title: Marrero Resident Indicted for Federal Firearm Violations, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Theft of Mail

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that TREMAINE MYLES (“MYLES”) , age 34, a resident of Marrero, was charged in a four-count indictment on December 18, 2025, with violations of the Federal Gun Control Act, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Theft of Mail. In Count 1, MYLES was charged with making false statements to a firearms dealer, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(a)(6). In Count 2, he was charged with aggravated identify theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A(a)(1). In Count 3, MYLES was charged with felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). In Count 4, he was charged with theft of mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1708. For Count 1, MYLES faces a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. For Count 2, he faces a maximum of 2 years imprisonment (mandatory consecutive), up to 1year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. For Count 3, he faces a maximum of 15 years imprisonment (under 18 U.S.C. § 924(a)(8)), up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. For Count 4, MYLES faces a maximum of 5 years imprisonment, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. A mandatory special assessment fee of $100 shall be imposed as to each count. U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Postal Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution. * * *


title: Armed illegal alien sentenced for operating Atlanta area methamphetamine laboratories

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Ramiro Contreras-Sandoval, an illegal alien from Mexico, will serve a 30-year prison sentence following his convictions for operating two conversion laboratories containing over 135 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine concealed in paint buckets and for possessing firearms as an illegal alien and in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes. "This case should send a clear message to anyone thinking about running drugs or using deadly weapons to protect their operation: the federal government will relentlessly seek justice and protect the community from drug traffickers,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “The successful prosecutions of Contreras-Sandoval and his codefendant illustrate the positive impact collaboration among law enforcement agencies has on the community.” “Operating methamphetamine labs is a reckless and dangerous crime,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “This conviction underscores that DEA will aggressively pursue anyone who engages in drug trafficking activities that put lives at risk.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between March 2019 and October 2021, Contreras-Sandoval and Genaro Davalos-Pulido operated two separate clandestine liquid methamphetamine conversion laboratories in the Atlanta area. On April 23, 2019, law enforcement seized over 135 kilograms of a methamphetamine mixture concealed in paint buckets that Contreras-Sandoval and Davalos-Pulido removed from the Morrow, Georgia conversion lab and attempted to transport in a vehicle driven by a conspirator. After law enforcement stopped the drug-laden vehicle, both Contreras-Sandoval and Davalos-Pulido fled the jurisdiction to avoid arrest. In the fall of 2021, agents located Contreras-Sandoval and Davalos-Pulido back in the Atlanta area – this time in a Norcross, Georgia neighborhood. On October 21, 2021, agents searched a Norcross residence and found Davalos-Pulido inside with a full-scale liquid methamphetamine conversion operation, a loaded Baretta handgun, $84,000 in cash, and a .50 caliber rifle that appeared ready to be shipped to Mexico. Agents arrested Contreras-Sandoval nearby and found approximately $12,000 in his vehicle and pockets. In June 2024, Davalos-Pulido pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Davalos-Pulido was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison in October 2024. Earlier today, U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross sentenced Contreras-Sandoval, a/k/a Manuel Santiago Vazquez, a/k/a Jorge Gomez-Sandoval, a/k/a Mirin, 41, of Michoacán, Mexico, to 30 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Contreras-Sandoval was convicted by a federal jury on September 16, 2025, of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of firearms by an alien illegally present in the United States. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with valuable assistance provided by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol, Lawrenceville Police Department, Clayton County Police Department, and the Long Beach, California Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bethany L. Rupert and Thomas M. Forsyth, III prosecuted the case. This case was 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. This case was also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Atlanta comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: South Carolina Laboratory Pleads Guilty and Agrees to Pay At Least $6.8M to Settle Allegations of Kickbacks to Doctors

component: Civil Division

body_text: Clinical laboratory LTD Holding LLC, formerly known as Labtech Diagnostics LLC (Labtech), of Anderson, South Carolina, and its founder and CEO Joseph Labash, of the United Arab Emirates, have agreed to pay at least $6.8 million to the United States to resolve False Claims Act allegations involving illegal kickbacks to doctors. With this settlement, the Department of Justice has secured over $11.5 million in civil False Claims Act settlements relating to Labtech, including recoveries from nine doctors. In addition to the civil settlement, Labtech has agreed to plead guilty to five counts of offering and paying health care kickbacks in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute, Title 42, United States Code, Sections 1320a-7b(b)(2)(A) and (B). Pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement in the criminal matter, Labtech will pay $103,551.90 in restitution, in addition to the civil recoveries above. “Patients trust doctors to exercise their unbiased medical judgment in ordering clinical testing,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Companies and executives who pay illegal kickbacks to referring doctors corrupt those doctors’ independence, leaving patients vulnerable to expensive and unnecessary testing.” “Every dollar spent, and every decision made in health care must prioritize the patient’s wellbeing and care,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to work with our partners to pursue those engaged in illegal kickback schemes and hold them accountable.” “This settlement reaffirms the FBI’s unwavering commitment to investigating fraud and holding accountable anyone who seeks to undermine our healthcare system,” said Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “The public deserves complete confidence in the integrity of medical practices, and the FBI — alongside our law enforcement partners—will continue to ensure fairness and integrity of healthcare for all citizens.” “When medical decisions are bought and sold, patients suffer and public trust erodes,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Kickback schemes like this violate the core of federal healthcare programs, and HHS-OIG will continue to relentlessly pursue anyone who exploits these programs and hold them fully accountable for their actions.” “When corrupt companies entice health care providers with kickbacks, it threatens patient care and degrades federal health care programs, such as TRICARE,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “In coordination with our law enforcement partners, DCIS is committed to bringing to justice companies and individuals that engage in collusive financial relationships that defraud taxpayers and jeopardize the wellbeing of America’s warfighters.” The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and other federally funded healthcare programs. It is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients. Claims that are knowingly submitted in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute are ineligible for payment and can violate the False Claims Act. Under the settlement with the United States, Labtech and Labash have agreed to pay $6.8 million, plus up to an additional $3,271,536 if a financial contingency occurs. The settlement resolves allegations that Labtech and Labash knowingly and willfully paid five types of kickbacks to induce laboratory testing referrals. From August 2018 to November 2021, Labtech and Labash allegedly paid doctors kickbacks disguised in three ways — as purported office space rental, phlebotomy, and toxicology payments — to induce the doctors to order Labtech’s laboratory tests. In an attempt to cover up the kickbacks, Labtech and Labash allegedly hand-delivered money orders for some such payments; entered into contracts that falsely described the payments as being made for office space rental or phlebotomy or toxicology services; and falsified square footage and hours in “fraud and abuse” certification forms. In addition, the settlement resolves allegations that, from September to December 2016, Labtech and Labash arranged to pay a physician practice in Charlotte, North Carolina an inflated amount for used laboratory equipment to induce the healthcare provider to order Labtech’s testing. Lastly, from March 2018 to November 2021, Labtech and Labash allegedly provided a pain management practice in Landis, North Carolina with free services and supplies in connection with drug screen testing, in return for the practice referring its lucrative drug confirmation testing to Labtech. The settlement resolves certain allegations in a lawsuit originally filed by relator Mahmod Altwam under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government when they believe that a defendant has submitted false claims for government funds and receive a share of any recovery. Relator will receive $1.36 million of the proceeds from the settlement. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Altwam v. Labtech Diagnostics LLC, et al. , No. 8:21-cv-2844 (D.S.C.). The civil settlement announced today was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, with assistance from HHS-OIG, DCIS, and the FBI. The civil matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Terranova in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth C. Warren for the District of South Carolina. The United States previously resolved allegations that healthcare providers in South Carolina , North Carolina , Texas , and Illinois received kickbacks to induce their laboratory referrals to Labtech. The government’s pursuit of these matters illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). Except to the extent that Labtech’s admissions are part of its criminal resolution, the claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Illinois Man Charged in Snapchat Hacking Investigation

