title: January Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments Announced

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the January Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments. The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence. Whitney Lynn Adney. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. Adney, 36, of Kinta and a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, is charged with assaulting the victim with a deadly weapon with intent to do bodily harm. The FBI and the Pryor Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Weems is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-019 Rigo Alberto Amaya-Vasquez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Amaya-Vasquez, 38, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Feb. 2018 and Sep. 2018. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shakema Onias is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-020 Mark Wayne Craine. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Craine, 65, of Tulsa, is an individual who is knowingly required to register as a sex offender. He is charged with failing to register as a sex offender from October 2025 through January 2026. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-021 Samantha Ann Demaro. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute. Demaro, 32, of Owasso, is charged with knowingly possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Elmore is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-032 Osiel Garcia-Estrada. Fraud and Misuse of Visas and Permits. Garcia-Estrada, 43, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing a fraudulent Social Security card. Homeland Security Investigations and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-022 Nicolas Gonzalez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Gonzalez, 32, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Sep. 2017 and Aug. 2018. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-025 Jason Allen Matthew Harjo. Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child Under 12. Harjo, 55, of Oklahoma City and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with engaging in and causing sexual contact with a minor child under 12 years old. The FBI and the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-023 Allontae Taquon Jackson. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Jackson, 22, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-024 Carmen Ana Llompart Cruz. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Llompart Cruz, 41, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. She is further charged with maintaining a residence for drug distribution. Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-031 Deaunte Khyree Spirlin. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Spirlin, 36, of Tulsa and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with assaulting the victim with a deadly weapon with intent to do bodily harm. Additionally, Spirlin is charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shakema Onias is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-026


title: Alleged Bank Robber Facing Federal Charges in Utah

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A West Jordan, Utah, resident was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with a violent crime after he allegedly walked into a bank, threatened the teller with a note, and left with cash. Michael Grant Robinson, 36, of West Jordan, Utah, was charged by complaint on January 13, 2026. According to the allegations in court documents, and surveillance video, on January 12, 2026, a suspect with a distinctive face tattoo, later identified as Robinson, entered a bank in West Jordan and handed the bank teller a threatening note that read “I gotta weapon need $1000.” The bank teller complied and gave Robinson $140.00, in $20 bills. Robinson took the money and left the bank. Within 30 minutes, law enforcement identified Robinson walking on the sidewalk a half mile from the bank wearing the same clothing and having the same distinctive face tattoo as depicted in the surveillance video from the robbery. Law enforcement recovered the money at a nearby restaurant after Robinson ordered a meal and left a $120 tip. Robinson is charged with bank robbery. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for January 22, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Carlos A. Esqueda of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Pray man pleads guilty to possession of explosives

body_text: BILLINGS - A Pray man accused of possessing explosives admitted to charges yesterday, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. The defendant, Kadin Hawkeye Lewis, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of unregistered destructive devices. Lewis faces a term of imprisonment of 10 years, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for May 20, 2026. Lewis was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that on September 19, 2022, law enforcement officers were called to investigate reports of a dead body in a travel trailer near Pray, an unincorporated community in Park County, Montana. Law enforcement arrived at the scene and observed a deceased man in a trailer in which Lewis lived, and it appeared the man had died from a gunshot wound to the top of the head. During an authorized search of the trailer, officers located eight Molotov cocktails, complete with bottles, fuel, and wicks, located in a cabinet. Elsewhere throughout the trailer, law enforcement recovered dozens of empty bottles and rags that could be used to assemble additional Molotov cocktails, as well as several journals and other writings belonging to Lewis. In some of the writings, Lewis discussed a plan to make Molotov cocktails and use them as destructive devices. The Molotov cocktail evidence was ultimately collected and submitted to the FBI Laboratory. Explosives experts determined the fuel inside the bottles was an ignitable liquid, and when ignited, the assembled bottles, rags, and fuel would function as improvised incendiary devices, commonly known as homemade firebombs or Molotov cocktails. A search of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record found Lewis has never applied for or received permission to possess a destructive device. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeff Starnes and Benjamin Hargrove prosecuted the case. The FBI and Park County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Florida Nursing Assistant Convicted in $11.4M Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare Beneficiaries

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A federal jury in Fort Lauderdale convicted a nursing assistant today for his role in an $11.4 million health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy in which hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries were sent thousands of orthotic braces they did not need. “Defendant Chris Cruz blatantly lied to Medicare in order to steal over $11 million from hard-working taxpayers,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s guilty verdict demonstrates that the Criminal Division remains committed to holding criminals accountable who steal from their fellow citizens to fuel their own greed.” “Healthcare fraud is not a paperwork offense — it is a crime that steals from seniors and undermines confidence in our healthcare system,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This defendant was a licensed nurse who chose greed over duty, exploiting Medicare beneficiaries through a deliberate $11.4 million fraud scheme. The jury’s verdict makes clear that medical professionals who abuse their positions of trust for personal gain will face serious consequences.” “Nursing Assistant Chris Cruz devised a scheme to enrich himself by defrauding Medicare to the tune of millions of dollars,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chris Caldwell of the FBI Miami Field Office. “The FBI and our partners will not relent in the pursuit of Medicare fraudsters - including greedy nurses.” “This brazen scheme stole $11.4 million from Medicare and betrayed taxpayer trust,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of HHS-OIG. “HHS-OIG is steadfastly committed to ensuring that medical decisions are driven by patient need rather than financial gain. We will relentlessly pursue those who put greed over patient care and hold them accountable.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Christian “Chris” Cruz, 45, of Pompano Beach, owned and operated a durable medical equipment (DME) supplier based in Florida through which he submitted millions of dollars in false claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary orthotic braces. Cruz and his co-conspirator paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to obtain signed doctors’ orders. They used these orders to ship orthotic braces to Medicare beneficiaries nationwide and then claim payment from Medicare, including to beneficiaries who neither requested nor required the braces. Cruz lied to Medicare, claiming that he was the sole owner and operator of the company when in fact he shared ownership in the company with his co-conspirator, a convicted felon. Medicare would not have allowed the company to enroll with Medicare if it had known about Cruz’s co-conspirator. The co-conspirator has been charged but remains at large. Cruz received several hundred thousand dollars to his personal bank account from the fraudulent scheme that he frequently withdrew in cash on consecutive days at different bank branches in South Florida, often in amounts just under the bank reporting threshold of $10,000. Cruz was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, four counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to make false statements relating to health care matters and three counts of structuring. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 13 and faces a maximum penalty of 125 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sterling Paulson of the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Owen Dunn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.sdfl.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.sdfl.uscourts.gov , under case number 25-cr-60142. ###


title: TD Bank Insider Pleads Guilty to Facilitating Colombian ATM Money Laundering Scheme

