title: Connecticut Man Who Committed Narcotics Offense While on Federal Supervised Release Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

body_text: BOSTON – A Connecticut man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy. Hector Soto Gonzalez, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In January 2025, Soto Gonzalez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Beginning at least as early as June 2023, while Soto Gonzalez was on federal supervised release after serving a 10-year sentence for a narcotics conviction in the District of Puerto Rico, Soto Gonzalez became a source of supply for fentanyl for co-defendant Jose Mercado Aponte. Mercado Aponte travelled from Massachusetts to the area of Soto Gonzalez’s residence in Hartford, Conn., on multiple occasions to pick up drugs that Mercado Aponte then provided to a cooperating witness (CW). On Nov. 13, 2023, Mercado Aponte arranged to sell a kilogram of fentanyl to the CW. On that date, Mercado Aponte communicated with the CW to coordinate the deal and then made three calls to Soto Gonzalez. Later that afternoon, law enforcement conducting surveillance of the residence observed Soto Gonzalez leave his residence and put something in his trunk. Soto Gonzalez subsequently departed his residence in his truck and travelled from Connecticut to Massachusetts where a traffic stop was conducted and approximately one kilogram of fentanyl was located inside the vehicle. Soto Gonzalez was released from federal custody in May 2022 after being sentenced and serving 10 years in prison. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Colonel Geoffrey Noble of the Massachusetts State Police; and Commissioner Shawn Jenkins of the Massachusetts Department of Correction made the announcement today. The Federal Bureau of Investigation New Haven Division, Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office and the Watertown, Reading, Peabody, Hudson, Concord, Waltham, Fitchburg, Leominster and Hartford, Conn. Police Departments provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Mackenzie Duane of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Complaint filed against Houston pharmacy and its owners for violations of the Controlled Substances Act

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A civil complaint has been filed seeking monetary penalties against a local pharmacy and its owners following an investigation revealing numerous fraudulent controlled substance prescriptions, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The complaint seeks civil monetary penalties from Nnwood Pharmacy and names Nnwood’s owners Cheryl Brew Greenleaf and Wendell Kirk Greenleaf, both of Houston, as defendants. According to the complaint, Nnwood Pharmacy registered as a retail pharmacy with Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) May 21, 2007, and was authorized to dispense Schedule II through V controlled substances. The investigation revealed Nnwood dispensed numerous dosage units of powerful controlled substances that physicians located hundreds of miles from the pharmacy’s location had allegedly prescribed. It also dispensed multiple dosages of Schedule II hydrocodone and Schedule IV carisoprodol pills to numerous male customers whose prescriptions originated from doctors specializing in obstetrics and gynecology care, according to the complaint. Authorities executed an administrative inspection warrant July 16, 2021, at which time they seized 99 allegedly fraudulent patient prescriptions Nnwood had dispensed. The complaint alleges the prescriptions were for schedule II thru schedule IV-controlled substances and dispensed pursuant to several invalid DEA registration numbers. Nnwood and the Greenleafs allegedly dispensed controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice by dispensing the fraudulent and invalid prescriptions. Additionally, Nnwood and the Greenleafs allegedlt failed to make, keep and furnish records and reports The Controlled Substances Act and DEA regulations require. According to the complaint, Nnwood was also the subject of a previous investigation in 2007. “The Controlled Substances Act ensures that those who manufacture, prescribe, dispense, and distribute controlled substances do so in a safe and legitimate way. This prevents dangerous narcotics being diverted for illicit use, or for unsuspecting people to ingest dangerous drugs,” said Ganjei. The Southern District of Texas is committed to ensuring that those who endanger the public by violating the Act are held accountable.” “Pharmacies are the final defense against prescription drugs being diverted to the black market and into the wrong hands devastating communities,” said acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell of the DEA-Houston Division. “Pharmacies have a fundamental responsibility to ensure safeguards are in place to prevent the diversion of controlled substances and ensure that they are dispensing controlled substances pursuant to legitimate prescriptions.” The Controlled Substances Act and its implementing regulations seek to deter, detect and eliminate the diversion of controlled substances and listed chemicals into the illicit market while ensuring that an adequate supply of controlled substances and listed chemicals is available for legitimate medical, scientific, research and industrial purposes. The DEA conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill O. Venezia is handling the case.


title: Ecuadorian National Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that STANLIN DANIEL VASQUEZ-SALINAS, also known as “Stalin Vasquez-Salinas” and “Stalin Vasquez,” 25, a citizen of Ecuador recently residing in Danbury, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with unlawful reentry of a removed alien. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on March 11, 2025, Danbury Police arrested Vasquez-Salinas and charged him with conspiracy to commit commercial sexual abuse of a minor between the ages of 15 and 17 years old. Vasquez-Salinas identified himself as “Stalin D. Vasquez” at the time of his arrest. Analysis of Vasquez-Salinas’ fingerprints confirmed his true identity, and the investigation revealed that Vasquez-Salinas had illegally entered the U.S. in December 2019 and was arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol in Texas. He was removed to Ecuador in May 2020. It is further alleged that, on March 14, 2025, Vasquez-Salinas was released from state custody on bond. That same day, after a brief vehicle chase and subsequent foot pursuit, he was taken into ICE custody. Vasquez-Salinas has been detained since March 14, 2025. He appeared today in Hartford federal court. The charge of unlawful reentry of a removed alien carries a maximum term of imprisonment of two years. Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj. N. Patel. Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman thanked the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Danbury for its close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter. 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 Neighborhood (PSN).


title: New Haven Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Gun Trafficking Scheme

body_text: Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that QUINN MOORING, 43, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for his role in a gun trafficking scheme. According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2021, ATF Task Force officers learned that Mooring was receiving firearms from a source, subsequently identified as Marquis Jerome Pollard, in South Carolina and selling them in Connecticut. On April 19, 2021, investigators made a controlled purchase of a 9mm Glock handgun and a drum magazine from Mooring and Pollard in New Haven in exchange for $1,500. On April 22, 2021, investigators made a controlled purchase of 9mm ammunition from Mooring in New Haven. Mooring’s criminal history includes state convictions for felony robbery, unlawful restraint, and failure to appear offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Mooring was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on June 14, 2021. On January 13, 2022, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Mooring who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on June 18. Pollard pleaded guilty and, on February 27, 2023, was sentenced to eight years of imprisonment. This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), West Haven Police Department, New Haven Police Department, Beaufort (S.C.) Police Department, and Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Konstantin Lantsman through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.


title: Philadelphia Man Who Allegedly Shot at Pursuing PPD Officer Charged With Drug and Gun Crimes

