title: Federal Jury Convicts Military Lawyer of Attempted Sexual Enticement and Exploitation of Minors

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that, after a five-day trial, Ross Andrew Brown, 44, of Kailua, was convicted by a federal jury on February 27, 2026 on two counts of attempted sexual enticement of a minor, two counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, and two counts of attempted receipt of child pornography. Brown is a lawyer serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps and is stationed in Hawaii. Sentencing is set for June 23, 2026. Brown was remanded into custody pending a bail hearing scheduled for March 4, 2026. At trial, the evidence showed that Brown communicated via social media platforms Whisper and Telegram with undercover law enforcement agents posing as a 14-year-old girl. During the communications, Brown attempted to persuade the fictitious girl to engage in sexual activity prohibited by Hawaii law, describing the acts in which they would engage and inquiring about the fictitious girl’s sexual history. On April 17, 2023, Brown drove to Schofield Barracks to meet the fictitious girl and was arrested by federal law enforcement agents. Evidence introduced at trial from Brown’s phone demonstrated that Brown engaged in sexually explicit online communications with 38 people who represented themselves to be girls as young as 12 years old. In a February 2021 conversation with a person presenting as a 15-year-old girl, Brown requested that the person photograph herself and a third party engaging in sexual activity and send it to him. Brown received from that person, whom Brown thought to be a 15-year-old girl, images of female genitalia and of a male and a female engaged in sex – all of which the other person indicated depicted her. In a June 2021 conversation with a person presenting as a 17-year-old, Brown received an image of female genitalia that the other person represented to be hers. In August 2021, during a layover while traveling for work, Brown attempted to persuade a person presenting as a 15-year-old girl to meet for sex in an airport hotel. After the other person did not show up for the rendezvous, Brown continued contacting that person, informing her that he would be in her home state in October 2021. “The jury’s conviction of Brown sends a strong message that those who use social media and the internet to sexually exploit children will face swift justice in Hawaii. We remain committed to charging, trying, and convicting those who seek to victimize our keiki with their repulsive conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “Hunting down and bringing to justice child predators like Brown remains one of our highest law enforcement priorities.” “It is a profound breach of trust to both our military community and the public we serve, when a senior military officer commits crimes that exploit the vulnerable,” said Special Agent in Charge Ruben Santiago, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Pacific Field Office. “This investigation makes it clear that no rank, position, or title places anyone above the law and I am exceptionally proud of our Special Agents whose tireless, meticulous work led to this offender’s conviction. Army CID remains unwavering in our commitment to protect our Soldiers, Families, and our communities; we will relentlessly pursue accountability, regardless of status or position.” “AFOSI Det. 601 was honored to lead this investigation working with partnered agencies across Oahu. AFOSI agents spanning several units relentlessly pursued the truth and led intricate investigative activities gleaning evidence that led to the offender’s conviction,” said Special Agent Eric Little, commander of Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) Det. 601. “AFOSI Det. 601 remains vigilant and ready to proactively protect our Oahu community.” The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and Air Force Office of Special Investigations investigated the case with assistance from Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Nolan prosecuted the case. 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: Independence Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm Dustin Edward Talbott, also known as “Chunky Dunker,” 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Kays to 71 months in prison without parole for being a felon and illicit drug user in possession of a firearm. On Aug. 18, 2025, Talbott pleaded guilty to knowingly being a felon and illegal drug user in possession of a Ranger, Model 101.11A, .22 caliber long rifle in Independence, Mo. Early in the afternoon on April 8, 2024, an Independence, Mo., Police Department officer observed a Chevy Cobalt with a stolen license plate. The officer saw the driver, who was later identified as Dustin Talbott, park at a local convenience store. After backup officers arrived at the scene, they detained Talbott and two other passengers. During the course of the investigation, officers learned Talbott had a warrant for his arrest. They also learned that Talbott did not have a valid driver’s license and the car was unregistered. While conducting an inventory search of the vehicle before it was towed, officers found the Ranger, .22 caliber rifle that was on the floorboard between the driver’s seat and driver’s door. Law enforcement officials also found a methamphetamine pipe on the driver’s side floorboard and two syringes in a passenger-door compartment. A box of .22 caliber ammunition was found in the glove box. At the scene, Talbott admitted to previously putting the firearm in the trunk of the vehicle. Later, Talbott stated during an interview that he was with another person who Talbott clamed was shooting the .22 caliber rifle into a homeless camp earlier that morning. Talbott also told the detective that he had previously moved the .22 caliber rifle off his bed in his cabin. Talbott also admitted to using “ice,” which is street term for methamphetamine. Additionally, Talbott had previously been convicted of a felon offense. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trey Alford and James Kirkpatrick. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo. Police Department. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Minneapolis Man Sentenced for Scheme to Bribe Feeding Our Future Juror

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: Abdulkarim Farah, a Minneapolis man, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 57-months in prison followed by one year of supervised release for his role in providing a cash bribe to a juror in the first Feeding Our Future trial, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. On April 22, 2024, seven defendants went to trial before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel for their roles in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme. Two of the defendants on trial were brothers of Abdulkarim Shafii Farah, 25. During the trial, Abdulkarim Farah conspired with his brothers and others to provide a cash bribe to one of the jurors—Juror 52—in exchange for returning a not guilty verdict in the trial. According to Mr. Farah’s plea agreement, after his co-defendants identified and decided to target Juror 52, Mr. Farah conducted surveillance of Juror 52 and Juror 52’s house. Mr. Farah also sent a map of where Juror 52 parked during jury service. Co-defendant Ladan Ali was recruited to deliver the bribe money to Juror 52, and Mr. Farah was instructed to drive Ali to Juror 52’s house and record a video of Ali delivering the bribe. After meeting Ali in the vicinity of Juror 52’s house, Mr. Farah drove to a Target store to purchase a screwdriver. Mr. Farah used the screwdriver to remove the license plate from Ali’s rental car in order to avoid detection by law enforcement. On June 2, 2024, at approximately 8:50 p.m., Mr. Farah drove Ali to Juror 52’s house and recorded her delivering a gift bag containing the bribe money. As Ali handed the money to a relative of Juror 52, she explained that there would be more money if Juror 52 voted to acquit the defendants. After the bribe money was delivered, Mr. Farah sent the video he had taken to his brother, Abdiaziz Farah. After the bribe had been disclosed in court, on June 3, 2024, Mr. Farah uninstalled and deleted the encrypted messaging app Signal from his iPhone in order to destroy the messages he and his co-defendants exchange concerning the bribery attempt. Abdulkarim Farah was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Eric C. Tostrud to 57 months imprisonment—the high end of Mr. Farah’s federal sentencing guidelines range and the sentence advocated for by the government. While handing down the sentence, Judge Tostrud said that “properly functioning juries are the core of our criminal justice system” and that it is the role of the federal judiciary to safeguard citizens’ rights to fair and impartial juries. Judge Tostrud also expressed gratitude to Juror 52 for resisting the temptation to accept the very substantial bribe. The 57-month sentence represents the high-end of Mr. Farah’s sentencing Guidelines range This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI with assistance from IRS – Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Rebecca E. Kline and Matthew C. Murphy prosecuted the case.