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK – A former New Jersey-based employee of TD Bank, N.A., Oscar Marcel Nunez-Flores (“Nunez”), pleaded guilty today to accepting bribes in return for facilitating a money laundering network’s movement of over $26 million to Colombia through TD Bank accounts. Nunez, 34, of North Plainfield, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before the Honorable Esther Salas to a two-count Information charging him with conspiring to launder monetary instruments and for receipt of bribes by a bank employee. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 27. “This case shows how complex money laundering schemes often depend on insiders who are willing to bend—or break—basic safeguards. Our office will continue to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who turn financial institutions into vehicles for large-scale criminal activity.” - Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello “Mr. Nunez afforded his co-conspirators unfettered access to TD Bank, while lining his own pockets in the process, and has been held to account, as will be others who abuse the financial system,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva. “The Criminal Division is committed to protecting the security of our financial system and the Bank Integrity Unit is at the vanguard of that critical mission.” According to court filings and statements in court, beginning in March 2021 and continuing until his arrest in October 2023, Nunez, then a TD Bank employee in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, accepted bribes and leveraged his position to facilitate a money laundering network’s expatriation of over $26 million from the United States to Colombia. Through the course of his scheme, Nunez opened dozens of accounts in the names shell companies with nominee owners. Nunez knew that the purported owners were not actually controlling the accounts and, in fact, often opened the accounts without any customer present whatsoever. The accounts Nunez opened in furtherance of the scheme were collectively issued over 600 debit cards, primarily by Nunez himself. These debit cards were then used to make over 120,000 withdrawals at ATMs throughout Colombia. Nunez also participated in the conspiracy in other ways. For example, after issuing debit cards to a fraudulent account, he shipped them directly to a co-conspirator in Colombia. Additionally, Nunez registered shell companies in New Jersey and then opened accounts in their names at TD Bank in furtherance of the money laundering scheme. Nunez opened these accounts in exchange for a fee ranging from approximately $500 to $2,500, which was typically paid either in cash or through a peer-to-peer digital payment network. The charge of money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount involved in the offense, whichever is greater. The charge of receipt of bribes by a bank employee carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000 or three times the amount involved in the offense, whichever is greater. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) investigated the case. The Department also thanks the Morristown Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington for their assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marko Pesce, Chief of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering, and Recovery Unit for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Chelsea Rooney of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section are prosecuting the case. The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system. ### Defense counsel: Peter Katz, Esq. nunez.information.pdf


title: Two sentenced for smuggling over 10 kilograms of cocaine

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas - A 45-year-old U.S. citizen who resided in Mexico has been ordered to federal prison for drug smuggling, after falsely claiming he was traveling to see dying grandmother, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Jimmy Vasquez Gonzalez pleaded guilty Sept. 2, 2025. U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen has now ordered Gonzalez to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. On May 3, 2025, Gonzalez entered the United States from Mexico driving a Ford Edge with Walter Diaz Nino in the front passenger seat. He approached the Lincoln Juarez Bridge in Laredo and provided a negative declaration. However, a preliminary examination detected an anomaly in the vehicle. At secondary inspection, a K-9 alerted, and authorities discovered 15 bundles within the floorboard of the backseat which field tested positive for cocaine. Gonzalez claimed they were headed to Houston to pick up his sister to take her to see their dying grandmother. The investigation revealed his relative, whom Nino claimed was his girlfriend, was not in Houston and the story was false. They were actually intending to deliver narcotics. Nino expected to be paid $4,500 upon their return to Mexico and promised a portion of the proceeds to Vasquez. The total weight was 10.17 kilograms with an estimated street value of over $140,000. Further investigation also revealed this was the pair’s second time smuggling narcotics. Nino, 41, a Mexican citizen with a visa allowing him to enter the United States, had also pleaded guilty and was previously sentenced to 130 months in federal prison. He is expected to face removal proceedings following his sentence. Both have been and will remain in custody. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Manuel A. Cardenas Jr. prosecuted the case.


title: Virginia Trucker Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for Transporting a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Virginia truck driver was sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for engaging in sexual contact with a minor female who traveled with him in his tractor-trailer truck, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. David Romero Reyes, 55, of Stafford, Virginia, was sentenced on January 20, 2026, by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. to 17 years in federal prison. Romero Reyes pleaded guilty on September 3, 2025, to transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. He was also given 20 years of supervised release following his prison term and was ordered to register as a sex offender. “The sentence imposed in this case reflects the defendant’s monstrous actions. There is no place in our federal district or in our society for such egregious abuse of a child,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “This office will use every available resource to ensure that those who prey on the most vulnerable will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” According to court documents, in April 2021, Romero Reyes was detained by Naval Station Newport Police following a routine background check to enter the Navy base to make a delivery. Police determined that he was wanted in Texas on a charge of felony assault of a child. The young girl was located inside the sleeping compartment of the truck during a routine inspection. The girl was brought for a medical examination at Hasbro Children’s Hospital where it was learned that she was approximately five months pregnant. The girl was reported missing from her Virginia home in July 2020, when she was 14 years old. An investigation determined that Romero Reyes was known to the girl and to her family prior to her disappearance. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ronald R. Gendron and John P. McAdams. The matter was investigated by the Naval Station Newport Police, FBI, and Rhode Island State Police. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc


title: Laurel man pleads guilty to illegal possession of ammunition

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

body_text: BILLINGS - A Laurel man accused of possessing a firearm illegally admitted to charges on Tuesday, January 20, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. The defendant, Kenton Charles Maslen, 64, pleaded guilty to one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Maslen faces a term of imprisonment of 15 years, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing will be set for a later date. Maslen was detained further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that on April 19, 2025, law enforcement was asked to assist with the eviction of Maslen from a residence in Laurel, Montana. During the search, law enforcement observed a white crystalline substance on a piece of glass in Maslen’s bedroom. Based on this discovery, law enforcement obtained a search warrant on the same day and discovered the following: The search in Maslen’s bedroom yielded a brown leather handgun holster a green ammunition can. The can contained boxes of .22 caliber ammo and 12-gauge shotgun ammunition. In the driveway of Maslen’s residence was a fifth-wheel camper Maslen claimed as his own. During the search of the camper, a black 12-gauge shotgun was in a case. The shotgun did not have a serial number, and it appeared that the barrel had been cut short to approximately 16 inches. The case also contained a loaded pistol magazine for a Smith and Wesson pistol, more shotgun ammunition and 9mm ammunition. On the floor of the camper was a compartment that agents were able to open. They discovered another firearm, a North American Arms .17 caliber revolver. Law enforcement also searched the defendant’s truck and discovered a gun box containing a Ruger “Single Six” .22 caliber revolver. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The ATF, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation. XXX