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

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Shahiem Groover, 45, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was arrested today and charged by indictment with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a felon. As alleged in court filings, on February 24, 2025, Groover was the driver and sole occupant of a Buick with a suspended license plate. Philadelphia police officers observed the suspended plate and pulled the defendant over for a routine traffic stop. The defendant initially stopped his car and got out to speak with officers, but eventually got back into the car, rolled up his windows, locked the doors, and fled at high speed. The pursuit lasted several blocks, until Groover jumped out of his car and ran up the street. As officers caught up to the defendant, he stumbled. While on the ground, he allegedly produced a loaded Sterling Arms .22 caliber pistol, turned, and fired one shot at the closest officer. After a brief struggle, the defendant was arrested and the pistol recovered. Detectives subsequently searched the defendant’s car and located cocaine and methamphetamine packaged in a manner consistent with drug trafficking. Groover had previously been convicted in a court in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and was not permitted to possess a firearm. If convicted, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Parisi. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.


title: Nevada Printer and Mailer Pleads Guilty to Participating in Elder Fraud Scheme

component: Civil Division

body_text: A Nevada woman pleaded guilty today for engaging in a prize notice fraud scheme that defrauded thousands of consumers, many of whom were elderly, across the United States and abroad. Barbara Trickle, 80, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. According to the indictment, Trickle and her co-conspirators prepared and mailed millions of fraudulent prize notices that led their victims to believe that they had been individually selected to receive a large cash prize and would receive their prize if they paid a $20 to $50 fee. In reality, no victim ever received a large cash prize from Trickle or her co-conspirators. Instead, victims received a “report” describing sweepstakes opportunities or a trinket of minimal value. After victims responded to one fraudulent prize notice mailing, Trickle and her co-conspirators inundated them with additional fraudulent mailings. Trickle and her co-conspirators used the scheme to steal more than $15 million from victims. The fraud scheme operated from 2012 to February 2018, when the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) executed multiple search warrants and the Justice Department obtained a court order shutting down the fraudulent mail operation. Trickle was the owner and operator of a printing and mailing business that produced the fraudulent prize notice mailings for the scheme. Trickle supervised the lasering, printing, and mailing of the fraudulent mailings. “The Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch is committed to protecting elderly consumers from fraudulent mass-mailing schemes,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We are grateful to the Postal Inspection Service for their thorough investigation in this matter.” “The defendant and her co-conspirators used the promise of sweepstakes winnings to defraud the most vulnerable members in our communities,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations Group. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to aggressively investigate mass-mailing schemes and other types of fraud to protect older Americans from financial exploitation and bring criminals to justice.” The USPIS conducted the investigation. Trial Attorneys Carolyn Rice and Charles Dunn of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted the case, with substantial assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada. The department urges individuals to be on the lookout for fraudulent lottery, prize notification, sweepstakes, and psychic scams. If you receive a phone call, letter or email promising a large prize in exchange for a fee, do not respond. Fraudsters often will use official-sounding names or the names of real lotteries or sweepstakes or pretend to be a government agent purportedly helping to secure a prize. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov .


title: Philadelphia Man Charged With Two Armed Carjackings, Two Commercial Robberies, and Gun Crimes

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Azzubayr Ibn Abdul Josey, 23, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged by indictment with two counts of carjacking, two counts of carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, two counts of robbery which interferes with interstate commerce (Hobbs Act robbery), and one count of possession of a stolen firearm. The defendant was arrested this morning and made his initial appearance in Magistrate Court before the Honorable Scott W. Reid. As alleged in the indictment, on November 9, 2024, Josey carjacked a 2011 Toyota Sienna in Philadelphia at gunpoint. Then on November 24, 2024, he is alleged to have carjacked a 2006 Honda Civic in Philadelphia, again at gunpoint. The same day, the defendant allegedly robbed a Family Dollar in West Philadelphia, where he simulated that he had a firearm. Finally, on November 25, 2024, Josey is alleged to have robbed a CVS in West Philadelphia, again simulating that he had a firearm. The indictment also alleges that the defendant possessed a stolen firearm on December 11, 2024. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment and a mandatory minimum sentence of 14 years’ 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 case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert and Special Assistant United States Attorney David Osborne. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.


title: Corpus Christi man guilty of sexual exploitation of a child

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 19-year-old Corpus Christi resident has admitted to distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The investigation began in December 2023, when Angel Valdez left a comment on a social media page supporting the work of an individual who had recently been sentenced to prison in Australia for animal cruelty. Australian law enforcement investigated further and began conversations with Valdez in an undercover capacity. In those communications, Valdez spoke about his interest in animal cruelty which later developed into child sexual abuse material (CSAM). On Feb. 14, 2024, Valdez sent a video depicting CSAM which included a video of a nude prepubescent girl and a nude adult female wearing a mask. The depiction showed the young child being forced to perform oral sex on the adult female. Law enforcement executed a search warrant June 28, 2024, which resulted in the discovery of a laptop containing CSAM. Valdez also admitted he had participated in the online conversation and to distributing the CSAM. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos will impose sentencing Aug. 12. At the time, Valdez faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Corpus Christi Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of authorities in Australia. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Overman is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page .


title: Honduran Man in U.S. Illegally is Charged With Gun Possession

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Marvin Enrique Pena-Portillo, 38, a Honduran national unlawfully residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of a firearm by a felon. He was ordered detained in federal custody at a detention hearing this afternoon. The criminal complaint alleges that, on April 15, 2025, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents arrested the defendant for immigration violations, Pena-Portillo had a loaded 9 mm semiautomatic pistol in his waistband. In August of 2024, in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, Pena-Portillo pleaded guilty to carrying an illegal firearm in public and was sentenced to two years of probation for that offense. 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 case was investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and the ATF. The charges and allegations contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.


title: U.S. Attorney Ed Martin Jr. Credits President Trump’s First 100 Days with 25% Drop in D.C. Violent Crime

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia is marking President Donald J. Trump's first 100 days by highlighting a 25 percent drop year-to-date in violent crime across the District, credited in part to the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative and the U.S. Attorney’s partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Metropolitan Police Department. "Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and the efforts of our 'Make D.C. Safe Again' initiative, the District has seen a significant decline in violent crime," said U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. "We are proving that strong enforcement and smart policies can make our communities safer,” he said. “When President Trump chose me to be the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, he could have picked anybody, but he picked me, because he knew I am committed to preparing the nation’s capital for America 250, when we welcome the rest of the country and the rest of the world to celebrate America’s founding,” Martin said. Martin is also a member of the president’s “Making DC Safe and Beautiful” Task Force. “Violent crime often negatively impacts an entire community, and the victims are often left to pick up the broken pieces. It is our job to ensure that there are far fewer victims, and more people are held accountable for the crimes they commit,” said ATF Washington Field Division Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood. “The safety of our communities is our number one priority, and our actions will continue to reflect just how committed we are. We remain in lockstep with our law enforcement partners as well as the United States Attorney’s Office to ensure that people who arbitrarily engage in acts of violence are prosecuted and held accountable for their actions.” According to data provided by the Metropolitan Police Department, total violent crime has declined by 25 percent year-to-date in 2025, with significant decreases in robberies, assaults with a dangerous weapon, and homicides. In March of 2025, U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. launched 'Make D.C. Safe Again', a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful. Make D.C. Safe Again aims to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenses, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. The U.S. Attorney's Office has brought federal firearms charges against 35 defendants since the launch of the 'Make D.C. Safe Again' initiative. Recent cases include: Defendant Charged with Illegal Gun Possession in Superior Court Now Faces Federal Firearm Charge. District Man Indicted for Illegal Firearm Possession Following Arrest in Northeast D.C. Indictment Charges Maryland Man with Illegal Possession of a Firearm . Felon with Firearm Indicted After Arrest for Committing Lewd Act in Northeast . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Fresno County Farmer Sentenced to Prison for Crop Insurance Fraud

