title: Mobile Man Sentenced to 200 Months for Distribution of Child Pornography

body_text: MOBILE, AL –Austin Dickens was sentenced on March 13, 2026, to 200 months in prison for Distribution of Child Pornography. According to court documents, in May of 2024, Austin Dickens, 29, used his social media profile to contact other users, offering to sell them up to 6,000 images of child pornography. Prices ranged from $10 to $50. To entice buyers, Dickens sent videos and images to users through the social media platform’s messaging application. The material contained children as young as four years old engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He received payment for the images and videos through a banking application he established using his personal information. Following his term of incarceration, Dickens will be placed on supervised release with the United States’ Probation Office for fifteen years. He was ordered to complete mental health and substance abuse treatment. Lifetime registration under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act is required. Dickens was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to the identified victims. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tandice H. Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources


title: Illegal Immigrant Sentenced to 10 Months in Prison

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A Honduran national was sentenced on March 20, 2026, to 10 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm. According to court documents, Mario Ramon Mendoza-Martinez, 26, was arrested by Saraland Police Department on September 23, 2025. Saraland Police had pulled Mendoza-Martinez over for a traffic violation. Mendoza-Martinez was only able to produce a Honduran identification card. Saraland Police requested assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, who confirmed that Mendoza-Martinez was not lawfully present in the United States. The Saraland officer then searched Mendoza-Martinez’s vehicle and located a Winchester model 190 .22 caliber rifle and 41 rounds of ammunition. Mendoza-Martinez has a prior conviction out of the Western District of Texas for Illegal Entry. At sentencing, Judge DuBose imposed the 10-month sentence of incarceration and a one year term of supervised release upon his future release. Upon his release from prison, Mendoza-Martinez is to be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings. Mendoza-Martinez was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. Saraland Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth Stepan prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. 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: Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to 168 Months’ Imprisonment

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced on March 2, 2026, by Chief United States District Court Judge Jeffrey Beaverstock to 168 months in prison for trafficking nearly six kilograms of methamphetamine. According to court documents, on July 10, 2025, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office conducted a joint interdiction operation at the Greyhound bus station located on Government Boulevard, in Mobile, Alabama. During surveillance deputies observed a man, later identified as Lawson, exit the Greyhound bus terminal carrying a duffle bag. When Lawson observed the presence of law enforcement officers, he went back inside the bus station. Deputies continued surveillance of the Lawson and he soon exited the front doors of the bus station again. Deputies next observed Lawson walking down Government Boulevard. As a deputy drove towards Lawson, Lawson ran across two lanes of traffic onto the median. Deputies followed Lawson to the median to speak with him. During the conversation Lawson placed the duffle bag and the jacket he was wearing on the ground. One of the deputies next asked Lawson about the smell of marijuana coming from his bags. Lawson stepped toward the duffle bag, as if he was going to grab it, but then took off running instead. After a brief foot pursuit, Lawson was detained. When deputies opened the duffle bag, they observed six large cellophane wrapped bundles of what appeared to be methamphetamine. A deputy read Lawson Miranda warnings and Lawson agreed to speak with deputies. Lawson stated he was coming from Houston, Texas and that he did not purchase the narcotics for someone else but rather purchased it for himself and paid $21,000 in US currency for it. The six bundles were sent to the DEA Laboratory in Miami, Florida and were found to contain 5,973 grams of 97% pure methamphetamine. The case was investigated by the Gulf of America Homeland Security Task Force which in this case included law enforcement officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney George F. May prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). In making the announcement, United States Attorney Sean P. Costello stated that the Homeland Security Task Forces represent a new gold standard model in law enforcement which combines the expertise of numerous agencies under one roof to maximize the impact on crime and the safety to the community.


title: Texas Resident Pleads Guilty To Attempted Murder Of Federal Officer

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Alan Rodriguez Velazquez, a/k/a Alan Rodriguez, age 25, of Lancaster, Texas, entered a guilty plea to one count of Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Indictment alleged that on July 17, 2025, Rodriguez Velazquez willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with premeditation and malice aforethought, attempted to kill a United States Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer engaged in the performance of official duties. The crime occurred in McCurtain County, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Oklahoma State Park Rangers. 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. Rodriguez Velazquez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarrod Leaman and Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.


title: Henryetta Resident Pleads Guilty To Arson

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ace Hailey Buckner, age 37, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to a Felony Information of one count of Arson in Indian Country, punishable by up to 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Information alleged that on June 5, 2025, Buckner willfully and maliciously set fire to and burned a motor vehicle. The crime occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Police Department. 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. Buckner will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


title: Violent International Fugitive Arrested in Lee County, Northern District, Mississippi

