title: Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

component: USAO - Wyoming

body_text: George Ostertag , 38, of Rawlins, Wyoming, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on Jan. 24, 2024, Ostertag was pulled over for a traffic violation. A K9 drug dog alerted to controlled substances in the car and a subsequent search uncovered a 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number wedged between the driver’s seat and the center console. Prior to this incident, Ostertag was convicted of a felony and unable to legally possess a firearm. The Wyoming Highway Patrol and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Ostertag was indicted on May 16, 2024, and pleaded guilty on June 17, 2025. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Sept. 9, in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00084 Drug and Firearm Offenses Barry Joe Barrera , 41, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 152 months’ imprisonment with four years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and use of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) began investigating Barrera in December 2024 on suspicion of distributing methamphetamine. Throughout the investigation, agents made controlled purchases, including purchasing firearms and observed Barerra traveling to and from Colorado to replenish his supply of methamphetamine. On January 9, 2025, as Barrera and two others were returning from Colorado, the Wyoming Highway Patrol attempted a traffic stop in Converse County. The driver fled and a pursuit ensued. During the pursuit, someone tossed a bag of methamphetamine out the window, which law enforcement recovered. Wyoming DCI and the Department of Homeland Security investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie R. Morrison prosecuted the case. Barrera was arrested on complaint Feb. 27 and pleaded guilty on May 9. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Sept. 11 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00074 Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien Juan Olvera-Venegas, 35, of Guanajuato, Mexico, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States upon completion of his sentence. According to court documents, on May 16, the defendant was arrested in Goshen County for possession of a controlled substance. Fingerprints taken at the time of detention indicated Olvera-Venegas is a citizen of Mexico and agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were contacted. They determined that Olvera-Venegas had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed multiple times beginning in 2013. The records also indicated a lengthy criminal record accompanying each deportation. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson prosecuted the case. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Sept. 11 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00097 About the United States Attorney’s Office The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include: Project Safe Childhood Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious. Operation Take Back America Operation Take Back America is 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. It also streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Victim Witness Program The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to ensuring victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect. To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime


title: Honduran National Admits Illegal Possession of Ammunition

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from Honduras who is in the United States illegally on Thursday admitted illegally possessing ammunition. Lesman Jeroan Rivera-Vasquez, 22, waived his right to indictment by a grand jury and pleaded guilty to one count of possession of ammunition by an illegal alien. Rivera-Vasquez admitted that on August 10, 2025, he violated a stop sign, causing a crash with a law enforcement vehicle. Rivera-Vasquez and his passengers had a rifle and a deer that they shot out of season. Rivera-Vasquez also admitted possessing two boxes of ammunition on August 8 that had been purchased by someone else in a St. Peters, Missouri store. Two Warren County Sheriff’s deputies were injured in the crash. Rivera-Vasquez, who was living in Breckenridge Hills, was charged by complaint in U.S. District Court on August 21. He is currently scheduled to be sentenced in December. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and fine. He will be deported after his release from custody. In February of 2019, Rivera-Vasquez told an immigration judge that he had entered the United States illegally. He was granted the ability to voluntarily depart, but did not do so, his plea says. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Warren County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is prosecuting the case.


title: Media Advisory - Press Conference

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

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – United States Attorney Ellis Boyle, along with representatives from the Henderson Police Department, the 11th Prosecutorial District Attorney Mike Waters, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol Colonel Freddy Johnson, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction Secretary Leslie Cooley Dismukes, and the ATF will hold a press conference on Friday to provide an update on a joint state and federal law enforcement operation in Henderson. The update will include information on state and federal arrests and illegal firearm and drug seizures. WHERE: Henderson Police Department, 200 Breckenridge St., Henderson, NC 27536 WHEN: Friday, September 19, at 3:00 p.m. Media please arrive at the police department by 2:30 p.m. for set up . For logistical information in advance of the media availability, the Public Information Officer with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. No case specific information is available until the press conference.


