title: French National Sentenced To Eight Years In Prison For Laundering Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars Using Shell Companies And Crypto Accounts

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington, D.C., Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), Cynthia Hearn, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that MAXIMILIEN DE HOOP CARTIER was sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in a sophisticated international money laundering network that laundered hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit proceeds, including the proceeds of drug trafficking, through the United States. CARTIER was sentenced today before U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil. On October 23, 2025, CARTIER pled guilty to one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. “Maximilien de Hoop Cartier exploited his knowledge of U.S. and international financial systems to launder drug money and other crime proceeds,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “De Hoop Cartier created a network of shell companies and crypto accounts to wash and conceal criminal proceeds. He used that network to funnel hundreds of millions of dollars from the United States to overseas criminal organizations, fueling their continued illicit operations. Stopping money laundering stops crime more broadly. This federal prison sentence sends a clear message that those who launder criminal proceeds will face serious consequences.” “Today’s announcement demonstrates IRS Criminal Investigation’s commitment to disrupting the illicit flow of money that enables narcotics traffickers to illegally launder millions in illicit drug money,” said IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge Cynthia Hearn. “Our Global Illicit Financial Team is proud to have provided its financial expertise in this investigation. CI and our law enforcement partners are committed to aggressively investigating individuals who engage in money laundering and other financial crimes.” “Maximilien de Hoop Cartier exploited U.S. companies and banks to launder hundreds of millions of dollars in support of international criminal enterprises,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners on the New York Homeland Security Task Force remain determined to stopping illegal cash flow into foreign countries.” According to charging documents and other filings and statements made in court: Since at least 2018 through the date of the defendant’s arrest, CARTIER, a descendant of the Cartier family known for luxury jewelry, ran an unlicensed money transmitting business that operated an over-the-counter (“OTC”) cryptocurrency exchange to buy and sell cryptocurrency on behalf of his clients. This operation played a key role in a sophisticated international money laundering network that exploited the U.S. financial system to launder hundreds of millions of dollars in criminal proceeds through the United States to Colombia, among other countries. CARTIER’s OTC cryptocurrency exchange consisted of a large network of U.S.-based shell companies that CARTIER operated and controlled for the sole purpose of converting cryptocurrency into hard currency. CARTIER opened more than a dozen accounts at U.S. banks, lying to the banks about the nature of his businesses and the purposes of the bank accounts. CARTIER fraudulently claimed the businesses operated in the software publishing and software development industries, when in fact they existed for the sole purpose of receiving and transmitting drug money and other crime proceeds. CARTIER used forged contracts, invoices, and other business records to make it appear to banks that the funds related to legitimate business rather than crime. CARTIER received drug money in the form of cryptocurrency, converted that cryptocurrency into hard currency, deposited it into shell company accounts that CARTIER opened and controlled, and then transmitted the funds to other nodes in the money-laundering network to further conceal their nature and origin before the funds were ultimately withdrawn in local currency in Colombia. CARTIER knew that he was operating a money services business for criminals but did not register as a money transmitting business or follow the anti-money laundering protocols required by law. In total, CARTIER personally helped launder more than $470 million through his shell companies. In April 2021, as part of a separate investigation, a court issued warrants to seize three accounts held by CARTIER’s shell companies because they had received approximately $937,000 in drug trafficking proceeds from an undercover law enforcement account. After the seizure, CARTIER and his lawyer met with federal agents and prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to persuade law enforcement to return the seized funds. During this meeting, CARTIER admitted that he told banks he was in the business of technology software services—instead of stating that he operated as a cryptocurrency exchange—and also acknowledged that he was operating as an unlicensed money remitter. CARTIER also lied to the federal agents, however, falsely claiming that he had know-your-customer and other compliance procedures and that he was in the process of applying for a money transmitting license; and provided forged business records to support his claim to the funds. Based on CARTIER’s lies and forged records, a portion of the seized money was returned to him. * * * In addition to his term of prison, CARTIER, 58, a resident of France and citizen of Argentina, was ordered to pay $2,362,160.62 in forfeiture, representing funds CARTIER kept as a commission for his work with the Network converting cryptocurrency to hard currency. He was additionally ordered to forfeit certain of his shell companies’ bank accounts. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and its New York Field Office; Homeland Security Investigations’ New York El Dorado Task Force; and IRS-Criminal Investigation, Global Illicit Financial Team. Mr. Clayton also thanked the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Colombia, the Colombian National Police, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the U.S. Embassy in Colombia. This case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance & Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer N. Ong, Eli J. Mark, and David A. Markewitz are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Second violent ATM robber sentenced to nine years in prison

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 23-year-old Humble, Texas man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to nine years in prison for a string of violent bank robberies, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Ahmon Hogg pleaded guilty in February 2026 to four counts of bank robbery and two counts of attempted bank robbery for his role in a scheme to steal from banks by assaulting and threatening ATM technicians. Hogg’s partner in crime, Seth Daquan Coles-Body, 24, of Houston was sentenced earlier this month to ten years in prison. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge James L. Robart said, “The offenses in this case showed sophistication, planning, and a modicum of violence. He needs to be held responsible for what he did.” “These two young men will spend their 20’s in prison for their violent attacks driven by greed,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “Each was involved in brutal beatings of ATM technicians, and neither slowed down when confronted by police. Their online celebrations of their cash hauls were premature -- now they are paying for their crimes with years of their lives.” “Across just eight months, Mr. Hogg and his co-defendant targeted banks in five different states, badly injuring repair technicians and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “From our earliest days, the FBI has investigated bank robberies and interstate crimes. While the schemes may change, our commitment to relentlessly pursuing violent crime never will.” Hogg, and Coles-Body were identified as part of a robbery ring operating across the country. The men would disable ATM machines, and when the technician showed up to fix the machine, they would threaten or assault the technician to steal the cash containers, called cassettes, from the ATM. In December 2024, the pair worked together to disable ATMs on December 23 and 24, when the machines would be loaded with cash for the Christmas holiday. The coconspirators disabled a Bank of America ATM in Renton, Washington. After the technician arrived and began repairing the machine, he was forcibly confronted by Hogg and Coles-Body who brandished a screwdriver and demanded he open the machine and provide them with the cash cassettes. The technician did not open the machine, and after a scuffle, the technician was able to escape. The next day in Vancouver, Washington, a technician was sent to repair a Bank of America ATM on SE Mill Plain Boulevard. As the technician started repairs, Hogg and Coles-Body ran up and intimidated the victim and grabbed five cash cassettes filled with currency. The men fled in a car that matched one seen the previous day in connection with the attempted robbery in Renton. The defendants also admitted they had disabled a Bank of America ATM in Battle Ground, Washington, that same day. While the investigations were ongoing in Washington, Hogg and Coles-Body were identified in connection with ATM tampering cases on January 3, 2025, in the Phoenix, Arizona area. ATMs for Bank of America and Wells Fargo had been tampered with like the Washington ATMs. Hogg and Coles-Body were stopped by Phoenix law enforcement before they could attempt to rob one of the ATMs they had disabled. On March 7, 2025, the defendants committed another robbery at Bank of America in Redmond, Washington. An ATM repair technician was working on the machine that had been disabled by Hogg and Coles-Body. Once the machine was open, two robbers ran up and stole cash canisters filled with money from the machine. Five of the canisters were later recovered, damaged, on the shoulder of highway 520. A few days later, Coles-Body was stopped by U.S. Border Patrol with approximately $209,000 in cash. The cash was seized, and Coles-Body was released. In May 2025, Hogg and Coles-Body were back in Houston, where they reside, and committed another robbery of a Wells Fargo. A repair technician had the machine open to make repairs, and Coles-Body rushed the technician and caused injuries. The men stole about $117,000 from the machine and abandoned their car a short distance away. In June 2025, the men traveled to Oregon and disabled ATMs in Tigard and Hillsboro. While in the area, the men robbed an ATM customer who had just used a different machine. Hogg and Coles-Body then drove from Oregon to Maine and on June 30, 2025, they disabled a Bank of America ATM in South Portland, Maine. While the technician was making repairs the men rushed him and Hogg beat the technician, stealing $47,000 from the Bank of America. The men left Maine and drove across the country to Jackson, Mississippi where they were arrested in a traffic stop. They had stolen firearms and significant amounts of cash in the car. Speaking at sentencing, Assistant United States Attorney Amanda McDowell noted that in Maine Hogg “beat the technician so badly he almost lost consciousness. These were hands-on robberies.” Both men agreed to pay restitution to the victims of $768,900. The sentencing resolves all the cases in Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Texas, Maine, and Mississippi. Hogg will be on three years of supervised release following his prison term. The case was investigated by the Vancouver, Phoenix, and Houston offices of the FBI and state law enforcement, the Columbia River Organized Crime Task Force, and state law enforcement partners in Hillsboro Oregon, Battleground, Washington, and Jackson, Mississippi. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda McDowell, with assistance from the United States Attorney’s Offices in Phoenix and Houston.


