorneys Ariana Lazzaroni and Adrienne Rosen and Deputy Chief Joseph Palazzo of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Judicial Attaché’s Office in Bogotá, the HSI Attaché’s Office in Bogotá, and the U.S. Marshals Service provided substantial assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from Colombia.


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Essex County, New Jersey Man and Woman for Conspiracy to Commit Forced Labor; Man Also Charged with Sex Trafficking and Forced Labor

body_text: A federal grand jury in the District of New Jersey, returned an indictment on April 25 that was unsealed Wednesday, charging Treva Edwards, 60, with sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and forced labor. The indictment also charged Treva Edwards and Christine Edwards, 63, with conspiracy to commit forced labor. According to the indictment, Treva and Christine Edwards were the founders and pastors of a church they named “Jesus is Lord by the Holy Ghost,” which they operated out of a multi-unit apartment building in Orange, New Jersey, and where they conspired with each other and others to obtain the compelled labor of church members. “The Department of Justice will not tolerate the exploitation of vulnerable individuals under the guise of faith or community,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This Civil Rights Division is committed to holding accountable those who abuse positions of trust to manipulate and control others for personal gain. These charges reflect our unwavering focus on protecting victims and prosecuting those who commit forced labor and sex trafficking.” “These charges are an example of my office’s tireless commitment to combatting human trafficking in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Alina Habba for the District of New Jersey. “If you engage in human trafficking, we will find you, and we will prosecute you. We are committed to working alongside our partners to ensure that those who target the most vulnerable are brought to justice.” “Treva and Christine Edwards turned a source of hope into a tool of fear by allegedly exploiting religious faith to manipulate victims and expose them to sexual violence and forced labor conditions,” said Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Newark Division. “Seeking justice for human trafficking victims in cases like this is of utmost importance to HSI Newark. Anyone who may believe they are a victim of trafficking can be assured our investigations are victim-centered and that we will continue to relentlessly pursue justice for anyone’s freedom that has been held ransom.” “An important part of the mission of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of labor trafficking involving the use of coercion or force,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone of the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of allegations.” As charged in the indictment, between 2011 and 2020, the defendants identified and recruited victims who were facing struggles in their personal lives, including financial and familial struggles, to join the church and live and worship at the church building. Treva Edwards told the victims that he was a prophet who could communicate directly with God and that disobeying him would result in spiritual retribution from God, as well as physical, emotional, and financial harm. The defendants secured labor contracts to provide manual labor in and around Orange, New Jersey, and the defendants dispatched the victims to perform the contracted labor. The defendants did not pay wages to the victims for their work and kept the money earned from their labor. The defendants convinced the victims that they would lose favor with God if they did not perform labor. Treva Edwards spread fear among the victims through verbal and emotional abuse and threats of reputational harm, homelessness, hunger, spiritual retribution, punishments, and more hard labor to gain their obedience and compel them to perform unpaid labor. The defendants instituted and enforced strict rules about when and whether the victims could eat or sleep, when and for how long they were to pray and work, and whether they could speak to non-members or leave the church building. The defendants isolated the victims, monitored their communications and whereabouts, and by convincing them that non-members were evil or possessed by the devil. The defendants deprived the victims of sleep and typically fed them only once a day after they completed their work. Also according to the allegations in the indictment, Treva Edwards controlled and subjected one victim to repeated physical and sexual assaults, impregnated her, and instructed her to get an abortion. The defendants made their initial court appearances today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa. The charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion against Treva Edwards carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The forced labor charge against Treva Edwards carries a maximum penalty of twenty years or life imprisonment if the violation included aggravated sexual abuse. The conspiracy to commit forced labor charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Alina Habba of the District of New Jersey credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel and special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, with the investigation leading to this indictment. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trevor Chenoweth and Susan Millenky for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorney Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case. HSI Newark is asking anyone with information about Treva Edwards, Christine Edwards, or their organization known as Jesus is Lord by the Holy Ghost (JLHG), to contact its tip line at (866) 347-2423 or email HSINewarkHumanTrafficking@hsi.dhs.gov . The tip line is monitored 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Additionally, there is an online tip form . If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1 (888) 373-7888. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Former D.C.-Area Attorney Charged with Tax Crimes, Making False Statements to Federal Authorities