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: Jatinderjeet “Jyoti” Sihota, 40, of Selma, was sentenced today to one year in prison for conspiring to commit crop insurance fraud, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. According to court records, for many years, Sihota’s family’s farming operation produced table grapes and other crops in Fresno and Tulare Counties, and it sold many of those crops through a fruit packing company where Ralph Hackett, 69, of Clovis, was a member and manager. Beginning in 2012, Sihota became involved with her family’s farming operation. Thereafter, from 2012 through 2016, she and Hackett carried out a fraud scheme to obtain more than $650,000 in crop insurance payments to which they were not entitled. They caused altered records that underreported the amount of crops the farming operation sold through the fruit packing company to be provided to the insurance company to make it appear as though the farming operation had suffered significant crop losses when that was not true. Emails and other evidence showed that the fraud was Sihota’s idea. She pleaded with Hackett to make the alterations, instructed him on the specific changes that needed to be made, and asked him to keep everything a secret. Sihota emailed other fruit brokers asking them to alter records for her, but they refused to do so. This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and Risk Management Agency Special Investigations Staff. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton prosecuted the case. Hackett was charged separately and has pleaded guilty for his role in the fraud. Hackett is scheduled to be sentenced on May 27, 2025. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in federal prison and $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Accountant Pleads Guilty to $8 Million Tax Fraud

component: Tax Division

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Rodney Ermel, 71, of Colorado entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Court Judge Mark Kearney on charges of tax evasion and conspiracy to defraud the United States. According to court documents and statements made in court, Ermel owned and managed a Colorado-based accounting firm. Along with co-defendant Kenneth Bacon, Ermel provided accounting and tax preparation services for co-defendant Joseph LaForte, LaForte’s wife and co-defendant Lisa McElhone, and their business entities. Ermel conspired with LaForte, Bacon, and others to hide approximately $20 million in income. He did this through various fraudulent accounting practices, such as fabricating shareholder loans and “bad debt” deductions. Ermel also filed tax returns which he knew underreported taxable income by over $20 million between 2016 and 2018. Ermel’s fraud caused a loss to the United States of over $8 million. Ermel is the fourth defendant to plead guilty to criminal conduct related to this tax scheme. Sentencing is scheduled for September 3. The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Newcomer and John J. Boscia for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Trial Attorney Ezra Spiro of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the case.


title: Norteño Gang Member Sentenced for Manufacturing Destructive Devices and Possessing a Silencer

body_text: Joseph Marcus Silva, 28, of Porterville, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to five years and 11 months in prison for manufacturing three destructive devices and possessing an unregistered silencer, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. According to court documents, Silva is a member of the Norteño gang subset called Varrio Central Poros and a convicted felon. Silva manufactured three destructive devices, using a 3D printer to make two of them. One of the 3D-printed destructive devices was similar to a military claymore mine that read, “FRONT TOWARDS ENEMY.” A claymore mine is a directional fragmentation, antipersonnel mine that is capable of incapacitating, injuring, or killing people. The second 3D-printed destructive device was a military-type M67 grenade. Silva also made a destructive device consisting of a glass tube with flash powder, BBs, and a fuse. In addition, Silva admitted that he unlawfully possessed an unregistered silencer, which had previously been used. Silva also possessed nine additional firearms, including six 3D-printed orange and gray frames, as depicted below: 3D-printed orange and gray frames possessed by Silva A frame, which is the part of a firearm that integrates other components by providing housing for internal action components, is considered a firearm. This case was the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Tulare County Agency Regional Gun Violence Enforcement Team of the California Department of Justice, the Porterville Police Department, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen A. Escobar prosecuted the case. 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 U.S. Department of Justice 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.


title: Former School Bus Driver Pleads Guilty to Possessing Thousands of Images of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: RIVERSIDE, California – A San Bernardino County man who once worked as a school bus driver pleaded guilty today to a federal criminal charge for possessing thousands of images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Donal James Seaver, 51, of Hesperia, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. Seaver has been in federal custody since March 2024. According to his plea agreement, federal and local law enforcement executed a search warrant at Seaver’s residence in March 2024. Law enforcement seized four digital devices from Seaver and his bedroom, three of which contained CSAM. One of the devices – a Samsung tablet – contained thousands of images depicting CSAM. Seaver admitted in his plea agreement that he knew the files contained videos and images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He further admitted to knowingly downloading CSAM from the internet onto his devices – material that depicted children under the age of 12 years. United States District Judge Jesus G. Bernal scheduled an August 25 sentencing hearing, at which time Seaver will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The FBI and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Sonah Lee of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case.


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Using Stash House to Violate Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on April 15, 2025, TRAVIS ENCLADE (“ENCLADE”) , age 43, was sentenced to 288 months imprisonment after previously being found guilty of conspiring to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of a mixture containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 100 grams or more of a mixture containing a detectable amount of heroin, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of a mixture containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 100 grams or more of a mixture containing a detectable amount of heroin, and of being a felon in possession of firearms. Following his imprisonment, ENCLADE will be placed on supervised release for 5 years. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, ENCLADE and his co-defendant, conspired together, and with others, to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl in New Orleans from August 2022 through October 12, 2022. During this time, ENCLADE and the co-defendant engaged in multiple hand-to-hand transactions, almost daily, with drug customers in the Hollygrove area. In September 2022, law enforcement identified a residence in the 3500 block of Encampment Street in New Orleans as a stash house used by the co-defendant and ENCLADE . Both the co-defendant and ENCLADE each made short trips to the stash house regularly. Both men, also had key access to enter the house. All of these facts were indicative of going in the house quickly to access drugs. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the stash house, and other addresses associated with the co-defendant and ENCLADE, on October 12, 2022. During the search of the stash house, law enforcement seized over 534 grams of heroin and fentanyl, over 120 grams of fentanyl, and 363 grams of methamphetamine, which included 327.5 grams of pure methamphetamine. Law enforcement also seized a Diamondback, Model DB9, multicaliber pistol, and a Palmetto State Armory, Model PA-X9, multicaliber pistol. The stash house was nearly vacant other than the drug paraphernalia, such as numerous unused vacuum seal bags, a plastic mixer bottle containing a brownish residue, numerous digital scales with suspected drug residue, a large mechanical press used to compress drugs into kilogram shaped packages for later distribution, and several bags of brown sugar, which is often used a cutting agent. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Orleans Division, the Drug Enforcement Administration Special Response Team, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Response Team, the New Orleans Police Department, the Louisiana State Police, the Slidell Police Department, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, and the Thibodeaux Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Rachal Cassagne and André Jones of the Narcotics Unit are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Norteño Gang Member Who Fled Days Before 2024 Sentencing Date Sentenced To Seven Years In Federal Prison For Illegal Firearms Possession