title: Former East St. Louis Librarian and Public Aid Eligibility Assistant sentenced to prison for embezzling more than $100,000 from government employers

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – a district judge sentenced the former director of the East St. Louis Public Library to 15 months’ imprisonment after she admitted to embezzling more than $100,000 from the East St. Louis Public Library and the Illinois Department of Human Services. Kenyada T. Harris, 42, pleaded guilty in March 2026 to eight counts for wire fraud, theft from federally funded programs, and bank fraud. Following imprisonment, she will serve two years on supervised release. The judge also ordered Harris to pay $102,249 in restitution. “Those who abuse a position of trust and steal taxpayer funds must be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Public resources belong to the community, not to those who believe they are above the law.” According to court documents, between March 2022 and March 2023, Harris was employed as a Public Aid Eligibility Assistant at the St. Clair County Family Community Resource Center through the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). Harris was responsible for replacing lost, stolen, or damaged LINK cards and issuing new LINK cards to low-income IDHS customers to use to obtain food and cash assistance benefits. Instead of providing new customers with a LINK card, Harris would use the cards for herself, her family members and friends. Over the course of her scheme, records report that Harris used 98 distinct cards for her own personal gain. In total, her actions resulted in loss of over $10,000 to IDHS. “Kenyada Harris abused the public’s trust with decisions she made to help herself to money belonging to others,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge William Steenson. “Her 15-month prison sentence represents the collective effort of several law enforcement agencies committed to bringing fraudsters to justice and holding them accountable.” Around March 2023, Harris began working at the East St. Louis City Library as the Library Director. From July 31, 2023 through June 6, 2024, Harris knowingly used the Library’s credit card to make personal purchases, including to pay for her personal vehicle repairs and to obtain cash advances. Harris’ actions resulted in a loss amount to the East St. Louis Public Library in the amount of $91,937. "Public service is a privilege, not an opportunity for self-enrichment," said FBI Springfield Field Office's Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley. "By diverting funds meant for essential library services and food assistance, the defendant prioritized her personal interests over the needs of her neighbors. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure public resources remain in the hands of citizens they are intended to serve." FBI Springfield’s Southern Illinois Public Corruption Task Force and IRS Criminal Investigation led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Howard prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Two Illegal Aliens With Prior Felony Convictions Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – Two Mexican nationals were sentenced today by United States Chief District Judge Andrew Gordan to terms of imprisonment followed by terms of supervised release for illegally reentering the United States after being removed from the United States. According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings, Hilario Villegas-Espinoza and David Carachuri-Terrazas, both from Mexico, were found in the United States after previously being deported. Villegas-Espinoza was sentenced to 20 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Villegas-Espinoza was previously deported and removed to Mexico on or about November 4, 2009, and again on February 11, 2011. Villegas-Espinoza has prior felony convictions for Illegal Reentry After Deportation out of Texas, and Attempt Lewdness with a Child Under the Age of 14 out of Nevada where he served 45 to 113 months in Nevada State prison. Carachuri-Terrazas was sentenced to 13 months in prison and one day followed by three years of supervised release. Carachuri-Terrazas was previously deported to Mexico on or about August 28, 2018. Carachuri-Terrazas served 48 to 120 months in Nevada State prison for felony Coercion, and Violation of Extended Protective Order. Both defendants pleaded guilty to one count of Deported Alien Found in the United States. After serving their prison sentences they will again be deported from the United States. First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Acting Field Office Director Ruben Levya made the announcement. The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted the cases. Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form . These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Twice Deported Guatemalan National Living in Hartford Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut announced that JONY GALEANO LOPEZ-GARCIA, also known as Yoni Lopez Garcia, 27, a citizen of Guatemala residing in Hartford, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with illegally reentering the United States after being deported. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in November 2017, Lopez-Garcia was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona. He was deported to Guatemala in December 2017 and warned that he could not return to the U.S. for a period of five years. Lopez-Garcia subsequently reentered the U.S. in January 2018. He was convicted in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas of illegally entering the U.S. In February 2018, he was deported to Guatemala and warned that he could not return to the U.S. for a period of 20 years. Lopez-Garcia subsequently unlawfully reentered the U.S. It is further alleged that on November 27, 2025, Hartford Police arrested Lopez-Garcia under the name Yoni Lopez Garcia and charged him with assault first degree, conspiracy to commit assault first degree, assault third degree, carrying a dangerous weapon, threatening second degree by physical threat, and other offenses. Lopez-Garcia, who was released on bond in his state case , was arrested today. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford and was ordered detained. If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, Lopez-Garcia faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel. 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: Opioid Manufacturer Purdue Pharma Sentenced for Fraud and Kickback Conspiracies