body_text: OXFORD – United States Attorney Scott F. Leary announced today that an international violent fugitive was arrested in the Northern District of Mississippi on an immigration related charge brought by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi. Adrian Walker, 28, a Canadian national, is wanted by the Toronto Police Services on a Canada-wide arrest warrant for first degree murder and attempted murder, following a May 7, 2024 violent shooting in Toronto, Canada. For that offense, he has been named as a “Most Wanted Person” by the Toronto Police Services. The United States Marshals Service (USMS) and their Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) learned that Walker was using an alias and hiding from Canadian law enforcement in Tupelo, Mississippi. Agents with HSI were able to determine that Walker had illegally entered into the United States without inspection. officials. HSI special agents were able to obtain an arrest warrant for an immigration offense. Monday afternoon, Walker was captured by federal and state law enforcement. Walker has been charged in the Northern District of Mississippi. ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations has placed an immigration detainer on Walker to ensure he is transferred into ICE custody and not released into the community following the conclusion of any charges he faces in the Northern District of Mississippi. At that time, they will be pursuing removal from the United States to Canada to face justice for the murder and shooting offenses for which he has been charged. USA Leary stated, “This was a serious case. A Canadian national, wanted for murder, entered our country illegally and was living in our midst. He even made a Canadian Most Wanted list. Seeking sanctuary in Mississippi is not a smart move. The U.S. Marshals for the Northern District of Mississippi, together with ATF and HSI, conducted a multi-day operation to safely locate and apprehend this individual. After their great work, he was in U.S. custody. Those that continually criticize law enforcement are not in the arena; our agents and officers are, and the folks in our district can sleep soundly knowing law enforcement officers did their job. Thank you!” “This investigation is an example of the continued priority of ATF to work with our federal, state, local and international law enforcement partners to support public safety and reduce violent crime,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “Walker, an international fugitive wanted on murder charges in Canada, believed he could evade capture by hiding in the Northern District of Mississippi,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright of HSI, New Orleans. “Thanks to the coordinated efforts of HSI; the U.S. Marshals Service; ATF, and our state and local partners, he was safely apprehended on federal immigration charges and is now one step closer to facing justice in Canada.” Robert Dickerson, Senior Inspector, United States Marshal Service, stated, “The United States Marshals Service will always seek justice for those involved in violent crimes, no matter if they occur domestically or internationally. If you bring criminal activity into our country, you will be held accountable.” This case is being prosecuted by Clyde McGee and John Herzog Jr. This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America . HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: South Lake Tahoe Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Fabian Gomez, 37, was sentenced on Monday by Senior U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, between August 2020 and May 2022, Gomez and others worked together to sell methamphetamine in and around South Lake Tahoe. Over those two years, Gomez also worked alone to sell both heroin and methamphetamine. While most of Gomez’s distribution happened in and around South Lake Tahoe, the investigation uncovered that some of the drug supply was coming from Sacramento. Gomez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, on Dec. 8, 2025. Epifanio Ramirez, another defendant charged in this case, was sentenced on Jan. 12, 2026, to 24.5 years in prison for three counts of distribution of methamphetamine. Ramirez pleaded guilty in September 2025. The charges in this case arose from Operation Bear Trap, which law enforcement agencies began in 2020 to address the growing problem of methamphetamine distribution in South Lake Tahoe. Gomez was charged along with six other defendants in 2022, who were collectively charged with methamphetamine and heroin distribution. Over the course of the operation, law enforcement agencies have interdicted methamphetamine, heroin, and numerous firearms, including “ghost” pistols and assault rifles (firearms manufactured without serial numbers, making them harder for law enforcement to trace). The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Conolly is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Illegal Alien Sentenced For Unlawful Reentry

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Eliseo Mancia-Santana, a/k/a Eliseo Mancia, a/k/a Eliseo Mancias, a/k/a Eliseo Mancia Santana, age 42, a Salvadoran national unlawfully present in Bryan County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien. The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. On December 23, 2025, Mancia-Santana pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on November 17, 2025, Mancia-Santana, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on January 25, 2018, and June 24, 2011. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.


title: Moore Resident Pleads Guilty To Burglary In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nariah Demournay Jones, age 23, of Moore, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Burglary in the Second Degree in Indian Country, punishable by up to 7 years in prison. The Indictment alleged that on April 2, 2024, Jones broke into and entered a building in which property was kept, intending to commit a felony therein. The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, 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. Jones will remain on bond with conditions of release pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


title: Two Members of a Methamphetamine and Cocaine-Trafficking Organization Sentenced to Prison

body_text: MOBILE, AL – Two Mobile men were sentenced 360 months and 72 months in prison for their roles in a drug-trafficking organization that distributed bulk methamphetamine and cocaine. According to court documents, Larry Jerome Hunter, 43, and Tyrone Dansby, 52, pleaded guilty to taking part in a vast drug-trafficking organization (“DTO”) led by Braxton A. Thomas that distributed bulk methamphetamine and cocaine between October 2021 and May 2024. Federal agents captured both Hunter and Dansby communicating with Thomas and others regarding drug transactions via court-authorized wiretaps of thousands of phone calls, text messages, and WhatsApp communications. On several occasions in 2023 and 2024, agents also seized large amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine from the DTO. For example, in March 2024, agents intercepted numerous calls between Thomas, Dansby, and a drug supplier about coordinating a delivery of bulk cocaine from Houston Texas, to Mobile. On March 10, 2024, agents arrested the supplier at a truck stop in Mobile after locating more than seven pounds of cocaine concealed behind the dash of the supplier’s semitruck. The cocaine had been destined for Thomas to distribute to Dansby and others. Dansby was on federal supervised release at the time he committed his offense. Days later, on March 15, 2024, agents intercepted calls indicating that Thomas had traveled to Atlanta, Georgia to ferry a bulk load of methamphetamine back to Mobile. That evening, agents arrested Thomas and several coconspirators who were traveling in a convoy of vehicles on Interstate 65 southbound in Baldwin County, Alabama. During that arrest, agents seized more than 26 pounds of 100% pure methamphetamine and a loaded .40 caliber pistol from a vehicle being driven by one of Thomas’s couriers. Thomas admitted to agents that he regularly obtained kilograms of methamphetamine from a source in Atlanta, which Thomas would then bring back to Mobile to sell with the assistance of several mid-level distributors in his DTO, including Hunter. Thomas said he expected to earn $70,000 in profit from the load seized on March 15, 2024. On March 20, 2024, police officers stopped a vehicle that Hunter was driving in Mobile. During a subsequent search of the car and Hunter’s person, police seized individually packaged baggies of methamphetamine and cocaine, a loaded .40 caliber pistol, and $3,045 in cash. Hunter admitted that he had been trafficking methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy pills, and Lortab, and that he kept the pistol on him for protection because he had recently been shot five times. Hunter admitted that he had paid Thomas $3,500 for three pounds of methamphetamine, but the load had been busted days earlier. At the time of his arrest, Hunter had two prior felony convictions for unlawfully distributing controlled substances. U.S. District Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Hunter to serve 360 months in prison, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release, during which he will be subject to drug testing and treatment. Judge Moorer sentenced Dansby to serve 72 months in prison, followed by a five-year term of supervised release, during which he also will be subject to drug testing and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered the defendants to pay a total of $300 in special assessments. The court previously sentenced Thomas to life imprisonment, and sentenced other members of Thomas’s DTO to serve decades in prison. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. This prosecution was 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 Mobile comprises agents and officers from, among others, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama.