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Nicholas Addleman was sentenced today to 84 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge James Donato handed down the sentence. According to court documents, Addleman, 38, of Vallejo, Calif., a longtime member of the San Francisco Mission District Norteños, previously served five years in state custody following convictions for assault with a deadly weapon and shooting at an inhabited dwelling. Addleman was released on parole in July 2022. A few months after his release, on Oct. 14, 2022, police officers conducted a parole search of Addleman’s vehicle and recovered two Glock firearms, including one with a loaded extended magazine, in a hidden compartment behind the center console. Addleman admitted to officers that the firearms were his, and his DNA was found on the grip of one of the guns. Addleman was charged by complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) in November 2022. He pleaded guilty to the offense in September 2023, and was originally scheduled to be sentenced on his federal firearms conviction in February 2024. Days before the sentencing, Addleman absconded from pretrial supervision, and the Court issued a bench warrant for his arrest. At the time of his arrest in December 2024, a search of his Vallejo residence found multiple assault rifles, large capacity magazines, and suspected gun silencers. In addition to the prison term, Judge Donato ordered Addleman to serve three years of supervised release and to forfeit the firearms and ammunition seized by police. Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement. 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. In May 2021, the Department of Justice 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. This prosecution was brought by the Violent Crime Strike Force and is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leif Dautch prosecuted this case, with the assistance of Nina Burney. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, the San Francisco Police Department, and Vallejo Police Department.


title: Northwest Arkansas Business Owners Plead Guilty to Scheme to Defraud Pandemic Relief Loan Programs

component: USAO - Arkansas, Western

body_text: FAYETTEVILLE —A Florida couple, formerly of Northwest Arkansas, pleaded guilty Monday to defrauding Pandemic Relief Loan Programs. U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the plea hearing, in which Fawaad Welch , age 41, and Julia Youngblood , age 41, both waived indictment and pleaded guilty to a criminal information. Welch pled to wire fraud and Youngblood pled to misprision of a felony related to the scheme. According to court documents and statements made in court, between May of 2020 through October of 2021, Welch and Youngblood applied for Pandemic Relief Loan Programs through their Arkansas business, Slipstream Creative, LLC, which was a Northwest Arkansas advertising and marketing company located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Throughout the applications, Welch provided the lenders with false statements regarding their assets and liabilities and the intended use of funds received through the SBA7(a), Economic Injury Disaster Loan and Main Street Loan Programs. Youngblood them signed those application on behalf of the business. According to the information filed by the Government, after receiving the loan funds, Welch then diverted large parts of the loan proceeds for the personal benefit of the couple. For example, in the applications submitted for these loans, the couple failed to disclose material information such as tax liabilities and the fact that they were receiving loans from the other loan programs. Also, within months of receiving $1.5 million in “working capital” Economic Injury Disaster Loan funds in October 2021, Welch transferred $1.3 million of that loan to the couple’s personal bank account. The couple then purchased a home in Florida using $445,000 of those Government program loan funds. According to the plea agreement entered into by Welch, after being asked by Generations Bank officials if Welch and Youngblood take salaries and informed that “the Fed restricts changes to your salaries with the [Main Street Loan Program] and doesn’t allow distributions, Welch replied, “Yes sir we do at 10k a month so all is good there. 5k a piece.” After receiving the $3 million in program funds, within a month Welch had transferred $950,000 in Main Street Loan Program funds out of the business and to himself. In the plea agreements with the Government, the couple agrees that pursuant to this scheme, they should be held accountable for more than $3.5 million but less than $9.0 million in intended loss. Following the preparation of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office, Welch and Youngblood will be scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. Welch faces a maximum penalty of twenty (20) years in prison, and Youngblood faces a maximum penalty of three (3) years in prison. Both individuals will also be assessed a period of supervised release, monetary penalties, and restitution. U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks will determine the couple’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney David Clay Fowlkes announced the change of plea hearings. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Relief investigated the case. U. S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Wulff are prosecuting the case for the United States. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division's prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at Justice.gov/OPA/pr/justice-department-takes-action-against-covid-19-fraud. Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov .


title: Southfield Doctor Convicted of Illegally Prescribing more than 200,000 Opioid pills

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – On April 25, 2025, a federal jury convicted Dr. Charise Valentine, 69, of Southfield, of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute prescription opioids, including Oxycodone and Oxymorphone, and 10 counts of illegal distribution of Oxycodone and Oxymorphone, Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck announced. Beck was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvorea Gibson, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division, and Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office. Dr. Valentine was convicted for her role as one of two primary doctors at Orthopedic Medical Building who issued illegal opioid prescriptions. From November 2016 to July 2018, Dr. Valentine issued more than 3,000 prescriptions for more than 200,000 pills to supposed “patients” who did not have a legitimate medical need for the drugs. The “patients” were typically brought to the clinic by “patient recruiters/marketers.” Orthopedic Medical Building, a sham clinic that operated out of a warehouse in Oak Park, Michigan, accepted only cash, and charged patients $200-500 per prescription, but did not charge anything if the patient didn’t receive an opioid prescription. The prices were not based on the service provided, but instead based on the quantity, type, and dosage of prescription opioids that the “patient” received, usually Oxycodone 30mg or Oxymorphone 40mg, two of the most addictive prescription opioids. These prescription drugs are also among the most highly diverted prescription opioids due to their high street value. The clinic also charged cash for the creation of fraudulent medical records for the supposed “patients.” Dr. Valentine was paid about 50% of the clinic’s proceeds – more than $500,000 in cash over about 19 months – and was paid only if she wrote an opioid prescription to a patient, not based on any supposed “medical care.” She received an envelope of thousands in cash each day she worked. The other defendants charged in the case, including clinic operator Iris Winchester, Dr. Michele Ritter, clinic employee Kristina Brown, and Joyce Robinson, previously pleaded guilty. “Addressing the sources of the opioid epidemic – which include addictive opioid prescription pills as well as street drugs – remains a top priority of this office,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Beck. “We continue to focus on doctors who, rather than helping to address the terrible impact the opioid epidemic, use the cover of a “medical office” to write illegal prescriptions for the opioids that fuel the crisis.” "The conviction of Dr. Valentine, who abused her position of trust by prescribing opioids in exchange for cash, underscores the FBI's strong commitment to holding medical professionals accountable under federal law," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. "Physicians and other healthcare providers are entrusted with the well-being of our communities and are expected to maintain the highest ethical standards. Those who violate that trust for personal financial gain can expect to be investigated and brought to justice by the FBI's Detroit Field Office. I also want to thank our partners at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General for their collaboration and support throughout this case." “Physicians who prescribe powerful opioids and other controlled substances, without regard for medical necessity, endanger the health and safety of the very patients they have sworn an oath to protect,” said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “Working in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, our agency is committed to identifying and investigating those medical providers who place profits over patient safety.” This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew J. Lievense and Wayne F. Pratt. The Eastern District of Michigan is one of the twelve districts included in the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit, a Department of Justice initiative that uses data to target and prosecute individuals that are contributing to the nation’s opioid crisis. The case was investigated by special agents and task force officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General.