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Collects $5,293,082.96 in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2025

component: USAO - Mississippi, Northern

body_text: OXFORD, MS – United States Attorney Scott F. Leary announced today that the Northern District of Mississippi collected $5,293,082.96 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025. Of this amount, $3,100,899.34 was collected in criminal actions and $2,192,183.62 was collected in civil actions. Additionally, the Northern District of Mississippi worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $1,135.59 in criminal actions. “Two important components of justice concern punishing the offender and making the victim whole,” states U.S. Attorney Leary. “Our restitution laws concern the latter. I want to thank our law enforcement partners who make our restitution program a success. Justice will be served.” In addition, the Northern District of Mississippi, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $1,172,013 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2025. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.


title: Lynchburg Man to Serve Four Years for Selling Machine Guns

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: LYNCHBURG, Va. – A convicted felon who sold a pistol and several rifles, at least two of which were classified as machine guns, was sentenced this week to four years in federal prison. Les Christopher Burns, 44, of Lynchburg, Va., pled guilty in October 2025 to one count of possessing a machine, one count of possessing two machine guns and a short barrel rifle which were not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on September 11, 2024, Burns engaged in a Facebook conversation with an individual regarding the sale of several firearms. At the time, Burns was a convicted felon and subject to an active protective order, both of which prohibited him from legally possessing firearms. Burns drove to Vinton, Virginia to meet with that individual, at which time he sold him a pistol and three rifles, later identified as a Taurus TH9, 9mm pistol, a Del-Ton Incorporated, model DTI-15, 6.5 mm Grendel caliber rifle, an Anderson Manufacturing, model AM-15, 5.56 mm Nato caliber rifle, and an Anderson Manufacturing, model AM-15, 6.5 mm Grendel caliber rifle. An ATF firearms expert determined that both 6.5 mm Grendel rifles were built or modified to function as machineguns and the 5.56 mm Nato caliber rifle was built or modified to have a barrel less than 16 inches in length. None of these rifles, as modified, were registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by the National Firearms Act. Following a thorough investigation, law enforcement executed arrest and search warrants at Burns’ home on December 10, 2024. Inside his residence, investigators located a Beretta, PX4 Storm 9 mm pistol under Burns’ pillow on his bed, multiple pistol magazines, 9mm ammunition, a Glock pistol slide, a Polymer 80 lower receiver, multiple cell phones, a hard drive, laptop, and a tablet. Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, and Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Customs Enforcement- Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the United States Postal Inspection Service. Special Assistant United States Attorney John Beamer, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Miller prosecuted the case.


title: Spokane man sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for drug and gun charges

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: MISSOULA – A Spokane man who trafficked dangerous drugs while possessing firearms was sentenced yesterday to 200 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Thomas Anthony Biesiadecki, 30, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The government alleged in court documents that several sources identified Biesiadecki as their major supplier of fentanyl. Sources stated they purchased thousands of fentanyl pills from him and one source said Biesiadecki would travel to Missoula from Spokane daily from January 2024 through the middle of summer 2024 to deliver fentanyl pills and powder. Another source stated they purchased fentanyl pills and methamphetamine from Biesiadecki in 2024. One source reported Biesiadecki traveled to Missoula and then Butte to trade drugs for firearms. On May 16, 2025, Biesiadecki’s vehicle was searched in Spokane, Washington. Law enforcement officers located two firearms, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and cash. Biesiadecki was interviewed and admitted to distributing drugs and trading drugs for firearms in the vehicle. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI's Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation. 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. XXX


title: New Orleans Man Indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute Over 5 Kilograms of Cocaine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA. – LAMONT WILLIAMS (“WILLIAMS”), age 50, of New Orleans, was indicted on January 15, 2026, for possession with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. If convicted, WILLIAMS faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least 5 years of supervised release. According to the indictment, on or about July 4, 2025, in the Eastern District of Louisiana, WILLIAMS , did knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine. U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely an allegation and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is being investigated by the Louisiana State Police and Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit is in charge of the prosecution. 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 New Orleans comprises agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. * * *


title: Worcester Pharmacy Agrees to Pay $750,000 to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – Trang Pharmacy (Trang), a Worcester-based pharmacy, has agreed to pay $750,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicare for dispensing medications for which it lacked inventory. As detailed in the settlement agreement , Trang admitted that between Jan. 1, 2016, and Jan. 13, 2023, it submitted claims to Medicare’s Part D program seeking reimbursement for dispensing certain medications for which they could not prove to have purchased. As such, the government alleges that Trang submitted false claims to Medicare for reimbursement for medications that it did not dispense to Medicare beneficiaries. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts and the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Sharobem of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled the matter with assistance from the Civil Fraud Branch of the U.S. Department of Justice.


title: Honduran man sentenced on immigration charges

body_text: MISSOULA – A Honduran man who entered the United States illegally was sentenced today to time served, 192 days, and was remanded to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Grevil Lopez Flores, 36, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of reentry of removed alien. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The government alleged in court documents that on July 12, 2025, Lopez Flores was arrested for driving under the influence in Bozeman. The detention facility notified the Department of Homeland Security that he matched the description of an individual with immigration arrests and prior deportations. Fingerprint comparisons confirmed Lopez Flores was issued a final order of removal on April 23, 2019, and has been removed from the United States on one prior occasion. On May 15, 2019, he was removed through the Mesa, Arizona, port of entry. He was served with notice barring him from returning to the United States for 10 years. During an interview on July 14, 2025, Lopez Flores provided his name and his date of birth. He confirmed he is a Honduran national and citizen and has no documents to enter or remain in the United States. There is no indication in the files of the Department of Homeland Security Lopez Flores ever applied for or obtained the permission of the United States Attorney General or successor, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, to reenter the United States. Prior criminal history for Lopez Flores includes a December 7, 2018, conviction in the United States District Court, District of Wyoming, for operating a vehicle under the influence, a misdemeanor, for which he was sentenced to a term of six days in jail and a fine. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bozeman Police Department, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, and Department of Homeland Security Enforcement and Removal Office conducted the investigation. 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. XXX


title: Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Snap Benefits Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, Witness Tampering, Other Related Criminal Charges