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON — An indictment was unsealed today charging attorney Richard Graham Foote O’Donoghue with evading taxes on approximately $1 million of income, as well as filing false tax returns and making false statements to federal authorities. O’Donoghue previously lived in the District of Columbia, but currently lives in the United Kingdom. He was arrested on entering the United States today, based on the criminal charges. The unsealing of the indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. According to the indictment, from 2012 through 2015, O’Donoghue made substantial income first as an independent contractor for several non-U.S. businesses, including a defense contractor based out of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and then as CEO of that contractor. While he was CEO, O’Donoghue allegedly also received significant bonuses and benefits including a car and driver and a rented luxury villa for his family. The indictment alleges that O’Donoghue did not timely file tax returns for tax years 2012 through 2014. In 2016, however, O’Donoghue hired a return preparer to prepare tax returns for 2012 through tax year 2015. O’Donoghue allegedly provided false information to his return preparer about his employment and income. For example, O’Donoghue allegedly told the return preparer that he was the general manager of the company, not the CEO, and concealed his bonuses and the expenses the company paid on his behalf. These alleged lies allegedly caused the return preparer to prepare and file false tax returns for those years that underreported his income by approximately $1 million. Because O’Donoghue had previously made estimated payments, his false returns allegedly requested refunds from the IRS of more than $247,000 — much of which the IRS paid out. The indictment further alleges that in February 2023, O’Donoghue made false statements about his income and other matters to law enforcement agents and Department of Justice prosecutors. If convicted, O’Donoghue faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each tax evasion count, a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of subscribing to a false tax return, and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the false statements count. O’Donoghue also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This matter is being investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, with assistance from His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs of the United Kingdom. Assistance was also provided by the Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement (J5), which brings together the taxing authorities of Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold and Assistant Chief Sarah Ranney and Trial Attorney Ezra Spiro of the Tax Division. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Restore Justice