title: South Carolina Man Sentenced For Distributing Methamphetamine Supplied By Mexico-Based Drug Source

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A South Carolina man was sentenced to prison today for distributing kilogram quantities of methamphetamine supplied by a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) with ties to the Sinaloa cartel, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Nicolas Yarcil Uribe-Tamayo, 26, of Easley, S.C., was ordered to serve 151 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Previously, on November 7, 2024, Uribe-Tamayo pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, in 2023, law enforcement learned that a Mexico-based DTO with ties to the Sinaloa cartel was shipping kilogram quantities of methamphetamine into North Carolina. During the investigation, Uribe-Tamayo was identified as a local distributor for the DTO. While being surveilled by law enforcement, another member of the DTO met with Uribe-Tamayo and provided him with a kilogram of methamphetamine. After the drug delivery was completed, law enforcement observed Uribe-Tamayo’s vehicle as he traveled to Charlotte. Uribe-Tamayo drove recklessly and at a high rate of speed until stopping at a local restaurant on West Sugar Creek Road. Law enforcement approached Uribe-Tamayo to inquire about his driving and detected the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Law enforcement conducted a search of the vehicle and found a kilogram of methamphetamine on the floorboard of the rear seat area. Law enforcement also found an AR-15 style rifle, a loaded hi-capacity magazine loaded with 32 rounds of ammunition, and digital scales . “Cartels like Sinaloa are infiltrating our communities with drugs, not to mention guns and violence,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “We are committed to their total elimination.” According to court records, during the investigation, law enforcement learned that Uribe-Tamayo had been involved with the DTO for nearly two years. On multiple occasions while working with the DTO, Uribe-Tamayo was provided with large quantities of narcotics that he would deliver to customers. Uribe-Tamayo will remain in federal custody until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the Department of Homeland Security (HSI), the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, the Lexington Police Department, and the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, for their investigation of this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick J. Miller of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.


title: Hacienda Heights Man Arrested and Charged with Running Dog Fighting Venture and with Illegal Firearms Possession

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Hacienda Heights man was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with hosting dog fights and illegally breeding, training, and exhibiting dogs for use in such fights. Raymond Nunez, 53, is charged with buying, delivering, and possessing animals for an animal fighting venture, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Nunez was arrested this morning and is scheduled to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. According to the complaint, from at least December 2025 to February 2026, Nunez illegally exhibited, bred, and trained dogs for dog fighting at his home in Hacienda Heights. He also possessed firearms, which he is not legally permitted to do because of his felony conviction in Los Angeles Superior Court in 1991 for unlawful taking of a vehicle. On Tuesday, federal agents executed a search warrant at Nunez’s home and seized, among other things: an AK-47 style assault rifle and a shotgun; 10 firearms in a safe in the master bedroom; an emaciated pit bull that was bleeding and chained to a cable in the yard; a second pit bull with scars in a bloody caged area; multiple dog treadmills; a rope with a scale for weighing dogs; and a skin stapler and syringes. A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court. If convicted, Nunez would face a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. This case is part of the federal, state, and local Dog Fighting and Animal Abuse Task Force spearheaded by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California and Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office launched in 2025. The FBI and the United States Marshals Service are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Dennis Mitchell of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section is prosecuting this case.


title: D.C. Dentist and Hygienist Found Guilty in Scheme to Defraud D.C. Medicaid of $4 Million

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Steven A. Price, 69, of the District of Columbia, and Keidi C. Moore, 39, of Temple Hills, Maryland, were found guilty today in U.S. District Court of conspiring to defraud D.C. Medicaid of $4 million, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. The jury deliberated for more than a week before finding Price and Moore guilty of conspiracy, health care fraud, false statements, and wire fraud. Judge Amit P. Mehta scheduled sentencing for June 29 and June 30, 2026. Price is a dentist who operates the Washington Smile Center in Northwest Washington. Moore was employed at the Washington Smile Center as a dental hygienist. “Price and Moore stole $4 million from a program designed to help people in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “My office is intent on cutting fraud, waste, and abuse by prosecuting those—like Price and Moore—who steal from government programs to line their own pockets.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, beginning in January 2017 and continuing through March 2022, Price and Moore conspired to defraud D.C. Medicaid by submitting repeated claims for reimbursement for clinical crown lengthening (a surgical procedure) and space maintainers (a dental device used primarily for children) for services that were not actually performed. The defendants submitted so many repeated claims that in some instances, patients were alleged to have been provided more than 30 clinical crown lengthening procedures and more than 20 space maintainers over the course of only a few years. In total, their false claims caused more than $4 million to be paid out from D.C. Medicaid. Wire fraud charges carry a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison. The conspiracy and health care fraud charges carry a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison, and the charge for false statements relating to a health care matter carry a statutory maximum of five years. The charges also carry potential financial penalties. The maximum statutory sentence for federal offenses is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. The sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Joining in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office, and Daniel W. Lucas Inspector General for the District of Columbia. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, and the District of Columbia Office of Inspector General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The D.C. Department of Health Care Finance’s Division of Program Integrity provided valuable assistance. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Diane Lucas and Sarah Ranney, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Carlos Jiminez Guzman. 23cr122


title: Five Former Employees Of Alcohol Distribution Company And Salesman For Napa Winery Charged In Bribery And Obstruction Scheme