title: Two Lincoln Men Convicted by Jury for Drug Charges

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that a federal jury in Lincoln, Nebraska, returned a guilty verdict on April 24, 2025, against Olen Warner aka Dan Warner, age 51, and Ernesto Leyva, age 36, both of Lincoln. Warner was convicted for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogue and one count of distribution of a mixture or substance containing any fentanyl analogue and a mixture of substance containing fentanyl. Leyva was convicted for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, fentanyl analogue, and heroin. The verdict subjects Warner to a potential prison term of up to life and a minimum of ten years for count one and a potential prison term of up to 40 years and a minimum of five years for count two. The verdict subjects Leyva to a potential prison term of up to life and a minimum of ten years. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis presided over the trial and set sentencing as to both defendants for July 17, 2025. Olen Warner was involved in drug trafficking meth and fentanyl in Lincoln and the District of Nebraska, since at least October 2019. Ernesto Leyva was involved in the distribution of fentanyl, pills and powder, and heroin in the Lincoln area since 2021. He also trafficked in meth. Co-defendant Danna Hespen, who had pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge, had been involved in the distribution of meth in the Lincoln area since at least 2021. She mainly dealt in meth but would also occasionally sell fentanyl and heroin. The three began working together in earnest shortly after Hespen got out of jail in November of 2022. Phone records show that the trio was working together by December 2022. From December 2022 until July 2023 the three worked together to sell meth, fentanyl, and heroin. Warner brought meth and fentanyl from Colorado to Hespen, Leyva, and others, in Lincoln to distribute. Over the course of the conspiracy, Warner brought pounds of meth and thousands of M30 pills to Lincoln for Hespen and Leyva to sell. Warner made trips to Colorado about once a week to pick up the drugs for Hespen and Leyva. Hespen and Leyva were dating and were often involved in transactions together. Hespen sold most of the meth and Leyva sold most of the M30 pills. They made sales together and occasionally sold each other’s product on the other’s behalf. This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force and the Greater Omaha Safe Streets Task Force.


title: Rhode Island Man Admits Role to Defraud New Hampshire Automobile Dealership

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Providence man admitted to a federal judge in Rhode Island that he participated in a scheme to defraud automobile dealerships in Rhode Island and New Hampshire, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. Adalberto Mauricio Romero, 28, admitted that he intended to defraud a New Hampshire dealership in May 2022, when he sought to take possession of a Land Rover valued at $95,713. Delivery of the vehicle to Romero was halted when he presented a fraudulent driver’s license containing information that was used as part of an online application to secure financing through a dealership financing program. Romero pleaded guilty on April 24. 2025, to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24, 2025. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr. The matter was investigated by the Warwick, RI, Police Department, the Bedford, NH, Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General. ###


title: Former Air Force Reservist Sentenced to 120 Months in Federal Prison for Attempted Sex with a Minor

component: USAO - Guam & Northern Mariana Islands

body_text: Hagatña – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announces that, Richard Jay Ais Solang, age 46, from Dededo, Guam, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment in the U.S. District Court of Guam for Attempted Enticement of a Minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b). The Court also ordered five years of supervised release and a $100 mandatory assessment fee. Under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Solang must register in every jurisdiction he resides, works, and goes to school. On May 2, 2024, Solang, using the screen name “AAFB Throater 99” began communicating with an undercover agent on Grindr, a social media application. Solang stated he was interested in having sexual contact with the undercover. On May 9, 2024, the undercover indicated he was a 13-year-old male. Solang attempted to gain the alleged minor’s trust by telling him about a sexual experience he had with a 15-year-old in a restroom. He claimed to have also met that minor on Grindr. Solang traveled to Andersen Air Force Base to perform oral sex on the minor. He was arrested at a pre-arranged rendezvous point by special agents with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Solang was interviewed by Homeland Security Investigations special agents and confessed to his actions. Prior to Solang’s arrest, he was an Air Force Reservist, a civilian with Andersen Air Force Base passenger terminal, and also employed by the Mayor’s Council of Guam. “Our efforts to combat child predators will not stop,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “The welfare of our children remains a cornerstone of community safety. This case serves as a reminder to all parents and guardians to be alert for online threats to their families. I encourage them to promptly report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.” “The sentencing of former Air Force reservist Mr. Solang for attempted sexual misconduct with a minor underscores HSI’s commitment to protecting the most vulnerable of our community,” said Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cabral-DeArmas. “HSI has zero tolerance for the abuse of minors and will spare no effort in securing justice for these most heinous crimes.” Investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and Air Force Office of Special Investigations Service, Detachment 602. This case was prosecuted by Devarup Rastogi, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Guam Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 120 Months in Federal Prison