body_text: [May 9, 2025] – On Wednesday this week, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators. The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country. “The Department of Justice will never stop fighting to protect victims — especially child victims — and we will not rest until we hunt down, arrest, and prosecute every child predator who preys on the most vulnerable among us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I am grateful to the FBI and their state and local partners for their incredible work in Operation Restore Justice and have directed my prosecutors not to negotiate.” “Every child deserves to grow up free from fear and exploitation, and the FBI will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who exploit the most vulnerable among us,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Operation Restore Justice proves that no predator is out of reach and no child will be forgotten. By leveraging the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state and local partners, we’re sending a clear message: there is no place to hide for those who prey on children.” “I am proud of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, who work tirelessly to bring to justice those that exploit children,” said Acting United States Attorney Chad Meacham. “United with their efforts, this Office will continue to aggressively prosecute these offenders.” “Criminals who prey on children threaten the sanctity of our communities, and this operation highlights the FBI’s efforts to dismantle the threat,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “The strength of each member of the North Texas Child Exploitation Task Force is crucial to protecting the most vulnerable, and together we will pursue offenders to the fullest extent of the law.” Those arrested by the FBI and charged in the Northern District of Texas as part of Operation Restore Justice include: Angel Ramirez Flores, arrested in Lamesa, Texas by the FBI with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Flores has been charged in the Northern District of Texas with Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to Minors. If convicted, he faces up to ten years in federal prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jen Schrauth is prosecuting the case. Michael Huffman, arrested in Fort Worth, Texas by the FBI with assistance from the Fort Worth Police Department. Huffman has been charged in the Northern District of Texas with Distribution of Child Pornography. If convicted, he faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. According to court documents, agents discovered Huffman sitting in his driveway with his laptop logged into one of the platforms used to view sexually explicit images of minors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aisha Saleem is prosecuting the case. Otho Earl London, arrested in Azle, Texas by the FBI with assistance of the FBI Dallas SWAT. London has been charged in the Northern District of Texas with Possession of Child Pornography. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aisha Saleem is prosecuting the case. Harold Lee Hill, arrested in Rockwall, Texas by the FBI with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Rockwall Police Department, Dallas County (Arkansas) Sheriff’s Office, and Arkansas State Patrol. Hill has been charged in the Northern District of Texas with Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity. If convicted, he faces up to life in federal prison. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle A. Winters and Claire Demers are prosecuting the case. Jose Lizandro Trevino Rodriguez, arrested in Dallas by the FBI with the assistance of the Dallas Police Department. Rodriguez has been charged in the Northern District of Texas with Distribution of Child Pornography. If convicted, he faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandie Wade is prosecuting the case. Emmanuel Jacobo Reyes, of Raleigh, North Carolina, arrested in Raleigh, NC by the FBI and the Raleigh Police Department. Reyes has been charged in the Northern District of Texas with Production of Child Pornography. If convicted, he faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allyson Monte is prosecuting the case. Robert Rayel, of Benbrook, Texas, arrested in Florida by FBI Tampa - Pinellas County Resident Agency. Rayel has been charged in the Northern District of Texas with Attempted Sexual Exploitation, which carries a penalty of imprisonment from 15 to 30 years; Possession of Child Pornography, for which he faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment; and Receipt of Child Pornography, with an imprisonment range of five to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aisha Saleem is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendants mentioned above are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Like those charged in the Northern District of Texas, others arrested around the country are alleged to have committed various crimes including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material, online enticement and transportation of minors, and child sex trafficking. In Minneapolis, for example, a state trooper and Army Reservist was arrested for allegedly producing child sexual abuse material while wearing his uniforms. In Norfolk, VA, an illegal alien from Mexico is accused of transporting a minor across state lines for sex. In Washington, D.C., a former Metropolitan Police Department Police Officer was arrested for allegedly trafficking minor victims. In many cases, parental vigilance and community outreach efforts played a critical role in bringing these offenders to justice. For example, a California man was arrested about eight hours after a young victim bravely came forward and disclosed their abuse to FBI agents after an online safety presentation at a school near Albany, N.Y. This effort follows the Department’s observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April and underscores the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and raising awareness about the dangers they face. While the Department, including the FBI, investigates and prosecutes these crimes every day, April serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preventing these crimes, seeking justice for victims, and raising awareness through community education. The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc. The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org. The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI’s tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.


title: Lebanese National Sentenced to Fourteen Years in Prison for Running a Ponzi-Scheme

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: Note: See the factual proffer here . MIAMI – On May 8, 2025, Henry Abdo, 48, of Lebanon, was sentenced to 168 months in prison and ordered to pay a $300,000 fine and $375,479 in restitution by United States District Court Judge William P. Dimitrouleas. Abdo pled guilty in federal court to orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that solicited over $6 million from investors under false pretenses. According to court records, Abdo’s company, Titanium Capital LLC, purported to operate a foreign exchange platform that guaranteed fixed returns for investors. In reality, Titanium Capital had no such platform, and Abdo used investor funds to pay off earlier investors and finance his personal lifestyle. Beginning in July 2014, Abdo falsely claimed that Titanium Capital was a “zero-risk” investment fund that generated profits from fees on foreign currency transactions. Abdo further deceived investors by claiming Titanium Capital was part of a multibillion-dollar holding company, had developed proprietary software, and was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. None of these claims were true. Court documents indicate that Abdo solicited investments through in-person meetings, emails, video conferences, and phone calls. Abdo directed potential investors to websites and promotional materials that falsely depicted Titanium Capital as a legitimate enterprise. In truth, Titanium operated as a classic Ponzi scheme, using funds from new investors to pay earlier investors while diverting large sums of money for Abdo’s personal use, including international travel and other expenses. In addition to fraudulent investment claims, court records reveal that Abdo attempted to bolster his credibility by falsely associating himself with various charitable and educational organizations. Abdo also falsely claimed that Titanium Capital’s profits were donated to assist the blind and handicapped. After soliciting millions from over 200 investors, Abdo’s scheme unraveled. Many victims were financially devastated. Several victims reported losing retirement accounts and personal savings that they had relied on for basic living expenses, such as food and medication. U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and acting Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement. FBI Miami’s Palm Beach Resident Agency investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Bailyn and Justin Chapman in West Palm Beach, Florida, prosecuted it. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 23-cr-80209. ###


title: Memphis Men Sentenced to Federal Imprisonment for Participation in 2021 Business Robbery