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – An Illinois man has been charged in federal court in Boston with phishing the Snapchat access codes of nearly 600 women in an effort to hack their Snapchat accounts and steal nude photos, which he kept, sold, or traded on the internet. Kyle Svara, 26, of Oswego, Ill., is charged with aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, computer fraud, conspiracy to commit computer fraud and false statements related to child pornography. The defendant will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Feb. 4, 2026. According to the charging documents, from at least May 2020 to February 2021, Svara used social engineering and other resources to collect victim emails, phone numbers and/or Snapchat usernames. He allegedly used those means of identification to access victim Snapchat accounts, which prompted Snap Inc. to send account security codes to victims. Using anonymized phone numbers, Svara allegedly posed as a representative of Snap Inc. and texted more than 4,500 victims requesting those Snapchat access codes. When approximately 570 women provided those codes, it is alleged that Svara accessed the Snapchat accounts of at least 59 women without permission and downloaded their nude or semi-nude images. It is alleged that once he had the stolen images, Svara sold or traded on them on internet forums or in transactions with others who had hired him to hack the Snapchat accounts. Svara allegedly advertised on internet forums like Reddit that he could “get into girls snap accounts” for others and provide content “for you or trade.” As further detailed in the charging documents, one of Svara’s co-conspirators was Steve Waithe, a former Track and Field Coach at Northeastern University who allegedly hired and paid Svara to hack the Snapchat accounts of women Waithe coached or had other relationships with. In November 2023, Waithe was convicted in federal court in Boston of 12 counts of wire fraud; one count of cyberstalking; one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud; and one count of computer fraud, aiding and abetting. In March 2024 , Waithe was sentenced to five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In addition to the women Waithe and others allegedly hired Svara to hack, it is alleged that Svara also targeted women who resided in or around the area of Plainfield, Ill. or who were students at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Members of the public who believe they may be a victim of this case or have any relevant information related to this case are requested to please fill out the attached form to be contacted by a member of law enforcement: https://forms.fbi.gov/victims/snaphackvictims The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a sentence of no less than two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain/loss from the offense. The charges of computer fraud and conspiracy to commit computer fraud provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of false statements provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Chicago and the Oswego Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Cleary of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Nebraska Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Possessing with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an Indictment on January 7, 2026, charging a Nebraska man with a federal narcotics offense. U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Chief Richard Sanders of the Jeffersontown Police Department, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement. According to the Indictment, Jacob Talamantes, 23, of Nebraska, was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in Jefferson County on or about December 22, 2025. On December 27, 2025, a criminal complaint and supporting affidavit were filed that allege that on December 22, 2025, law enforcement received information that a narcotics shipment was coming to the Jeffersontown, Kentucky area. Law enforcement conducted surveillance and soon spotted the vehicle they expected would contain the narcotics. Officers did a takedown on the vehicle as it pulled into a parking spot on a business lot located in Jeffersontown, Kentucky. A Kentucky State Police canine was deployed and alerted to the positive presence of narcotics odor emanating from the vehicle. Upon search of the vehicle, investigators recovered a large quantity of suspected methamphetamine in various containers that were wrapped in gift wrap and disguised to look like Christmas presents. Talamantes was the driver of the vehicle. The Indictment also alleges that Talamantes had a previous conviction on May 25, 2022, for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska. If convicted, the previous conviction increases his potential mandatory minimum sentence from 10 years to 15 years imprisonment under 21 U.S.C. § 851. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. The defendant remains in state custody and will make an initial appearance at a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by the DEA, Jeffersontown Police Department, and the Kentucky State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Union Treasurer Charged with Wire Fraud and Embezzlement of Labor Organization Funds

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A former treasurer of a New Mexico labor organization is facing federal charges for allegedly abusing his position of trust within a union to misuse union funds and conceal that conduct through false financial reporting. According to court records, from 2014 through early 2024, Max Jaramillo , 58, served as treasurer of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, Local 331, a position that carries fiduciary duties to safeguard union assets and to accurately disclose the union’s financial condition to its members and the Department of Labor. During that time frame, Jaramillo used union funds for unauthorized personal expenses and then submitted required annual Labor Organization Annual Reports that falsely represented the expenditures as legitimate union expenses, omitting the true nature and purpose of the disbursements. These false filings and omissions were material and were used to conceal the misuse of union funds from both union members and federal regulators. Jaramillo is federally charged with two counts of wire fraud and three counts of embezzlement by an Officer or a Labor Organization. If convicted, Jaramillo faces up to 20 years in prison. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today. The Department of Labor’s Office of Labor Management Standards investigated this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case. View th Indictment (Jaramillo).pdf An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Ecuadorian National with Manslaughter Conviction Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering U.S.