title: Several Members of a Baldwin County Methamphetamine-Trafficking Organization Sentenced to Prison

body_text: MOBILE, AL – Several Baldwin County defendants were sentenced to prison for participating in a methamphetamine-trafficking organization. According to court documents, Douglas McArthur Watts, Jr., 40, of Foley, Daryl Wayne Thomas, 46, of Elberta, David Joel Murphy, 52, of Summerdale, Benny Joe Ray, Jr., 48, of Foley, Danielle Lea Morris, 51, of Foley, and Jack Carnell Rowe, 34, of Foley, pleaded guilty to taking part in a massive drug-trafficking organization (“DTO”), led by Watts, that distributed kilograms of bulk methamphetamine. Between June 2022 and July 2024, agents seized large amounts of methamphetamine, firearms, cash, and other drugs from Watts and members of the DTO. On several occasions in 2023 and 2024, narcotics agents conducted audio and video-recorded controlled purchases of various amounts of methamphetamine from Watts, Thomas, Murphy, Ray, Morris, and Rowe at several locations in Baldwin County. For example, on June 20, 2023, Rowe sold an informant 9.5 grams of methamphetamine in Foley. On July 18, 2023, Watts sold an informant 91.17 grams of methamphetamine in Foley. On September 28, 2023, agents seized 20.14 grams of methamphetamine and other evidence from a trailer belonging to Ray and Morris in Foley. On January 16, 2024, agents seized 96.4 grams of methamphetamine from Thomas during a “buy-bust” in Foley. And on February 14, 2024, Murphy sold an informant 27.3 grams of methamphetamine in Summerdale. These are non-exhaustive examples. In July 2024, agents executed a search warrant at the apartment of one of Watts’s suppliers in Pensacola, Florida. During that search, agents seized more than three kilograms of methamphetamine, more than 221 grams of fentanyl, several loaded firearms, and $56,949 in bulk cash. Text messages and other data extracted from cell phones seized from the defendants illustrated the extent of their drug-trafficking activities, including tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of drug‑related Cash App payments and discussions of purchases and sales of pounds of methamphetamine. For their roles in the conspiracy, U.S. District Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced the defendants as follows: Watts will serve 120 months in prison, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release; Thomas will serve 141 months in prison, followed by a five-year term of supervised release; Murphy will serve 131 months in prison, followed by a 10-year term of supervised release; and Ray will serve 60 months in prison, followed by a five-year term of supervised release. Morris and Rowe will be sentenced at a later date. During their supervised release terms, each defendant will be subject to drug testing and treatment, and Murphy will receive mental health evaluation and treatment. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge DuBose ordered the defendants to pay a total of $400 in special assessments. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office (Florida) and the Florida Highway Patrol substantially assisted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. This prosecution was 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 Mobile comprises agents and officers from, among others, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama.


title: Delaware County Resident Pleads Guilty To Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Staci Lyn Anderson, a/k/a Staci Lyn Jordan, age 34, of Colcord, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. The Indictment alleged that on March 12, 2023, Anderson knowingly and intentionally possessed 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual), a Schedule II controlled substance, intending to distribute it. The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Anderson was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.


body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Longino Ramirez Ramos, age 51, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Adair County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien. The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. On January 15, 2026, Ramirez Ramos pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on December 3, 2025, Ramirez Ramos, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on May 5, 2010, on February 14, 2011, on October 17, 2019, and on February 7, 2020. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.


title: Atoka Resident Sentenced To Five Years' Probation For Failure To Pay Federal Employment Taxes

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Hanna Jera Davidson, age 42, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to five years’ probation for one count of Failure to Collect or Pay Over Tax. Davidson was also ordered to pay $231,192.82 in restitution. The charge arose from an investigation by IRS-Criminal Investigations. On May 27, 2025, Davidson pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, Davidson was the business manager of Fomby & Sons Towing and Recovery in Atoka, Oklahoma. One of her duties was to collect, truthfully account for, and pay over to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) quarterly employment taxes. From 2015 to 2020, despite receiving multiple warning letters from the IRS, Davidson willfully and intentionally failed to pay over to the IRS $152,257 which the company withheld from its employee’s wages and $72,665.82 for the company’s portion of the employment taxes. The Honorable Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing.


title: Illegal Alien From Guatemala Receives Sentence for Illegal Re-Entry

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A Guatemalan illegal alien was sentenced in federal court today to 18 months in prison, for illegally re-entering the United States. Edgar David Vasquez-Garcia, 34, pled guilty to the charge after he was previously deported from the U.S. in July 2014. He never sought nor obtained the consent of the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of Homeland Security to apply for re-admission. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office. In October 2023, Vasquez-Garcia law enforcement arrested Vasquez-Garcia in Edgewood, Maryland, on second-degree assault charges. Then in May 2024, a jury convicted Vasquez-Garcia of second-degree assault, resulting in a 10-year prison sentence, with five years suspended. Vasquez-Garcia first illegally entered the United States through Mexico in July 2014. Law enforcement then detained Vasquez-Garcia, and he admitted he was in the U.S. illegally. Authorities expedited removal proceedings and deported Vasquez-Garcia from Brownsville, Texas. At some point thereafter, Vasquez-Garcia re-entered the U.S. and then traveled to Maryland. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Mills who are prosecuting the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Stilwell Resident Sentenced For Involuntary Manslaughter

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Robert Bird, a/k/a Robert Hogshooter, age 71, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for one count of Involuntary Manslaughter. The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Stilwell Police Department, and the Adair County Sheriff’s Office. On July 8, 2025, Bird pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on January 21, 2025, while under the influence of alcohol, Bird discharged a firearm, causing the victim to sustain a fatal gunshot wound to the head. The crime occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing. Bird will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


title: Okmulgee County Resident Sentenced To 18 Months For Leaving The Scene Of An Injury Accident

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lee Calhoun Phillips, age 46, of Morris, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for one count of Leaving the Scene of an Accident Involving Nonfatal Injury in Indian Country. The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On July 7, 2025, Phillips pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on September 28, 2023, Phillips struck a bicyclist while driving a Peterbilt truck westbound on Highway 16 south of Haskell, Oklahoma. Instead of stopping to check on the victim or rendering aid, Phillips left the scene of the collision. Two passing Oklahoma Department of Transportation workers performing landscape maintenance found the victim on the roadside, called emergency services, and stayed on the scene with the victim until law enforcement could arrive. The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing. Phillips was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan W. Howanitz represented the United States at the sentencing hearing.