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: OAKLAND – A federal grand jury has indicted five former employees of an alcohol distribution company with offices in Northern and Southern California for their roles in a scheme to bribe grocery store alcohol buyers and conceal bribes with false and forged financial documentation. A salesman for a Napa winery was also charged with bribery and making false statements. According to the indictment filed yesterday, between at least 2016 and 2024, former employees of an alcohol distribution company identified as Distributor-1 – Stephen Magliocco, 47, of Trabuco Canyon, Calif., Michael Dehdashtian, 48, of Lake Forest, Calif., Adrian Ruiz, 54, of Corona, Calif., Ryan Dow, 40, of Upland, Calif., and Loratina Muscara, 64, of Livermore, Calif., and their co-conspirators – devised and participated in a scheme to provide bribes to employees of retail grocery chains to increase the purchases of certain alcohol brands and to obstruct any investigations into the bribes by creating and maintaining false financial documents. The indictment explains that employees and suppliers of Distributor-1 knew that the distribution company and its partners were prohibited from paying bribes to alcohol retailers and wholesalers to purchase certain brands to the exclusion of others, and that the distribution company was subject to audit and inspection by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), which is one of the federal entities responsible for ensuring compliance with trade practice laws and regulations. The five former employees of Distributor-1 allegedly took steps to conceal the bribes paid to employees of grocery store chains in California and the funding of those bribes, including using approved vendors of Distributor-1 and some of its alcohol suppliers to issue false invoices purporting to be for a legitimate business expense, but which in reality funded the purchase of prepaid gift cards valued at up to $1,000 each, luxury and designer items such as watches, purses, and golf and exercise equipment, among other things. The indictment further alleges that Michael Sean Salene, 60, of Garden City, Idaho, an employee salesman for a Napa winery, bribed the head alcohol buyer for a large national grocery store chain that operates approximately 300 stores in California, lied to investigators when questioned about those bribes, and falsified invoices. Magliocco, Dehdashtian, Ruiz, Dow, and Muscara are each charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and obstruct investigations. Magliocco, Ruiz, and Muscara are also charged with falsification of records to obstruct investigations. Salene is charged with Travel Act bribery and making false statements. An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, defendants face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, interstate travel in aid of racketeering enterprise – bribery in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1952(a)(3), and false statements in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2); and 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for falsification of records to obstruct investigations in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1519. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. The defendants charged in today’s indictment are currently scheduled to make their appearances in federal court in Oakland on March 25, 2026. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and Kareem Carter, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office made the announcement. This case is being prosecuted by the National Security & Special Prosecutions Section of the United States Attorney’s Office. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by IRS-CI and TTB. * * * Additional defendants have to date pleaded guilty or otherwise admitted their roles in this scheme and related violations: Case Number Statute(s) Defendant Status 25-cr-00051 YGR 18 U.S.C. § 371 (Conspiracy); and 27 U.S.C. § 205(c) (Commercial Bribery) Matthew Adler Pleaded guilty April 3, 2025 25-cr-00052 YGR 27 U.S.C. § 205(c) (Commercial Bribery) Bryan Barnes Pleaded guilty April 23, 2025 25-cr-00302 YGR 18 U.S.C. § 371 (Conspiracy); 27 U.S.C. § 205(c) and 18 U.S.C. § 2 (Commercial Bribery and Aiding and Abetting) Patrick Briones Pleaded guilty Oct. 9, 2025 25-cr-00306 YGR 18 U.S.C. § 371 (Conspiracy) John Herzog Pleaded guilty Oct. 23, 2025 25-cr-00373 YGR 18 U.S.C. § 371 (Conspiracy) Jessica Goebel Deferred Prosecution Agreement entered Dec. 3, 2025 Magliocco, Dehdashtian, et al. Indictment


title: Two foreign nationals, who returned to the U.S. following deportation, sentenced to federal prison terms

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – Two federal defendants who repeatedly returned to the U.S. following deportation were each sentenced to six-month federal prison terms with the expectation that they will then be deported, announced First Assistant United States Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Alberto Figeroa-Luque,45, a Mexican national and Fredy Ottoniel Alonzo Carcamo, 54, a Guatemalan national were both taken into federal custody following arrests on state crimes. Judge Tana Lin noted that each man had repeatedly returned to the U.S. without authorization. “Those here illegally who are breaking our laws and making our communities unsafe remain a priority for our office,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Floyd. “While many we arrest are removed before we secure convictions, here are two examples of criminal aliens arrested based on the administration’s priorities. One of these defendants was arrested illegally carrying a firearm and possessing narcotics, the other is a sex offender who failed to register and was caught peeping into a neighbor’s window. Both had been previously deported but returned and broke the law again.” According to records in his case, Alberto Figeroa-Luque, was ordered removed to Mexico for the first time in 2012. Since that time, he has been removed an additional four times. Figeroa-Luque came to the attention of federal law enforcement when he was arrested by Marysville Police for knowingly using a controlled substance in a public place. A search of his backpack revealed cocaine, fentanyl, and a semi-automatic handgun with a loaded magazine. Based on a judicial warrant, Figeroa-Luque was transferred from state to federal custody. In December 2025, Figeroa-Luque pleaded guilty to Reentry of a Removed Alien. According to records filed in his case, Fredy Ottoniel Alonzo Carcamo, was convicted in February 2007, of Attempted Voyeurism in King County Superior Court. In July of 2007 he was ordered deported, but removal did not occur. In February 2020, Alonzo Carcamo was convicted of First-Degree Voyeurism in King County Superior Court, after he was caught peering through a broken blind at a woman and young child at 4:00 am. He was removed to Guatemala in July 2021. He was arrested unlawfully entering the U.S. in Arizona in September 2021 and removed a second time in February 2022. In November 2025, Alonzo Carcamo was arrested in King County and charged with failing to register as a sex offender. Based on a judicial warrant Alonzo Carcamo was transferred from state to federal custody, and in December 2025, Alonzo Carcamo pleaded guilty to Reentry of a Removed Alien. Both cases were investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Special Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Steveson and Christine Caceres prosecuted the cases.


title: Extradited Honduran Man Sentenced To Five Years In Federal Prison For Fentanyl Trafficking

body_text: OAKLAND – A Honduran national who was extradited to the United States to face fentanyl trafficking charges has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr. handed down the sentence today. Javier Marin-Gonzales, 26, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 2, 2023, for distributing fentanyl on three separate occasions. The investigation also led to charges and convictions against two other East Bay-based defendants who traveled to San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood to engage in fentanyl trafficking. At the time of the indictment, the FBI learned that Marin-Gonzales had traveled back to Honduras. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Honduran authorities, the FBI, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to secure the arrest and extradition of Marin-Gonzales. Marin-Gonzales pleaded guilty on Dec. 17, 2025, to distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl. In pleading guilty, Marin-Gonzales admitted that beginning as early as July 2022, he began selling fentanyl in the Bay Area as one of the ways he earned income. On three separate occasions in 2022, he sold a total of 690.4 grams of fentanyl to a buyer at various locations in Oakland. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani, and DEA Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris made the announcement. In addition to the prison term, Judge Gilliam also sentenced the defendant to a four-year period of supervised release and ordered him to pay a $100 special assessment. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Francisco comprises agents and officers from FBI and IRS, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Bisesto and Ben Wolinsky are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sara Slattery and Andy Ding. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI SAFE Streets Task Force, DEA, and the Concord Police Department.