title: More Than 30 Charged in Akron Firearms and Drug Crackdown

body_text: AKRON, Ohio – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio today announced the unsealing of 17 federal indictments charging more than 30 people allegedly involved in connection with firearms offenses and illegal drug violations. Ten additional defendants will face state charges. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from numerous federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, led the investigation and apprehension of defendants in a series of coordinated arrests that concluded this morning. One federal defendant remains at large. The law enforcement initiative was conducted over a 60-day period and focused on Akron’s most violent areas. During the investigation, law enforcement seized 32 pistols, one revolver, six rifles, two suppressors, and one machinegun conversion device. Illegal substances seized included 417.6 grams of powdered cocaine, 376 grams of cocaine base (crack), 94 grams of heroin, 4663.4 grams of methamphetamine, 443.5 grams of marijuana, and 134.6 grams of fentanyl. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio; Acting Special Agent in Charge John G. Smerglia for the ATF Columbus Field Division; and Chief Brian J. Harding of the Akron Police Department. The charges filed today coincide with the ATF announcement of a new Akron Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC). The CGIC will serve as an intelligence hub and coordination center for local, state and federal response to crimes involving firearms. CGICs use cutting-edge forensic science and evidence to support the investigation and prosecution of violent criminals. These returned indictments are separate and not related. All defendants are from Akron unless otherwise noted: Case Number (CN) 5:25CR430 Robert Hazel, 40, of Tallmadge, is charged with Engaging in the Business of Manufacturing and Dealing Firearms without a License and Possession of Unregistered Firearms. CN 5:25CR431 Charles Klein, 49, of Tallmadge, is charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine. CN 5:25CR432: Michael Czerpak, 45, and Jennifer Schaeffer, 37, are charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Distribution of Methamphetamine. CN 5:25CR433: David Felix, 33, is charged with Distribution of Cocaine. CN 5:25CR434 Gary Robinson, 26, is charged with Distribution of Marijuana, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Trafficking in Firearms. Walter Hicks, 23, is charged with Trafficking in Firearms. Alonzo Brewer, 22, Lily Palmer, 23, Madison Schreckengost, 23, and Diamond Taylor, 25, are all charged with making False Statements during Purchase of Firearms and Straw Purchase of a Firearm. CN 5:25CR435 Terrance Bivens-Boyd, 19, is charged with Distribution of Cocaine, Trafficking in Firearms, Illegal Possession of a Machinegun, and making False Statements During Purchase of a Firearm. Elijah Hawkins, 28, is charged with Trafficking in Firearms. Ellis Bloodworth II, 25, is charged with making False Statements During Purchase of Firearm and Straw Purchase of Firearm. CN 5:25CR436 Anthony Maurice Mims, 32, is charged with being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm; previous convictions include burglary in 2012; and domestic violence in 2020. CN 5:25CR440 Davante Neal, 31, and Larry Vaughan, 67, are both charged with Distribution of Cocaine. CN 5:25CR441 Jaelyn Barnhart, 26, and Traci Howard, 26, are both charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. CN 5:25CR442 Devontae Simmons, 32, is charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. CN 5:25CR443 Brandon Travis, 38, is charged with being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; prior convictions for involuntary manslaughter in 2008; and robbery in 2022. He is also charged with Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, and Distribution of Methamphetamine. CN 5:25CR448 Antonio Guice, 42, and Wathen Milliner, 40, are both charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Troy Miller, 54, Guice, and Milliner are all charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine. CN 5:25CR456 Devant’tair Brown, 25, and Davone Smith, 33, are charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Distribution of Cocaine. CN 5:25CR458 Dazzmond Lenoir-Pratt, 24, and Darren Tibbets, 31, are both charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Fentanyl and Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl. CN 5:25CR459 Jermaine Baker, 42, is charged with Distribution of Cocaine. CN 5:25CR460 Teon Brown, 22, of Medina, and Jaylyn Blackmon, 20, are both charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Distribution of Methamphetamine. CN 5:25CR473 Damon McKinney, 53, of Shaker Heights, is charged with Distribution of Fentanyl and Methamphetamine. If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to the case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum, and, in most cases, it will be less than the maximum. The investigations leading to the indictments were conducted by the ATF Columbus Division’s Cleveland Field Office, Akron Police Department, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Barberton Police Department, University of Akron Police Department, and the Ohio Adult Parole Authority. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Peter E. Daly , Toni Beth Schnellinger Feisthamel , Yasmine Makridis , Margaret A. Sweeney , Stephanie A. Wojtasik , Brett S. Hammond , Brenna L. Fasko and Joseph H. Walsh for the Northern District of Ohio, with valuable assistance from the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office. The assistance of the U.S. Marshals is also acknowledged for providing related support for this crime reduction initiative. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Government Contractor to Pay Over $4 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. B Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba announced today that a government contractor based out of Bayonne, New Jersey, will pay $4,043,810.56 to resolve allegations that it improperly employed unauthorized aliens to work on Navy ships. The settlement resolves allegations that, from May 2017 through December 2020, Bayonne Drydock and Repair Corporation (“Bayonne Drydock”) utilized multiple subcontractors that were owned and/or controlled by Bayonne Drydock’s Risk Manager to perform work on government contracts, and that those subcontractors were employing individuals who were not authorized to work in the United States. Following a notice that one of the subcontractors was employing unauthorized workers, Bayonne Drydock’s Risk Manager purportedly terminated that employee, but that same month took affirmative steps to assist another subcontractor to employ unauthorized aliens, who continued to work on Navy ships. Bayonne Drydock’s Risk Manager previously pleaded guilty to a criminal charge of knowingly hiring and continuing to employ unauthorized aliens. In total, Bayonne Drydock was alleged to have employed approximately 52 unauthorized aliens on government contracts. Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Habba credited the United States Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Newark Field Office under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy, and the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher Silvestro for the investigation of the allegations against Bayonne Drydock. The United States is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark C. Orlowski of the U.S. Attorney’s Health Care Fraud and Opioids Enforcement Unit in Newark. ### Defense Counsel: Matthew Beck, Esq., Chiesa, Shahinian and Giantomasi, Roseland, New Jersey. bayonnedrydock.agreement.pdf


title: Former Plantation Bookkeeper Sentenced to Federal Prison for $9.8 Million Embezzlement Scheme