title: Former Wheeling Business Owner Admits to COVID Fraud

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A former Wheeling business owner has admitted to fraud totaling nearly $300,000 in COVID relief funds, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Bradley Temple, 48, of Delray Beach, Florida (formerly of Wheeling, WV) pled guilty to unlawful money transactions. According to court documents and statements made in court, Temple, who operated Righteous Brother’s Trucking, applied for and received both a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) authorized by the CARES Act to assist small businesses and individuals who suffered substantial financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Temple made false representations regarding the business to obtain $277,456 in loans. Temple then used those funds for personal or non-permissible expenses including obtaining a $40,000 cashier’s check to purchase a vehicle. Temple is facing up to 10 years in prison and will be required to pay restitution. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Conklin is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations and National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Inspector General (NASA OIG). NASA OIG is an active member of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force. The PRAC was established to promote transparency and facilitate coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC’s 20 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending, including spending via the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. This case was also supported by the PRAC’s Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence, which applies the latest advances in analytic and forensic technologies to help OIGs and law enforcement pursue data-driven pandemic relief fraud investigations. U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.


title: Illegal Alien Arrested in February Now Faces Kidnapping, Harboring Illegal Alien Charges in San Antonio

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A federal grand jury in San Antonio returned an indictment charging a Salvadoran national with kidnapping and harboring illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. According to court documents, Franklin Ulises Rodriguez-Rivas was arrested by the San Antonio Police Department on Feb. 19. Having been previously convicted of illegal re-entry and removed from the U.S. in March 2022, Rodriguez-Rivas was again charged with illegal re-entry via criminal complaint. A joint investigation by ICE Homeland Security Investigations and SAPD revealed that while residing illegally in the U.S., Rodriguez-Rivas allegedly harbored an illegal alien and held the alien for ransom. Rodriguez-Rivas is now charged with one count of harboring illegal aliens, one count of kidnapping, and one count of illegal re-entry. The defendant made his initial court appearance on Feb. 20 following his arrest. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison for the harboring and re-entry charges, and up to life in prison for the kidnapping charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. ICE HSI is investigating the case with assistance from SAPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karina O’Daniel is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Jury Convicts Springfield Man of Hatchet Assault in National Park

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: HARRISONBURG, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Springfield, Va., man yesterday for assaulting his then-girlfriend with a hatchet while camping in the Shenandoah National Park. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on the night of August 24, 2025, Soufiane Bougria, 31, and his then-girlfriend (Victim 1) were camping at the Mathews Arm Campground in the Shenandoah National Park. Three different park visitors testified that they witnessed a heated and violent argument between Bougria and Victim 1 in the late-night hours of August 24. These witnesses, from two different campsites, heard screaming, slamming, crying, choking, and what sounded to them like a gunshot. One of the witnesses saw the defendant physically grabbing Victim 1. These witnesses described hearing a male voice say, “I don’t care, I’ll do the max sentence” and a female voice say, “I can’t believe you would threaten me with murder.” All three witnesses independently called 911. National Park Service Rangers responded to the area near Mathews Arm Campground. On their way to the campground, Park Rangers encountered two of the witnesses at a nearby overlook. While speaking with the witnesses, a car matching the description of the defendant’s vehicle drove past the overlook. Officers pursued the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. When officers approached the vehicle, they observed Bougria driving and visibly intoxicated. He was shirtless, barefoot, and smelled of alcohol. In addition, Victim 1 was sitting in the passenger seat crying and screaming. She was holding a piece of clothing around her right arm in an effort to stop the bleeding from a gaping laceration on her right arm and wrist. As officers looked around the car, they saw blood and fatty tissue. They also observed that the windshield of the car was shattered, and both the hood and windshield had large, dirty footprints on them. When questioned by officers, the defendant told them Victim 1’s arm was accidentally cut with an axe. Emergency medical personnel arrived at the overlook and transported Victim 1 to the nearest hospital. Treating physicians determined she needed a higher level of care based on the seriousness of her injuries and transported her to Winchester Medical Center where she underwent emergency surgery. In the early morning hours of August 25, 2025, National Park Service Rangers returned to the Mathews Arm campsite where Bougria and Victim 1 were camping. They found a hatchet with blood spatter on the handle, blood throughout the campsite, pepper spray, shoes, and other personal belongings strewn around the campsite. First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci U.S. made the announcement. The National Park Service is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sally J. Sullivan and Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Browne are prosecuting the case for the United States.


component: Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

body_text: Previously Convicted Offender Indicted for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material Again CONCORD – A former resident of Newbury has been indicted this week for possessing child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Marc Jacques, 52, was charged with the possession of child sexual abuse material. According to the charging and other public documents, on March 18, 2024, Jacques pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material. On September 9, 2024, the Court sentenced Jacques to 60 months in federal prison and ordered him to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on or before December 2, 2024. While Jacques was still on release, a U.S. Probation Officer observed Jacques had engaged in unauthorized activity on electronic devices that were subject to monitoring software. The Probation Officer then recovered an unauthorized thumb drive that Jacques maintained at his Newbury residence. A subsequent federal search warrant executed on the drive led to the recovery of videos depicting child sexual abuse. The defendant was arrested on a bail violation resulting from the new conduct on October 18, 2024, and began service of his original 60 month sentence. Because of Jacques’ 2024 conviction, if convicted on the new charge he faces a sentence of not less than 10 years and not more than 20 years in prison, at least 5 years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the U.S. Department of Justice. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Former Financial Advisor Pleads Guilty to 10 Counts for Investment Fraud Scheme