title: Cincinnati fentanyl dealer sentenced to 18 years in prison

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – A defendant who led a significant fentanyl trafficking organization in Cincinnati was sentenced in federal court today to 216 months in prison. Quinell Hadden, 38, of Cincinnati, was responsible for obtaining and distributing hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine. According to court documents, Hadden’s drug trafficking organization obtained at least 100 kilograms of fentanyl directly from the Sinaloa Cartel, 45 kilograms of cocaine from members of the Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG), precursor shipments from China, fentanyl and methamphetamine in the mail from Arizona, and drugs from at least two other local drug trafficking organizations. Hadden ran his drug operation from January 2020 until 2023 when he was arrested. At times, he was receiving at least 50 to 60 kilograms of fentanyl and heroin per week. Hadden cut and processed each kilogram of fentanyl into three-to-four kilograms of product that was nearly as potent. He used a variety of cutting agents to dilute the fentanyl, resulting in deadly and unpredictable narcotics. Forty other defendants in six current federal prosecutions were identified through the investigation into Hadden. In January 2026, Braylon Carr, one of Hadden’s “top lieutenants” according to court documents, was sentenced to 158 months in prison. And today, in addition to Hadden, co-defendant Alantee Hulbert was sentenced to 144 months in prison. Several other defendants await sentencing. Hadden, who is also known as “Nell,” “Q” and “Fat Boy,” pleaded guilty in October 2025 to participating in drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracies. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit; Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and other members of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney David P. Dornette is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Federal Felon Who Sold Fentanyl and Heroin Causing Two Marion Overdose Deaths Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A convicted federal felon who sold fentanyl and heroin that resulted in two overdose deaths in 2023 was sentenced on March 3, 2026, to a total of 37 years in federal prison. Cody Kinzie Dittmar, age 34, originally from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 25, 2025, jury verdict finding him guilty of distributing and conspiring to distribute heroin and fentanyl, resulting in two deaths. Court records show that Dittmar was sentenced to 64 months in federal prison for a 2017 conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The evidence at trial showed that Dittmar was released to federal supervised release in June 2023. Dittmar immediately began selling heroin and fentanyl with his girlfriend, then wife, Alysha (Gould) Dittmar. On July 1, 2023, the Dittmars sold a mixture of heroin, fentanyl, and xylazine to a customer in Marion, Iowa. The customer and his wife used the drugs shortly thereafter. Both then died of overdoses. The Dittmars continued to sell heroin and fentanyl in the Cedar Rapids area until July 2024. Alysha Dittmar previously pled guilty to distribution of heroin and fentanyl resulting in the two deaths. Dittmar was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Dittmar was sentenced to 420 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. Dittmar was serving a term of supervised release on his 2017 case at the time he committed the crimes that led to his convictions in 2025. The court also sentenced Dittmar to two years’ consecutive imprisonment as a result of the revocation of his supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Dittmar is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was investigated by the Marion Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Nagin and Dan Chatham. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25‑CR‑00001‑CJW‑MAR. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Fourteenth Felony Conviction Lands  Waterloo Man in Federal Prison

body_text: A man who possessed a firearm after having previously been convicted of thirteen other felony offenses was sentenced on February 27, 2026, to more than four years in federal prison. Chad James Wolf, age 44, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a July 7, 2025, guilty plea to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Court documents reflect that, in February 2025, Wolf was harassing an ex‑girlfriend by showing up at her home, causing problems, refusing to leave, and repeatedly calling her. Law enforcement officers searched Wolf’s home in Waterloo and found a gun he had stolen from the ex‑girlfriend’s house. Officers also found items consistent with drug distribution. Wolf had previously been convicted of twenty‑five crimes, thirteen of which were felonies, including sexual abuse, going armed with intent, and failing to register as a sex offender three times. Wolf was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Wolf was sentenced to 53 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. 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. Wolf is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was investigated by the Waterloo Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Nagin. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25‑CR‑02008-CJW-MAR. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Iowa Man Charged with Sex Abuse Occurring on the Meskwaki Settlement

body_text: Johnathan Paul Creason, age 20, from Norwalk, Iowa, has been charged with one count of sex abuse occurring on the Meskwaki Settlement. The charges are contained in a Complaint unsealed today in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.  The Complaint alleges that, on or about February 10, 2026, Creason went to the victim’s home on the Meskwaki Settlement. While at the home, Creason had nonconsensual forced sexual intercourse with the victim. Creason is also under investigation by the Ankeny Police Department and Ames Police Department for additional sexual assaults of additional, unrelated, victims. Anyone with information regarding Creason is asked to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation Omaha Division’s Operation Center at 402-493-8688 and press 0 to be connected. Creason is pictured below: If convicted, Creason faces a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release following any imprisonment. Creason appeared today in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was held without bond. As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Meskwaki Nation Police Department, the Ankeny Police Department, and the Ames Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 26-cr-22. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Nebraska Man to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession  of a Firearm and Meth Distribution in Iowa

body_text: Chad Billheimer, 48, from Wayne, Nebraska, was sentenced on March 4, 2026, in federal court to 180 months’ imprisonment. Billheimer pled guilty October 6, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession and aiding and abetting another in the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Billheimer was involved in a conspiracy that distributed more than 2500 grams of meth from 2022 through November 2024. On November 9, 2024, Billheimer was stopped by Sioux City law enforcement for driving the wrong way on a one-way street. During the traffic stop a K-9 alerted on the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed a firearm, a 9mm handgun, (later determined to be stolen) from a backpack in the backseat and about two ounces of methamphetamine. Billheimer admitted to dealing over 5 pounds of methamphetamine obtained from a source of supply in Nebraska that he further distributed in Iowa and Nebraska. Billheimer further admitted that he acquired the firearm prior to dealing drugs but now had the handgun to protect himself when he was dealing methamphetamine. Billheimer was previously convicted of driving under the influence, third offense in Nebraska in 2009, a felony, which prohibits him from possessing any firearm. 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. United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Billheimer to 180 months’ imprisonment and he must serve a five-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Billheimer remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-4008. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Wagoner Resident Sentenced For Assault Resulting In Serious Bodily Injury

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Mark Justin Hall, age 47, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, was sentenced to thirty months in prison for one count of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Spouse, Intimate Partner, and Dating Partner in Indian Country. The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Wagoner Police Department. On May 6, 2025, Hall pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on October 26, 2024, Hall assaulted the victim, causing substantial bodily injury. The crime occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Hall will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.


title: Tahlequah Resident Sentenced For Illegal Possession Of Firearm And Ammunition

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Bradley Eugene Davis, a/k/a Bradley Eugene Mefford, age 31, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the United States Marshals Service. On December 29, 2025, Davis pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on November 18, 2025, David possessed a .22 caliber revolver and seven rounds of ammunition after having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment or a term exceeding one year. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Davis will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan E. Soverly and Edith A. Singer represented the United States.


title: Okmulgee County Resident Sentenced For Robbery

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Darin Treyvon Miles, a/k/a Elmo, age 22, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for one count of Robbery in Indian Country. The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Okmulgee Police Department, and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department. On August 11, 2025, Miles pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on May 8, 2025, Miles stole the victim’s wallet and cell phone at gunpoint. During the robbery, the victim was shot in the shoulder, suffering serious bodily injury. The crime occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Miles will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


title: Henryetta Resident Pleads Guilty To Making Threatening Interstate Communications

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jason Mance Van Orsdol, a/k/a Jason Mance VanOrsdol, age 47, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Interstate Transmission of Threatening Communications, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Indictment alleged that on September 24, 2025, Van Orsdol knowingly and willfully transmitted a communication containing a threat to injure the person of another by means of interstate commerce. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Van Orsdol will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


title: Ohio Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: FORT WAYNE – On March 4, 2026, Parke Althaus, 31 years old, of Findlay, Ohio, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to a three count Indictment charging him with distribution of a controlled substance, including charges that carried mandatory minimum sentence, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Althaus was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, on three occasions between February and April 2025, Althaus sold a combination of LSD, Ketamine, and MDMA to another individual. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dawn Ransom.