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A former bookkeeper from Plantation has been sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for orchestrating a multi-year embezzlement scheme that stole $9.8 million from her employer. On September 15, Chief U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga imposed the sentence on Hava Yfrah Austin, 58. The Court also ordered forfeiture and restitution. Austin previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud and filing a false income tax return, after failing to report the stolen funds on her return. According to court records, Austin owned and operated Accounting Solutions Today, P.A., a bookkeeping and tax services business in Broward County. Austin was also the long-time bookkeeper for the victim company, where she had signature authority over its bank accounts. From 2018 through April 2024, Austin embezzled approximately $9.8 million. Austin executed unauthorized wire transfers from the victim company’s accounts to her own business and used much of the stolen money to gamble at local casinos and through online gaming platforms. To conceal her theft, Austin falsified accounting entries in the victim company’s ledgers, often creating fraudulent entries under fake but similar-sounding vendor names. “This defendant betrayed the trust placed in her, stole nearly $10 million, and gambled it away,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Our Office will hold accountable those who abuse positions of trust and conceal their crimes, and we will ensure victims see justice and restitution.” “The IRS-CI enforces the nation’s tax laws with particular emphasis on cases where individuals abuse positions of trust and steal what belongs to others through fraudulent schemes designed to conceal their misconduct,” said Special Agent in Charge Emmanuel Gomez of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office. “In this case, the defendant booked a one-way ticket overseas- but thanks to our complex financial investigation, the only one-way trip she’s taking is straight to prison.” U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Gomez made the announcement. IRS-CI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Juenger prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 25-cr-20239. ###


title: Former Assistant District Attorney in Lafayette Convicted of Conspiracy and Bribery Charges in Federal Case

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: LAFAYETTE, La. – A federal jury has found Gary Haynes , 67, of Lafayette, guilty of conspiracy to engage in bribery, bribery, use of a facility interstate commerce in aid of bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and obstruction of justice after a nearly two-week long trial, announced Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook. After deliberating for nearly two and one half hours, the jury returned their verdict. The indictment charged Haynes with conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, two counts of using his cell phone in aid of bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and obstruction of justice. Evidence presented at the trial revealed that Haynes conspired with Dusty Guidry and Leonard Franques to solicit bribes and kickbacks and to accept things of value while working as an Assistant District Attorney at the 15 th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Haynes oversaw the D.A.’s Office’s Pretrial Intervention (PTI) program which was a program set up to provide an alternative to criminal prosecution for certain criminal offenders. Haynes approved defendants to participate in the program and then directed them to take classes from Franques’s companies. Those defendants paid money to take classes through Franques’s companies to complete the program and obtain dismissal of the criminal charges against them from Haynes. Haynes, Guidry, and Franques agreed that Haynes would receive kickbacks in exchange for accepting people into the PTI program, directing those people to Franques’s companies, and then dismissing the charges against the people who enrolled in and paid for the courses that Franques’s companies provided. Haynes and his co-conspirators discussed several ways to conceal the nature of the money that Haynes would receive from the kickback scheme, including having Haynes reactivate a defunct company during the conspiracy to hide the proceeds from the kickbacks or potentially providing him with a new truck rather than funnel the kickbacks directly to him. Haynes directed a coconspirator to alter, destroy, and conceal documents and records to prevent their availability in a future proceeding. Franques pleaded guilty on January 12, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. Guidry pleaded guilty on March 23, 2023, to two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds and one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. Both Guidry and Franques are scheduled to be sentenced on October 1, 2025. Haynes faces a sentence of 65 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, or both. The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS - Criminal Investigation. The prosecution team included Assistant United States Attorneys John Luke Walker and John W. Nickel, and Steven Loew of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section. # # #


title: McKees Rocks Resident Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 46 months of imprisonment, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, on his conviction of possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Brandon Jennings, 38, on September 18, 2025. According to the information presented to the Court, in and around March 2021 and July 2021, Jennings possessed 926 images and 803 videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, some of whom were infants, toddlers and prepubescent. Other child sexual abuse material possessed by Jennings portrayed sadomasochistic conduct or other depictions of violence. Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Allegheny County Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Jennings. 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.justice.gov/psc .


title: Executive of Miami-Based Seafood Wholesale Company Pleads Guilty to Price-Fixing Conspiracy

body_text: Miami – The vice president of a Miami-based seafood wholesaler pleaded guilty on September 16 to conspiring with competitors to fix prices for the purchase of stone crab claws and spiny lobster in Florida. According to documents filed with the court, Dennis Dopico, of Miami, was a vice president for a company that operated a seafood processing center that sold stone crab claws and spiny lobsters. Between 2023 and 2025, Dopico conspired with competing companies and their employees to suppress and eliminate competition by fixing the prices paid to fishermen for stone crab claws and spiny lobsters. This conspiracy deprived fishermen in Florida the benefits of competition, depressing the prices paid to fishermen for their harvests. “Price fixing cheats fishermen, squeezes restaurants, and makes families pay more at the table,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “We will protect honest competition from the boat to the dinner table.” “Criminal conspiracies to deprive hardworking Americans the right to earn a fair wage are untenable in a free society. As the defendant admits, his price fixing conspiracy unfairly took money out of the pockets of hardworking fishermen for years,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Omeed Assefi of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division and its law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to ensure that hard working Americans are paid competitively for an honest day’s work.” “This case highlights the serious consequences of undermining the integrity of our nation’s natural resource markets,” said Assistant Director Doug Ault, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. “Price-fixing schemes not only disrupt fair competition but also threaten American businesses and the sustainability of our valuable fisheries. We remain committed to working with our federal partners to hold accountable those who exploit our natural resources for unlawful profit.” Dopico and his co-conspirators exchanged text messages and calls in which they coordinated and agreed on the prices they would pay fishermen and would adjust the prices together as the respective harvest seasons progressed. For example, on Sept. 28, 2023, following communications with a co-conspirator about spiny lobster prices Dopico replied “[d]on’t show text to anyone[.] Confidential,” to which the co-conspirator responded, “I give you my word. We’re working together now not against each other[.]” Later, on Oct. 13, 2023, the same co-conspirator texted Dopico new stone crab claw prices. Dopico responded, “[l]et me know what you do. I am matching your prices. It’s the one we like the most.” In the plea agreement, Dopico admitted that the volume of commerce attributable to him and related to the conspiracy was approximately $8 million. Dopico pleaded guilty to one felony count of restraining trade by conspiring to fix prices, in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. The maximum penalty for individuals is 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine. The maximum penalty for corporations is a $100 million criminal fine. The fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fine. The court set Dopico’s sentencing hearing for Jan. 5, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services is investigating this case. The Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section is prosecuting the case with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. Anyone with information in connection with this investigation should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258, or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 25-cr-20393. ###