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio woman pleaded guilty Thursday for her role in a Ponzi scheme, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. According to court documents, Brooklynn Chandler Willy, 46, was the owner of a San Antonio based company named Queen B Advisors LLC, doing business as Texas Financial Advisory (TFA), and Chandler Capital Holdings. Among other services, TFA purported to provide asset management and financial planning services. At Willy’s recommendation, a married couple invested money into an investment company named Ferrum Capital in March 2018. Ferrum Capital was one of four investment companies allegedly run by co-defendants Joshua Allen and Michael Cox. In May of 2021, Willy again advised the victim couple to invest $500,000 with another Ferrum entity, using Chandler Capital Holdings as the agent to execute and deliver contracts. Rather than investing the funds as intended, Willy used the $500,000 for her own purposes, including personal credit card payments, payments to other investors, and payments to another business owned and controlled by Willy. Willy continued her scheme with additional victims. As set forth in court documents, Willy convinced a separate married couple to invest approximately $2 million dollars in an associate’s company by promising that the investment would be used for the purchase of bad debt and other legitimate investments. In truth, Willy used the money for her own benefit, such as payments to herself, payments to her associate, and payments to other investors. Willy also convinced two other investors to invest $75,000 and $600,000 respectively into what Willy claimed were legitimate business investments. In truth, Willy, again, used their investments for her own benefit. During the course of the federal investigation, Willy forged the signatures of various victims on documents and provided those documents to federal agents for the purpose of misleading those agents. Court documents further indicate Willy conspired with Allen and Cox by giving false information to investors concerning their investment in entities owned and controlled by Allen and Cox. Working with Cox and Allen, Willy convinced numerous investors to invest into a Cox and Allen controlled entity by falsely stating those investments were investments into legitimate business activities. In truth, much of that money went to the benefit of Cox, Allen, and Willy. Willy pleaded guilty to 10 counts of an information filed on Feb. 25. She faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the six wire fraud charges, on the one wire fraud conspiracy charge, and on the one money laundering conspiracy charge. She also faces up to 10 years for engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from the wire fraud scheme and a mandatory minimum of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft, which, by statute, would run consecutive to any other punishment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Allen and Cox are scheduled for a jury trial in August. The FBI and IRS-CI are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Blackwell is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Former U.S. Postal Employee Sentenced To 15 Months In Prison For Bank Fraud Scheme Involving Stolen Mail

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: cHARLOTTE, N.C. – A former U.S. Postal Service employee was sentenced yesterday for his role in a bank fraud scheme involving stolen mail, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Andre Whitehurst, 34, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 15 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release. Whitehurst agreed to pay a forfeiture money judgment for $74,000, and he remains liable to pay restitution to fraud victims. “Checks stolen from the mail is a huge problem,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “Where checks are stolen by postal insiders it’s even worse, and we will be sure to hold them accountable.” According to court records, from April 2022 to September 2024, Whitehurst conspired with Rashad Lowery, Aaron Grice, and others to execute a bank fraud scheme involving stolen mail. Whitehurst used his position as a U.S. Postal Service clerk to steal incoming and outgoing checks from the mail. Whitehurst then sold the stolen checks to Grice, Lowery, and others, who deposited the stolen checks into bank accounts in the names of fictitious identities and moved the stolen funds before the banks could determine that the checks were stolen. This fraudulent scheme led to attempted losses of over $364,000 to banks and bank account holders. On June 17, 2025, Whitehurst pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and theft of mail by a postal employee. He will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. Grice and Lowery have each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and are awaiting sentencing. When sentencing the defendant, U.S. District Judge Matthew E. Orso stated the sentence imposed should “deter others from committing this type of crime.” In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General for its investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Smith of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.


title: Dover Man Sentenced to 12.5 Years in Federal Prison Following Drug and Gun Convictions

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – A Dover man was sentenced yesterday to 150 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a person prohibited. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika imposed the sentence. According to court documents, Amir Watts, 35, was arrested on his way to sell an undercover officer two pounds of methamphetamine. In the months prior to his arrest, Watts had sold that same undercover officer increasing quantities of methamphetamine and a gun. U.S. Attorney Bejamin L. Wallace stated, “Guns and drugs are a lethal combination. This defendant trafficked in both. Judge Noreika’s just sentence appropriately reflects the dangerousness of Amir Watts’ conduct. I extend my sincere thanks to our law enforcement partners—and particularly to the courageous undercover officer—whose excellent work helped bring Watts to justice.” DEA Philadelphia Field Division Special Agent in Charge Thomas Hodnett said, “Watts’ sentence should send a powerful message: justice will prevail against those who threaten the safety and stability of our communities. This sentence is a testament to the commitment and seamless collaboration between Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement. Together, we are dismantling violent criminal networks.” The Drug Enforcement Administration and Delaware State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-CR-129-MN. ###


title: Southern District indictments charge robbery, firearms and immigration violations

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: SAVANNAH, Georgia: Multiple defendants face felony charges in indictments filed in the Southern District of Georgia during the March term of the Grand Jury. Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the indictments. Those facing federal charges include: Corey Corley , 34, of Savannah, charged with Interference with Commerce by Robbery, for an Oct. 14, 2025 incident at Mary Jane’s CBD Dispensary in Savannah; Kyle Ashley Edmunds , 43, of Augusta, charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Calvin King , 20, of Savannah, charged with Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun, referring to a pistol equipped with a “Glock switch” conversion device; and, Josiah Tate , 22, of Savannah, charged with Illegal Possession of a Machine Gun, referring to a pistol equipped with a “Glock switch” conversion device. In addition, four men are charged with Re-entry After Removal or Deportation, a charge applied to an illegal alien present in the United States after at least one prior removal: Randy Reinery Almendarez-Romero , 47, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, arrested in Chatham County; Francisco Guzman-Encinos , 40, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, arrested in Chatham County; Jose Hernandez-Hernandez , 33, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States, arrested in Glynn County; and, Oscar Rabadan , 36, a citizen of Mexico, illegally present in the United States, arrested in Richmond County. Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The cases are being prosecuted on behalf of the United States of America by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.


title: Florence Woman Pleads Guilty to Filming Sexual Assault of Minors

body_text: FLORENCE, S.C. — Alaina Ny’sha Thomas, 24, of Florence, has pleaded guilty to producing child sexual abuse material.* Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in June 2024, FBI agents located child sexual abuse material on a private forum on the dark web, including two videos of an adult woman engaged in sexual intercourse with a minor. Investigators identified the woman as Thomas and learned that she recorded the videos around January 2020. She subsequently sent the videos to an unknown individual online. Thomas faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. She also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and supervision of up to life to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Thomas after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the Florence County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Whitehall Borough Resident Pleads Guilty to 11 Counts of Cyberstalking, Interstate Stalking and Threats