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DARWIN FRANCISCO QUITUIZACA-DUCHITANGA, also known as Darwin Duchitanga-Quituizaca and Juan Mendez-Gutierrez, 40, a citizen of Ecuador, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 12 months and one day of imprisonment for illegally reentering the United States after being deported. According to court documents and statements made in court, in December 2003, Quituizaca, using the alias Juan Mendez-Gutierrez, was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol. He was issued a voluntary return to Mexico after he claimed to be a citizen of Mexico. In March 2018, the Connecticut State Police arrested and charged Quituizaca, under the alias Darwin Duchitanga-Quituizaca, with charges related to a fatal motor vehicle accident on I-91 in North Haven in March 2017. On August 30, 2018, ICE encountered Quituizaca in Meriden and arrested him on an administrative warrant while he was at liberty awaiting trial in his state case. In September 2018, an immigration judge ordered Quituizaca removed from the U.S. to Ecuador, but he was subsequently transferred to state custody to face his pending charges. In January 2019, Quituizaca was convicted in Connecticut Superior Court of manslaughter second degree and sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment. He was subsequently released from state prison on an unknown date. On August 15, 2023, ICE encountered and arrested Quituizaca on an administrative warrant of removal in Meriden. He was removed to Ecuador in September 2023. Quituizaca illegally reentered the U.S. and, on June 28, 2025, ICE arrested Quituizaca on an administrative warrant in Meriden. Quituizaca has been detained since his arrest. On July 30, 2025, he pleaded to unlawful reentry. This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel George This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Laredo felon gets maximum sentence for cartel-linked conspiracy to smuggle over 1900 aliens

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 35-year-old Laredo man has been ordered to prison for a multi-year conspiracy to smuggle illegal aliens for financial gain, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Danny Nunez pleaded guilty Feb. 6, 2025. U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now imposed a 120-month-term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. The court also ordered Nunez to serve 12 months for a supervised release violation following a prior federal felony conviction to be served consecutively for a total sentence of 132 months. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence as to the prolific scope of Nunez’s leadership of a large-scale human smuggling organization that served as a “one-stop shop” for all the necessary actions to harbor and smuggle illegal aliens on the United States side of the border. Nunez worked directly with Cartel del Noreste to smuggle over 1,900 aliens which resulted in a substantial amount of illicit profits for both the CDN and Nunez. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the sophistication of the operation, commenting that this was the largest number of aliens smuggled and the most prolific smuggler she had seen. The investigation tied Nunez to multiple smuggling events since March 2023, including one the following December when authorities observed several people being loaded into a white trailer at a warehouse. A subsequent search uncovered 101 aliens, including 12 unaccompanied minors locked inside the trailer. Several of them reported having difficulty breathing and feared for their lives due to the trailer’s conditions. At the time of Nunez’s arrest, authorities searched his home and found cellphones, ledgers documenting smuggling activity, more than $36,000 in proceeds and two illegal aliens on the premises. He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety and Border Patrol conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection, Laredo Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration and Webb County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling prosecuted the case.


title: Tribal Police Officer Charged with Sexually Abusing Three Victims While on Duty: FBI Seeks Additional Potential Victims

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – A White Mountain Apache Tribal Police officer was arrested Wednesday in Canyon Day on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, after being charged in a federal indictment with sexual abuse and kidnapping. Karl Eugene Leslie, 42, of Whiteriver, Arizona, is charged in a 15-count indictment, returned Dec. 23, 2025, with Aggravated Sexual Abuse, Kidnapping (including one count of Kidnapping-Victim Under 18), Sexual Abuse through Fear, Sexual Abuse through Coercion, and Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law. Leslie was an active law enforcement officer with the White Mountain Apache Tribal Police Department on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation from April 2007 through June 2024. The indictment alleges that while working as an on-duty law enforcement officer, Leslie sexually abused three victims on dates ranging from Dec. 1, 2020, through Sept. 25, 2023. The indictment alleges that Leslie forcibly raped and kidnapped two of the three victims, one of whom was a minor, and that Leslie twice engaged in sexual acts with a third victim by threatening her and placing her in fear. Each victim is a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. The FBI’s Phoenix Field Office believes there could be additional victims and is asking anyone with information and/or any potential victims to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit the information via this seeking victim page: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services/seeking-victim-information/seeking-victim-information-in-karl-leslie-investigation . A conviction for Aggravated Sexual Abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual Abuse through Fear, Sexual Abuse through Coercion, and Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law all carry a maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment and up to a $250,000 fine. A conviction for Kidnapping-Victim Under 18 carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years. The FBI Phoenix Pinetop-Lakeside office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dimitra H. Sampson (Flagstaff) and Lindsay L. Short (Phoenix), District of Arizona, are handling the prosecution. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. CASE NUMBER: CR-2025-08232-PCT-DGC RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-003_Leslie # # # 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: Seven Defendants Sentenced to Prison for Their Participation in Transnational Telemarketing Scheme that Defrauded Victims of More Than $12 Million

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Yveler Marcellus, Felix Marcial, Asheem Henry, George Mims, Rahmel Thompson, Daquan Mitchell and Tatiana Williams were sentenced by United States District Judge Carol Bagley Amon in connection with their roles in a scheme to launder money fraudulently obtained from victims of a transnational telemarketing scheme, many of whom were elderly. The proceeds of the scheme were shared between the defendants and co-conspirators located abroad. Marcellus, who was convicted of money laundering conspiracy and mail and wire fraud conspiracy at trial in September 2025, was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment. The remaining defendants pleaded guilty to mail and wire fraud conspiracy pursuant to plea agreements with the government. Marcial was sentenced to 66 months’ imprisonment. Henry was sentenced to 55 months’ imprisonment. Mims was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment. Thompson was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment. Mitchell was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. Williams was sentenced to a year and a days’ imprisonment. As part of the sentences imposed, the defendants were ordered to pay, in total, $12,488,884.33 in restitution. Additionally, the Court ordered the defendants to forfeit their ill-gotten gains as follows: Marcellus was ordered to pay $185,000; Marcial was ordered to pay $700,000; Henry was ordered to pay $240,000; Mims was ordered to pay $170,000; Thompson was ordered to pay $160,000; and Williams was ordered to forfeit a bank account valued at $229,274.02 and pay an additional $60,000. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York (USPIS), announced the sentences. “Today’s punishment was certainly warranted for the defendants who caused tremendous harm to the victims, many of whom were elderly or otherwise vulnerable,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Through their callous scheme, the defendants profited by moving millions of dollars of victims’ hard-earned funds through their accounts and other accounts that they controlled and transferring a share of those proceeds to co-conspirators abroad who coordinated the telemarketing scheme. Those who participate in fraudulent conspiracies and work with individuals who prey on the vulnerable will be held accountable for their crimes.” “These criminals selfishly preyed on vulnerable victims to enrich their lifestyles; but they underestimated the resolve of the United States Postal Inspection Service to continue to investigate this case until every complicit person was held accountable,” stated USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward. “Postal Inspectors will work tirelessly to shut down schemes like this and any fraudster who seeks to take advantage of others. Too many seniors fall for these financial schemes, it’s crucial to protect them and their hard-earned money, and that’s what was done in this case.” From approximately January 2022 through December 2023, the defendants and their co-conspirators participated in a scheme in which India-based co-conspirators contacted victims by phone and convinced those victims to send checks and money orders, addressed to the defendants and other U.S-based co-conspirators, to various addresses in the Eastern District of New York. The India-based co-conspirators fraudulently induced the victims, many of whom were elderly, to send checks to the defendants under false pretenses, including that the victims’ money was at risk of being stolen from their bank accounts. After receiving the victims’ checks, the defendants and their U.S.-based co-conspirators laundered the check proceeds through their own bank accounts and other bank accounts that they controlled, shared the proceeds amongst themselves, and sent the remainder of the laundered proceeds to the Indian-based co-conspirators. The scheme is estimated to have netted over $12 million from victims across the United States. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs and General Crimes Sections. Assistant United States Attorneys Elias Laris, Molly Delaney, and David Berman are in charge of the prosecution. Assistant United States Attorney Tanisha Payne of the Office’s Asset Forfeiture Section is handling forfeiture matters. The Sentenced Defendants : YVELER MARCELLUS Age: 32 Brooklyn, New York FELIX MARCIAL Age: 32 Brooklyn, New York TATIANA WILLIAMS Age: 28 Miramar, Florida ASHEEM HENRY Age: 34 New York, New York GEORGE MIMS Age: 38 New York, New York RAHMEL THOMPSON Age: 26 Queens, New York DAQUAN MITCHELL Age: 34 New York, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-9 / 24-CR-9 (S-1) (CBA) Defendant Yet to Be Sentenced: DANIEL VERNON Age: 29 Queens, New York