body_text: Hagåtña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Lorina Ann Fejeran, aka Lori Leon Guerrero, age 55, from Dededo, Guam was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment. She was convicted in the U.S. District Court of Guam for Conspiracy to Distribute Fifty or more Grams of Methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1), and Engaging in Monetary Transactions with Proceeds of Specified Unlawful Activity, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(1)(1)(B)(i). The Court ordered that Fejeran forfeit $1,636.00 and pay a money judgment in the amount of $45,500.00. The money judgment represented money she wired to her supplier to pay for drugs. The Court also ordered three years of supervised release and a mandatory $200 special assessment fee. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits. On November 29, 2022, the United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted a suspicious package addressed to “Srgt. Vincent Fejeran.” The package contained 437 gross grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride with a purity of 98 percent. On December 1, 2022, Fejeran and co-defendant Jesse Fergurgur Belen attempted to receive the drugs. As law enforcement stopped Fejeran’s car, Jesse Fegurgur Belen grabbed the package and fled on foot. He abandoned the package in a residential yard before being arrested. The investigation revealed that Fejeran communicated with her drug supplier using WhatsApp and received three prior drug packages containing methamphetamine. Fejeran wired or had others wire over $45,000.00 to her supplier or his nominee using MoneyGram. At the time of her arrest, she possessed $1,636 in illegal proceeds from drug sales. Fejeran admitted that she recruited Jesse Fegurgur Belen to receive “dope” as well to “make some cash” in exchange for assisting her in picking up the package. Jesse Fergurgur Belen, was previously sentenced in this matter to 105 months in federal prison for Attempted Possession with Intent to Distribute Fifty or more Grams of Methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). The Court also ordered five years of supervised release, forfeiture of $1,636, 50 hours of community service, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. “This case demonstrates the substantial penalties a drug trafficker may face in federal court,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “Even when evidence is insufficient to charge an individual, we will still remove illicit drugs from the mail to stop the supply to Guam. No community should suffer from this criminal activity.” "The sentencing of Ms. Fejeran underscores HSI's commitment to collaborating with our law enforcement partners to keep drugs out of Guam,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cabral-DeArmas. “We recognize the severe harm illegal narcotics inflicts on communities and spare no effort in ensuring that those who contribute to drug trafficking are held accountable for their actions.” “Dangerous controlled substances like methamphetamine put postal workers and our communities at risk. Postal inspectors will aggressively pursue anyone who uses the US Mail to transport and distribute deadly drugs,” said United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) San Francisco Division - Inspector in Charge Stephen Sherwood. “We thank our federal and local law enforcement partners, including Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, Guam Police Department, and the Guam National Guard Counterdrug Program for working with us to combat these crimes in the effort to make our communities a safer place to live and work.” This investigation was conducted by the Homeland Security Investigations and United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Rosetta L. San Nicolas prosecuted the case in the District of Guam. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Drug Supplier Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine

body_text: Hagåtña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Alejandro Manuel B. Gagarin, aka Alex, age 31, from Inarajan, Guam was sentenced on April 24, 2025, to serve 12 months and 1 day imprisonment. He was charged in the U.S. District Court of Guam with Conspiracy to Distribute Fifty or More Grams of Methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846. The Court also ordered five years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits. Between March 2021 through April 2022, Alejandro Manuel B. Gagarin conspired with Timothy Jerome Concepcion, a person identified as I.M.C., Jacob Vance Manibusan, and other persons to distribute more than 50 grams of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride. The drug distribution occurred at hotel rooms rented from a local resort hotel. Gagarin and his co-defendant Manibusan rented out two hotel rooms. Gagarin then greeted customers in the lobby of the hotel and escorted them to the hotel room for the drug transactions. After receiving the methamphetamine from Gagarin, the customers would stay in the hotel room and smoke methamphetamine with Concepcion. The customers would pay Gagarin for the drug, he would in turn return the proceeds from the sale of the methamphetamine to Concepcion. Co-conspirators: Timothy Jerome Concepcion, age 26, was sentenced on February 7, 2024, to 120 months imprisonment and 5 years supervised release. He pled guilty for Conspiracy to Distribute Fifty or More Grams of Methamphetamine and Using and Carrying a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime. Jacob Vance Manibusan aka Kadi, age 36, was sentenced on April 3, 2024, to 70 months imprisonment and 4 years supervised release. He pled guilty for Conspiracy to Distribute Five or More Grams of Methamphetamine. “Minor participants in federal drug crimes will not walk away without penalties,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “Considering the effects of methamphetamine on our communities, those with any role in drug trafficking are potential targets for prosecution. The public rightly demands accountability for this unlawful conduct.” "The sentencing of Mr. Gagarin is a testament to HSI's zero tolerance for those who engage in drug trafficking in Guam," said Homeland Security Investigations Hawaii Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cabral-DeArmas. "HSI will aggressively pursue those, like Gagarin, who facilitate the infiltration of harmful substances into our communities." This investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Rosetta L. San Nicolas, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. On Saturday, April 26th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) will provide the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Location information is available from the DEA, along with items that cannot be accepted. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. This April's event is DEA's 28th nationwide event since its inception 15 years ago. Last spring, Americans turned in 629,953 pounds of prescription drugs at nearly 4,644 sites operated by the DEA and 4,425 from its state and local law enforcement partners. The DEA will now accept vaping devices and cartridges at any of its drop-off locations during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. It is important to note that DEA cannot accept devices containing lithium-ion batteries. If batteries cannot be removed prior to drop-off, DEA encourages individuals to consult with stores that recycle lithium-ion batteries. Concerns have been raised across the United States over illnesses and deaths caused by vaping and the high youth vaping initiation rates. To support a healthy lifestyle and energetic population, especially among America’s youth, DEA is committed to doing all it can to help safely dispose of vaping devices and substances. The DEA’s “Take Back” day and “Get Smart About Drugs” initiatives address the vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses because of these drugs. Synthetic opioids, such as illicit fentanyl, are the primary driver of the increase in overdose deaths. For information on DEA’s “Take Back” in Spanish , click here , or for more information on the “Get Smart About Drugs” publication, click for English or Spanish. In addition to DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, there are many other ways to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs every day, including the 11,000 authorized collectors that are available all year long. For more information, visit DEA’s year-round collection site locator. Participating in the next DEA Take Back Day on Saturday, April 26th, simply means cleaning out your medicine cabinet or anywhere you keep unused, unwanted, or expired medications and dropping them off at your nearest collection site. For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 26th Take Back day event, go to DEA Drug Take Back event or by calling 800-882-9539 . The FDA also provides information on how to properly dispose of prescription drugs. More information is available here: English or Spanish . ###


title: Cameroonian Man Indicted for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Armed Separatist Fighters to Murder, Kidnap, and Maim Individuals in Cameroon and For Making Threats