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt, Maryland – Brendyn Andrew, 34, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, pled guilty in federal court to all charges listed in a 10-count superseding indictment, including SNAP benefits fraud, possessing unauthorized access devices, aggravated identity theft, passport fraud, and witness tampering. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) Northeast Region, and Special Agent in Charge David Richeson, U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) – Washington Field Office. In February 2025, a grand jury indicted Andrew for aggravated identity theft, supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits fraud, social security number misuse, and theft of government property. Additionally, in May 2025, a grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Andrew with additional criminal charges for possessing 15 or more unauthorized access devices, aggravated identity theft, passport fraud, and tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant. Dominique Collins, 38, of Stafford, Virginia, was named as a co-defendant, in the superseding indictment, for tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant. Ms. Collins is scheduled for trial in April 2026. According to facts in Andrew’s plea, between February and June 2021, he used the Department of Human Services’ online system to apply for SNAP benefits and obtain EBT cards, later found in his possession, using identities belonging to other individuals. Andrew intentionally misrepresented his identity to obtain those benefits. In October 2022, during execution of a search warrant, law enforcement officers found Andrew in possession of more than 15 electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards in the names of individuals other than himself. Then, in February 2024, Andrew submitted a United States passport application, stating he was another person, and without legal authority, used the social security number of that person in the application. Andrew obtained the passport for his own use. In March 2025, while detained on the original indictment at the Chesapeake Detention Facility in Baltimore, Maryland, Andrew spoke to Collins on the phone and asked her to try to delete an e-mail account to make the account unavailable for use in an official proceeding. Andrew faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years for aggravated identity theft, to be imposed consecutive to any other term of imprisonment, up to five years for SNAP benefits fraud, up to five years for misuse of a social security number, and up to 10 years for theft of government property. Additionally, Andrew is facing up to 10 years for possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices and up to 15 years for passport fraud. Andrews also faces up to 20 years for tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended USDA-OIG and DSS for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked the Montgomery County Police Department for its investigative assistance and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kertisha Dixon who is prosecuting the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: Conspirator in Carjacking Spree Sentenced to 84 Months

body_text: WASHINGTON – Elmer Bonilla, 23, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 84 months in federal prison in connection with his role in a 2024 violent carjacking conspiracy which operated in the District and Maryland and continued even after several members were arrested, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Bonilla pleaded guilty on May 30, 2025, before Judge Rudolph Contreras to one count of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and aiding and abetting. According to court documents, on Jan. 24, 2024, Bonilla and two co-conspirators were driving an SUV in Northwest when they stopped and blocked a Dodge Challenger. Two of the armed and masked men approached the driver, ordered him to get out, punched him in the face, then stole the car. On Jan. 25, 2024, Bonilla and his co-conspirators were driving in a white Kia Sportage when they pulled into the parking lot of a pharmacy in Hyattsville, Maryland. The Kia pulled behind a black BMW and blocked it from leaving. Two armed men in ski masks approached the BMW’s driver, opened the driver’s side door, pointed a gun at the driver’s torso and demanded the car. The gunmen took the BMW, drove it away, and the Kia Sportage followed. On Jan. 26, 2024, after the arrest of Bonilla’s, co-defendant, Gregory Giron, Bonilla and two other co-conspirators drove to Giron’s house in a tan SUV. One co-conspirator used a key to enter the Giron’s residence. A few minutes later, the same individual exited the rear of the residence carrying a white trash bag. The co-conspirator got back into the SUV and law enforcement stopped the SUV as it began to drive away. The front seat passenger, Dylan Giron, was the same individual who had entered and exited the house, carrying a white trash bag. The driver of the vehicle was Dylan Giron’s girlfriend. Sitting in the backseat were Bonilla and Christian Rodriguez. When Dylan Giron was inside the residence, Bonilla and Rodriguez were directing Dylan Giron to remove evidence via text message. Months later, on Aug. 6, 2024, Bonilla and others stole a 2021 Infinity Q50 in Silver Spring, Maryland. At the time it was stolen, the car contained the owner’s ID and bank cards, which were found in a later search of Rodriguez’s residence. On Aug. 7, 2024, Bonilla broke into another vehicle in Silver Spring and took a wallet, which was also later found in Rodriguez’s residence. The same day, Bonilla and co-conspirators stole a Corvette in Alexandria, Virginia using an Autel device. The device was later recovered in Bonilla’s car. On Aug. 9, 2024, pursuant to a search warrant, law enforcement searched Bonilla’s residence and recovered a Glock magazine hidden in a crawl space, a 1911-style BB gun, $3,920 in cash, a baggie of white, rock-like substance, and a programmable key fob. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, Prince George’s County Police, Baltimore County Police, Alexandria City Police Department and the FBI Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caelainn Carney with assistance provided by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Martin. The firearm police recovered from Bonilla’s residence. A baggie of white, rock-like substance that police recovered from Bonilla’s residence. A programmable key fob recovered from Bonilla’s residence. 24cr113


title: Shippensburg Man Charged With Drug Distribution

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG -The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Clayton Wilson, age 25, of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury on six counts of drug trafficking. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Wilson distributed crack cocaine in Franklin County on August 27, 2025, September 10, 2025, October 2, 2025 and October 21, 2025. It further alleges that he possessed with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, cocaine hydrochloride, and methamphetamine on October 23, 2025. It also alleged that in a separate incident on October 23, 2025, he possessed methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. FBI and the Pennsylvania State Police investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Scott Ford is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Columbus man charged with threatening to kill federal agents

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man has been charged federally for allegedly threatening on social media to kill federal immigration agents. Justin Mesael Novoa, 21, is charged with making threatening interstate communications, including threats to assault or murder a federal law enforcement officer. According to charging documents, HSI received information in December 2025 regarding threats to ICE employees on the social media platform X. Investigation revealed that, in June 2025, Novoa allegedly posted: “they should blast every ice agent they find.” Later, in November 2025, Novoa allegedly posted “can’t wait to shoot these p***y ice agents and r******d maga maggots.” Federal agents executed a search warrant at Novoa’s residence in December 2025 and seized multiple firearms, including two rifles, two shotguns and one handgun, as well as ammunition. Novoa also possessed two helmets and body armor. Threatening to kill a federal officer is a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Making threatening interstate communications carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Prichard is representing the United States in this case. A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Bozeman woman pleads guilty to fraud charges