title: Guatemalan National Indicted for Illegal Reentry into the United States

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Guatemalan man was indicted by federal grand jury today for illegally reentering the United States after he was previously deported. Edras Leonel Alcides Ramirez-Peralta, 35, was charged in a one-count indictment with illegal reentry. On December 17, 2025, Ramirez-Peralta was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Criminal Alien Program (ICE CAP) Agents for being unlawfully present in the United States. Agents determined that Ramirez-Peralta had recently been deported to Guatemala on November 15, 2024. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. It was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Chinese National Charged with Unlawfully Photographing Air Force Base and Vital Military Equipment

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – United States Attorney R. Matthew Price today announced the filing of a criminal complaint against Qilin Wu, 35, in the Western District of Missouri. The complaint charges Wu with one count of taking photographs of a vital military installation and military equipment without authorization, in violation of U.S. law. The complaint alleges that on December 2, 2025, the Whiteman Air Force Base Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) investigated a report of a suspicious minivan bearing a Massachusetts license plate near the perimeter of the military installation. Air Force patrolmen were dispatched to the area to investigate, and encountered Wu, who stated that he was there to observe the B-2 Spirit aircraft. The patrolmen informed Wu that he was not permitted to take photographs or make video recordings of the military installation. The following day, according to the complaint, AFOSI was notified that the same minivan was again identified at a perimeter fence of Whiteman Air Force Base. AFOSI agents went to the area to investigate and again made contact with Wu. Wu admitted to taking videos of the B-2 Spirit aircraft and numerous photographs of Whiteman’s perimeter fencing, a gate, and military equipment. Wu showed investigators his phone, including images of Whiteman Air Force Base and military equipment that Wu had recorded. In total, investigators observed 18 images and videos that Wu admitted he had taken of the installation and of military equipment. Wu also admitted to having photographed another U.S. Air Force base and its military aircraft as well. According to court documents, Wu is a Chinese national who illegally entered the United States on June 22, 2023, near Nogales, Arizona. At that time, Wu was arrested by immigration authorities for illegally being present in the United States. Due to a lack of detention space, Wu was released on his own recognizance to await immigration removal proceedings originally scheduled for February 9, 2027. On December 3, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) re-arrested Wu. The allegations contained in the complaint are accusations, not evidence of guilt, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted of violating 18 U.S.C. § 795, Wu would be subject to a sentence of up to one year in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes; any sentence would be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Chlarson with valuable assistance provided by Trial Attorney Brendan P. Geary of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. It was investigated by the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Air Force’s Security Forces, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.


title: Justice Department Sues California Cities Over Natural Gas Bans

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Note, the press release has been updated to include a quote from ENRD. The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against two California cities over their ordinances banning natural gas infrastructure and appliances in new construction. As detailed in the complaint, filed Monday in the Northern District of California, the City of Morgan Hill’s and the City of Petaluma’s natural gas bans drive up energy costs for consumers and weaken American energy dominance. These policies reflect a radical effort to outlaw federally regulated gas stoves, furnaces, water heaters, dryers, and other appliances that American families rely on every day to cook their meals and heat and run their homes. “These natural gas bans hurt American families and are outright illegal” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Alongside the Department of Energy, the Department of Justice is working around the clock to end radical environmentalist policies, restore common sense, and unleash American energy.” “Especially during winter, Americans deserve reliable, affordable energy,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate. “Radical local efforts to undermine American energy dominance must be stopped.” “President Donald J. Trump’s executive orders to unleash and protect American energy reaffirm the laws Congress has passed to ensure that all Americans have reliable access to affordable energy,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “When states and cities pick winners and losers, consumers pay the price. Our complaint seeks to restore consumer choice so that people and businesses can build in a way that fits their needs best.” The complaint asks the court to declare that the cities’ natural gas bans are preempted by federal law and enter a permanent injunction against their enforcement. And it is the latest action from the Justice Department fighting back against state and local overreach. Earlier this year, the Department filed in support of a challenge to New York City’s similar natural gas ban. Read the full complaint here .


title: Utah Man Sentenced in Making Threats Against Palestinian Rights Organization