title: Philippine National Sentenced in CNMI for Immigration Fraud

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: SAIPAN, CNMI – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Lorna R. Maramba, age 64, a Philippine national illegally living on Saipan, was sentenced on March 2, 2026, by the Honorable Ramona V. Manglona in the United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands, to credit for time served for Possession of a False Identification Document with the Intent to Defraud the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028(a)(4). The Court also ordered Maramba to pay a $25.00 special assessment fee. Maramba was deported to the Philippines today. According to court documents, on January 21, 2026, Maramba attempted to depart Saipan for Hawaii through the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport. During an outbound inspection, she presented two fraudulent U.S. Permanent Resident Cards to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers. Each card contained different biographical information, mismatched USCIS numbers, and distorted or blurred photographs. Maramba initially claimed to be a lawful permanent resident. Record checks revealed she had no legal immigration status and had overstayed her CNMI‑Only Transitional Worker (CW‑1) visa, which expired in 2020. She later admitted the cards were counterfeit and stated she had paid $2,000 to a man she met on Facebook who falsely claimed to be a U.S. immigration officer. Maramba told investigators she intended to use the fraudulent documents to reach Hawaii to seek employment and acknowledged she was unlawfully present in the CNMI. “The CNMI benefits from special provisions in federal immigration law that promote economic relief,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “Our office will continue to aggressively enforce any violations. This case sends a message of zero tolerance to those who take advantage of these provisions to deprive citizens in other jurisdictions of employment opportunities.” “HSI Saipan protects the community by investigating fraud and other crimes that threaten our security. Working alongside CBP and other partners, we make sure those who break the law are identified and brought to justice,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Lucia Cabral-DeArmas. The investigation was investigated by Homeland Security Investigation and prosecuted by Eric S. O’Malley, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.


title: Roanoke Man Sentenced for Possessing Child Sexual Exploitation Material

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke, Va. man, who used the Kik social media app to send three videos containing child sexual exploitation material to an undercover FBI officer, was sentenced yesterday to 40 months in federal prison. Christopher Allan Johnson, 55, pled guilty in December 2025 to one count of possessing child sexual exploitation materials involving a prepubescent minor. “The threat from online predators is real and remains a key enforcement priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia and our law enforcement partners,” Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. “I am thankful to the FBI for their diligent work in this case to identify a real threat and bring justice to help protect our children.” “Today’s sentencing takes one more criminal offline, but we know this epidemic of child exploitation is far from over. The FBI will continue fighting every day to protect our children from predators like Mr. Johnson,” said Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division. According to court documents, on October 10, 2024, after leaving the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salem, Virginia, Johnson logged into Kik and joined a public group dedicated to incest. There, an undercover FBI task force officer messaged Johnson. During the conversation, Johnson talked about his sexual fantasies involving children. The next day, without prompting, Johnson sent the undercover officer three videos depicting children being graphically sexually exploited. At least one of the videos involved a prepubescent minor. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Inman is prosecuting the case for the United States. The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/ .


title: MAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR THEFT OF FUNDS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Anthony Brewer, 47, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to theft of government property valued at over $50,000 in Department of Veterans Affairs funds. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. United States Attorney Heekin said: “This defendant abused his position of trust to financially benefit himself by illegally diverting money that was intended to support one of our brave military veterans, and this prison sentence ensures he is held accountable for his selfish, criminal conduct. Our military veterans deserve our respect and gratitude, and my office will ensure they receive the government benefits they have earned through their sacrifice and service by aggressively prosecuting anyone who tries to steal the U.S. government moneys intended for their support.” Court documents reflect that the defendant agreed to serve as a fiduciary under the Department of Veteran Affairs’ fiduciary program and manage the monetary benefits of an individual who was unable to manage their own benefits. As part of the agreement, the defendant agreed to use the funds for the care, support, health, welfare, comfort, and desires of the beneficiary. The defendant subsequently misused and stole funds provided by the VA for the beneficiary between October 7, 2020, and January 9, 2023. “This sentence holds the defendant accountable for defrauding a vulnerable beneficiary who was incapable of managing their finances,” said Special Agent in Charge David Spilker with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Southeast Field Office. “VA fiduciary roles require high integrity and trust, and the VA OIG is committed to rigorously investigating those who exploit veterans and their families.” Brewer was ordered to pay $53,567 in restitution and his sentence will run consecutive to a state of Florida prison sentence that he is currently serving. This case resulted from an investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo and former Assistant United States Attorney Harley W. Ferguson prosecuted the case. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: FEDERAL CHARGES FILED FOR  CRIMINAL THREATS AGAINST THE PRESIDENT

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Markus E. Hamlett, 46, has been indicted in federal court on one count of threat upon the President of the United States. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge. Hamlett appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for April 6, 2026, before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers. If convicted, Hamlett faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Columbia Man Agrees to Plead Guilty to Hate Crime

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jonathan Andrew Felkel, 34, of Columbia, has agreed to plead guilty to violating the housing rights of his black neighbor, J.M. A federal grand jury returned an indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in December 2025. According to court documents, on July 17, 2025, Felkel was driving into the gated community where both he and J.M. lived when he saw J.M. standing at the gate of the community. Felkel fired a gun and shouted, “You better keep running, boy!” at J.M. Felkel has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge which criminalizes the use of force or threatened force to injure, intimidate, or interfere with someone’s housing rights based on race. Felkel faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release to follow any term of imprisonment. Felkel will enter his change of plea in federal court before United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis on a future date. The FBI Columbia Field Office and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle Klein and Lamar Fyall of the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Sarah Armstrong of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Child Pornography Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Konnor Wolfe Lyons, 35, of Huntington, was sentenced on Monday, March 2, 2026, to five years in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, for receipt or attempted receipt of child pornography. Lyons must also register as a sex offender. According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 24, 2023, Lyons utilized a peer-to-peer file sharing computer network to download 464 digital media files containing child pornography. As part of his guilty plea, Lyons admitted that he knowingly downloaded the files via an internet connection and knew they depicted minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct including sadistic and masochistic abuse. Lyons also admitted to additional criminal conduct. On September 2, 2024, Lyons utilized a peer-to-peer file-sharing computer network to download six digital media files containing child pornography. Lyons admitted that the files depicted minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and he downloaded them using an internet connection. On November 4, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Lyons’ residence and seized his cell phone. A forensic extraction of the cell phone revealed 1,546 images of child pornography that Lyons had downloaded from the internet. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Parkersburg Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin prosecuted the case. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . This case is also the result of Operation Restore Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track and arrest child sex predators. The operation resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sexual abuse offenders in the nationwide crackdown. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of five days by all 55 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division, and United States Attorney’s Offices around the country. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-76. ###