title: Former Financier Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Defrauding Elderly Family Member of $8.4 Million

body_text: Miami – A former financier previously disciplined by the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission has been sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for defrauding his elderly family member out of approximately $8.4 million. Brett Thomas Graham, 61, was sentenced on September 16 by U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks after pleading guilty to wire fraud. According to court documents, Graham began assisting his widowed family member in 2017. Graham helped her retain a financial advisor in November 2018. The following year, the family member sold a New York townhouse for approximately $9 million. Within months, Graham began diverting money from her accounts into his own, using the stolen money to finance overseas vacations, luxury jewelry purchases, artwork, and other personal expenses. In 2020, Graham obtained power of attorney over his family member’s finances, which obligated him to act in her best interest. Instead, Graham exploited that authority to continue his fraud. That December, Graham falsely claimed to the financial advisor that $250,000 was needed to cover the family member’s “higher medical & care expenses.” Graham spent the funds on himself. In November 2022, Graham requested an additional $400,000, citing “[a]mazing [investment] opps…” More than $300,000 of that money was spent on his credit card, art, travel, and rent. Law enforcement was able to seize jewelry and art purchased with fraud proceeds for approximately $2 million. “Exploiting an elderly family member to steal millions is unconscionable,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “We will hold fraudsters accountable and protect seniors from abuse.” U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office made the announcement. FBI Miami investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli S. Rubin prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Demirci handled asset forfeiture. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov . You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 25-cr-20103. ###


title: Hartford Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl and Cocaine

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JORDAN FLYTHE, also known as “T,” 33, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 70 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for distributing fentanyl and cocaine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 31, 2021, Flythe was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 36 months of imprisonment for distributing fentanyl and crack cocaine. He was released from federal prison in September 2022. In August 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and Middletown Police Department determined that Flythe was distributing fentanyl and other narcotics in Middletown. Between August and November 2024, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from Flythe. On December 18, 2024, a court authorized search of Flythe’s residence on Adelaide Street in Hartford revealed approximately 240 grams of fentanyl mixed with xylazine and other additives, and approximately 160 grams of cocaine. Flythe has been detained since his arrest on March 6, 2025. On June 10, 2025, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine. This investigation was conducted by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force, the Middletown Police Department, and the Hartford Police Department. The task force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, Middletown, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reed Durham.


title: MERIDIAN DRUG TRAFFICKER SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS  IN FEDERAL PRISON

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Jackson, MS – A Meridian, MS man was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for his operation of a large drug trafficking organization in the Meridian area. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, Marcus Tremaine Powell, 40, conspired with at least 15 others charged with him in the Meridian area to distribute illegal drugs, including kilogram quantities of powder cocaine and crack cocaine, as well as large amounts of crystal methamphetamine, ecstasy, and marijuana. Under federal sentencing guidelines, Powell’s sentence was increased because of his lengthy criminal history in state court and because (1) Powell was manager or supervisor of the drug trafficking operation that involved 5 or more people; (2) during the criminal activity a firearm was possessed; (3) Powell used or directed the use or threat of violence; and (4) when fleeing from law enforcement, Powell recklessly created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to others. Marcus Tremaine Powell was one of approximately 50 Meridian drug dealers arrested in January 2024 who were charged in a series of 9 federal indictments. Powell was charged in two of those indictments. He pled guilty in both indictments to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a series of illegal drugs. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge Matthew Reidell, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Director Phillip Pope, and Lauderdale County Sheriff Ward Calhoun, III, made the announcement. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the East Mississippi Drug Task Force of the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carla J. Clark and Adam T. Stuart prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: New Britain Man Who Recorded His Sexual Abuse of a Child Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ORLANDO GUZMAN, 74, of New Britain, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 240 months of imprisonment and a lifetime of supervised release for recording his sexual abuse of a minor and possessing thousands of child sexual abuse images and videos. According to court documents and statements made in court, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has been investigating a network of individuals who have been using private groups on an internet chat application to share images and videos of child sexual abuse. The investigation revealed that an account associated with Guzman was an active member of two of these groups. The investigation further revealed that, between February and August 2022, Guzman sexually abused a minor female and used mobile devices to record and store images and videos of the abuse. On September 2, 2022, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of Guzman’s mobile devices. Analysis of the devices revealed more than 3,000 video files and more than 2,000 image files of child pornography, including images and videos depicting Guzman’s abuse of the minor victim. Guzman has been detained since his arrest on September 7, 2022. On January 22, 2025, he pleaded guilty to production of child pornography and possession of child pornography. This investigation was conducted by HSI with the assistance of the New Britain Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .


title: 56th Defendant Pleads Guilty in Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – Today, Abdullahe Nur Jesow, age 65, became the 56 th defendant to plead guilty in the massive Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “On the very day we secured our 56 th conviction in the Feeding Our Future fraud cases, we have also brought the first wave of charges in the Housing Stabilization fraud scheme,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “I am proud of the extraordinary work of our prosecutors, federal agents, and law enforcement partners who are working around the clock to expose these crimes. But the truth is they should not have to. Minnesota deserves better.” Jesow was one of eight defendants charged in United States v. Hassan, et al. , 22-cr-224 (NEB/DTS). This group, the S&S Catering group, purported to run food program sites, including on Lake Street in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The group worked together to steal and then launder $17.4 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program money that was meant to feed hungry children during the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, Jesow pled guilty before District Judge Nancy E. Brasel to money laundering for his role in the scheme. Jesow had been set to proceed to trial before Judge Brasel on October 14, 2025. One defendant now remains in that trial. Jesow operated a Federal Child Nutrition Program site called Academy For Youth Excellence. Academy For Youth Excellence purported to run a site and serve meals out of Benadir Hall, a banquet hall located above S & S Catering. Benadir Hall was listed on the site application for Academy For Youth Excellence that scheme leader Aimee Bock submitted to MDE on December 30, 2020. Academy For Youth Excellence contracted with S & S Catering to act as a vendor to provide the food that the site was to serve or deliver to children under the federal food program. Beginning in December 2020, Jesow and his co-conspirators claimed to serve approximately 2,500 meals a day to children, seven days a week. By April 2021, Jesow and his co-conspirators claimed to serve approximately 5,000 meals a day to children, seven days a week. As Jesow knew, these numbers were grossly inflated. In support of their false claims, Jesow’s co-conspirators prepared and submitted fraudulent meal counts, attendance rosters, and invoices. In total, during the period between December 2020 to September 2021, Academy For Youth Excellence claimed to have served more than 1.7 million meals. In reality, Academy for Youth Excellence only provided a fraction of those meals. Based on these claims, Jesow’s co-conspirators received $4,286,088 in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds, Jesow received approximately 5% of that amount, and then returned the bulk of it to the co-conspirators in cash or check payments, laundering the proceeds of the fraud scheme. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Jacobs, Daniel W. Bobier, and Melinda A. Williams are prosecuting the case.


title: KC Man Sentenced for Producing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for producing and distributing child pornography. Leonardo Leon, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Leon to 5 years of supervised release following incarceration. On March 28, 2025, Leon pleaded guilty to one count of producing child pornography and one count of distributing child pornography. According to court documents, law enforcement officers learned that Leon was having sex with a 15-year-old minor victim. Investigators learned that Leon had recorded himself having sex with the minor victim, and that he had sent a copy of the video to a friend of the minor victim a week after the minor victim died in 2024. Leon will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth W. Borgnino. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. Project Safe Childhood 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 www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: West Tennessee Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Production of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Jackson, TN – Levi Edward Hamilton , 23 , of Mansfield, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for creating a fictitious social media account via Instagram and using that account to solicit sexually explicit images and videos from several individuals, including minor children. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. Hamilton was charged with five counts of production of child pornography, five counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, five counts of receipt of child pornography, three counts of transferring obscene material to a minor, and one count of possessing child pornography. Following his guilty plea to two of the production of child pornography charges, United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Hamilton to 25 years in prison and five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the FBI Memphis Child Exploitation Task Force and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: D.C. Man Arrested for Hate Crime Murder

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Edgar Arrington, 38, of Washington, D.C., was arrested and charged with a homicide that occurred in the early morning hours of July 5, 2025, in Northeast D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Arrington made his initial appearance before Superior Court Magistrate Judge Heide Herrmann earlier today, where Judge Herrmann found probable cause that Arrington committed the offense of first-degree murder while armed, with a hate crime enhancement (gender identity), and ordered that Arrington be held without bond pending a preliminary hearing on October 7, 2025, before Judge Danya Dayson. According to court documents, Arrington, a stranger to the victim, Daquan Johnson, ridiculed Johnson for being transgendered as Johnson walked by Arrington on the sidewalk. Arrington continued his harassment of Johnson by hurling slurs at Johnson, ultimately retrieving a firearm from his clothing and shooting the unarmed victim multiple times throughout the body. Johnson died as a result of the injuries. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shauna Payyappilly. Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. These charges are merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Murray County Resident Sentenced For Assault With A Dangerous Weapon And Eluding A Peace Officer

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jayson Geoffrey Evans, age 51, of Sulphur, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country and 46 months in prison for one count of Eluding Peace Officer in Indian Country. The Court ordered the sentences to be served concurrently. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation—Oklahoma City Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Murray County Sheriff’s Office, the National Parks Service, and the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department. On May 7, 2025, Evans pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on December 30, 2023, Evans fled from a Trooper during a roadside traffic stop, leading law enforcement on a chase at speeds reaching 90 mph. During the pursuit, Evans threw road-spikes—known as caltrops—into the path of the pursuing law enforcement, causing damage to a law enforcement vehicle and two civilian vehicles. Evans was taken into custody but failed to appear to face charges, eluding law enforcement for over a year until his campsite was discovered in the Chickasaw National Recreation Area in April of 2025. The crimes occurred in Murray County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect the American people. Harming, or attempting to harm them for doing their job is completely unacceptable,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “For nearly two years, this dangerous fugitive went to extreme lengths to evade justice, but he was not successful. I appreciate the efforts of the FBI Oklahoma City JTTF, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Murray County Sheriff’s Office, the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, the National Parks Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, who brought this case to a resolution.” “Evans’ brazen and reckless acts endangered law enforcement and the public,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “I commend the collaborative work of troopers, rangers, deputies, officers, agents, and prosecutors for their tireless efforts in locating and bringing the defendant to justice.” The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Evans will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and Jarrod Leaman represented the United States.