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: WASHINGTON – Kevin Brent Buchanan, 64, of Tooele, Utah, was sentenced today in the District of Columbia to six months in prison in connection with threatening violence against the employees of a D.C.-based Palestinian rights organization, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Buchanan pleaded guilty on July 21, 2025, to a one-count information charging him with transmitting in interstate commerce a communication containing a threat to injure the person of another. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered Buchanan to serve three years of supervised release with mandatory participation in a mental health program. Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement were Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office. According to court documents, between Oct. 31, 2023, and Nov. 2, 2023, Buchanan used his cell phone to call and leave five voice mail messages for members of the organization. In his November 2 message, Buchanan stated in part: “Your families are going to be followed and watched;” “You don’t even belong in America;” “I hope every Muslim in the United States [expletive] croaks;” and “You are all going to [expletive] die, you pieces of [expletive] traitors.” Buchanan admitted that he intentionally targeted the organization because its staff and members are Palestinian, and because the organization advocates on behalf of Palestinians. The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Sanjay Patel of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section. 24cr256


title: Mexican National Charged With Reentry of Deported Alien

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that JOSE CABRERA-MOLINA (“CABRERA-MOLINA”) , age 33, a native of Mexico, was charged via bill of information on December 23, 2025, with reentry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). According to court documents, CABRERA-MOLINA , an illegal alien, was found in Orleans Parish on December 12, 2025. Immigration records indicate that he was previously removed from the United States on December 16, 2013. These records confirm he has no legal authorization to remain in the United States and that he returned to the country without first obtaining prior approval from United States authorities. If convicted, CABRERA-MOLINA faces up to two years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to one year of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 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). U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution. * * *


title: Leader of Washington Highlands Fentanyl Conspiracy Sentenced to More than 13 Years on Narcotics, Weapons Counts

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Kahlil G. Felder, 41, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 157 months in prison for operating a fentanyl distribution network based in the Washington Highlands neighborhood in Southeast, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Felder, aka “Kahlil Hewitt,” pleaded guilty on Feb. 25, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In his plea, Felder acknowledged that he distributed at least 1.2 kilos, but less than 4 kilos, of fentanyl. In addition to the 157-month prison term, Judge Carl J. Nichols ordered Felder to serve five years of supervised release. Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement were HSI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Heck of Homeland Security Investigations - Washington Field Office, Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division, and Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. "This was a high-volume dealer responsible for distributing a significant amount of poison from his base in Southeast Washington,’ said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “When he was arrested, agents discovered three kilos of fentanyl inside one suitcase at his apartment – enough to potentially amount to millions of lethal doses. Even 157 months is not enough to pay for the hurt and damage he caused to this city when he was dealing during the height of the opioid epidemic.” Felder’s arrest came after a yearlong multiagency investigation that identified him as a leader of a narcotics distribution network operating at Oxon Run Park, located at 1200 Mississippi Avenue SE, and the 100 block of Yuma Street SE, both in the Washington Highlands neighborhood. Both areas – including one within 1,000 feet of the Paramount Child Development Prep School -- functioned as an open-air drug market with narcotics dealers serving walk-up clients. According to court documents, Felder sold fentanyl in “purple lady bags” branded with a female figure and the words “Heavy D,” which he also supplied to others for redistribution. The financial investigation identified over $1 million in suspected cash drug proceeds deposited by Felder between January 2021 and his arrest in December 2023. During a search of Felder’s residence on Dec. 13, 2023, law enforcement recovered two loaded semiautomatic pistols and more than three kilograms of suspected fentanyl, including fentanyl pre-packaged in thousands of baggies or “zips.” Investigators also found tools and materials for packaging fentanyl, including a scale, test kits, gloves, a respirator, a sifter, and a money counter. This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations Washington Field Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Washington Division, and MPD’s Violent Crime Suppression Division. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Duvall of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 23cr442


title: Collin County men sentenced in methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: PLANO, Texas–Two Plano men have been sentenced to lengthy prison sentences for their roles in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Brandon Michael Pitts, 30, pleaded guilty to being involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture and distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 216 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on January 7, 2026. Matthew Craig McCutchen, 30, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 162 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on January 7, 2026. According to information presented in court, Pitts and McCutchen were part of a drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas. 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. This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather H. Rattan. ###


title: North Carolina man sentenced to 5 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl on college campus

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A North Carolina man who distributed fentanyl at MSU Northern was sentenced today to 60 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Joel Hadley, III, 23, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that in the summer of 2022, law enforcement received information that Joel Hadley III, a football player, was trafficking fentanyl from student housing on the campus of Montana State University - Northern (MSU-N) in Havre. Reporting indicated Hadley was selling large amounts of fentanyl to Native Americans from the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation and Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Several controlled purchases of fentanyl pills were conducted using a confidential source. In each instance, the source communicated with Hadley to set up a purchase. Law enforcement equipped the source with a controlled monitoring device and prerecorded funds. A federal search warrant for Hadley’s residence was granted and executed in September 2023. Law enforcement seized a firearm and loaded magazine, a plastic bag containing fentanyl, and $861 in U.S. currency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Myers prosecuted the case. The FBI, DEA, U.S. Border Patrol and Tri-Agency Task Force conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Bronx Man Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Trafficking Semiautomatic Rifles And 800 Rounds Of Ammunition

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that HASSAN HUBBARD was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for trafficking firearms. HUBBARD previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who imposed today’s sentence. “New Yorkers have made clear they want illegal firearms out of their neighborhoods, and that’s what they deserve,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Today’s lengthy sentence takes yet another provider of illegal automated weapons to gun-toting criminals off the streets of New York. I commend the career prosecutors of this Office for their unwavering commitment to combatting the proliferation of illegal weapons and the havoc they wreak on our city.” According to charging instruments and other public court filings: In spring 2024, HUBBARD sold firearms and ammunition on multiple occasions to an undercover member of law enforcement from inside, or nearby, a Bronx apartment building. The firearms HUBBARD sold included semiautomatic assault rifles, an untraceable “ghost gun,” and high-capacity magazines, along with over 800 rounds of ammunition. Some of the firearms and ammunition HUBBARD sold are shown below: In imposing the sentence, Judge Subramanian remarked upon the “important need to send a message that when firearm trafficking is detected, the penalties are significant.” * * * In addition to his prison term, HUBBARD, 54, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department. The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick R. Moroney, Ashley C. Nicolas, and Jared D. Hoffman are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Southern Utah Man Sentenced for Damaging ICE Transit Van

body_text: ST. GEORGE, Utah – Ryan Michael Gaines, 32, of Santa Clara, Utah, was sentenced today to 36 months’ probation for damaging an ICE Transit Van in April 2025. He was also ordered to pay $2,883.20 in restitution to the United States Department of Homeland Security, which was ordered due at the time of sentencing. The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Marie McIff Alle, comes after Gaines admitted on October 9, 2025, to willfully damaging government property, a federal felony. According to court documents and admissions made at Gaines’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, Gaines, who was also captured on surveillance video on April 18, 2025, approached and damaged an ICE Transit Van at the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO) Office in St. George. Gaines ripped pieces from the passenger and driver’s side mirrors. See prior release: Southern Utah Man Arrested and Charged after Allegedly Damaging an ICE Transit Van . “Gaines’ conduct is yet another example of an attempt to threaten and obstruct our federal officers tasked with the difficult and multi-faceted duty of enforcing our Nation’s immigration laws,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah. “Any threat made on any law enforcement will be taken seriously and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.” "The defendant's actions were intentional and calculated," said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI. "No officer or public servant should have to fear for their safety simply for doing their job. Intimidation and violence aimed at those who serve our communities will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted." The case was investigated jointly by St. George Police Department and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, St. George Resident Agency. Assistant United States Attorney Brady Wilson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.