title: California Woman Sentenced to Nearly 3 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Riverside, California, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on February 9, 2026. Destiny Canty, 46, was sentenced to 34 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Canty was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in May 2024. She pleaded guilty on November 10, 2025. Canty received payments from co-conspirators in South Dakota and elsewhere, utilizing various electronic means including CashApp, electronic deposits, and Western Union, and was aware that the funds were generated from the illegal sale of narcotics. She then provided the funds to the leader of the drug trafficking organization. The payments were made in this manner to hide the narcotic-related source and true owner of the funds. In total, Canty was found to have laundered approximately $80,000. The total amount of money laundered by the organization that Canty was associated with was over $700,000. “Our law enforcement partners are using every available tool to dismantle drug trafficking organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “That includes following the money and prosecuting those who try to launder it for these criminal groups. For this defendant, and many more to come, the money trail ends in a federal prison cell.” “IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to working alongside other law enforcement agencies to dismantle drug trafficking organizations,” said IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge William Steenson. “We use our financial expertise to track down members of these organizations to shut down their funding sources and bring them to justice. Each one who goes to prison is a victory for our communities.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case. Canty was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Minneapolis comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, USMS, USPIS, SD DCI, SFPD, MCSO, and SDHP with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota.


title: Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine and Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of Youngstown, Ohio, pleaded guilty in federal court on March 2, 2026, to a charge of cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Wade Shaw, 51, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer to one count of possession with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine in September 2023. Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for May 28, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $2 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Sharon Police Department, Farrell Police Department, Mercer County Drug Task Force, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Shaw.


title: Deltona Man Convicted of Coercing and Enticing Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – A federal jury has found James Bernard Grover (Deltona, 63) guilty of coercing and enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. Grover faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 28, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Grover was the founder and executive director of the Special Needs Advocacy Program, or “SNAP,” a nonprofit organization based in Sanford, Florida. Through SNAP, Grover met an autistic minor and coerced and enticed the minor victim to engage in sexual activity. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sanford Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Diane S. Hu and Robert D. Sowell. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Former Passaic County Correctional Officer Sentenced to 17 Months in Prison for Civil Rights Violation and Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice in Connection with Assault of Pretrial Detainee

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A former Passaic County Correctional Officer was sentenced yesterday for his role in assaulting a pretrial detainee and conspiring to obstruct justice, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced. Jose Gonzalez, 47, previously pled guilty on May 28, 2025 before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal court to a two-count indictment charging him with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Judge Farbiarz imposed the sentence yesterday in Newark federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On January 22, 2021, a pretrial detainee at the Passaic County Jail (PCJ) squirted a mixture containing urine onto a correctional officer. The following day, on January 23, 2021, Gonzalez admitted that he, along with former Sergeant Donald Vinales, and former Correctional Officer Lorenzo Bowden, who were also charged in this case, transported the detainee through an area of the PCJ that does not have a video surveillance camera, which Correctional Officers and inmates at the PCJ have referred to as a “blind spot.” While in that “blind spot,” Gonzalez admitted that he and Vinales assaulted the detainee, while he was handcuffed, when they knocked him to the ground and struck him multiple times. One day after the assault, the detainee was taken to a local hospital, which documented injuries from the assault. The defendants were required to submit documentation regarding their use of force. None of them submitted any such reports. In March 2022, Gonzalez admitted that he made false statements to federal law enforcement officers during an interview in connection with this investigation. Additionally, in April 2022, after receiving federal grand jury subpoenas in connection with this investigation, Gonzalez, Vinales, Bowden, among others, met to discuss the federal investigation. During that meeting, the group agreed not to cooperate with the federal investigation and also agreed to say that nothing had happened to the detainee, referring to the assault. Thereafter, during an interview with federal investigators in October 2022, Bowden falsely stated that the detainee had not been assaulted and that there had not been any meeting or communication among those who participated in or witnessed the assault. Bowden pled guilty on April 18, 2024 before Judge Farbiarz to an information charging him with conspiracy to obstruct justice and is awaiting sentencing. Vinales pled guilty on May 21, 2025 before Judge Farbiarz to a two-count indictment charging him with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. He is also awaiting sentencing. In addition to the prison term, Judge Farbiarz sentenced Gonzalez to two years of supervised release. Senior Counsel Lamparello credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; and the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office Division of Internal Affairs, under the direction of Sheriff Thomas Adamo. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin, Deputy Chief of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark, and R. Joseph Gribko, Senior Trial Counsel in Trenton. ### Defense Counsel: Valerie Palma DeLuisi, Esq., Clifton, New Jersey


title: Boone County Man Sentenced to Prison for Violating the Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Richard Dale Turner, 44, of Julian, was sentenced on Monday, March 2, 2026, to two years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for failure to update his registration to report a change in employment and interstate travel, as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). According to court documents and statements made in court, Turner is required to register as a sex offender as a result of his conviction for third-degree sexual assault in Mason County Circuit Court on March 8, 2016. Turner failed to report a change in his employment status as required when he left a job with a trucking firm on January 3, 2025. An arrest warrant was issued for Turner when he failed to appear for a scheduled court appearance on June 23, 2025. On August 15, 2025, law enforcement officers captured Turner in Santa Rosa County, Florida. Turner failed to register as a sex offender in Florida or report his interstate travel in West Virginia. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service (USMS). United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case. SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-168. ###


title: Alleged Boss of Violent Sinaloa Cartel Indicted in Chicago on Drug, Firearm, and Material Support of Terrorism Charges