body_text: MISSOULA - A Bozeman woman accused of obtaining relief funds through fraud admitted to charges yesterday U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. The defendant, Alaina Marie Garcia, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering. She faces up to 30 years in prison for the bank fraud, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, and five years of supervised release. For money laundering, she faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for May 20, 2026. Garcia was released with conditions pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that on May 5, 2020, Garcia, as an authorized representative of Bluebird Property Rentals LLC, an entity she controlled, applied for and was approved for a Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan through Celtic Bank, in the amount of $613,000.00. In the PPP application, Garcia falsely stated that Bluebird Property Rentals LLC had paid payroll taxes and had 32 employees with an average monthly payroll expense of $245,533.00. None of these statements were true. Garcia and Bluebird Property Rentals LLC had no employees and had never paid payroll tax. Both of these fraudulent statements were material as they effected Garcia’s eligibility to receive the loan and the amount she received. Without these fraudulent statements, the loan would not have been issued. In the loan application, Garcia also agreed that the funds “will be used to retain workers and maintain payroll or make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility payments, as specified under the Paycheck Protection Program Rule.” Garcia did not use the proceeds in this manner and instead spent the funds on personal expenses for her private benefit. Most of the funds were expended purchasing a large piece of property in the Bozeman area. On May 11, 2020, Garcia transferred $548,000.00 of the loan proceeds to Axilon Law Group as a part of this real estate transaction. On July 25, 2020, Garcia applied for and was granted forgiveness of the loan. To obtain forgiveness, Garcia falsely claimed to have used the funds for qualified expenses including payroll and business mortgage interest payments. None of these statements were true. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich prosecuted the case. The Internal Revenue Service and Small Business Administration conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Guatemalan Citizen and Convicted Felon Guilty of Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced today that FEDERICO MENDEZ-FRANCISCO a/k/a “JORGE SANTOS ARROYO,” a/k/a “JORGE A. GORDILLO,” a/k/a “FEDERICO MENDEZ,” a/k/a “FREDERICO MENDEZ,” a/k/a “FEDERICO MENDEZ FRANCISCO,” (“MENDEZ-FRANCISCO”) , age 40, a native of Guatemala, pled guilty to re-entry of a previously removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and 1326(b)(1). According to court documents, on May 15, 2024, MENDEZ-FRANCISCO pled guilty to Domestic Abuse-Child under 13 Present, a felony, in the 24 th Judicial District Court Parish of Jefferson. The United States government removed MENDEZ-FRANCISCO from the United States on July 3, 2024. Law enforcement authorities later located MENDEZ-FRANCISCO , an illegal alien, in Jefferson Parish on May 2, 2025. MENDEZ-FRANCISCO had not received permission from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reenter the United States. United States District Judge Brandon S. Long set sentencing for April 14, 2026. At sentencing, MENDEZ-FRANCISCO faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (“ICE-ERO”) in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Duane A. Evans of the General Crimes Unit is prosecuting the matter. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). * * *


title: Repeat Felon Sentenced for Sexually Abusing  a Child Under 12

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A repeat felon was sentenced today for Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor Under 12 in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Blake Alan Miller, 42, of Muscogee to 360 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Miller will also be required to register as a sex offender. Court dockets show that Miller has a lengthy criminal history that spans more than 20 years. In 2016, Miller was arrested and charged in state court on drug-related charges. Shortly after, Miller was indicted and detained in the Eastern District of Oklahoma on federal charges of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, among other charges. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 180 months of imprisonment in 2018. Once he was imprisoned, a minor victim disclosed that Miller sexually abused them from 2011 through 2016, until his arrest. Court records show that Miller sexually abused the child victim and introduced that prepubescent child to pornography. The child told a case worker that they felt safe coming forward once Miller was in prison. Miller is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Brandon 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: Vacaville Man Sentenced to 17.5 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: Michael Rubino, 38, of Vacaville, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to 17 years and six months in prison for sexually exploiting an underage girl, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, Rubino convinced a 17-year-old girl to live with him at his parents’ Vacaville residence in late 2024. During this time, Rubino engaged in aggressive sexual conduct with his minor victim and created approximately 15 videos of himself assaulting her. At least one recording Rubino made depicted himself taking a hit from a methamphetamine pipe and then blowing the smoke into his victim’s genitalia. Law enforcement officers recovered the minor victim after Rubino deposited her at a local hospital, where she underwent immediate surgery for infected drug injection sites on her body. Officers arrested Rubino after executing a search warrant for his room and seized evidence that on more than one occasion while she was under his control, Rubino provided the minor victim to his friends for sex in exchange for money and narcotics. Rubino’s criminal history includes at least one prior conviction for domestic violence and assault. He is subject to four restraining orders entered for the protection of various women and girls in Solano County. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the Vacaville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki prosecuted the case. 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 the United States Attorneys’ 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.usdoj.gov/psc.


component: Criminal - Criminal Fraud Section

body_text: New London Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Smuggle Chinese Goods into the United States to Avoid Tariffs CONCORD – A New London man pleaded guilty today to conspiring to smuggle plastic resin from China into the United States in order to evade increased tariffs on Chinese goods, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. David Guimond, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States. Chief U.S. District Judge Samantha D. Elliott scheduled sentencing for June 11, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. “Trade laws and customs duties exist to protect American businesses, workers, and the integrity of our markets,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “Schemes that falsify country-of-origin information and evade lawful duties undermine fair competition and take money away from the American taxpayer. This office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the public from those who attempt to circumvent our trade laws.” According to the public record, in 2021, Guimond was a shareholder and Chief Operating Officer of Global Plastics and its sister company Marco Polo International, U.S.-based plastic resin distributors. In February 2021, Winter Storm Uri severely disrupted the domestic resin supply, and as a result, Global Plastics and Marco Polo International began importing resin from countries other than the United States, including China. At the time, plastic resin originating from China was subject to an additional tariff rate of 25%. Guimond instructed and agreed with other employees to input manufacturers and countries of origin other than China on paperwork submitted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in order to avoid the additional tariff rate. Guimond also instructed an employee to repackage plastic resin from bags to boxes that were shipped through Canada to conceal the resin’s country of origin. The conspiracy resulted in at least $497,249 of unpaid tariff duties to CBP. The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 5 years in prison, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Jennifer Bilinkas and Siji Moore of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasir Sadat are prosecuting the case.


title: Sex Tourist Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Traveling to Colombia to Sexually Exploit Minors

body_text: MIAMI – A sex tourist has been sentenced to life in federal prison for sexually exploiting minors he met while traveling to Colombia. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Becerra imposed the sentence on Manuel Poceiro, 69, of Miami, after pleading guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, attempted production of child pornography, and possession of visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of minors. “This defendant traveled overseas to prey on children, recorded their abuse, and tried to hide his crimes behind borders and money transfers,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “A life sentence reflects the gravity of that evil and ensures he will never again have the opportunity to harm a child. Let this sentence send a clear message: those who sexually exploit children, anywhere in the world, will be hunted down, prosecuted, and removed permanently from society.” According to court records, on Feb. 6, 2024, Poceiro met with an individual he believed would assist him in transporting and laundering money related to narcotics trafficking. During that meeting, Poceiro showed the individual numerous photographs and videos depicting multiple minor victims with whom he had engaged in sexual acts while in Colombia. Some of the images and videos had been recorded by Poceiro himself. On Feb. 2, 2025, Poceiro arrived at Miami International Airport on a flight from the Dominican Republic. During a secondary inspection, law enforcement officers conducted a cursory search of Poceiro’s cellphone, which revealed dozens of images and videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Law enforcement later conducted a forensic review of Poceiro’s devices, which identified CSAM involving at least five minor victims. Court records further show that Poceiro engaged in sexually explicit chat message conversations with a minor victim between the ages of 14 and 16 through a messaging application and solicited explicit material. Records from a money exchange service reflect that Poceiro made several payments to individuals in Colombia on behalf of minor victims because they could not receive the payments directly due to their age. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement. HSI Miami investigated the case. HSI Colombia’s Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit including agents from Colombian National Police’s Directorate of Protection (DIPRO) provided invaluable assistance. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey Pence Tomanelli 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 the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . To report suspected human trafficking or to obtain resources for victims, please call 1-888-373-7888; text “BeFree” (233733), or live chat at HumanTraffickingHotline.org . The toll-free phone, SMS text lines, and online chat function are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Help is available in English, Spanish, Creole, or in more than 200 additional languages. The National Hotline is not managed by law enforcement, immigration, or an investigative agency. Correspondence with the National Hotline is confidential, and you may request assistance or report a tip anonymously. To report online child sexual exploitation visit https://report.cybertip.org/ or call 1-800-843-5678. The Cyber Tip Line is operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in partnership with HSI and other law enforcement agencies. To learn more about the National Resource Hotline, visit http://www.humantraffickinghotline.org . To learn more about the U.S. Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking, visit www.justice.gov/humantrafficking . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 25-cr-20068. ###


title: Glastonbury Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Bath Salt Trafficking Offense