title: New Jersey Doctor Charged in 58-Count Indictment with Distributing Opioids in Exchange for Sexual Favors and Defrauding New Jersey Medicaid

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A New Jersey doctor was charged in a 58-count indictment with distributing opioids without a legitimate medical purpose, maintaining a drug-involved premises, and defrauding New Jersey Medicaid by billing for visits that never happened, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced today. Ritesh Kalra, 52, of Secaucus, New Jersey, was previously charged by criminal complaint in July 2025, and now stands charged by indictment with additional offenses, including 36 counts of distributing opioids outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, and 21 counts of health care fraud. Kalra appeared for an arraignment and initial appearance on the indictment today before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal. “The additional charges against Dr. Kalra demonstrate that our Office will continue to pursue justice for victims of the opioid epidemic in New Jersey by prosecuting doctors who, as alleged, use their positions of trust to fuel addiction and exploit vulnerable patients. Physicians who defraud New Jersey’s Medicaid Program for their own personal gain will be held accountable.” - Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello “Doctors know the devastation opioid addiction can wreak when left unchecked. Allegedly, Dr. Kalra used his position of power for financial gain, fabricating fake appointments, and in some cases, demanding sexual favors in return for prescriptions. The FBI and its partners work tirelessly against such abuses of power, to ensure the abuser is no longer able to victimize patients. This indictment serves as a warning to others that a prescription pad is not a license to destroy lives,” stated FBI-Newark Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy. According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court: Dr. Kalra, an internist in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, allegedly operated a pill mill out of his medical office, where he routinely prescribed high-dose opioids—including oxycodone and promethazine with codeine—to patients without a legitimate medical purpose. Between January 2019 and February 2025, Kalra issued more than 31,000 prescriptions for oxycodone, including days when he wrote upwards of 50 prescriptions. Several of Kalra’s former employees reported that female patients complained that Kalra touched them sexually and demanded sexual favors of them in exchange for opioids. One patient described being sexually assaulted by Kalra on multiple occasions, including forced anal sex during clinical appointments. Another patient continued to receive opioid prescriptions from Kalra when the patient was incarcerated at Essex County Correctional Facility and had no contact with Dr. Kalra. Kalra also allegedly billed for in-person office visits that never occurred. As part of the health care fraud scheme, Kalra’s electronic medical records allegedly contained false progress notes listing fabricated dates of service, and included examination notes that were generally identical from visit to visit and did not record vital signs. Each of the 36 distribution counts carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The charge of maintaining a drug-involved premises carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. Each of the 21 health care fraud counts is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross profit or loss caused by the offense, whichever is greatest. Individuals who believe they may be victims of Dr. Kalra or have information about this case may contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or by email at NK-Victim-Assistance@fbi.gov . Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello credited the following law enforcement organizations with the investigation leading to today’s charges: the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy; the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda Thorne-James; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz; the Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer Piovesan; the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy Connelly; the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General Division of Criminal Justice; and the Fair Lawn Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Romano, Chief of the General Crimes Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Ecker of the Health Care Fraud and Opioids Enforcement Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### Defense counsel: Michael Baldassare, Esq., and Jennifer Mara, Esq. kalra.indictment.pdf


title: Fort Dodge Man Pleads Guilty to Meth and Cocaine Conspiracy

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man involved in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine pled guilty January 6, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City. Matthew Groat, 41, from Fort Dodge, Iowa admitted that from August 2025 through November 2025 he and others distributed over 2,200 grams of methamphetamine and at least 10 grams of cocaine to individuals in the Fort Dodge area. Groat also admitted that on two occasions in September 2025 he distributed about 10 grams of cocaine to individuals cooperating with law enforcement and on two other occasions in September 2025 and three times in October 2025, he distributed a total of more than 130 grams of pure methamphetamine. Groat further admitted to obtaining 5 to 10 pounds of methamphetamine from a local source during the four months of the conspiracy and selling it to people around Fort Dodge. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Groat remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Groat faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Fort Dodge Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa DCI Criminalistics Laboratory. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-3054. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Prior felon pleads guilty to new child pornography charge

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Cameron Gelsomino, 23, of Burt, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. possession of child pornography after a prior conviction, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison a maximum penalty of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who is handling the case, stated that in August 2023, Gelsomino was convicted of Possessing Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child in Niagara County Court and sentenced to serve 30 days’ incarceration and 10 years’ probation. In May 2024, he possessed a cell phone, which contained approximately 56 images and two videos of child pornography. The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan and the Niagara County Probation Department, under the direction of Director Deborah M LaRock. Sentencing is scheduled for May 6, 2026, before Judge Sinatra. # # # #


title: California man pleads guilty to making fake id’s for delivery drivers

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Miguel Angel Guevara-Murillo, 35, of Stockton, California, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to possession of device-making equipment, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who is handling the case, stated that on July 28, 2025, Guevara-Murillo was inspected at the Rainbow Bridge Port of Entry. In the trunk of his car, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers found, among other things, a laptop, an access card printer, blank plastic access cards, a scanner, and a paper cutter, which Guevara-Murillo brought with him from California to New York. He used these items to make counterfeit identification documents that appeared to be issued under the authority of different states in the United States. Guevara-Murillo then sold the documents for $250, which allowed individuals who purchased the documents to work for an online food delivery company. The plea is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan and Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy. Sentencing is scheduled for May 18, 2026, before Judge Vilardo. # # # #


title: Michigan Man Sentenced in Multi-State Retail Crime Theft Scheme

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Michigan man has been sentenced in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island for his role in a multi-state wire fraud conspiracy that defrauded a Rhode Island-based retailer of approximately $140,000, announced Interim United States Attorney Charles Calenda. Mattek Scott, 27, of Flint, MI, was sentenced on January 7, 2026, by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to time served and three years of supervised release. From at least June 2022 through April 3, 2024, Scott and co-conspirators used fraudulent debit and credit cards at retail outlets in at least 11 states, including Rhode Island, to obtain merchandise and pre-paid gift cards. When fraudulent cards were declined, they directed the cashier to complete the transaction by pushing the “cash tendered” button; however, no cash was tendered. As a result of this scheme, the gift cards were loaded with U.S. Currency, ranging from $199 to $500. The fraudulently obtained gift cards were used to purchase additional gift cards and to pay for goods and services, including lodging, meals, groceries, car repairs, utilities, gas, and convenience store items. The Rhode Island-based retailer suffered losses totaling approximately $140,000. Arianna Asberry, of Flint, MI, one of Scott’s co-conspirators, pleaded guilty on November 20, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She was sentenced to time served, three years federal supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $138,633.01. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christine D. Lowell and Julianne Klein. The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.