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in Baltimore returned an indictment yesterday charging a Cameroonian national residing in Maryland, Eric Tataw, also known as “the Garri Master,” 38, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, with conspiring to provide material support to armed separatist militias in Cameroon and threatening violence against Cameroonian civilians. He surrendered and will make his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Mark Coulson today. According to court documents, multiple armed and violent secessionist groups in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon are fighting to form a new country called “Ambazonia.” The armed separatist militias sought to achieve secession by not only attacking the Cameroonian military, but also intentionally attacking the civilian population in Cameroon in an attempt to force the Cameroonian government into allowing these regions to secede. These separatist fighters are frequently referred to as “Amba Boys.” “The defendant is alleged to have ordered horrific acts of violence, including severing limbs, against Cameroonian civilians in support of a violent secessionist movement,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This indictment represents the Justice Department’s commitment to hold accountable human rights violators who direct brutal political violence and fundraise for armed militias from the comfort of the United States.” “The Justice Department will not tolerate those who help murder, maim, and kidnap,” said Sue J. Bai, Head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “We will continue to hold accountable those who aim to turn American soil into a staging ground for political violence abroad.” “Tataw and his co-conspirators masterminded and financially supported a vicious scheme to overthrow a foreign government. They resorted to an unthinkable level of violence while instilling fear in innocent victims to advance their political agenda,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. “We, along with our law enforcement partners, are committed to relentlessly pursuing anyone who attempts to inflict mayhem on others. Tataw and his co-conspirators demonstrated a total disregard for human life so now they must pay the price.” As alleged in the indictment, Tataw was a citizen of Cameroon living in Maryland and was a member of the Cameroonian diaspora with a large social media following. Beginning in April 2018, Tataw and others sought to raise funds for the Amba Boys to finance violent attacks in Cameroon. Tataw also allegedly called for the murder, kidnapping, and maiming of civilians and the destruction of public, educational, and cultural property in Cameroon. Tataw and his co-conspirators allegedly directed the maiming of Cameroonian civilians by severing their limbs, a practice Tataw called “Garriing.” Tataw allegedly used the phrase “small Garri” to refer to removing fingers or other small appendages and the phrase “large Garri” to refer to removing large limbs or killing people. Additionally, Tataw allegedly referred to himself as the “Garri Master,” or master of mutilation. Tataw and his co-conspirators allegedly targeted those believed to be working for or collaborating with the government, including municipal officials, traditional chiefs, and employees of the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), a public company that grew, processed, and sold bananas, palm oil, and rubber. As alleged, Tataw personally wrote hundreds of social media posts on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter calling for attacks against Cameroonian civilians, seeking to raise funds to arm Amba Boys, and threatening those he viewed as cooperating with the government of Cameroon. These social media posts were regularly viewed by tens of thousands of people, including Amba Boys and their leaders, and were often further disseminated by third parties allegedly acting at Tataw’s direction or encouragement. Tataw is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide material support and four counts of interstate communication of a threat to harm. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on the material support count and five years in prison on each count of communication of a threat to harm. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Sue J. Bai, Head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland; and Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Maryland made the announcement. HSI and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, with assistance from the FBI, are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Chelsea Schinnour of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina Hoffman and Joseph Wenner for the District of Maryland, and Trial Attorneys Michael Dittoe and Andrew Briggs of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Note: the headline has been updated.


title: Maryland Man Charged With Providing Material Support to a Conspiracy to Murder, Kidnap, and Maim Individuals in Cameroon

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Eric Tano Tataw, 38, of Gaithersburg, Maryland. The Cameroonian national, also known as “the Garri Master,” is charged with conspiring to provide material support to armed separatist groups in Cameroon and making threatening communications to injure or kidnap Cameroonian civilians. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Sue J. Bai, Head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; and Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Maryland. According to court documents, multiple armed and violent secessionist groups in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon are fighting to form a new country called “Ambazonia.” The armed separatist groups sought to achieve secession by not only attacking the Cameroonian military, but also intentionally attacking the civilian population in Cameroon in an attempt to coerce and intimidate the Cameroonian government into allowing these regions to secede. These separatist fighters are frequently referred to as “Amba Boys.” “Tataw and his co-conspirators masterminded and financially supported a vicious scheme to overthrow a foreign government. They resorted to an unthinkable level of violence while instilling fear in innocent victims to advance their political agenda,” Hayes said. “We, along with our law enforcement partners, are committed to relentlessly pursuing anyone who attempts to inflict mayhem on others. Tataw and his co-conspirators demonstrated a total disregard for human life so now they must pay the price.” “The defendant is alleged to have ordered horrific acts of violence, including severing limbs, against Cameroonian civilians in support of a violent secessionist movement,” Galeotti said. “This indictment represents the Justice Department’s commitment to hold accountable human rights violators who direct brutal political violence and fundraise for armed militias from the comfort of the United States.” “The Justice Department will not tolerate those who help murder, maim, and kidnap,” Bai said. “We will continue to hold accountable those who aim to turn American soil into a staging ground for political violence abroad.” As alleged in the indictment, Tataw was a citizen of Cameroon living in Maryland and was a member of the Cameroonian diaspora with a large social media following. Beginning no later than April 2018, Tataw conspired to provide material support and resources — including money, weapons, and personnel — to Amba Boys in Cameroon, and called for the murder, kidnapping, and maiming of Cameroonian civilians. Tataw and his co-conspirators directed the maiming of Cameroonian civilians by severing their limbs, a practice Tataw called “Garriing.” Tataw used the phrase “small Garri” to refer to removing fingers or other small appendages and the phrase “large Garri” to refer to removing large limbs or killing people. Additionally, Tataw referred to himself as the “Garri Master,” or master of mutilation. Tataw and his co-conspirators targeted those believed to be working for or collaborating with the government, including municipal officials, traditional chiefs, and employees of the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), a government-owned company that grew, processed, and sold bananas, palm oil, and rubber. As alleged, Tataw personally wrote hundreds of social media posts on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter calling for attacks against Cameroonian civilians, seeking to raise funds to arm Amba Boys, and threatening those he viewed as cooperating with the Cameroonian government. These social media posts were regularly viewed by tens of thousands of people, including Amba Boys and their leaders, and were often further disseminated by third parties allegedly acting at Tataw’s direction or encouragement. Tataw and his co-conspirators solicited and raised funds to supply Amba Boys with firearms, ammunition, explosive materials, and other equipment for enforcing lockdown or “ghost-town” orders and carrying out violent attacks. A fundraising campaign, known as the “National AK Campaign,” was designed to arm each Amba Boy in Cameroon with an AK-47 rifle. From about September 2018 through December 2020, Tataw and his co-conspirators raised more than $110,000. Tataw and co-conspirators transferred portions of these funds — either directly or through intermediaries — to Amba Boys located in Cameroon and neighboring Nigeria. Additionally, Tataw communicated directly with Amba Boy leaders on the ground in Cameroon. Tataw also, on multiple occasions, personally took credit for Amba Boys murdering, kidnapping, and maiming civilians in connection with the separatists’ cause. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. All defendants charged by indictment are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding. If convicted, Tataw faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on the material support count and five years in prison on each count of making threatening communications to injure or kidnap. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the HSI Maryland’s Document and Benefit Fraud/El Dorado Task Force, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and Federal Bureau of Investigation – Baltimore Field Office for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christina A. Hoffman and Joseph Wenner; Trial Attorney Chelsea Schinnour of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section; and Michael Dittoe and Andrew Briggs, National Security Division, who are prosecuting this case, along with the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs for their valuable assistance. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . To report a Maryland-based hate crime, contact the FBI Baltimore field office at (410) 265-8080 or www.tips.fbi.gov . # # #


title: Halifax County Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Distributing Narcotics in Halifax County