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that HARRISON ELBA, 35, formerly of Glastonbury, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 108 months of imprisonment, seven years of supervised release, and a $5,000 fine for possessing with intent to distribute dimethylpentylone, commonly known as “bath salts.” According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 19, 2019, Judge Underhill sentenced Elba to five years of probation for his role in a narcotics distribution conspiracy . In June 2023, Judge Underhill granted Elba’s motion for early termination of his probation, which claimed his rehabilitation was “complete.” In 2023, an investigation revealed that Elba possessed with intent to distribute bath salts at the John Fitch Distilling Company, a business he operated in South Windsor. On May 2, 2023, investigators seized approximately 10 kilograms of the drug from the business. Elba was arrested on September 14, 2023, and was detained until October 9, 2024, when he was released on bond. On January 10, 2025, Elba pleaded guilty pursuant to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and admitted additional conduct, including: Between April and June 2023, Elba operated a drug manufacturing facility in Bloomfield where he and others manufactured and distributed psilocybin mushrooms and THC products, along with large quantities of bagged marijuana intended for distribution. In approximately March 2021, Elba arranged to purchase 200 pounds of marijuana from two individuals in Vermont. Instead of making the purchase, Elba and others travelled to Vermont to rob the two individuals. Elba met the individuals in a hotel room, confirmed their possession of the marijuana, and left as his associates entered the room and took the marijuana by force. In approximately November 2022, Elba received and distributed 10 kilograms of cocaine. In 2023, Elba picked up approximately six guns belonging to one his associates and delivered them to another person who could store them. In December 2024, Elba arranged for the mailing of a book to an inmate at the Wyatt Detention Facility in Rhode Island, knowing that certain pages of the book were laced with synthetic cannabinoids. The investigation further revealed that while he was released on bond, Elba is alleged to have engaged in a scheme to smuggle drugs, cellular phones, and other contraband into a federal correctional institution (FCI) in Ray Brook, New York using drones. On January 10, 2025, shortly after Elba pleaded guilty and continued to be released on bond, he communicated with an FCI Ray Brook inmate and said “I literally just got out of my guilty plea. I pled guilty. My guidelines were 97 to 121. My judge is like the best judge in Connecticut. He sentenced me five years ago…. I thought I might go back to jail today….” Elba and the inmate also discussed the drone smuggling scheme. Elba has been detained in state custody since April 23, 2025, on charges related to his operation of the Bloomfield drug factory. The drone smuggling scheme is currently under investigation by federal authorities. This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad with the assistance of the South Windsor Police Department, Bloomfield Police Department, Glastonbury Police Department. The DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad is composed of personnel from the DEA, and the Bristol, West Haven, Fairfield, Glastonbury, Seymour, and Torrington Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman and Katherine Boyles.


title: North Carolina Man Sentenced for Civil Rights Violation

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A Charlotte, North Carolina, man was sentenced today to 40 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for a federal civil rights violation after he threatened eight individuals with force because of their race, color, religion and national origin. Maurice Hopkins, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of interference with federally protected activities on Aug. 19, 2025. According to filed court documents and the sentencing hearing, on June 8, 2024, Hopkins threatened eight individuals with a firearm inside a pizza restaurant in Charlotte. When Hopkins first encountered the victims, who were a group of friends getting pizza at the time, he asked if they were American. Hopkins then proceeded to harass the victims calling them terrorists, demanding they speak English, telling them to go back to their country, and making other statements because of the victims’ race, color, religion, and national origin. Court records show that Hopkins made multiple threats, telling the victims, “If you say one more thing I’m going to punch you in the face,” and threatened to “Shoot the place up,” and “kill all of them.” Hopkins then left the restaurant and returned minutes later, walking through the doorway with a loaded AR-15 style rifle. The victims immediately fled through the door in the rear of the restaurant. With his guilty plea, Hopkins admitted that he threatened the eight individuals with force because of their race, color, religion and national origin and because they were enjoying the goods, services and facilities of the restaurant. “This defendant targeted people enjoying a simple night out and threatened them with violence because of their race and national origin,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This was an outrageous act motivated by nothing other than racial bigotry. Today’s sentence makes clear: if you threaten people with violence because of who they are — or where they come from — you will be met with the full force of federal law.” “You ought to be able to get pizza with your friends without being harassed due to your race or national origin and certainly without being threatened with an AR-15,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina. “Incidents like this should never happen, but when they do, my office will act swiftly to bring justice.” Hopkins remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. The FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick J. Miller for the Western District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Chloe Neely of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.