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted an alleged boss of the violent Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico on drug, firearm, and material support of terrorism charges. JESUS OMAR IBARRA FELIX led an armed security group known as the Las Fuerzas Especiales de Chuta (FECH), which engaged in armed conflict on behalf of the Guzman faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, a U.S. designated foreign terrorist organization previously headed by Joaquin Guzman Loera, also known as “El Chapo,” according to an indictment returned Thursday in the Northern District of Illinois. Ibarra Felix’s group allegedly provided armed security in support of Guzman Loera’s four sons, collectively known as “the Chapitos,” who took over leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel after Guzman Loera’s arrest in 2016. Guzman Loera was later convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn, N.Y., and sentenced to life in prison. The indictment alleges that from 2016 to 2026, Ibarra Felix supplied machineguns to the Chapitos and conspired with them and others to import methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States from Mexico. One of the alleged co-conspirators—Fausto Isidro Meza Flores—worked with Ibarra Flores to deploy the armed guards, the indictment states. Meza Flores was indicted in 2019 in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and is currently on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. In addition to leading the FECH, the indictment accuses Ibarra Felix of serving as a “plaza boss,” overseeing drug trafficking operations in his assigned region near Ahome, Mexico, from 2016 to 2025. The indictment charges Ibarra Felix, also known as “El Chuta,” 49, of Los Mochis, Mexico, with terrorism, drug, and firearm charges. The charges are punishable by a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. Ibarra Felix is not in custody, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. The indictment is the result of a collaboration between prosecutors in the Northern District of Illinois and Southern District of California, as well as law enforcement partners from the FBI’s Washington, D.C. and San Diego Field Offices, and Homeland Security Investigations’ San Diego and Arizona offices. The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Adam Gordon, United States Attorney for the Southern District of California, Darren Cox, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington, D.C. Field Office, TJ Holland, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI San Diego Field Office, Kevin Murphy, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of HSI San Diego, and Matthew Murphy, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of HSI Arizona. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Maione, Michelle Parthum, and Hanna Helwig of the Northern District of Illinois and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Mellor and Matthew Sutton of the Southern District of California. The indictment was announced as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve various law enforcement goals, including the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect American communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. “The indictment of El Chuta should leave no doubt that this Administration is going to aggressively pursue transnational criminal organizations and hold their highest-ranking members accountable for poisoning the American public with illegal and harmful drugs and for the violence they perpetrate in the process,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of violent drug cartels, several of which, including the Sinaloa Cartel, have very deservedly been designated as foreign terrorist organizations. Working closely with other prosecutors and law enforcement partners across the United States, our goal is crystal clear: to disrupt and dismantle the cartels’ drug empire and bring its leaders to justice.” “The indictment of El Chuta reinforces a simple message to him and other Sinaloa Cartel leaders: Foreign terrorist organizations may operate across borders–but justice doesn’t stop at them,” said U.S. Attorney Gordon. “Ibarra Felix allegedly led an armed security group that committed heinous acts of violence in defense of the Sinaloa Cartel and its illicit drug trafficking monopoly,” said FBI Washington Assistant Director in Charge Cox. “His indictment is the first step toward bringing him to justice for facilitating the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the U.S. and the terrorization of communities in Ahome.” “This indictment makes clear that Jesus Omar Ibarra Felix would do whatever it took to reap the spoils of his alleged illicit cartel activities,” said FBI San Diego Acting SAC Holland. “It is the FBI’s priority to dismantle and eliminate these designated foreign terrorist organizations, so they can no longer threaten our communities with guns and drugs and violence. The FBI will remain relentless until we achieve this mission.” “The indictment of Ibarra Felix underscores HSI’s dedication to disrupting transnational criminal organizations operating in the United States and abroad,” said HSI San Diego Acting SAC Murphy. “This major impact to Sinaloa cartel leadership is the result of persistent investigative efforts by HSI and our partner agencies to bring criminals to justice, protect our communities, and safeguard our nation.” “This indictment underscores the unwavering commitment of Homeland Security Investigations to disrupt and dismantle violent transnational criminal organizations that threaten the safety of our communities,” said HSI Arizona Acting SAC Murphy. “HSI will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure those responsible for trafficking dangerous drugs and perpetrating violence are brought to justice.” The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. ibarra_felix_indictment.pdf


title: Jacksonville Marketing Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Defraud Medicare and Medicaid in the Provision of HIV Prophylactic Medications

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Jonathan Simeon Gholston (35, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to conspiring to receive kickbacks in return for the referral of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries for the provision of HIV prophylactic medications. He faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to the plea agreement, Gholston owned and operated a marketing company that entered into an agreement with a Jacksonville pharmacy to market HIV post-exposure prophylactic medications that would be provided by the pharmacy. HIV post-exposure prophylactic medications are medicines that must be taken very soon after a possible exposure to HIV to prevent the virus from taking hold in the body. The marketing company’s representatives set up tents and tables in Jacksonville, generally in low-income areas and usually near store fronts, and offered to provide free, government-sponsored cellphones to anyone who stopped and agreed to provide their personal information to obtain the phones. As a result of the marketing company’s agreement with the pharmacy, while obtaining the personal information necessary for the person to receive the free cellphone, the marketers also obtained health insurance information, including whether the person was covered by Medicare or Medicaid. The persons who were signed up by the marketers believed that they were agreeing only to receive a free cellphone and did not request or agree to receive HIV medications. The agreement between the marketing company and the pharmacy provided that pharmacy would pay the marketing company $200 for every person who was referred for the provision of HIV medications but that the pharmacy would pay this amount only if a claim submitted on behalf of the person was paid by Medicare or Medicaid. The marketing company in turn paid its marketers a set amount, usually $50, for every person they referred, but it paid this amount only if the claim for that person was paid by Medicare or Medicaid. Payments to marketers of a set amount based on whether a claim is paid are illegal kickbacks under federal law. The information gathered by the marketers was sent to the pharmacy, which used the information to generate prescriptions for HIV prophylactic medications that were authorized by a nurse practitioner. The nurse practitioner had never seen, spoken with, or performed any manner of evaluation, examination, or test on the persons for whom the prescriptions were issued. The pharmacy filled the prescriptions, submitted claims to Medicare or Medicaid for the medications, and was reimbursed approximately $4,000 per month for each person for whom a claim was paid. During the investigation, law enforcement agents interviewed numerous individuals who had received HIV medications without their request or consent. For some of these, taking the medications could have seriously endangered their health, given pre-existing medical conditions from which they suffered. The actions of Gholston and his co‑conspirators caused the submission of approximately 20,316 fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid, resulting in reimbursements from Medicare totaling approximately $11,681,479 and reimbursements from Medicaid totaling approximately $12,536,267. Accordingly, the total loss to these programs was approximately $24,217,746. From this amount, Gholston received a total of approximately $2,273,000, which he has agreed to forfeit to the government. This case was investigated by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Harrington.


title: Justice Department Secures Order Against Michigan Pet Store Owner to Allow Inspectors Access to Assess Health and Well-Being of Animals

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: A federal court last week issued a temporary restraining order against K&M Pets LLC which owns a pet store in Saginaw, Michigan, that sells and offers encounters with exotic animals. The order was issued based on claims that K&M Pets had repeatedly refused to allow Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials access to inspect its facilities, animals, and records in violation of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). “This case shows that there are consequences for dealers and exhibitors who violate the obligations of their license and attempt to evade the Animal Welfare Act requirements that protect the health and safety of the animals in their care,” said Deputy Principal Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The Animal Welfare Act exists to protect these animals, and the Department of Justice will vigorously enforce this law and hold to account those who violate it.” “This action demonstrates the shared commitment of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use all available tools to ensure the effective and expeditious enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act,” said General Counsel Tyler Clarkson of the USDA. The Department of Justice filed a complaint for injunctive relief in the Eastern District of Michigan on Feb. 24 — followed by a motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction three days later — alleging that K&M Pets engaged in a pattern and practice of attempting to avoid its AWA obligations. According to the complaint, the pet store operated by K&M Pets sells dogs and exotic animals, and has evaded federal oversight by denying inspectors from USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) access to its facilities, animals, and records. During the latest attempted inspection in January, the APHIS inspector — who was ultimately unable to conduct an inspection — observed concerning conditions in the public areas of the pet store facility, including animals in enclosures without water or shelter and a sloth that was exposed to harsh drafts of negative-22-degree Michigan winter weather. USDA referred this matter to the Department of Justice based on concerns of potential conditions animals faced by in facilities operated by K&M Pets. The temporary restraining order will help USDA assess the health and well-being of animals in K&M Pets’ possession. This lawsuit follows Attorney General Pamela Bondi’s “Prioritization of Animal Welfare Enforcement” memorandum and furthers the Department of Justice’s goal of combatting animal cruelty. USDA’s APHIS is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Kamela A. Caschette, Christian H. Carrara, and Bonnie M. Ballard of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section are handling this case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.