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Troy Covington, age 54, was sentenced Tuesday to 11 years in prison for distributing methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine. Covington pleaded guilty to the charges on January 23, 2025. According to court records and evidence presented at sentencing, the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) conducted a series of controlled purchases from Covington from April 2023 to May 2024. Specifically, on July 20, 2023, HCSO conducted a purchase of more than 80 grams of pure methamphetamine from Covington using a confidential source of information. HCSO conducted another controlled purchase from Covington on September 28, 2023, where he sold seven grams of pure methamphetamine to the source. That same day, HCSO executed a search warrant at Covington’s house in Roanoke Rapids. As a result, HCSO located more than 700 grams of pure methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, drug packaging and distribution materials, a firearm, ammunition, and approximately $2,200 in U.S. Currency. Covington has prior felony convictions for drug distribution, including possession with intent to distribute heroin from 2013 and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance in 2022. Additionally, Covington has a prior robbery with a dangerous weapon conviction from 2014. Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, Roanoke Rapids Police Department and DEA investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Dixon prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 4:24-CR-00042 . ###


title: Marathon County Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Conspiring to Traffic Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Dustin P. Brunker, 37, Weston, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 7 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Brunker pleaded guilty to this charge on January 28, 2025. In early 2024, investigators with the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force began investigating a group of individuals who were distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine in the Marathon County area. Brunker was identified as a distributor for the group. Following a series of controlled purchases of methamphetamine involving Brunker in March and April of 2024, task force officers executed a search warrant at a residence that Brunker shared with co-defendant Mercadys A. Perkins in Weston. Officers found over 300 grams of methamphetamine, over $2,000 in cash, drug ledgers, and other drug trafficking paraphernalia during the search. Further investigation revealed that between February 18, 2024, and April 12, 2024, a co-conspirator provided Brunker and Perkins approximately 16 pounds of methamphetamine and 6 ounces of cocaine intended for further distribution. At the time of these events, Brunker was serving a term of state supervision for two felony cases and out on state bond for a felony drug charge. His state supervision was revoked, and he was sentenced to a total of 3 years in state prison, which he is currently serving. Judge Conley ordered the federal sentence run concurrently with the remainder of Brunker’s state prison sentences. At sentencing, Judge Conley called Brunker’s large quantity methamphetamine trafficking egregious. Judge Conley further observed that while Brunker had a lengthy prior record, the conduct in the present case showed an escalation in criminality. Three others were charged in connection with this drug trafficking conspiracy. Mercadys Perkins was convicted of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and sentenced to 6 years in federal prison on April 17, 2025. Joshua Lake and Jessica Colby have pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced in the coming weeks. The charge against Brunker was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of investigators from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Bay Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force also assisted with the case. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. The Marathon County District Attorney’s Office also assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.


title: Former Trinidad ISD business manager sentenced to federal prison  for theft from school district

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: TYLER, Texas – An Orange, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for theft from the Trinidad Independent School District, announced Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. Brandon Delane Looney, 39, pleaded guilty to theft from a program receiving federal funds and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on April 24, 2025. According to information presented in court, Looney stole nearly $340,000 from Trinidad ISD between 2017 and 2023 while he served as Trinidad ISD’s business manager. Federal law makes it a crime for someone to steal from an organization receiving more than $10,000 in federal funds annually. Looney used the stolen funds to purchase personal trips to Walt Disney World and on spending sprees at the Disney Store. Trinidad ISD is one of the poorest school districts in Texas and suffered adverse financial consequences as a result of Looney’s theft. Looney worked with the Financial Litigation Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to liquidate his available assets, including his home, to pay $200,000 of the restitution before sentencing. The remaining balance of the restitution judgment will be collectible for 20 years after the termination of Looney’s incarceration. This case was investigated by FBI’s Tyler Field Office, with assistance from the Tyler Police Department and the Trinidad ISD. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Austin Wells. ###


title: Wilson Man Sentenced to 10 Years on Fentanyl  and Firearm Charges

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. – A Wilson man was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison for charges related to the sale of narcotics and possession of a firearm by convicted felon. Navon Shemar Freeman, 24, pled guilty on November 11, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents and other information presented in court, investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) received information in July 2023 that Freeman was selling narcotics. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) and Nash County Probation Office conducted a search of Freeman’s house and located fentanyl pills and firearms. One of the firearms seized was equipped with a fully operational, 3-D printed “switch,” which is a device that can be placed into a semi-automatic firearm to make it fully automatic. Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office, Nash County Probation Office, and the Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie A. Childress, Jimmie Bellamy, and Nicholas Hartigan prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-00252-FL. ###


title: Springfield Man Indicted for Drug and Firearms Offenses

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Springfield man was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mass., in connection with drug and firearms offenses. Hector Navarro, 36, was indicted for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being a felon in possession of ammunition and possessing a firearm if furtherance of a drug distribution felony. Navarro is currently in state custody on related charges and will appear in federal court in Springfield at a later date. According to the charging document, on Jan. 27, 2025, Navarro possessed cocaine intended for distribution, along with a 9-mm handgun with no serial number and approximately 47 rounds of ammunition. Navarro is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition due to a number of prior convictions including heroin distribution, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and assault with a dangerous weapon. The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1,000,000. The charge of being a felon in possession of ammunition provides for a sentence of at least 15 years in prison and up to life in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking felony provides for a sentence of at least five years in prison and up to life in prison, no more than three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Superintendent Lawrence Akers of the Springfield Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Norfolk man sentenced to over eight years in prison for federal drug and firearms conviction

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

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced today to eight years and one month in prison for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; being a felon in possession of a firearm; and using and carrying a firearm during, in relation to, and in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. According to court documents, from July 25, 2023, to Aug, 7, 2023, the Chesapeake Police Department (CPD) conducted four controlled purchases of narcotics and firearms from Donte Rodrick Mondy, aka Tae, 37. In total, Mondy sold a combined total of 2.9 grams of fentanyl and xylazine; 6.1 grams of fentanyl; 4.49 grams of fentanyl and xylazine; and 8.07 grams of parafluorofentanyl, cocaine, and xylazine. On Aug. 29,2023, investigators with CPD, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Norfolk Police Department, searched locations associated with Mondy, including his residence in Norfolk. Law enforcement detained Mondy as he left his residence. Investigators searched Mondy and a satchel he was carrying and recovered a loaded handgun; a cellphone; 81 capsules containing parafiuorofentanyl, cocaine, fentanyl, and xylazine; 104 counterfeit oxycodone tablets containing fentanyl; .96 grams of cocaine; and 3.33 grams of para-fluorofentanyl, cocaine, and xylazine. From Mondy’s Norfolk residence, investigators recovered indicia consistent with drug distribution; 1.3 grams of methamphetamine, a sifter, a digital scale, a handgun, a loaded magazine, and six bags of marijuana. Among other crimes, Mondy was previously convicted of felony possession of cocaine and assault and battery of a family member – third offense. As a previously convicted felon, Mondy cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ibrar A. Mian, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; and Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Marc W. West, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, prosecuted the case. 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. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-83.