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: WASHINGTON — Opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma LP (Purdue) was sentenced today in federal court in Newark, New Jersey, and ordered to pay criminal penalties of over $5 billion for its role in fueling the opioid epidemic. “Purdue Pharma put profits over patient health and safety,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The company willfully rejected the law and ignored the diversion of their highly addictive prescription drugs. Their actions contributed to the opioid crisis that claimed countless lives and destroyed entire families and communities. Today's sentence is a prime example of the Department’s effort to redress past wrongs by rooting out and punishing unlawful conduct by companies that have contributed to the national crisis.” “The opioid epidemic in the United States is a plague that has ruined lives and destroyed families,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Purdue Pharma complicitly contributed to this national epidemic in the name of their own greed by blatantly ignoring the health and safety of patients putting countless lives at risk. The FBI and our DOJ partners will always work tirelessly to ensure that companies, like Pharma, pay for the harm they have inflicted and warn others that they will not get away with violating the law for personal gain.” “This generational case against Purdue Pharmaceuticals is one of the most important corporate enforcement cases ever brought by the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The opioid epidemic was and continues to be a national tragedy that has destroyed far too many lives, families, and communities. Purdue callously focused on profits when it knew that providers were prescribing these addictive opioids to patients without a legitimate medical purpose. While good progress has been made in combating the national opioid crisis, today’s sentencing is a reminder that there is much additional work to be done. Companies like Purdue that place illicit profits over the obligation to be a good and honest corporate citizen will be investigated and prosecuted. Today’s sentencing reflects Purdue’s role in fueling the opioid crisis and concludes the Department’s efforts to hold Purdue accountable for diversion of its products. The Criminal Division remains steadfast in our mission to seek justice on behalf of the American people.” “Purdue Pharma undermined the government’s efforts to ensure compliance and prevent prescription drug diversion,” said Administrator Terrance Cole of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “Their actions fueled a surge in addiction and cost many Americans lives. The prescription opioid epidemic directly paved the way for today’s fentanyl crisis. DEA remains committed to working with registrants, communities, faith-based organizations, and schools to address the damage and end the opioid epidemic that has gripped our nation for far too long.” “Purdue Pharma put profit ahead of American lives and, in doing so, helped engineer a public health catastrophe that has left a trail of suffering for families and communities across this nation,” said Inspector General T. March Bell of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG). “No penalty can undo the widespread devastation Purdue has inflicted, but today’s sentence serves long overdue accountability for its reckless and unlawful conduct. HHS OIG and our law enforcement partners will continue to investigate large corporations and conglomerates when they violate the Anti Kickback Statute and other federal laws designed to protect patients and the integrity of federally funded health care programs.” “Purdue made billions by unlawfully marketing dangerous opioid products, and deceiving the DEA and the American people,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer for the District of New Jersey. “Purdue profited by paying illegal kickbacks to induce providers, including those who diverted opioids to drug abusers, to prescribe even more opioids. Today’s multi-billion-dollar sentence holds Purdue accountable for its criminal conduct.” “By prioritizing profits over people, Purdue prolonged the suffering of patients, leaving them trapped in opioid addiction long after their initial pain subsided,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt for the District of Vermont. “While no resolution adequately could reflect the struggles of people across New England who lost their lives and their loved ones to addiction, today’s sentence takes a substantial step toward recognizing and redressing the harm Purdue caused.” According to court documents, from 2007 and 2017, Purdue illegally marketed its opioid products to hundreds of prescribers the company had good reason to believe were prescribing these addictive drugs without a legitimate medical purpose. Purdue defrauded the DEA by misrepresenting the effectiveness of its programs designed to prevent illegal diversion, and used prescriptions written by problematic prescribers to justify its fraudulent requests to the DEA to increase the amount of its products it was permitted to manufacture. In order to induce doctors to prescribe more of its addictive opioid products, Purdue also paid kickbacks to prescribers through its doctor speaker program and to an electronic health record platform. The court ordered Purdue to pay a criminal fine of $3.544 billion, which will be assessed in connection with the bankruptcy proceedings, and an additional $2 billion in criminal forfeiture. The Department will credit up to $1.775 billion against the $2 billion forfeiture amount based on the value conferred to state, local, and tribal governments through Purdue’s bankruptcy if Purdue ceases to operate in its current form and emerges from bankruptcy as a public benefit company (PBC) or entity with a similar mission designed for the benefit of the American public. The proceeds of the PBC will be directed toward state and local opioid abatement programs. In addition, Purdue is required to host a public document repository containing documents relating to the criminal charges. On Nov. 24, 2020, Purdue pleaded guilty to a three-count felony information charging it with one count of a dual-object conspiracy to defraud the United States and to violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and two counts of conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute. The FBI Washington D.C. Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from investigators from HHS-OIG and the DEA. Trial Attorney Maryann McGuire of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Walk, Jordan Anger, and Robert Toll for the District of New Jersey and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia Cowles for the District of Vermont prosecuted the case.


title: Homeland Security Task Force Investigation leads to seven defendants sentenced to prison in methamphetamine trafficking ring tied to Mexico

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation into a drug trafficking ring connected to a Mexican drug cartel resulted in convictions and prison sentences for defendants in the Kansas City metro area. In January 2020, federal agents opened an investigation into a methamphetamine trafficking operation headed by Jose Santos Macias-Roman, 46, a Mexican national residing illegally in the United States after overstaying his visa. Investigators learned that Macias Roman arranged the transportation of liquid methamphetamine from Sinaloa, Mexico to the Kansas City, Kansas area. Between February 2020 and July 2023, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled methamphetamine purchases from Macias Roman and members of his drug trafficking organization. Investigators learned the traffickers converted the methamphetamine from liquid into crystal form before distributing the finished product to customers. Over time, law enforcement identified several members of the drug trafficking network and their stash houses, two of which contained active methamphetamine conversion labs. As a result of the investigation, law enforcement seized over 70 kilograms of methamphetamine, approximately $35,000 in cash, and three firearms. “The Homeland Security Task Force model is directly focused on targeting transnational criminal organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “This case is a perfect example of coordinated law enforcement resources to achieve justice. We will continue to build collaborative relationships with state, local, and federal partners to eliminate transnational and other threats to our communities here in Kansas and elsewhere.” Macias Roman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 300 months in prison. Juan Ramirez-Gonzalez, 37, an illegal alien from Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 300 months in prison. Ezequil Castro-Aviles, 40, a Mexican national residing illegally in the United States after overstaying his visa, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 172 months in prison. Manuel Alexis Soltero-Alvarez, 31, an illegal alien from Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 168 months in prison. Manuel Arturo Faudoa, 26, of Dodge City, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 144 months in prison. Gerardo Sierra-Martinez, 21, an illegal alien from Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of money laundering. He was sentenced to 97 months in prison. Marcos Antonio Valencia, Jr., 35, of Kansas City, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 72 months in prison. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Jackson County, Missouri Drug Task Force, Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Nebraska Highway Patrol, and the Midwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Krug prosecuted the case. This operation 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 Kansas City comprises agents and officers from FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Posta l Inspection Service; and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas. ###


title: Former U.S. Postal Service Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Mail

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: EUGENE, Ore.—A Burns, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for repeatedly stealing mail while working as a U.S. Postal Service employee at the Hines, Oregon Post Office. Patrick Wright, 44, was sentenced to 45 days in federal prison and two years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay over $2000 in restitution. According to court documents, from January 2024 through June 2024, while working as a U.S. Postal Service employee, Wright opened mail and stole the contents, including money and gift cards. On April 17, 2025, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a one-count indictment charging Wright with theft of mail by a postal employee. Wright pleaded guilty today to Count One. U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement. This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Sweet.


title: Illegal Alien Who Fired Shots Near Border Agents During Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm Charge