title: Belgian National Sentenced to Prison after Defrauding Investors in a $5M Ponzi Scheme

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A Belgian national in the United States operated a $5 million Ponzi scheme over the course of five years was sentenced today to 60 months’ imprisonment. Kenny Dirk Van Der Spek, 36, who was living in South Jordan, Utah, pleaded guilty to securities fraud, wire fraud and money laundering in May 2025, after he defrauded approximately 75 investors, and used at least $3 million on real estate, a personal chef, a new 2022 Chevrolet Corvette, online gambling and more. In addition to Van Der Spek’s term of imprisonment, a U.S. District Court Judge sentenced him to three years’ supervised release and ordered he pay full restitution in the amount of $4,107,282.97 to the victims. He also was ordered to comply with the forfeiture of real property in Martinsville, Virginia and Spanish Fork, Utah. See prior press release: Belgium National and Utah Business Owner Charged After Allegedly Running a $5M Ponzi Scheme According to court documents and admissions made at Van Der Spek’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, Van Der Spek was the owner and manager of K & K Strategies, LLC, which he marketed as a “hedge fund.” Between December 2017 to November 2023, Van Der Spek, convinced investors to invest in his company by making false promises and misrepresentations about investor funds. Van Der Spek, who was not licensed to sell securities, told investors K & K Strategies was legally operating a hedge fund and that he was licensed to do so. He represented to investors that their investments with K & K Strategies were succeeding, showing them fabricated financial records, when in reality, investors were suffering losses. He also displayed a “live stream” of trades on K&K Strategies’ website so that investors could “watch [their] money grow.” As part of Van Der Spek’s criminal conduct, Van Der Spek promoted K & K as a “mom and pop hedge fund,” accepting investments as low as $500 and specifically targeting “smaller investors” – Investors who had little or no safety net beyond their slowly and meticulously accumulated savings. To those targets, Van Der Spek stated that he wanted to “help people who didn’t have much money.” “This was not a crime of opportunity. Van Der Spek specifically planned and targeted vulnerable investors and caused substantial financial hardships for victims in Utah and other states,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah. “Stealing hard earned money from our citizens is a serious offense, and it will not be tolerated in the District of Utah. We will continue to prosecute and seek justice for victims who suffer from these types of crimes.” “Van Der Spek’s 'mom and pop hedge fund' had a devastating financial impact on hardworking Utahns, exploiting them for personal gain and taking millions to support his lavish lifestyle,” said Robert Cummings, Director of the Utah Division of Securities. The Division received complaints about Van Der Spek, which led to an investigation into his fraudulent activities and ultimately resulted in his arrest and conviction. “We are grateful to Utah’s law enforcement, the Financial Crime Task Force, the FBI, and the Department of Justice for their diligent work in apprehending Mr. Van Der Spek and holding him accountable. We encourage everyone to visit securities.utah.gov to verify the proper license of anyone providing investment advice before investing their money.” “Like many fraudsters, Mr. Van Der Spek was motivated by greed, spending his victims’ money on luxuries for himself,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI. “Most of the victims in this case didn’t have the money to lose, resulting in financial and emotional devastation that will cause lasting harm. The FBI and our partners continue to seek accountability for those who exploit others for financial gain.” “Mr. Van Der Spek chose to live a life of fraud built on the backs of hardworking Americans,” said IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge, Jarom Gregory of the Phoenix field office. “He deliberately targeted his investment scheme to prey upon those who had the least to give and the most to lose. IRS-CI employs some of the world’s best financial investigators and working together on a team with our law enforcement partners we have been able to bring some measure of justice for the people victimized by Mr. Van Der Spek.” The case was investigated by the Utah Division of Securities, FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Phoenix Field Office. Special Assistant United States Attorney Sachiko J. Jepson and Assistant United States Attorney Mark Y. Hirata, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.


title: Former Georgia Poll Worker Sentenced for Threatening to Bomb Voting Location

component: Criminal - Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section

body_text: MACON, Ga. – A former Georgia poll worker was sentenced to prison after admitting to mailing a letter that contained threats to bomb a Jones County precinct and harm poll workers, and for lying to the FBI during the investigation. Nicholas Wimbish, 26, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 20 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release and ordered to pay a $2,000 fine by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Sept. 18. Wimbish previously pleaded guilty to one count of conveying false information and making hoaxes on Feb. 14. There is no parole in the federal system. “Ensuring the security of our polling places is essential. Americans must be able to express their political choices at the ballot box without fear of violence or harm,” stated U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “These threats undermine the core values of our nation, and we will vigorously pursue justice in such matters.” “The FBI takes all threat-to-life matters very seriously,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “This case demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to hold accountable anyone who tries to intimidate a public official or interfere with the election process.” According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Wimbish was employed as a poll worker at the Jones County Elections Office in Gray, Georgia, on Oct. 16, 2024, when he had a verbal altercation with a voter. Later that evening and into the early hours of Oct. 17, 2024, Wimbish conducted relevant online research and then drafted a letter posing as the voter threatening to bomb the polling place. Wimbish mailed the threatening letter to the Jones County Elections Superintendent from a “Jones County Voter” on Oct. 17, 2024. It arrived at the election office on Oct. 22, 2024. Wimbish admitted he intended the letter to appear as if it came from the voter and added details to make it seem like the voter was targeting Wimbish and other poll workers. For example, it said, "Yesterday I had your young liberal woke idiot Nicholas Wimbish give me hell," that "he tries to influence peoples votes in line," and that "I researched a newspaper article about Nicholas Wimbish and other woke liberal fraudsters impostering to be patriots." The letter threatened that Wimbish and others "should look over their shoulder," that "I know where they all go," that "I know where they all live because I found home voting addresses for all them," that "the liberal young men will get beatdown if they fight me," that "they will get the treason punishment by firing squad if they fight back," and that "they should watch every move they make looking over their shoulder." Further, the letter threatened to "rage rape" the "ladies" and warned them to "watch every move they make and look over their shoulder." Below the typewritten letter, Wimbish wrote a note by hand, "PS boom toy in early vote place, cigar burning, be safe." Wimbish admitted he knew that a "boom toy" was a term for an explosive device. Wimbish also acknowledged that he lied to FBI agents investigating the mailed threat and falsely stated that he believed the Jones County voter sent the letter and that he had not conducted online research on himself. The letter was found on Wimbish's computer. The FBI Atlanta Field Office investigated the case. U.S. Attorney Keyes prosecuted the case for the Government with assistance from the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN) and DOJ’s Criminal Division's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS).