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Whitehall Borough, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on March 19, 2026, to charges of cyberstalking, interstate stalking, and interstate threats, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Brett Michael Dadig, 31, pleaded guilty to 11 counts before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from May through November 2025, the defendant traveled in interstate commerce to multiple states and used facilities of interstate commerce (such as his phone and the internet) with the intent to harass and intimidate numerous female victims, in many of whom the defendant had a romantic interest. Several of the victims were employees of fitness establishments across multiple states. As explained to the Court and detailed in the Indictment against him, Dadig harassed, threatened, and intimidated 11 female victims—including from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Iowa, and New York—in person and through posts on social media, his podcast, text messages, and phone calls. Dadig’s harassment of his victims included showing up to their homes and places of business unannounced and uninvited, following victims from their places of business, taking and posting pictures of them online without their consent, and revealing private details (including their names and locations) online. Dadig’s comments included references to breaking victims’ jaws and fingers, dead bodies, burning down gyms, and his victims suffering “judgment day.” Two of Dadig’s Pittsburgh victims obtained Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders against him, which Dadig violated both online and in person. When Dadig was banned from gyms and businesses and was reported to the police in one city, he would move on to another city to continue his stalking course of conduct. The Indictment also detailed how Dadig relied on advice from an artificial intelligence chatbot while he was stalking his victims. Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for July 9, 2026. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 12 months of prison for each charge involving a PFA violation and up to 55 years in prison, a fine of up to $2.75 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, Dadig will remain in federal custody. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Vasquez Schmitt and Hillary M. Weaver are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Dadig, with the assistance of multiple local police departments in Pittsburgh and across the country.


title: Jefferson County Man Admits Sex Acts with Teen

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from Jefferson County, Missouri on Thursday admitted engaging in sex acts with a 13-year-old. Anthony A. Moore, 49, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of receipt of child pornography. He admitted engaging in sex acts with the victim in 2023 and 2024, beginning when she was 13 and he was 46. The victim’s father discovered Moore’s crimes when he went through her cell phone and discovered communications between Moore and his daughter, including Moore’s requests for nude photos of her. Investigators also recovered images of her on Moore’s phone. At Moore’s sentencing on June 24, both sides have agreed to recommend a sentence of 20 years in prison. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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: Illegal alien and several valley residents arrested in spring break operation for attempting to meet with minors for sex

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas - Six South Texas men have been charged with attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. Authorities took Porfirio Palacios, 46, San Juan; Ricardo De La Rosa, 54, Pharr; Colin Alexander McLean, 21, McAllen; Antonio Basaldua Rocha, 23, Edinburg; Henry Martinez Lopez, 53, Rio Grande City; and Honduran national Anael Jossue Rodriguez-Rodas, 35, who illegally resided in Donna, into custody during enforcement actions this week. McLean, Lopez and Rodriguez-Rodas are expected to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis at 9 a.m. De La Rosa and Rocha are expected to appear March 23. Palacios has already made his initial appearance and is set for a probable cause and detention hearing March 23 at 2 p.m. All are charged in separate, but related and similar criminal complaints that detail an undercover chat operation from March 17-19. The six men allegedly believed they were communicating with a 16-year-old minor female via various online social media applications. The charges allege the conversations discussed engaging in sexual activities. According to the complaints, the men enticed the “minor female” to meet up with them in order to have sex. The charges allege each man went to the arranged place at the discussed time and waited for the girl to arrive. If convicted, all six face a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance of Edinburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys M. Alexis Garcia, Sarina S. DiPiazza and Alexa D. Parcell are prosecuting the cases which were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page . A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Two Richmond men sentenced to prison for armed robberies of vape shops

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – Two Richmond men were sentenced to prison for the armed robberies of two Richmond vape shops. According to court documents, on March 2, 2025, Koriyon Demantra Weaver, 19, and Calvin Shawn Johnson, 43, and a juvenile, entered a vape shop on Semmes Avenue, all armed and wearing masks and gloves. Weaver, Johnson, and the juvenile robbed the store of cash and store merchandise. The robbers struck two victims inside the store over the head with firearms. Weaver, Johnson, and the juvenile then fled from the store in a large SUV. On March 9, 2025, Weaver, Johnson, and the juvenile robbed a vape shop on Hull Street Road. They zip tied three employees, held them at gunpoint on the ground, and took cash and cellphones. Weaver struck one of the victims on the head with a firearm. After robbing the victims, the robbers removed a cash register and fled. Richmond Police (RPD) conducted a traffic stop of their vehicle and took all three robbers into custody without incident. A subsequent investigation revealed that Weaver also participated in a previous armed robbery of the Semmes Avenue vape shop on Feb. 12, 2025. Weaver pled guilty on Aug. 20, 2025, to two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence. He was sentenced on March 19 to 18 years in prison Johnson pled guilty on Dec. 10, 2025, to Hobbs Act robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence. He was sentenced on March 12 to 19 years in prison. The FBI’s Richmond Field Office and RPD investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen E. Anthony and Katherine E. Groover prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-96.


title: Home Health Care Operator Admits Defrauding Missouri Medicaid

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis County woman on Thursday admitted defrauding Missouri Medicaid via false claims of having provided home health care. Camille S. Childress, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud. Childress admitted submitting fraudulent documents to enroll her home health care company, Inspiring Angels LLC, with Missouri Medicaid. The paperwork falsely claimed that someone else owned the company, concealing Childress’ ownership and role due to a 2012 criminal conviction. Childress also admitted submitting fraudulent claims to Missouri Medicaid seeking reimbursement for home healthcare services that were never provided. On numerous occasions, clients were in the hospital and could not have received any health care services at home. On other occasions, Childress submitted claims when the company did not have any timesheet records or documentation of the services. Missouri Medicaid paid at least $174,496 for claims submitted in 2021 and 2022. Childress is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both prison and a fine. She will be ordered to repay the money. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Missouri Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.