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

body_text: CHICAGO — An illegal alien has pleaded guilty to a federal firearm charge after he fired shots near U.S. Border Patrol agents during Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago last fall. HECTOR GOMEZ admitted in a plea agreement that he was driving a Jeep Wrangler in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago on Nov. 8, 2025, when he discharged at least two rounds from a handgun. Gomez fired the shots in proximity of Border Patrol agents who were engaged in the performance of their official duties, the plea agreement states. Gomez had previously been convicted of a felony firearm offense in the Circuit Court of Cook County and was prohibited under federal law from possessing a gun. Gomez admitted that later the same day, he brandished the handgun at an individual in a parking lot a few blocks from where he fired the shots. Gomez pleaded guilty on Monday to one count of illegal possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon. The conviction is punishable by up to 15 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly set sentencing for July 20, 2026, at 1:15 p.m. Gomez, 46, is a citizen of Mexico who had been residing in Chicago. He has no claim to United States citizenship or lawful permanent residence and is now subject to removal. The guilty plea was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill J. Bhalakia. gomez_plea_agreement.pdf


component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, NJ — Opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma LP (Purdue) was sentenced today in federal court in Newark, New Jersey, and ordered to pay criminal penalties of over $5 billion for its role in fueling the opioid epidemic. “Purdue made billions by unlawfully marketing dangerous opioid products, and deceiving the DEA and the American people. Purdue profited by paying illegal kickbacks to induce providers, including those who diverted opioids to drug abusers, to prescribe even more opioids. Today’s multi-billion-dollar sentence holds Purdue accountable for its criminal conduct.” - U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer “Purdue Pharma put profits over patient health and safety,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The company willfully rejected the law and ignored the diversion of their highly addictive prescription drugs. Their actions contributed to the opioid crisis that claimed countless lives and destroyed entire families and communities. Today's sentence is a prime example of the Department’s effort to redress past wrongs by rooting out and punishing unlawful conduct by companies that have contributed to the national crisis.” “The opioid epidemic in the United States is a plague that has ruined lives and destroyed families,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Purdue Pharma complicitly contributed to this national epidemic in the name of their own greed by blatantly ignoring the health and safety of patients putting countless lives at risk. The FBI and our DOJ partners will always work tirelessly to ensure that companies, like Pharma, pay for the harm they have inflicted and warn others that they will not get away with violating the law for personal gain.” “Purdue Pharma undermined the government’s efforts to ensure compliance and prevent prescription drug diversion,” said Administrator Terrance Cole of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “Their actions fueled a surge in addiction and cost many Americans lives. The prescription opioid epidemic directly paved the way for today’s fentanyl crisis. DEA remains committed to working with registrants, communities, faith-based organizations, and schools to address the damage and end the opioid epidemic that has gripped our nation for far too long.” “Purdue Pharma put profit ahead of American lives and, in doing so, helped engineer a public health catastrophe that has left a trail of suffering for families and communities across this nation,” said Inspector General T. March Bell of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “No penalty can undo the widespread devastation Purdue has inflicted, but today’s sentence serves long‑overdue accountability for its reckless and unlawful conduct. HHS‑OIG and our law enforcement partners will continue to investigate large corporations and conglomerates when they violate the Anti‑Kickback Statute and other federal laws designed to protect patients and the integrity of federally funded health care programs.” “This generational case against Purdue Pharmaceuticals is one of the most important corporate enforcement cases ever brought by the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The opioid epidemic was and continues to be a national tragedy that has destroyed far too many lives, families, and communities. Purdue callously focused on profits when it knew that providers were prescribing these addictive opioids to patients without a legitimate medical purpose. While good progress has been made in combating the national opioid crisis, today’s sentencing is a reminder that there is much additional work to be done. Companies like Purdue that place illicit profits over the obligation to be a good and honest corporate citizen will be investigated and prosecuted. Today’s sentencing reflects Purdue’s role in fueling the opioid crisis and concludes the Department’s efforts to hold Purdue accountable for diversion of its products. The Criminal Division remains steadfast in our mission to seek justice on behalf of the American people.” According to court documents, from 2007 and 2017, Purdue illegally marketed its opioid products to hundreds of prescribers the company had good reason to believe were prescribing these addictive drugs without a legitimate medical purpose. Purdue defrauded the DEA by misrepresenting the effectiveness of its programs designed to prevent illegal diversion, and used prescriptions written by problematic prescribers to justify its fraudulent requests to the DEA to increase the amount of its products it was permitted to manufacture. In order to induce doctors to prescribe more of its addictive opioid products, Purdue also paid kickbacks to prescribers through its doctor speaker program and to an electronic health record platform. The court ordered Purdue to pay a criminal fine of $3.544 billion, which will be assessed in connection with the bankruptcy proceedings, and an additional $2 billion in criminal forfeiture. The Department will credit up to $1.775 billion against the $2 billion forfeiture amount based on the value conferred to state, local, and tribal governments through Purdue’s bankruptcy if Purdue ceases to operate in its current form and emerges from bankruptcy as a public benefit company (PBC) or entity with a similar mission designed for the benefit of the American public. The proceeds of the PBC will be directed toward state and local opioid abatement programs. In addition, Purdue is required to host a public document repository containing documents relating to the criminal charges. On Nov. 24, 2020, Purdue pleaded guilty to a three-count felony information charging it with one count of a dual-object conspiracy to defraud the United States and to violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and two counts of conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute. The FBI’s Washington, D.C. and Newark field offices investigated the case, with assistance from investigators from HHS-OIG and the DEA. The government is represented in the District of New Jersey by Deputy U.S. Attorney R. David Walk, Jr. and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan M. Anger and Robert Toll. Trial Attorney Maryann McGuire of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia Cowles for the District of Vermont also prosecuted the case. ###


title: Metairie Pastor Indicted for  Access Device Fraud and Obstruction of a  Federal Investigation

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced today that DALE SANDERS (“SANDERS”) , 56, from Kenner, Louisiana, was charged in an eleven-count indictment for access device fraud, and obstruction of a federal investigation, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Sections 1029(a)(2), 1029(c)(1)(A)(i), and 1519. According to the indictment, from approximately April 2020 through April 2024, SANDERS used an unauthorized access device, specifically the debit card for Company A’s bank account and obtained U.S. currency of approximately $343,293.00. SANDERS faces up to twenty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. U. S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn McHugh of the Financial Crimes Unit. ***


title: Former Sun Prairie High School Dean of Students Sentenced to 18 Years for Producing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Robert Gilkey-Meisegeier, 31, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 18 years in federal prison for producing child pornography. The prison term will be followed by 25 years of supervised release. Gilkey-Meisegeier was also ordered to pay a $10,000 assessment. He pleaded guilty to this crime on February 6, 2026. “Make no mistake, Gilkey-Meisegeier is a predator,” said U.S. Attorney Elgersma. “He used his position as the Dean of Students to target, groom, and exploit students in his care. I commend the courage of the victims and the diligence of investigators who worked tirelessly to hold Gilkey-Meisegeier responsible for his crimes. Today’s sentence sends a clear message – anyone who sexually exploits children will face serious consequences.” Gilkey-Meisegeier originally joined the Sun Prairie School District in July 2022 as a youth advocate. Two years later, in August 2024, the school district promoted him to Dean of Students, a position that he held until the district terminated him on June 9, 2025. In the spring of 2023, two individuals complained to school district personnel about Gilkey-Meisegeier’s concerning behavior towards certain students. In April 2025, a third individual submitted an anonymous tip to district personnel alleging that Gilkey-Meisegeier was having an inappropriate relationship with a student. He denied the allegation. In May 2025, Sun Prairie law enforcement became aware that Gilkey-Meisegeier may have solicited child pornography from a student. An investigation ensued and law enforcement officers found sexually explicit videos of a female student on Gilkey-Meisegeier’s phone. Communications recovered from the phone further revealed that the minor produced the images at Gilkey-Meisegeier’s direction. Gilkey-Meisegeier also had a folder on his phone labeled “my eyes only” containing pornographic images of a 12-year-old female downloaded from the internet. Further investigation revealed that Gilkey-Meisegeier’s superimposed the faces of female students onto hundreds of pornographic images, and surreptitiously took pictures at the high school that focused on clothed female students’ pubic areas, buttocks, and feet. Law enforcement recovered communications that Gilkey-Meisegeier had with one student discussing the anonymous tip in April 2025. He told the student that he found out the identity of the tipster and said that he wanted to “ruin their life.” At sentencing, Judge Conley noted Gilkey-Meisegeier had engaged in an ongoing pattern of predatory and manipulative behavior in which he groomed students to engage in inappropriate relationships, including sexual contact at school. Judge Conley also noted that Gilkey-Meisegeier’s clear lack of remorse, including his use of phone accounts of other inmates while in custody to contact minor victims, factored into his sentencing decision. The charge against Gilkey-Meisegeier was the result of an investigation conducted by the Sun Prairie Police Department with assistance from the University of Wisconsin Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger prosecuted this case. This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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.justice.gov/psc.