title: Mexican National Indicted for Trafficking Methamphetamine and Fentanyl

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Jose Tobias Jimenez-Martinez, 35, a Mexican national residing in Madera, charging him with trafficking large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, on March 4, 2025, probation officers arrived at Jimenez’s residence in Madera to conduct a probation search. Jimenez is on probation for a prior state felony conviction. During the search, officers found and seized several thousand fentanyl pills and more than 75 pounds of methamphetamine. Jimenez later admitted to transporting the methamphetamine from San Diego and was planning to distribute it in Reno, Nevada. The methamphetamine was individually packaged in several plastic bags. This case is the product of an investigation by the Madera Police Department; the Fresno High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT), which is composed of personnel from the California Department of Justice, the Fresno Police Department, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Madera County Narcotics Enforcement Team (MADNET); the Madera County District Attorney’s Office; and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Jimenez faces a minimum statutory penalty of 10 years and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Vallejo Felon Indicted for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

body_text: A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Cole Bradley Martin, 39, of Vallejo, charging him with being a felon in possession of firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, on Aug. 14, 2025, Martin possessed a Springfield XD 9 mm pistol and a KelTec P32 .32‑caliber pistol. Martin is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions in Solano County including, possessing a controlled substance and robbery in the first degree. This case is the product of an investigation by the Solano County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zulkar Khan is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Martin faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN


title: Leader of Houston robbery crew sentenced to nearly 20 years

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 21-year-old Houston man has been sentenced for his role in multiple gunpoint robberies, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Danial Starr pleaded guilty March 20 to two counts of aiding and abetting robbery and two counts of aiding and abetting the brandishing of a firearm during the commission of the crimes. U.S. District Judge David Hittner has now ordered Starr to a 70-month-term of imprisonment for his involvement in a series of robberies. He also received 168 months for the firearms charges, which must be served consecutively to the other sentence imposed. The total 238-month prison term will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. The court also imposed $1,960 in restitution to the victims for all the money he and his accomplices stole. “Hard-working, law-abiding people should be able to go about their day without having their lives threatened in armed robberies,” said Ganjei. “This sentence was richly deserved. A difficult childhood is not an excuse for committing crime-plenty of people with similar upbringings manage to lead productive lives and not stick guns in other people’s faces. If you are thinking about committing robbery in the Southern District of Texas, you’d better think twice.” At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence describing Starr’s challenging upbringing as an orphan in the foster care system. Despite this background, the court emphasized that the victims had experienced significant trauma during the robberies and would carry those memories with them. On Jan. 27, 2024, Starr robbed three Houston-area smoke shops and a liquor store along with three other men, former high school classmates and peers. Calvin Deshazo and others distracted store employees by pretending to be customers, Starr entered the stores wearing a mask and brandishing a firearm, demanding cash. Approximately two days later, Starr targeted the Spring Smoke Shop on Veteran’s Memorial Drive, one of the same locations he had robbed earlier. Patrick Norman acted as a lookout while Starr once again threatened an employee with a firearm, swiftly stealing cash and smoke products. Deshazo, 19, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the robberies and was ordered to serve a total sentence of 112 months in federal prison July 11. Norman, 20, was convicted after a three-day trial by jury of aiding and abetting the smoke shop robbery on Jan. 29, 2024, and sentenced to 33 months in federal prison July 24. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Harris County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the joint investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francisco J. Rodriguez and Anh-Khoa Tran prosecuted the case.