title: Justice Department Sues Harvard University for Antisemitism

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division filed a lawsuit against Harvard University for race and national origin discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. After Hamas’ attacks on October 7, 2023, Harvard has tolerated antisemitic mobs of students, faculty, and visitors allegedly expressing their opposition to Israel by assaulting, harassing, and intimidating Jewish and Israeli students with perceived racial, ethnic, and national connections to Israel. Harvard has been deliberately indifferent to its Jewish and Israeli students’ plight and failed to prevent such conduct by selectively enforcing its campus rules to permit it to continue. Harvard ignored what its own Presidential Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias deemed the “exclusion of Israeli or Zionist students from social spaces and extracurricular activities.” Harvard failed to meaningfully discipline the mobs that occupied its buildings and terrorized its Jewish and Israeli students. Federal law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in schools that accept federal funding. “Since October 7th, 2023, too many of our educational institutions have allowed anti-Semitism to flourish on campus – Harvard included,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s litigation underscores the Trump Administration’s commitment to demanding better from our nation’s schools and putting an end to discriminatory behavior that harms students.” “Every student deserves to learn without fear of harassment or exclusion,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “When institutions take taxpayer dollars, they accept a duty to protect civil rights. We hold Harvard accountable on the principle that antisemitism has no place in any program funded by the American people.” “This Department of Justice will not tolerate the harassment, assault, or intimidation of Jewish and Israeli students, and neither should Harvard,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This Justice Department has no tolerance for such brazen violations of federal law.” “When OCR notified Harvard of the Title VI violation, we recognized Harvard’s public commitment to address antisemitism, but found its proposed reforms did not meet Title VI requirements,” said Paula M. Stannard, Director of the Department of Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR). “OCR required concrete action, not assurances. We commend the U.S. Department of Justice for pursuing this case.” The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, alleges that Harvard has failed to protect its Jewish and Israeli students in two ways. First, Harvard has continued to be deliberately indifferent to a level of hostility on its campus so well-known across the nation that members of Congress were writing about it. Second, Harvard has refused to enforce its campus rules against students who harass their Jewish and Israeli peers. Harvard is currently set to receive more than $2.6 billion of taxpayer money under active grants from the Department of Health and Human Services, to say nothing of other federal agencies. The United States’ complaint seeks to compel Harvard to comply with Title VI, and to recover the taxpayer funds that Harvard accepted while in violation of Title VI. This case is brought by the Educational Opportunities Section of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. You can view the complaint here.


title: Prior Felon Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking and Firearm Offenses

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Scott Oranje, 52, of Mary Esther, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Fentanyl has had an absolutely devastating impact on our communities for several years, which is why President Donald J. Trump recently designated the exceptionally deadly drug a Weapon of Mass Destruction. Identifying, targeting, and incapacitating the peddlers of this poison on our streets remains a top priority for my office. We will continue to deliver successful prosecutions like this one to fulfill the promise made by President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi when they launched Operation Take Back America to devote the full might of the Department of Justice toward dismantling the drug trafficking operations that have plagued our communities for far too long.” Court documents reflect that on November 10, 2025, law enforcement officers intercepted a package addressed to Oranje’s residence. The package contained over 300 grams of fentanyl. Law enforcement conducted a controlled delivery at Oranje’s residence. Oranje took possession of the package and entered his condominium. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on the residence. Oranje did not answer the door requiring officers to breach the door. Following the breach of the front door, Oranje fled through the back patio, in possession of the fentanyl. Oranje was taken into custody. Law enforcement searched the residence and located a digital scale, various narcotics paraphernalia, owe sheets, and multiple firearms. Oranje had previously been convicted of First-Degree Residential Robbery and sentenced to state prison in California on or about July 30, 2018. Oranje faces consecutive minimum mandatory sentences of five years’ imprisonment on Counts 1 and 2, for a total minimum mandatory sentence of ten years, and up to a maximum of life imprisonment. A term of imprisonment could be followed by up to a five-year term of supervised release. Thus, if Oranje were to violate any conditions of his release, he could potentially face an additional period of incarceration related to violating his supervision. The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson is prosecuting the case. Sentencing is scheduled for June 29, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access 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: Tallahassee Violent Felon Charged with Possession of a Firearm

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Etavious J. Milton, 26, of Tallahassee, was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge today. Milton appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for April 13, 2026, before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker. If convicted, Milton faces up to fifteen years’ imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Tallahassee Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch. 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 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 Bank CEO Pleads Guilty to Multimillion-Dollar Wire Fraud Conspiracy and Venezuela Sanctions Evasion Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: The former Chief Executive Officer of Nodus International Bank (Nodus Bank), a Puerto Rican international bank, pleaded guilty yesterday for leading a scheme to fraudulently obtain at least $24.9 million from Nodus Bank and conspiring to evade U.S. sanctions against Venezuela. “The defendant abused his position as CEO, turning the bank he managed into his own personal ATM and unlawfully transacting with a sanctioned individual,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendant’s crimes undermine the integrity of our financial system, threaten economic prosperity, and harm national security. The Criminal Division will investigate and prosecute fraudsters to protect financial markets and promote safety and prosperity for all Americans.” “This defendant used his position as CEO to siphon more than $24 million, hide conflicts of interest, and help drive the bank’s collapse,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The scheme also involved efforts to evade U.S. sanctions tied to Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDVSA. As a career prosecutor and former state trial judge, I’ve learned that following the money reveals the truth. Here, it exposed both fraud and sanctions violations. We will hold accountable anyone who abuses our financial system for personal gain.” “Corporate titles don’t place anyone above the law,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “Executive level fraud has real victims, and yesterday’s outcome is a step toward restoring accountability and confidence in the banking system. IRS Special Agents, alongside our partners, will keep bringing transparency to complex financial crimes and delivering results.” According to court filings, Tomás Niembro Concha, 64, of Miami, Florida, conspired with others to siphon money from Nodus Bank, ultimately leading to the bank’s failure in 2023. Niembro and his co-conspirators concealed from other Nodus Bank board members and executives and the bank’s regulator that certain investments and loans were for the benefit of Niembro and Board Chairman Juan Ramirez, in violation of Puerto Rican law. From 2017 to 2023, Niembro, Ramirez and others caused Nodus Bank to invest $11 million in a Miami-based lender so those funds could be loaned to Niembro and Ramirez for their own benefit. Niembro and his co-conspirators knew that these transactions were illegal and concealed their conduct through the sham investments. Between January 2018 and September 2021, Niembro and Ramirez also fraudulently induced Nodus Bank’s board and comptroller to agree to buy at least 47 promissory notes totaling approximately $25.3 million from Nodus Finance, a Miami-based company that Niembro and Ramirez jointly owned, so they could use the proceeds of the transactions for themselves. In early March 2023, Nodus’s regulator, the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of Puerto Rico (OCIF), notified the bank it would be placed into liquidation. Niembro and Ramirez fraudulently caused Nodus Bank to accept a loan portfolio from Nodus Finance to pay down the debt from the 47 promissory notes. Moreover, between 2021 and 2023, Niembro conspired with others to conduct prohibited financial transactions with an individual designated as a Specially Designated National (SDN) by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for providing material support to Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA). To satisfy an outstanding loan of approximately $2.5 million that the SDN’s company had with Nodus Bank prior to the imposition of sanctions, Niembro and the SDN devised a scheme to cause Nodus Bank to foreclose on the SDN’s home in Southampton, NY — for which they obtained OFAC authorization — but separately reached a “private” agreement to induce Nodus Bank to sell the property back to the SDN for $4 million through a front company — a transaction that was strictly prohibited by U.S. sanctions and not otherwise licensed by OFAC. Niembro pleaded guilty to a two-count Information charging conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Niembro’s sentencing has been scheduled for June 8. As part of his plea agreement, Niembro agreed to forfeit at least $16.9 million, which represents the value of the proceeds he derived from the wire fraud conspiracy. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigated the case with support from OCIF and the Treasury Executive Office for Asset Forfeiture (TEOAF). Trial Attorneys Javier Urbina and Samir Paul of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Felipe Plechac-Diaz for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises agents and officers from IRS Criminal Investigation with the prosecution being led by Bank Integrity Unit of the Money Laundering Narcotics and Forfeiture Section of the Department of Justice and by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. MNF’s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations. MNF’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.