title: Madison Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearm

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Donald Smith, 31, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced on April 24, 2026, by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to one year and one day in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Smith pleaded guilty to this charge on February 13, 2026. On July 2, 2025, law enforcement searched Smith’s residence and found a loaded Ruger 9mm handgun. Officers also saw what appeared to be a bullet hole in a cell phone and a spent projectile under the counter. The Wisconsin State Crime lab determined that Smith’s DNA was present on the firearm. Smith is prohibited from legally possessing firearms because of a prior felony conviction for first degree reckless use of a dangerous weapon. At sentencing, Judge Conley remarked on the serious nature of Smith’s prior felony conviction, and the potentially devastating consequences of him possessing firearms. Judge Conley noted that Smith has overcome a lot in his life and encouraged him to pursue counseling to deal with unresolved issues. The charge against Smith was the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force comprised of federal agents from ATF as well as state and local agents throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case. Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Madison Man Sentenced for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender, Food Stamp Fraud, and Use of a Counterfeit Passport

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Mark F. Brummitt, 69, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced last week by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 6 years in federal prison for failing to register as a sex offender, illegally obtaining food stamps, and using a false passport. Brummitt pleaded guilty to these charges on February 4, 2026. “Such systemic deceit will not be tolerated with regard to individuals seeking to steal benefits meant for low-income families that help them afford nutritious essentials for their health and well-being,” said Inspector General John Walk for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General. “USDA OIG is proud to support Project Safe Childhood. I thank and commend the work of this office, our law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the efforts to ensure that this dangerous individual is held accountable and will go to prison for his crimes.” Between 1989 and 2005, Brummitt was convicted of various sex offenses against children. He is required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. In late 2022, after having his supervised release revoked four times, Brummitt was released from federal prison. He spent time in Mexico and Mozambique. In February 2025, he returned to Wisconsin. He did not tell the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Sex Offender Registry about his change in residence and instead submitted paperwork stating he still lived in Africa. While living in Wisconsin, Brummitt applied for and received $1,512 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. He misrepresented his identity and his income when applying for those benefits. In August 2025, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services told Brummitt he needed to come to the local agency and present photo identification to continue receiving benefits. Brummitt presented a counterfeit passport. Judge Peterson said that Brummitt stood apart from other offenders because of his “systematic deceit” and his resolute resistance to any form of supervision. The judge found Brummitt represented a threat to public safety because of his sexual interest in children. The charges against Brummitt were the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. State Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Stelljes prosecuted this case. This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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.justice.gov/psc.


title: Anti-ICE Agitator Unlawfully Present in the United States Pleads Guilty to Impersonating a Border Patrol Agent and Illegally Possessing Firearms

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Jaime Ernesto Alvarez-Gonzalez, a citizen of Mexico who is unlawfully present in the U.S., pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he impersonated a U.S. Border Patrol Agent in order to disrupt deportation missions. During an incident on January 8, 2026, Alvarez-Gonzalez closely followed an actual Border Patrol agent while driving a black Ford F-150 truck that appeared to be an undercover Border Patrol vehicle. The truck had a Border Patrol sticker on the windshield, non-functioning radio communications antennae on the roof, a lightbar on the dashboard, a license plate frame displaying the words “Ferderal Truck” [sic.], and handcuffs hanging from the rear-view mirror. The defendant wore a face mask and thin green line baseball cap, typically worn by Border Patrol supporters, and made a recording in which he said he was actively looking for federal law enforcement involved in deportation missions by Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to a federal complaint, the actual agent who was being followed by Alvarez-Gonzalez believed the F-150 was being used by a legitimate federal law enforcement officer and he felt compelled to divert from his mission to “deconflict” for safety reasons. Generally speaking, law enforcement deconfliction is a process to prevent conflicts between different agencies or officers by sharing information about planned operations, such as surveillance or execution of warrants, to avoid having multiple officers/agents from different agencies working simultaneously in the same area. This is done to ensure officer safety, to prevent compromising investigations, to avoid confusion, and to promote public safety. Deconfliction is important to avoid a potentially dangerous situation where an officer or agency may misidentify another law enforcement officer as an armed perpetrator. Alvarez-Gonzalez pleaded guilty to one count of impersonating a federal agent and three counts of illegally possessing firearms. Alvarez-Gonzalez overstayed his tourist visa decades ago and has no lawful status in the United States. According to the complaint and the government’s statements in court, when confronted by agents, Alvarez-Gonzalez shouted obscenities and demanded agents leave the community of Linda Vista. At some point, three additional vehicles drove to the agents’ location and began harassing the departing agents, chasing agents on the highway. Alvarez-Gonzalez narrated this entire interaction on video and claimed to have brought in his “reinforcements.” On January 14, 2026, ICE-ERO arrested Alvarez-Gonzalez for his illegal status in the United States. Alvarez-Gonzalez had an FBI badge. After further investigation, the government connected Alvarez-Gonzalez to three firearms illegally possessed by him: a Glock 26 9mm pistol, an Aero Precision Model X15 Multi-Caliber AR-style rifle, and an Interarms Hellpup 7.62x39 AK-style pistol. The government also seized ammunition from his place of business. Evidence showed that Alvarez-Gonzalez traveled to the Southern District of Texas to unlawfully possess firearms at a gun range in Houston. Alvarez-Gonzalez is unlawfully in the United States and legally could not possess those firearms or ammunition. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Siddharth Dadhich. . DEFENDANT Case Number 26-cr-00911-RBM Jaime Ernesto Alvarez-Gonzalez Age: 53 San Diego, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES False Personation of a Federal Officer – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 912 Maximum penalty: Three years in prison and $250,000 fine Knowing Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien Title 18, U.S.C., Section 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8) Maximum penalty: Fifteen years in prison and $250,000 fine INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Homeland Security Investigations Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Removal Operations Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Customs and Border Protection Federal Bureau of Investigation *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Federal Investigation Into Violent Home Invasion in Winnetka, Ill. Leads to Arrests of Seven Individuals