title: El Salvadorian National Sentenced for Illegal Re-Entry Following Aggravated Felony Conviction

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Edwin Armando Sanchez-Montiel, 32, a national of El Salvador residing in Silver Spring, Maryland, to 16 1/2 months in federal prison for re-entry of an alien removed after being convicted of accessory after the fact to first degree murder in Montgomery County, Maryland, an aggravated felony. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office. According to his guilty plea, Sanchez-Montiel was an alien illegally in the United States. In 2023, he was convicted of accessory after the fact to first degree murder in Montgomery County, Maryland. Following the conviction for this aggravated felony, Sanchez-Montiel was removed from the United States after proceedings before an immigration judge. As part of his removal, authorities advised Sanchez-Montiel that he was permanently excluded from re-entering the United States because of his prior conviction. Following his removal, Sanchez-Montiel voluntarily and unlawfully re-entered the United States without inspection or permission. On July 27, 2024, ICE officers encountered Sanchez-Montiel in Montgomery County where they took him into custody. He never sought nor obtained the consent of the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of Homeland Security to apply for readmission. 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. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke Oki who prosecuted the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Henryetta Resident Sentenced For Illegally Possessing Firearms

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joshua Devn Page, age 30, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Henryetta Police Department, and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department. On June 5, 2025, Page pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on December 18, 2024, Page attempted to secure a personal loan at an Okmulgee pawn shop using two firearms as collateral. At the time of the exchange, Page had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Page will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


title: Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty To Unlawful Reentry

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Pedro Ramirez Covarrubias, age 53, a Mexican national, unlawfully residing in Adair County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than twenty years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00. The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division. The Indictment alleged that on December 3, 2025, Covarrubias, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed from the United States on October 14, 2021. Covarrubias was convicted of First-Degree Murder on May 6, 2015, in Harris County, Texas. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Covarrubias will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.


title: McCurtain County Resident Sentenced For Illegally Possessing A Firearm

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kendall James Hopper, age 62, of Smithville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police, and the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Office. On June 9, 2025, Hopper pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on January 2, 2024, law enforcement dispatched to a Smithville, Oklahoma residence discovered Hopper in possession of one lever-action .30-.30 caliber rifle. At the time of the incident, Hopper had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


title: Muskogee Resident Sentenced For Illegally Possessing Ammunition

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that DaQurius Razjoune Johnson, a/k/a Daquarius Razjoune Johnson, age 33, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 29 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition. The charge arose from an investigation by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. On June 5, 2025, Johnson pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on July 24, 2024, law enforcement dispatched to a Muskogee County residence discovered Johnson in possession of 35 rounds of ammunition. At the time of the incident, Johnson had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Johnson will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob R. Parker and Edith A. Singer represented the United States.


title: DRUG TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Ohagee Curry, a/k/a “Gee”, 28, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our state and federal law enforcement partners were relentless in their investigation of this large drug trafficking operation, and it paid off with the dismantling of that network through this successful prosecution. My office continues to aggressively prosecute these crimes to fulfill the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from the drug traffickers flooding our communities with deadly drugs.” Curry was one of 14 defendants charged in three different indictments. He was at the center of a methamphetamine distribution organization operating in Cantonment, Pensacola, and Beulah, Florida, that was uncovered by a multi-year investigation conducted by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The defendant obtained packages of methamphetamine from California via the U.S. Mail and by courier from Alabama. He then provided the illegal drugs to others for distribution throughout the Panhandle. Law enforcement seized multiple packages from the mail which contained high purty methamphetamine. “This successful investigation was the result of great teamwork between our agents and law enforcement partners,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Bobbitt, DEA Miami Field Division. “We will not stop until these criminals are brought to justice.” “This case highlights the power of strong collaboration between local, state, and federal law enforcement,” said Sheriff B. Johnson, Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. “Together, we are committed to removing dangerous drugs from our communities.” The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Walter Narramore. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: CONVICTED CHILD SEXUAL ABUSER FROM MEXICO PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGALLY REENTERING THE COUNTRY

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Marco Olavarrieta-Beranza, also known as “Marco Leonardo Olavarrieta,” 45, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty in federal court to illegal reentry into the United States. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This sexual predator was previously deported after committing a heinous sex crime against a minor, and I applaud the excellent work of our federal law enforcement partners who continue to follow through on the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from the criminal aliens who have violated our nation’s laws and threaten our communities. My office has zero tolerance for criminal activity of any kind, and we will aggressively prosecute offenders like this defendant to keep our communities safe and our border secure.” Court documents reflect that the defendant was deported from the United States in 2019 after being convicted of sexual abuse of a minor under the age of fourteen and attempted sexual abuse of a minor under the age of twelve. He illegally returned to the United States and was found in Escambia County, Florida, in November 2025. He now faces up to twenty years in prison followed by removal from the United States. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Brooke DiSalvo is prosecuting the case. Olavarrieta-Beranza’s sentencing is scheduled for March 11, 2026, at 10:30 am at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Haitian Nationals Charged With Unlawfully Smuggling Firearms From United States

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Francesca Charles, 28, a U.S. citizen residing in Florida; Jacques Pierre, 32; and his brother, Jeff Pierre, 34, both citizens of Haiti residing in FL, with conspiracy to smuggle goods and unlawfully ship firearms, smuggling goods from the United States, and unlawfully shipping firearms. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. According to court documents, in February 2025, officials in the Dominican Republic seized 18 rifles, 5 handguns, firearms magazines, over 36,000 rounds of ammunition, and a silencer from inside a container that had been shipped from Miami, Florida. The shipping container was destined for Haiti. The firearms and ammunition were not listed on the shipping manifest, which instead listed household goods. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), as well as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), learned that the defendants were the purchasers of at least 20 of the 23 firearms seized from the shipping container. Throughout the investigation, agents learned that the defendants purchased at least 46 firearms between May 2024 and February 2025, most of which were the same make and model as the firearms recovered in the Dominican Republic. Thirty-seven of those firearms were purchased between August 9, 2024, and February 10, 2025. Agents also obtained records that Jacques Pierre purchased two Barrett .50-caliber rifles, which are heavy-duty military-style weapons that are typically mounted to the tops of vehicles and used in furtherance of violence by gangs and cartels. One of the Barrett rifles was recovered in the aforementioned shipment in February 2025. Travel and shipping records showed that the co-conspirators would facilitate a shipment to Haiti shortly after purchasing a large number of firearms, then would travel to Haiti around the time the shipment was scheduled to arrive in Haiti. Travel records also showed that the defendants traveled to the Dominican Republic three days before the shipping container was intercepted. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case is being investigated by the ATF and HSI with assistance from U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince and the United States Marshals Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Hardee County Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Methamphetamine Distribution