title: Albany Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Gregory Conrad Puzio, a/k/a “Tony G.,” age 40, of Albany, New York, pled guilty today to receiving child pornography. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement. As part of his guilty plea, Puzio admitted that in February 2025, he used a messaging application to receive child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including a video where the child victim was sexually abused and beaten. In late June 2025, Puzio was charged by local authorities with use of a child in a sexual performance and possessing a sexual performance by a child based on this conduct but was subsequently released on bond. After a federal complaint was filed on July 8, 2025, federal agents arrested Puzio and he did not contest federal detention. Acting United States Attorney Sarcone stated: “Puzio’s disgraceful crimes were somehow not enough for detention in state court. But our partners at HSI and the NYSP quickly brought this case to my office so that this dangerous individual is now off the street and far from any children. My Office and our state and federal law enforcement partners will never hesitate to bring viable federal charges when we believe a defendant who has been released by a state court should be detained for the protection of the community.” HSI Special Agent in Charge Keegan stated: "Gregory Puzio's guilty plea reflects the depravity of the defendant's crimes against children and underscores the urgent need for aggressive investigation and prosecution in such heinous offenses. Together with our law enforcement counterparts, HSI will stop at nothing to ensure that predators face the full force of justice and that our communities are safeguarded from such egregious harm. I commend HSI Albany and our vital partners for their relentless investigative efforts and exceptional collaboration in protecting our children." NYSP Superintendent James said: “The exploitation and abuse of children is among the most serious crimes we confront, and the New York State Police remain committed to working side by side with our federal and local partners to identify offenders and protect the most vulnerable members of our communities. This guilty plea reflects the strength of that collaboration and sends a clear message that those who prey on children will be held accountable.” At his sentencing on May 26, 2026, Puzio faces a term of imprisonment of at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison. Puzio also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. He will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. This case was investigated by HSI and the NYSP, with assistance from the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal is prosecuting this case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Weathersfield Man Charged with Possession of Eleven Firearms as a Convicted Felon and Possessing Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on January 21, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Marshall Gagne, 35, of Weathersfield, Vermont, with possession of firearms as a convicted felon, possessing fentanyl and cocaine with the intent to distribute, and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Gagne’s arraignment is scheduled to occur on February 23, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. According to court records, on May 19, 2025, Gagne was arrested in a hotel room in Claremont, New Hampshire with six other individuals, after law enforcement forced entry to discover evidence of firearms and illicit drugs recently having been flushed down the drain. Gagne was carrying more than $11,000 and a backpack with fentanyl and cocaine residue on its strap. The next day, on May 20, 2025, a search warrant was executed at a Weathersfield, Vermont residence linked to Gagne. During the search, law enforcement found thousands more in suspected drug proceeds and a dozen firearms, including privately made “ghost” guns and a silencer. The camping trailer where the firearms were kept also contained the box for the handgun found in the hotel room where Gagne was arrested the night before. Gagne had previously been convicted of multiple felonies and was prohibited from possessing firearms. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Marshall Gagne is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted, Gagne faces up to 15 years for possession of firearms, 20 years for drug distribution, and a consecutive sentence of at least five years for possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the Vermont State Police, the Vermont Drug Task Force, the FBI, the Claremont New Hampshire Police Department, the Hartford Vermont Police Department, and the Brattleboro Police Department. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill. An attorney for Gagne has not yet been appointed or appeared on his behalf. 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: Treasurer of Labor Union Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement

body_text: BOSTON – A Leominster man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Worcester to embezzling from a labor union. Joe Scott, Jr., 54, pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a labor union. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for May 1, 2026. In August 2024, Scott was indicted by a federal grand jury. Scott was the Treasurer of the International Union of Electrical Workers, Communication Workers of America, Local 81154 (IUE-CWA Local 81154), a labor union chapter based in Gardner, Mass., that represents union members from various employers in Massachusetts. Scott used his position as Treasurer to embezzle approximately $49,000 from IUE-CWA Local 81154, by making debit card expenditures, withdrawing funds and issuing checks from union bank accounts, all for Scott’s personal benefit. Scott used the money to pay for, among other things, storage costs, home internet, electrical and gas services and cell phone services, as well as personal expenses while on vacation. Scott faces a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jonathan Russo, District Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.


title: 18 Defendants Sentenced to Serve 278 Years Collectively in Federal Prison in Drug-Trafficking Conspiracy that Moved $64-Million in Methamphetamine from Mexico Into the United States

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – A total of 18 defendants have now been sentenced in the culmination of a four-year-long investigation into a drug-trafficking organization (DTO) that specialized in transporting liquid methamphetamine by semi-truck from Mexico, through Texas, to Oklahoma City and elsewhere. According to law enforcement, this DTO moved more than 35,000 pounds of methamphetamine into the U.S. from Mexico at an estimated street value of $64,000,000. In all, the 18 defendants, including eight Mexican nationals, have been sentenced to serve more than 278 years in federal prison collectively. Robert J. Troester, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma, made the announcement. “The architects of this international drug-trafficking organization, who peddled more than 17 tons of deadly poison from Mexico into the United States, have now been held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. “Coordinated law enforcement efforts led to the dismantling of this large-scale criminal enterprise and have protected Oklahomans from the death and destruction caused by these drugs. I commend the investigators and prosecutors for their tireless work on this case.” “Collaboration between the FBI and our law enforcement partners is key to disrupting the criminal organizations that pollute our communities with dangerous drugs,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “By sending 18 associates of this high-volume drug-trafficking operation to prison, there is no question this joint effort has made Oklahoma neighborhoods and citizens much safer.” The four-year operation came to a head on December 17, 2024, when JUAN HERNANDEZ FLORES , 50, of Oklahoma City, was charged along with six others, including JESSICA GUADALUPE MUNIZ , 33, of Oklahoma City; CESAR AZAMAR AGUILAR , 53, of Mexico; and DENIS LEAL GUTIERREZ , 59, and ADRIAN NARVAEZ CRUZ , 58, of Texas, for their roles in the DTO. Gutierrez, Azamar, and Narvaez were charged with a drug conspiracy, while Hernandez and Muniz were charged with a money laundering conspiracy, as well as both domestic and international money laundering. All five went to trial together. On April 18, 2025, following a nine-day trial, a federal jury convicted the defendants on all counts. According to evidence presented at trial, since at least February 2021, members of this Mexico-based DTO were importing liquid methamphetamine into the U.S. hidden in the gas tanks of semi-trucks. Gutierrez ran two trucking companies—DGC Express Co. and Dare Express Co.—that were responsible for transporting shipments of liquid methamphetamine to Oklahoma. Gutierrez was aided in his drug distribution by Azamar, who facilitated the transfer of the liquid methamphetamine between trucks, and Narvaez, who instructed the drivers on where to deliver the liquid methamphetamine. During the investigation, law enforcement seized significant amounts of methamphetamine associated with this DTO, including: • 907 kilograms on March 3, 2021, in Tecumseh, Oklahoma; • 92 kilograms on September 6, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; • 615 kilograms on December 8, 2023, in Wellston, Oklahoma; • 42 kilograms on April 1, 2024, in Tecumseh, Oklahoma; and • 86 kilograms on April 2, 2024, in Newalla, Oklahoma. Law enforcement also seized a 2015 Freightliner Cascadia Semi-Truck, multiple firearms, tens of thousands of dollars in U.S. Currency, and real estate located in Wellston, Oklahoma and Edinburg, Texas. Evidence at trial also established that the DTO engaged in extensive money laundering activities. A high-ranking, Mexico-based member of this DTO directed family members in Oklahoma, including his brother Hernandez and his niece Muniz, to launder drug proceeds on his behalf. Testimony and other evidence, including CashApp records, international wire remitter service records, and records from the Federal Bureau of Prisons and Oklahoma Department of Corrections, also established that this DTO supplied methamphetamine to Oklahoma prison gangs, including the Irish Mob Gang, the Universal Aryan Brotherhood, and the Sureños. These gang members or their associates sent payments for methamphetamine disguised as CashApp payments to Hernandez and Muniz, who then wired the money to close associates of the DTO’s head in Mexico. The defendants charged above and in other related cases have been sentenced as follows: JUAN HERNANDEZ FLORES, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 144 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for money laundering conspiracy, three counts of domestic money laundering, and three counts of international money laundering; JESSICA GUADALUPE MUNIZ, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 24 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for money laundering conspiracy, domestic money laundering, and international money laundering; DENIS LEAL GUTIERREZ, of Texas, was sentenced to serve 420 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for drug conspiracy; CESAR AZAMAR AGUILAR, of Mexico, was sentenced to serve 97 months in federal prison for two counts of drug conspiracy; ADRIAN NARVAEZ CRUZ, of Texas, was sentenced to serve 372 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for drug conspiracy; EVER ALONSO PANDO , 48, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 96 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for two counts of maintaining a drug-involved premises; HECTOR QUINONEZ REYES , 44, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 90 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; ADAN GARCIA MIRANDA , 30, of Texas, was sentenced to serve 156 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for drug conspiracy; JORGE RAUL VEGA GARCIA , 31, of Mexico, was sentenced to serve 180 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; LUIS ALBERTO ROJAS PRECIADO , 28, of Illinois, was sentenced to serve 168 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for drug conspiracy; JOSE ALFREDO EQUIHUA , 40, of Mexico, was sentenced to serve 228 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess methamphetamine with intent to distribute; EDGAR RODRIGUEZ ONTIVEROS , 33, of Mexico, was sentenced to serve 168 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for drug conspiracy; ADRIAN PEREZ , 40, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 228 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for drug conspiracy and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Public record shows that Perez has previous felony convictions that include being a felon in possession of a firearm in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2022-4831 and using a vehicle to facilitate the intentional discharge of a firearm in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2003-1656; PHILLIP RAY HOWARD , 54, of Newalla, Oklahoma, was sentenced to serve 84 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, for drug conspiracy and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Public record shows that Howard has previous felony convictions that include possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in Oklahoma County District Court case number CF-2005-878; RAY DAVID LARA , JR. , 45, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 300 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; HERIBERTO DONAN OCHOA , 34, of Mexico, was sentenced to serve 228 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; BRAULIO PADILLA , 51, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced to serve 264 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for drug conspiracy and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Public record reflects that Padilla has several felony convictions, including for possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a child under 12 and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute in Oklahoma County District Court case numbers CF-2010-4880 and CF-2019-155, respectively; and MICHAEL J. ESTRADA , 37, of Chicago, was sentenced to serve 72 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with the Oklahoma City Police Department and the Oklahoma Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Snyder prosecuted the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Charlotte Man With Felony For Assaulting Federal Officers