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal grand jury in Chicago has indicted six men on robbery and kidnapping offenses for allegedly participating in a violent home invasion in Winnetka, Ill., last month. A seventh defendant was arrested this morning, and federal charges are forthcoming against him. Working with its law enforcement partners, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office obtained court-authorized arrest warrants within 12 days of the home invasion but kept the warrants under seal while it continues to obtain evidence to identify and arrest additional defendants involved in the violent incident. A superseding indictment unsealed today in U.S. District Court charges DASHUN BROWN, 24, of Chicago, DAVID FRANKLIN, 24, of Chicago, ANTHONY RAMSEY, 22, of Chicago, ISAIAH DUKES, 28, of Los Angeles, Calif., KHIELL DUKES, 30, of Elgin, Ill., and JALEN CHAMBERS, 24, of Bourbonnais, Ill., with conspiracy to commit robbery and kidnapping in connection with the alleged home invasion, which occurred in Winnetka, Ill., on the afternoon of March 8, 2026. Brown, Ramsey, and Franklin were taken into federal custody on March 22, 2026, while Isaiah Dukes, Khiell Dukes, and Chambers were taken into federal custody on April 10, 2026. All six defendants charged in the superseding indictment have been ordered detained pending trial. They have pleaded not guilty to the charges. A seventh defendant was arrested this morning and a criminal complaint will be submitted to the Court for his alleged role in the home invasion. According to the superseding indictment, Brown posed as a food delivery driver to cause an individual in the residence to open the front door. Armed with loaded firearms, Brown, Franklin, Chambers, and two other co-conspirators then forcibly entered the residence. Brown, Franklin, Chambers, and the two other co-conspirators kept the individual in the residence captive for approximately an hour and used firearms to physically restrain the victim, the charges alleged. The captors demanded access to a safe, computer, and online accounts holding cryptocurrency, the indictment states. The conspirators eventually fled the residence, later meeting up with Isaiah Dukes, Khiell Dukes, Ramsey and other co-conspirators, who searched Brown, Franklin, and additional co-conspirators to ensure that all the proceeds from the robbery were collected, the indictment states. The charges and arrests were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Brian O’Connell, Chief of the Winnetka Police Department. Valuable assistance has been provided by the Chicago Police Department, Northbrook, Ill. Police Department, Glencoe, Ill. Police Department, and Orland Park, Ill. Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maureen Merin and Jessica Ecker. The officials noted that the investigation remains ongoing. “By immediately deploying targeted federal resources to this investigation and working closely with our federal and local law enforcement partners, we were able to swiftly disrupt a violent criminal conspiracy and remove dangerous individuals from the streets in a matter of days,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “I will continue to push hard to crack down on violent crime in the Chicago area, which means the U.S. Attorney’s Office is going to federally prosecute significant violent offenses throughout the city and suburbs. The people of the Northern District of Illinois deserve our tireless and unwavering efforts to hold violent offenders accountable, and they will get it.” “Home invasions strike at the core of an individual’s most basic right to safety, security, and privacy in their own home,” said ATF SAC Amon. “ATF and our partners were on this case from the very beginning, and let me be clear: No matter who you are, we will find you and hold you accountable. I am grateful to our law enforcement partners and the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office for their assistance and partnership in this investigation. Together, we will leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of justice.” “This indictment serves as a reminder of the FBI’s promise to leverage our prosecutorial and law enforcement partnerships against anyone seeking to harm or endanger those in our community," said FBI SAC DePodesta. "This investigation exemplifies the ways in which both local and federal law enforcement were able to deploy our agencies’ unique tools and resources as a collective group when apprehending the individuals identified in this scheme. The FBI stands ready to disrupt and investigate violent crime at a moment’s notice wherever it may be occurring in the world.” “On behalf of the Winnetka Police Department, I’d like to recognize the diligent work and partnership of the ATF, FBI, other local agencies, and Winnetka’s investigations unit in the pursuit of the offenders in this case, and the commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecuting violent criminals,” said Chief O’Connell. “These charges are a positive step forward toward resolution of this incident and they demonstrate our shared commitment to protecting our constituents. This is an example of the collaborative efforts between multiple federal, state, and local agencies working together, utilizing the best investigative technology available, and prosecuting offenders to the fullest extent of the law.” The kidnapping conspiracy count is punishable by a maximum sentence of life in federal prison, while the robbery conspiracy count is punishable by up to 20 years. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. brown_et_al_superseding_indictment.pdf


title: Fort Gibson Resident Pleads Guilty To Bank Fraud

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Katrina Dawn McCroskey, age 52, of Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Bank Fraud, punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. The Information alleged that beginning in January 2016 and continuing until February 28, 2023, McCroskey knowingly executed a scheme to obtain moneys, funds, credits, assets, securities, or other property owned by or under the custody or control of BancFirst, a federally insured financial institution, by means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises. As part of the plea, McCroskey admitted that, without the authority of her employer, she utilized her position as office manager for a medical doctor to commit the fraud. The charge arose from an investigation by the United States Secret Service. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. McCroskey was released on bond pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.


title: Coralville Woman Pleads Guilty to Bankruptcy Fraud

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A Coralville woman who initiated a bankruptcy case in order to defraud a nursing home out of more than $70,000 pled guilty on April 22, 2026, in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Donita Rose Eckrich, age 64, from Coralville, Iowa, was convicted of one count of bankruptcy fraud. In a plea agreement, Eckrich admitted that, in 2021 and 2022, a former nursing home resident was suffering from severe cognitive impairments and unable to manage the resident’s financial affairs. The resident owed a nursing home over $150,000 for care since 2019. The resident had assets, including valuable real estate in Holy Cross, Iowa, and an annuity check from an insurer in the amount of nearly $75,000. Eckrich devised a scheme to defraud the nursing home by fraudulently concealing and transferring the nursing home resident’s assets and otherwise violating the bankruptcy laws of the United States. For example, Eckrich caused an attorney to file a bankruptcy case in the former nursing home resident’s name, but hid the annuity check from the nursing home and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Iowa. Once the bankruptcy court discharged the former nursing home resident’s debt to the nursing home, Eckrich cashed the insurance company’s check and made five cash withdrawals of $15,000 each in order to conceal the location of the annuity money. Eckrich and others at her request also created a “quit claim deed” in which the former nursing home resident purported to convey real estate in Holy Cross to Eckrich for “One Dollar(s) and other valuable consideration.” Eckrich obtained the Holy Cross property free and clear of any debt to the nursing home and without using any of the annuity moneys to pay the debt owed to the nursing home. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Eckrich remains free on bond previously set. Eckrich faces a possible maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and was investigated by the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, the Coralville Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-94. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Man Who Escaped From Residential Reentry Center Sent Back To Federal Prison

body_text: A man who escaped from the Gerald R. Hinzman Center was sentenced today to serve two months in federal prison. Robert Fleming, age 61, from Chicago, Illinois, received the prison term after a guilty plea to escape from custody. At the guilty plea, Fleming admitted that in July 2025, while confined to the Gerald R. Hinzman center, he escaped from custody. At the time, Fleming was serving a federal prison sentence after being convicted of possession and aid abet the possession with intent to distribute cocaine base within 1,000 feet of a protected location after a prior felony drug conviction. Fleming was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Fleming was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Fleming is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and investigated by the United States Marshals Service. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-00065. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Wagoner County Resident Pleads Guilty To Abusive Sexual Contact

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kyler Leroy Parish, age 19, of Porter, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country, punishable by any term of years up to Life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Information alleged that on March 18, 2024, Parish knowingly engaged in sexual contact with a child who had not attained the age of 12 years. The crime occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charge arose from an investigation by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Parish will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.