title: Kentucky Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Kody D. Harless, 28, of Tomahawk, Kentucky, was sentenced on Monday, March 2, 2026, to eight years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 15, 2023, Harless received approximately 4.75 grams of fentanyl from an individual in Huntington. A law enforcement officer conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle in which Harless was traveling following the transaction and located and seized the fentanyl. As part of his guilty plea, Harless admitted that he obtained the seized fentanyl after arranging to purchase it beforehand, and that he intended to distribute some of it. Harless also admitted to additional criminal conduct. Harless participated in a conspiracy to receive fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Southern District of West Virginia for distribution. Harless admitted that he took part in the conspiracy from at least July 2023 to in and around November 2023, received methamphetamine and fentanyl on a regular basis from others in the Huntington area, and transported the controlled substances to Kentucky where he distributed them. Harless is among 27 individuals indicted on charges alleging they participated in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area. Harless and another co-defendant pleaded guilty to separate charges in lieu of the offenses alleged in the indictment. Twenty-three defendants pleaded guilty in the main indictment. Charges against the remaining defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case. The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-7. ###


title: United States Enters Into a Settlement With New York City Housing Authority to Resolve Alleged Violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced today a Settlement Agreement with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to resolve allegations that NYCHA violates Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA) by discriminating against people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in the “services, programs, or activities of a public entity.” NYCHA — a public housing authority which provides affordable housing to low- and moderate-income New Yorkers throughout New York City — is a “public entity.” To comply with Title II, public entities such as NYCHA must ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal access to programs, services and activities, and that communications with individuals with disabilities is as effective as communications with individuals without disabilities, including through the provision of auxiliary aids and services and accessible features. The United States investigated after receiving complaints from NYCHA tenants and housing applicants. The complainants alleged that NYCHA fails to provide Qualified Interpreters upon request and instead requires deaf or hard of hearing individuals to provide their own interpreters, who in some instances have been minors. The complaints also alleged that NYCHA does not provide deaf or hard of hearing individuals with appropriate auxiliary aids and services including accessible devices such as visual doorbells and fire alarms. The United States also investigated claims that NYCHA does not have consistent and reliable mechanisms for deaf or hard of hearing individuals to communicate with NYCHA employees to, among other things, request and receive auxiliary aids and services. The United States’ investigation included interviews with complainants and other NYCHA tenants, interviews and discussions with personnel and administrators at NYCHA, and review of NYCHA records. Accessible Features: Accessible Features means devices and appliances that provide accessibility, including, but not limited to, visible alarm appliances for fire and smoke detection, visual alerting devices at the dwelling unit’s primary entrance, and deactivation controls. Auxiliary Aids and Services : Auxiliary aids and services includes qualified interpreters on-site or through video remote interpreting services; notetakers; real-time computer-aided transcription services; written materials; exchange of written notes; telephone handset amplifiers; assistive listening devices; telephones compatible with hearing aids; closed caption decoders; open and closed captioning, including real-time captioning; voice, text and video‑based telecommunications products and systems, including text telephones, videophones, and captioned telephones, or equally effective telecommunications devices; videotext displays; accessible electronic and information technology; or other effective methods of making aurally delivered information available to deaf or hard of hearing individuals. Under the terms of the settlement, NYCHA has agreed to take appropriate steps to ensure effective communication with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, including by creating signs and videos in American Sign Language to make deaf and hard of hearing individuals aware that free auxiliary aids and services, including qualified sign language interpretation services and accessible devices such as visual doorbells, are available. Additionally, NYCHA will update its forms to allow deaf or hard of hearing individuals to request such services. Employees of NYCHA who interact regularly with tenants or applicants will also receive training in effective communication and ADA compliance. “The ADA requires NYCHA to communicate effectively and provide auxiliary aids and services to people who are deaf or hard of hearing,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Today’s settlement ensures that individual with disabilities receive appropriate services. Our Office will continue to enforce the ADA and its protections against discrimination for people with disabilities.” Mr. Nocella thanked the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division for its support. This matter has been handled by Assistant United States Attorney Marika M. Lyons and the former Chief of the Office’s Civil Division Civil Rights Section Michael J. Goldberger.


title: Indiana Man Who Targeted a Local Christian Church for Vandalism Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Steven James Perkinson, 21, of Plainfield, Indiana has been sentenced to 10 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to intentional damage to religious property and making a false statement to an agency of the United States. According to court documents, on November 18, 2024, Perkinson vandalized the sign in front of Maple Grove Baptist Church in Plainfield by spray-painting a pitchfork and the numbers “666” over the display, and by painting over the sign’s cross symbol with an “X.” When questioned by FBI agents, Perkinson initially denied knowledge of involvement. Days later, after agents executed a search warrant on his cell phone, he admitted he targeted the sign because it belonged to a Christian church and stated he was motivated by his involvement in various Satanic groups. A forensic review of Perkinson’s cell phone revealed extensive research into local churches, including searches for “Maple Grove Baptist Church Plainfield,” “Churches near me,” “Plainfield Bible Church photos,” and terms associated with occult organizations such as “Noctulian Blood Covenant” and “Nexion 435.” Although Perkinson had no prior criminal record, he first came to the attention of the FBI in 2023 after posting on Instagram: “Now I just sit alone in my room for hours a day… Schools are meant for shooting up not learning…” Additional evidence recovered from his phone raised further concerns about violent ideation. Agents found searches for the “address of largest Jewish church in America,” online messages claiming access to firearms and encouraging mass violence, photographs of Perkinson posing with recently deceased animals, and evidence that he had set fire to a dumpster. “Targeting any house of worship because of its faith is an attack on the fundamental freedoms that define our nation. This defendant’s conduct, paired with his disturbing online activity, posed a real threat to those liberties,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “This sentence makes clear that hate‑fueled vandalism and threats of violence will be met with swift and serious federal consequences.” “Places of worship are meant to be spaces of peace, reflection, and community - not targets of intimidation or hate,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “Everyone deserves to feel safe practicing their faith without fear. The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate hate-based crimes and work alongside our partners to ensure those who target religious communities are identified and held accountable.” The FBI investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge James R. Sweeney II. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter A. Blackett and Carolyn Haney, as well as Trial Attorney Briana Clark of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, who prosecuted this case. ###