title: Brooklyn Park Felon Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Possession of Fentanyl and Firearm Following Deadly Vehicle Crash

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: ST. PAUL, Minn. – On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, Derrick John Thompson, 30, was sentenced to 204 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession of fentanyl and a firearm following a deadly vehicle crash that claimed the lives of five young women, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. According to evidence presented at trial, on June 16, 2023, a trooper with the Minnesota State Patrol observed a black Cadillac Escalade speeding north on I-35W, traveling at 95 miles per hour in a 55 miles per hour speed zone. The trooper observed the driver, later identified as Thompson, abruptly cut across four lanes of traffic to exit the freeway at the Lake Street exit. The trooper began following the SUV but did not activate the emergency lights or sirens because the trooper did not want to attempt a traffic stop on city streets given the Escalade’s dangerous driving. At the intersection of 2nd Avenue South and East Lake Street, Thompson sped through a red light at the intersection without stopping or slowing. The SUV struck at full speed the driver’s side of a Honda Civic that was traveling lawfully through the intersection. All five occupants of the Honda Civic, four young adult females and one juvenile female, ages 17 to 20, were killed. When law enforcement responded to the scene of the crash, witnesses told officers where Thompson fled. Officers found Thompson, wearing clothing that matched the description given by witnesses, sitting on the curb outside of a nearby restaurant. Officers detained Thompson, who was later transported to Hennepin County Medical Center for evaluation. According to evidence presented at trial, an officer found at the scene a Hertz rental record for the Cadillac Escalade indicating that Thompson rented the vehicle from a Hertz located at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport approximately 30 minutes before the crash. After obtaining a warrant to search the vehicle, officers found a black leather bag on the front passenger side floor that contained a loaded Glock pistol with an extended magazine, as well as three baggies containing more than 2,000 blue “M-Box 30” fentanyl pills, a baggie containing an additional 14 grams of fentanyl powder, a baggie containing 35 grams of cocaine, and a digital scale. Subsequent testing determined that Thompson’s DNA was present on the firearm, the fentanyl powder, and the cocaine. A search of Thompson’s phone found dozens of texts indicating fentanyl deals, as well as recorded voice messages from a few days before the deadly crash in which Thompson requested to purchase 30,000 fentanyl pills. The deadly crash occurred just five months after Thompson was released from prison in California for a similar incident that occurred in 2018. In that incident, Thompson fled from police in a vehicle containing eight kilograms of marijuana and struck a pedestrian causing severe injuries that required the pedestrian to be put in a medically induced coma for twenty days. Thompson was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan on one count of possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Judge Bryan ordered that 60 months of Thompson’s sentence will run consecutively to the 704-month sentence that Thompson received for 3rd Degree Murder and Criminal Vehicular Homicide in July 2025 in Hennepin County District Court, Case No. 27-CR-23-12910, arising out of the same deadly crash. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Minneapolis–St. Paul Airport Police Department, in coordination with the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LeeAnn K. Bell. Former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Calhoun-Lopez and Ruth S. Shnider tried the case.


title: Chickasaw County Methemphetamine and Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced

component: USAO - Mississippi, Northern

body_text: OXFORD – Anthony Russell, 34, of Woodland was sentenced today to ten years in prison after pleading guilty on a previous date for distributing methamphetamine. According to court documents, the defendant was apprehended on May 13, 2024, with an amount of excess of fifty grams of actual methamphetamine, along with other narcotics. Honorable Michael P. Mills, Senior United States District Court Judge, sentenced Russell to 120 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. Russell was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals following sentencing. United States Attorney Scott Leary states that the proliferation of drugs, especially methamphetamine, can no longer be tolerated. “It destroys our communities. Understand that methamphetamine is rarely just taken recreationally. It causes brain damage and ruins lives and families. Drug trafficking likewise fuels gangs and violence. This office and the DEA are dedicating resources to combat this scourge. A special thanks goes to AUSA Clyde McGee and our federal agents and local law enforcement. These law enforcement officers work tirelessly to make these cases – well done.” "Meth and fentanyl are poison. There is no safe haven for traffickers in Chickasaw County,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw. “Today’s sentence is a clear win for public safety and our mission for a #FentanylFree Mississippi. We are relentless in the fight to protect our families." Assistant U.S. Attorney Clyde McGee prosecuted the case.