title: "GUILTY" - A Federal Jury Convicts a Repeat Criminal of Hobbs Act and Use of Firearm in the Commission of a Violent Crime

component: USAO - Mississippi, Northern

body_text: Greenville, MS – United States Attorney Scott F. Leary announced today that Carleone Pate, Jr., 21, of Lexington, Holmes County, Mississippi was convicted of Hobbs Act Robbery and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Violent Crime. Pate had recently been released from the Mississippi Department of Corrections after serving a three-year prison sentence for two aggravated assault convictions committed in August 2022 in DeSoto County. He was on bail at the time of the robbery for which he stood trial. According to court documents, on the morning of January 19, 2023, in the small Black Hawk community of Carroll County, Mississippi, a masked gunman entered the Dollar General located at the intersection of Highways 430 and 17 and demanded the money from the cash register and safe. The swift response from the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office led to the search and eventual arrest of the defendant. He was found guilty on both counts in addition to the jury finding that he brandished the firearm during the robbery. He will be sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Debra M. Brown on a future date. The evidence presented at trial confirmed that the defendant was successfully identified through the thorough investigative work of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, working with the Mississippi Highway Patrol and surrounding law enforcement agencies, worked diligently to limit the defendant’s escape routes. After perimeter checkpoints were established, Pate was arrested in the woods of northern Holmes County by an off-duty game warden, assisted by a maintenance technician with the Mississippi Department of Transportation. U.S. Attorney Leary stated, “This case would not have been possible absent the professional work of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the Mississippi Highway Patrol and fellow law enforcement agencies. Federal involvement was part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to work with state and local law enforcement to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office is honored to work with such brave and professional officers who work tirelessly to protect our communities. Well done!” Carroll County Sheriff Clint Walker said, “The Black Hawk Dollar General Store is a vital part of our community. It serves our citizens, and they should be able to shop there without fear of robbery. I am thankful to the Lord for His protection and for justice being served. We are grateful to our deputies, to all of the various law enforcement agencies who participated in Pate’s apprehension, and certainly to the US Attorney’s Office for their relentless determination in prosecuting this case. Last but not least, I extend our great appreciation to the citizens who served as jurors during this trial, their commitment to fairness and their thoroughness resulted in a just verdict.” This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Stringfellow, Kaylon McCou, Clyde McGee, IV and Bob Norman.


title: Bronx man pleads guilty to child pornography charge

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Nasif Talukder, 24, of the Bronx, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy to transferring obscene material to a minor, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. According to the plea agreement, in March 2024, Talukder communicated with a 14-year-old girl on teen-chat.org. In the course of the communications, the girl told Talukder, “Also im 14.” Talukder asked the girl to engage in sexual activity in exchange for $100. Talukder met the girl in a Tonawanda, NY, park. After engaging in sexual activity, he gave the girl $100. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colleen M. McCarthy and Maeve E. Huggins. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief Corey Flatau and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. # # # #


title: Saipan Woman Sentenced to 71 Months in Federal Prison for Wire Fraud Scheme Targeting Multiple Victims

body_text: SAIPAN, CNMI – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that SZE MAN YU INOS, aka “Yuki”, age 30, was sentenced on April 23, 2026, to 71 months in federal prison by Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona in the United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands. Yuki was convicted of Wire Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. The Court also imposed three years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service, restitution in the amount of $769,355.67, and a mandatory $200 special assessment fee. The Court further entered a criminal forfeiture personal money judgment in the amount of $684,848.34. From November 2020 through January 2022, Yuki approached older women in Saipan and Guam to befriend them in furtherance of her fraudulent scheme. She falsely claimed she came from a wealthy family in China, owned multiple businesses, and was successful investing in Bitcoin. Yuki treated the women to expensive meals and gifts and bragged to them about how much money she made investing in Bitcoin. She confided in them about fictitious personal problems and claimed their friendship was important to her – often telling them, “You are like my mom.” After gaining the victims’ confidence, Yuki requested money from these women. She also solicited investments in Bitcoin based on false pretenses. She continued to engage in this scheme after she left the Marianas, and defrauded additional victims in Washington and California. “Criminals engaged in affinity fraud prey on our willingness to trust others,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “This defendant chose to target older women across multiple jurisdictions, resulting in substantial financial losses. She continued her scams while this case was pending. The punishment imposed by the Court is well-deserved.” “The defendant built a career out of deception, leaving a trail of financial ruin stretching across several states and impacting dozens of innocent victims," said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. "By forging a federal judge’s signature to facilitate her schemes, the defendant acted with complete contempt for both the victims she exploited and the rule of law. The FBI remains steadfast in its mission to protect our citizens from criminals who profit through such heartless and brazen manipulation.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Garth R. Backe for the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.


title: Marianna Man Sentenced for Escaping Halfway House

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Trashad Laron Roberts, 35, of Marianna, Florida, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison following a jury’s guilty verdict for escape. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin quote: “The terms of supervision at a residential reentry center are not suggestions, they are mandatory conditions of an inmate’s prison sentence that are designed to keep our communities safe. This defendant willfully disregarded the restrictions placed upon him that were part of his prior sentence, and now he will spend even longer in prison. The safety of our communities is not negotiable, and my office will aggressively prosecute offenders like this defendant who threaten that safety.” Court records reflect that in September 2020, the defendant was convicted of possession and distribution of methamphetamine in the Northern District of Florida. The defendant was required to serve four years on supervised release following his multi-year federal prison sentence. The defendant was scheduled to serve the final year of his prison term at a residential reentry center in Tallahassee. Evidence at trial demonstrated that on September 2, 2025, the defendant left the residential reentry center without authorization. Law enforcement immediately acted to locate the defendant. Four hours later, the United States Marshals Service and the Tallahassee Police Department found the defendant hiding inside a residence. “As soon as the U.S. Marshals Service learned that Trashad Roberts was on the run, we sent our fugitive task force to work,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Greg Leljedal. “Through swift, decisive action with our partners at the Tallahassee Police Department, we were able to quickly locate Roberts and had him back in prison before bed.” Roberts will be required to serve the remainder of his first sentence consecutive to the sentence handed down in the escape case. He will then serve four years on supervised release. The Bureau of Prisons utilizes Residential Reentry Centers, also known as halfway houses, in its network of confinement facilities. The Centers are designed to help federal prisoners transition back into society by providing a safe, structured environment with supervision and support services, such as employment. The United States Marshals Service and the Tallahassee Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph A. Ravelo and Meredith L. Steer prosecuted the case. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Former Postal Employee Charged with Theft of Mail

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Evan Aldric Harris, 29, of Evergreen, Alabama, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with theft of mail by a postal employee. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge today. Harris appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Hope Thai Cannon in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for June 22, 2026, before United States District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers. If convicted, Harris faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment. The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Three Charged in Federal Drug Distribution & Money Laundering Conspiracies