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – Three Memphis men have been sentenced to a total of over 30 years in federal prison after being convicted of a business robbery that occurred in the fall of 2021. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentences today. According to the information presented in court, Anthony Lewis, 36 , Kyle Walker, 22 , and Aramis Smith, 34 , participated in an armed robbery in the early morning of November 10, 2021. Walker and Lewis entered a gas station on Summer Avenue in Memphis, while Smith waited outside in the getaway car. Walker and Lewis approached the lone clerk as she was stocking the shelves. Walker grabbed her and brandished a firearm as he made threats and pushed her to the registers. Lewis moved to the doorway and stood as a lookout as Walker forced the clerk to empty the register. The trio fled with approximately $100. Unbeknownst to the robbers, a good Samaritan saw the robbery in progress, called 911 and provided a description of the getaway vehicle. Dispatchers relayed the robbery in progress call to Memphis Police Department officers; and undercover officers with the Violent Crime Unit (VCU) observed the suspect vehicle fleeing the scene. VCU officers followed the suspect vehicle on I-240 as they coordinated additional units to arrive and make a traffic stop. When marked units were in place, officers attempted to stop the suspect vehicle with lights and sirens; but the vehicle fled. Ultimately, the suspect vehicle wrecked on the off-ramp immediately before the Hernando DeSoto Bridge; and officers engaged in a brief foot pursuit with two of the suspects before they were all taken into custody. All three men pled guilty to one count of business robbery. Walker and Lewis also pled guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence. Senior United States District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. sentenced Walker to 125 months of imprisonment on August 31, 2023, and Smith to 120 months of imprisonment on February 21, 2024. Lewis was sentenced to 147 months on May 1, 2025 by United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Judge Andre B. Mathis. Additionally, on May 8, 2025, Judge Fowlkes sentenced Lewis to an additional 24 months in federal prison as a result of his Supervised Release Violation based on this case and a prior federal conviction. There is no parole in the federal system. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Memphis Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Wagner and Lynn Crum prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Former Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Lewis also assisted in prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. ### For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Three Members Of Transnational Financial Crime Syndicate Indicted

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Los Angeles, California, man made his initial appearance Wednesday before United States Magistrate Judge Maximiliano D. Couvillier, III, in Las Vegas, Nevada, for his alleged role in a transnational financial fraud organization to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to court documents, Xui Jie Chen, also known as “Johnny Chen,” 32, and co-conspirators Jin Wei Chen, 41, of Flushing, New York, and Yue Yuan, 34, of the People’s Republic of China, obtained more than 5,000 genuine drivers’ licenses belonging to United States citizens residing in New York, Texas, and other states. Jin Wei Chen, Johnny Chen, and Yue Yuan engaged co-conspirators to use those licenses to withdraw or attempt to withdraw funds from banks and obtain financing for luxury cars under false pretenses. The criminal scheme touched at least 14 states, including Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and Minnesota. In addition to the Bank Fraud conspiracy, each defendant is charged in multiple counts of Aggravated Identity Theft related to using and causing to be used the fraudulently obtained licenses belonging to United States-based victims of the Bank Fraud conspiracy. A jury trial is set for July 14, 2025, before United States District Judge James C. Mahan. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison on the conspiracy to commit bank fraud charge, and a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison on the aggravated identity theft charge, which would run consecutive to any sentence imposed by the Court for the bank fraud conspiracy. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sigal Chattah, United States Attorney for the District of Nevada, Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge Lester R. Hayes for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Las Vegas made the announcement. HSI Las Vegas investigated the case with substantial assistance provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Nevada Gaming Commission, and the Nevada Gaming Control Board Enforcement Division. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Frayn for the District of Nevada and Trial Attorney Ken Kaplan of the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery 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. ###