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Daniel Juarez (39, Hardee County) to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine. Juarez was found guilty on September 29, 2025, after a stipulated facts bench trial. According to court documents, on March 15, 2024, Juarez sold a pound and a half of methamphetamine to an undercover DEA agent. Juarez had a previous conviction for possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell in Hardee County Circuit Court in 2020. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects Over $10 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2025

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Tom Wheeler, announced today that the United States Attorney’s Office (the Office) collected more than $10 million in asset forfeiture and financial litigation debt in fiscal year 2025. Of this total: $2.6 million was recovered in criminal restitution debts and forfeiture actions $7.4 million was collected in civil actions to enforce debts. Additional highlights underscoring the Office’s commitment to public safety and justice include: $1.8 million collected from criminal defendants who forfeited the proceeds and tools of their crimes. $755,000 recovered through seizures connected to interdictions and other criminal investigations resulting in civil forfeiture actions. A substantial portion of these funds distributed to local law enforcement agencies, strengthening their ability to combat crime. $1 million in forfeited funds restored directly to victims, ensuring they received meaningful restitution. All U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States, as well as criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law also requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is directed to victims, criminal fines and felony assessments are deposited into the Department of Justice’s Crime Victims Fund , which supports federal and state victim compensation and assistance programs nationwide. “These results demonstrate how asset forfeiture not only disrupts criminal activity but also provides critical resources to law enforcement and, most importantly, delivers justice to victims,” said U.S. Attorney Wheeler. “We are proud to have partnered with so many local, state, and federal agencies, and we will continue to hold accountable those who seek to profit from their illegal activities.” U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Shelese Woods, Chief of the Office’s Civil Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Rota, Chief of the Office’s Asset Recovery Unit, along with the Office’s dedicated support professionals- Shannon Stewart, Natoyia Sims and Jennifer Ross- and contractors Amanda Alexander and Teaune Trice. Their diligent efforts have been instrumental in upholding the law, holding wrongdoers accountable, and recovering funds for victims of crime. ###


title: Social Media Agitator Pleads Guilty To Threatening To Harm Federal Agent's Wife

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ATLANTA – Anthony Noto pleaded guilty today to knowingly transmitting a threat to injure the wife of a federal deportation officer. “Threatening to harm a federal agent’s spouse, child, or other loved one is inexcusable, outrageous, and illegal” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Through swift and aggressive prosecution, my office will bring to justice anyone who commits or threatens violence against federal agents and their families.” “Threatening law enforcement officers or their families will not be tolerated,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “The FBI will continue to work with our partners to hold accountable those who threaten violence against law enforcement officers and anyone connected to them.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: After an individual posted to Instagram identifying information for a federal deportation officer and the officer’s wife, Anthony Noto commented under a picture of the officer’s wife, “Anybody wanna test the sites [sic] on their new A-R? There’s a pretty good target right there!” “A-R” refers to a semiautomatic rifle. Sentencing for Noto, 63, of Ronkonkoma, New York, is scheduled for April 16, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders. Noto was previously indicted on September 23, 2025. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brent Alan Gray and Eric White are prosecuting the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Tuba City Man Sentenced to 23 Years  in Prison for Second Degree Murder

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Brandon Hyden, 40, of Tuba City, Arizona, was sentenced Dec. 16, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 23 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for Second Degree Murder, and five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, to be served concurrently. Hyden previously pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. “Hyden has been brought to account for his senseless acts of violence that took a life and forever altered others,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “While no sentence can undo the pain suffered by the victims, their families, and the Tuba City community, this outcome reflects our commitment to justice. We thank our partners at the FBI, ATF and Navajo Nation Police Department for their diligent work in this case.” “This sentence certainly reflects the senseless violence of this case and underscores our office’s commitment to protecting all communities in Arizona and ensuring that justice is served throughout the state,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke. “The FBI is responsible for investigating the most serious crimes on our tribal lands, and we will continue to aggressively pursue those individuals who commit these heinous acts of violence.” On Jan. 26, 2025, Hyden murdered an unarmed victim by shooting him six times in a parking lot at a business in Tuba City, Arizona. Approximately thirty minutes later, Hyden shot another unarmed victim four times in a residential area within the Tuba City limits. The second victim survived his gunshot wounds after several weeks of hospitalization and intensive medical treatment. Hyden is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. The FBI, Navajo Nation Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, prosecuted the case. CASE NUMBER: CR-25-08026-PCT-DJH RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-002_Hyden # # # 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: Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and Cocaine and for Violating Parole

body_text: CLEVELAND – A Cuyahoga County man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy committed while he was out on release after serving a prison sentence for a previous drug offense. Deion Thompson, 39, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 180 months (15 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker after pleading guilty in July 2025 to the following charges: Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances In addition to the sentence on the drug charges, he was also ordered to serve two years of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his federal supervised release, which he had been serving as a result of a 2014 conviction for Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin. Judge Barker imposed the sentences Jan. 5. According to court documents, from about April 1 to July 12, 2023, Thompson and a co-conspirator knowingly conspired to traffic fentanyl, cocaine base (crack), and cocaine throughout the Greater Cleveland region. Federal agents executed search warrants at three residences related to the conspiracy and discovered numerous plastic bags containing several types of controlled substances. Among the drugs seized were more than 500 fentanyl pills, five pounds of methamphetamine, over one kilogram of fentanyl analogues, one kilogram of cocaine, and 28 grams of crack cocaine. Agents also seized five loaded handguns, a rifle, a shotgun, and related ammunition. Drug paraphernalia such as blenders, scales, pill presses and cutting agents were also found. Additionally, more than $19,000 in cash and a motorcycle were also seized. Co-defendant Murray Foster, 38, also of Cleveland, pleaded guilty to his role in the drug conspiracy and is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence. This case was investigated by the Southeast Area Law Enforcement Task Force and the FBI Cleveland Division. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Payum Doroodian for the Northern District of Ohio.