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Marcus Dewayne Gulley, 53, and Tristian R. Harris, 38, both of Hesperia, California, and Monteles Terrell Burden, 40, of Crestview, Florida, have been indicted in federal court for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to utilize a telephone facility to commit the charged drug distribution conspiracy, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges. Gulley, Burden, and Harris appeared in federal court for their arraignments before United States Magistrate Judge Hope Thai Cannon, in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for May 18, 2026, before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II in Pensacola, Florida. If convicted as charged, the defendants each face a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, on the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine count. They face up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the money laundering conspiracy count and up to four years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to utilize a telephone facility. The case was jointly investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: United States Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones Promoted to Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – United States Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones, for the Southern District of Florida, has been promoted to the rank of Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve, marking more than twenty-three years of military service spanning infantry, operational law, national security, and combat advising. Colonel Reding Quiñones currently serves as the senior reserve legal advisor to the Staff Judge Advocate at United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), where he advises the 4-star Combatant Commander and senior military leadership on the legal authorities governing combat operations, maritime interdiction, intelligence activities, force protection, and national security operations. Since the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks in Israel, Colonel Reding Quiñones has advised on kinetic military operations across the Central Command theater, helping provide legal oversight and operational guidance during some of the most consequential military actions in the region, including sustained regional defense operations, the twelve-day conflict between Iran and Israel, and current U.S. naval blockade and maritime interdiction operations targeting Iranian commercial and military vessels. In this current military role, Colonel Reding Quiñones has served as a senior law advisor during combat operations, advising commanders on the lawful employment of force, rules of engagement, targeting authorities, maritime seizure operations, and escalation response. His operational experience builds on a military career that began as an Army cavalry scout and infantry officer before transferring into the Air Force Reserve Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Over the course of his career, he has served in key legal billets supporting Air Force Special Operations Command, Pacific Air Forces, United States European Command, and now USCENTCOM. His military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Air Force Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, reflecting outstanding service across combat support, operational law, and joint military missions. “Military service has shaped every part of my adult life,” said Colonel Reding Quiñones. “From leading soldiers as a young infantry officer, to advising commanders in combat, to serving as a federal prosecutor and Florida trial judge, the mission has always been the same: serve the country, protect Americans, and defend the rule of law.” Colonel Reding Quiñones was promoted effective April 1, 2026. The rank of Colonel represents the senior field-grade rank in the United States Air Force and reflects sustained superior performance, leadership, and trust across more than two decades of military service. A Miami native and the son of a Cuban political refugee, Colonel Reding Quiñones earned his undergraduate degree from University of Florida and his law degree from Florida International University before building parallel careers in military service, prosecution, and the judiciary over a lifetime of public service. ###


title: Connecticut Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Exploiting Multiple Children

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Taiel Gookool, age 31, was sentenced on April 17, 2026, to 35 years in prison to be followed by 20 years of supervised release by United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci for exploiting four different minors and possessing child pornography. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. In 2018, Gookool was convicted of Sexual Assault in the Second Degree in Connecticut, a statutory rape offense involving a victim between 13 and 15 years old. He was required to register as a sex offender as a result. In 2024, he sexually exploited four teenage females, subjecting all of them to vaginal sex and three of the four to mouth-to-penis contact. The defendant created or had the victims create videos of the sexual abuse. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “Though Gookool was sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment for his 2018 conviction, he served just over 2 years of that sentence because the rest was suspended. This left him inadequately punished and totally undeterred, repeating the same conduct with multiple victims not only after his release but while still on probation for it. His 35-year sentence ensures that the community will be protected for decades to come. I applaud the work of the FBI and the New York State Police in bringing this dangerous sexual predator to justice.” Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremorli said: “Mr. Gookool, a registered sex offender and pathological predator, will spend the next three and a half decades in federal prison for refusing to change his sickening behavior. While he remains behind bars and unable to harm our most vulnerable, the FBI will continue to work tirelessly to ensure justice for the victims of these dangerous criminals.” FBI-Albany investigated the case with assistance from FBI-New Haven and the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Gadarian prosecuted the 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: Madison County Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing and Possessing Child Pornography

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jacob Netzel, age 33, of Oneida, New York, pled guilty on April 23, 2026, in federal court to distribution and possession of child pornography. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Steven G. James, Superintendent of the New York State Police, made the announcement. As part of his plea, Netzel admitted that between approximately April 2022 through November 2024, he used several social networking, messaging, and file-sharing applications to distribute and receive child pornography. In May 2023, Netzel engaged in a conversation over social media with an individual whom he believed to be a 12-year-old girl but was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. In their conversation, Netzel sent the undercover officer multiple videos depicting child pornography. Netzel also used social media apps to trade child pornography online. For example, Netzel participated in group chats in November 2024 during which he both received child pornography from other users and distributed child pornography to other users. Netzel also admitted that he knowingly possessed child pornography on his cell phone when it was seized by state police. FAUSA Sarcone stated: “This defendant’s actions were truly vile. He traded videos and images with other sick individuals showing the sexual abuse of our society’s most vulnerable members: children. My Office is grateful for the constant and aggressive pursuit of these most dangerous people by HSI, the NYSP, and all our law enforcement partners who are committed to stopping these violent crimes.” HSI SAC Keegan stated: “Jacob Netzel used social media and file sharing platforms to trade and collect child sexual abuse material and send graphic videos he believed were going to a 12-year-old girl. Fortunately, law enforcement intercepted his predatory conduct before greater harm could occur. HSI Syracuse, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, and the New York State Police remain committed to protecting our community and removing those that pose a serious threat to children.” Superintendent James stated: “Crimes involving the exploitation of children are among the most disturbing we investigate, and they will not be tolerated. This case highlights the critical importance of collaboration between federal, state, and local partners in identifying those who prey on children online and holding them accountable. The New York State Police remains committed to aggressively pursuing individuals who engage in this type of criminal behavior and to protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities.” The distribution charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence of 20 years. The charge of possession of child pornography carries a maximum sentence of 20 years. Both charges carry a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. Netzel’s sentencing is currently scheduled for August 18, 2026, before United States District Judge Anthony J. Brindisi in Utica, New York. 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. HSI and NYSP investigated the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie 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: CONVICTED FELON SENTENCED TO 76 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR GUN CONVICTION

body_text: Frank Sneed, age 33, of New Roads, Louisiana, was sentenced to 76 months in federal prison following his conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. District Court Judge Brian A. Jackson further sentenced Sneed to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered the firearm involved be forfeited. According to admissions made during his plea, on November 29, 2023, an East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office detective responded to a report of retail theft at a retail store located off Siegen Lane in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. While working that investigation, officers observed two men (Man #1 and Man #2), who were unrelated to the initial investigation, entering the store together. After Man #1 was observed hiding items on his person, officers contacted and detained both men. As reflected in the video from the store, Man #2, who was identified as Sneed, did not participate in the theft. However, in conjunction with an officer safety pat down, Sneed told the detective that he had a gun in his jacket. Officers located and removed a Smith and Wesson M&P 45 pistol from Sneed’s jacket. At the time of the offense, Sneed knew he had been convicted of a felony and could not possess a firearm. Sneed was previously convicted of two counts of simple burglary on May 9, 2011, in the 19 th Judicial District Court, and was initially sentenced to two years of probation and later three years in prison after his probation was revoked; simple burglary on October 25, 2011, in the 19 th Judicial District Court, and sentenced to one year in prison to run consecutive to his three-year sentence; two counts of armed robbery on August 3, 2015, in the 19 th Judicial District Court, and sentenced to 10 years in prison; and simple escape on March 22, 2016, in the 12 th Judicial District Court, and sentenced to one year in prison to run consecutive to his 10 year sentence. U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office; and U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Anderson is in charge of the prosecution. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Mission Man Sentenced to Over 3 Years in Federal Prison for Assault

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on April 21, 2026. Jacob Wright, 31, was sentenced to three years and five months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Wright was indicted for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury by a federal grand jury in December 2025. He pleaded guilty on January 26, 2026. On April 23, 2025, Wright and the victim were consuming alcohol at a residence south of Okreek, South Dakota. The two argued while outside the residence but eventually separated, with Wright going into the residence. The victim entered the residence later. As the victim crossed the threshold, Wright struck the victim on the left side of the head and in the chest with a metal bar. The blow to the head caused a skull fracture and subdural hematoma. The head trauma required surgical intervention, specifically, removal of a portion of the right side of the skull to reduce the pressure created on the left side of the brain. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby VanDenBerg prosecuted the case. Wright was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.