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal grand jury has returned a criminal indictment charging a Charlotte man with a felony for assaulting federal officers conducting immigration enforcement operations, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Miguel Angel Garcia Martinez, 24, is charged with a felony offense of assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, and interfering with federal officers engaged in their official duties. According to allegations in filed documents and information shared in court, on November 16, 2025, federal law enforcement officers attempted to make contact with Martinez after his van was observed at two different locations where federal officers were conducting immigration related operations. When the officers approached Martinez’s van, he fled the scene, driving aggressively and at a high rate of speed. Law enforcement used sirens and lights attempting to stop Martinez, but he allegedly continued to evade law enforcement, driving erratically and swerving in and out of traffic, crossing medians and sidewalks, and driving into oncoming traffic down University Boulevard. Ultimately, Martinez’s van struck a government vehicle that had its lights and sirens activated and was occupied by four federal officers. After striking the government vehicle, Martinez continued to flee until he was stopped and taken into custody. If convicted, Martinez faces a maximum penalty of eight years in prison for the felony offense. A federal district court judge will determine the ultimate sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is joined in making the announcement by U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI. The charges against the defendants are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Mexican Citizen with Green Card Sentenced to Federal Prison for Meth Trafficking

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A Mexican citizen residing in Poteet with Permanent Resident status was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio today to 108 months in prison for distributing four kilograms of pure methamphetamine on three separate occasions. According to court documents, Sabino Diaz-Silva, 63, used his ties to Mexico to directly communicate with a Mexican source of supply regarding the importation and distribution of methamphetamine in the United States. On two separate occasions in October 2022, Diaz-Silva sold one kilogram of methamphetamine to an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agent. On Dec. 5, 2022, the Texas Department of Public Safety stopped Diaz-Silva and found two kilograms of methamphetamine hidden inside the trunk of his vehicle. Diaz-Silva was charged in a federal indictment on Oct. 4, 2023, and taken into federal custody on Dec. 6, 2023. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Diaz-Silva will face deportation to Mexico once his sentence of imprisonment is completed. U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The DEA and TX DPS investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Spears prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Charlotte Man Sentenced For Civil Rights Violation

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man was sentenced today to 40 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for a federal civil rights violation after he threatened eight individuals with force because of their race, color, religion and national origin, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Maurice Hopkins, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of interference with federally protected activities on August 19, 2025. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Special Agent in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. of the FBI Charlotte Field Office join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement. According to filed court documents and the sentencing hearing, on June 8, 2024, Hopkins threatened eight individuals with a firearm inside a pizza restaurant in Charlotte. When Hopkins first encountered the victims, who were a group of friends getting pizza at the time, he asked if they were American. Hopkins then proceeded to harass the victims calling them terrorists, demanding they speak English, telling them to go back to their country, and making other statements because of the victims’ race, color, religion, and national origin. Court records show that Hopkins made multiple threats, telling the victims, “If you say one more thing I’m going to punch you in the face,” and threatened to “Shoot the place up,” and “kill all of them.” Hopkins then left the restaurant and returned minutes later, walking through the doorway with a loaded AR-15 style rifle. The victims immediately fled through the door in the rear of the restaurant. With his guilty plea, Hopkins admitted that he threatened the eight individuals with force because of their race, color, religion and national origin and because they were enjoying the goods, services and facilities of the restaurant. “This defendant targeted people enjoying a simple night out and threatened them with violence because of their race and national origin,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This was an outrageous act motivated by nothing other than racial bigotry. Today’s sentence makes clear: if you threaten people with violence because of who they are — or where they come from — you will be met with the full force of federal law.” “You ought to be able to get pizza with your friends without being harassed due to your race or national origin and certainly without being threatened with an AR-15,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “Incidents like this should never happen, but when they do, my office will act swiftly to bring justice.” Hopkins remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. The FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick J. Miller for the Western District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Chloe Neely of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.


title: Massachusetts Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Fentanyl Distribution and Possession of a Firearm

body_text: BOSTON – A Springfield, Mass. man was sentenced yesterday for possessing more than 40 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Lamiek White, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 147 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. In September 2025, White pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. From November 2022 through June 2023, White conspired with others to distribute fentanyl. During a search of White’s Springfield residence in June 2023, approximately 200 grams of fentanyl was found along with a firearm with an obliterated serial number. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Massachusetts State Police; the Berkshire, Hampden and Franklin County Sherriff’s Offices; and the Holyoke, Springfield, Chicopee, West Springfield and Easthampton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches, Chief of the Springfield Branch Unit prosecuted the case. This case 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 Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.