title: Former Antioch Police Officer Found Guilty Of Conspiracy Against Rights

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: OAKLAND – A federal jury today convicted former Antioch police officer Devon Wenger of one count of conspiracy against rights. The jury’s verdict follows a seven-day trial before Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White. Wenger, 33, was previously employed as a police officer with the Antioch Police Department. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Wenger conspired with other Antioch Police Department officers to use unreasonable force to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate residents of Antioch, California. “Public trust must be at the forefront of the duty to protect. By using unnecessary and unreasonable force under the guise of law enforcement, Wenger betrayed the community he was entrusted to protect. Officers who hold themselves above the law and dishonor their oath of office will be held to account. The people of Antioch deserve no less,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “Today’s conviction makes clear that when an officer violates the civil rights of those he was sworn to protect, it will not be overlooked or excused. This marks the second time a jury has held Devon Wenger accountable, and it reflects the FBI’s commitment to pursuing justice in every instance where authority is abused. We will continue working with our partners to ensure that those who betray the public’s trust face consequences,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Agustin Lopez. According to the evidence at trial, Wenger and two other Antioch Police Department officers, Morteza Amiri and Eric Rombough, communicated with each other and others about using and intending to use excessive force against individuals in and around Antioch. The uses of excessive force included deployment of a K9, deployment of a 40mm “less lethal” launcher, and other unnecessary violence. The evidence showed that Wenger and others deployed uses of force as punishment to subjects beyond any punishment appropriately imposed by the criminal justice system. Wenger also withheld details about uses of excessive force from police reports and other official documents. The jury convicted Wenger of one count of conspiracy against rights in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 241. The court dismissed a second count that charged Wenger with deprivation of rights under color of law in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242. Wenger was previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute steroids and obstruction of justice following a jury trial in April 2025. The Court ordered Wenger remanded to custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Dec. 2, 2025. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Any sentence will be imposed by the Court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. The case is being prosecuted by the National Security & Special Prosecutions Section and the Oakland Branch of the United States Attorney’s Office. This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Office of the Contra Costa County District Attorney. * * * These civil rights charges against Wenger were brought as part of an investigation into the Antioch and Pittsburg police departments that resulted in multiple charges against 10 current and former officers and employees of these two police departments for various crimes ranging from the use of excessive force to fraud. The status of these cases, all of which are before Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White, is below: Case Name and Number Statute(s) Defendant (Bold: multiple case numbers) Status Fraud 23-cr-00264 18 U.S.C. §§ 1349 (Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud; 1343 (Wire Fraud) Patrick Berhan Sentenced to 30 months custody, 2 years supervised release concurrent with 24-cr-157 on 9/5/24 Morteza Amiri Sentenced to 84 months custody, 3 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-269 on 6/24/25 Amanda Theodosy a/k/a Nash Sentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release 11/15/24 Samantha Peterson Sentenced to time served, 3 years supervised release 4/24/24 Ernesto Mejia-Orozco Sentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 9/19/24 Brauli Jalapa Rodriguez Sentenced to 3 months custody, 3 years supervised release on 10/25/24 Obstruction 23-cr-00267 18 U.S.C. §§ 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations); 1512(c)(2) (Obstruction of Official Proceedings); 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law) Timothy Manly Williams Pleaded guilty 11/28/23, status conference 10/7/25 Steroid Distribution 23-cr-00268 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 (Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids), 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Possession with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids) Daniel Harris Pleaded guilty 9/17/24, status conference 10/7/25 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids); 18 U.S.C.§ 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations) Devon Wenger Convicted at trial 4/30/25, sentencing pending Civil Rights 23-cr-00269 18 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law); § 1519 (Destruction, Alteration, and Falsification of Records in Federal Investigations) Morteza Amiri Sentenced to 84 months custody, 3 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-264 on 6/24/25 18 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law) Eric Rombough Pleaded guilty 1/14/25, status conference 10/7/25 18 U.S.C. §§ 241 (Conspiracy Against Rights), 242 (Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law) Devon Wenger Convicted at trial 9/18/25, sentencing 12/2/25 Steroid Distribution 24-cr-00157 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(E)(i) (Possession with Intent to Distribute Anabolic Steroids) Patrick Berhan Sentenced to 30 months custody, 2 years supervised release concurrent with 23-cr-264 on 9/5/24 Bank fraud 24-cr-00502 18 U.S.C. § 1344(1), (2) (Bank fraud) Daniel Harris Pleaded guilty 9/17/24, status conference 10/7/25


title: Ringleader of Catalytic Converter Theft Ring Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

body_text: George Thomas, 72, formerly of Fresno and Clovis, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for selling thousands of stolen catalytic converters for millions of dollars in profits and conducting financial transactions to conceal those illicit profits, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced today. “George Thomas fueled a black market for stolen catalytic converters that victimized hardworking people who were forced to either pay thousands of dollars to replace their converters or go without their vehicles,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Thomas thought that he could cover his tracks, lie to the jury, and get away with it. Not so. Today’s sentencing shows that there will be significant consequences for such behavior. My Office will continue to partner with law enforcement to take out organized criminal networks like this one.” “This case was truly a team effort. When local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies work together, we can eradicate crime in the communities we serve,” Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office explained. “Catalytic converter theft was a pervasive problem in the greater Fresno area, largely because of George Thomas’s multi-million-dollar criminal scheme. Together, justice was served.” “Clovis Police Department detectives worked diligently on this lengthy investigation,” said Clovis Police Detective Corporal Kedric Anderson. “After Thomas’ arrest, we observed immediate results, leading to a significant reduction in catalytic converter thefts throughout our community. We extend our gratitude to the FBI for their valuable partnership in this investigation. The Clovis Police Department remains committed to protecting the community through proactive investigations and strong partnerships with federal agencies.” A jury convicted Thomas of dealing in stolen converters and engaging in unlawful financial transactions on March 27, 2025, following a four-day trial that included over 120 exhibits and testimony from more than 15 witnesses. The evidence showed that, from January 2021 through November 2022, Thomas purchased stolen converters from a group of recurring thieves in the Fresno area who cut the converters off people’s vehicles. The sales occurred in the parking lots of motels, gas stations, and similar places at all hours of the day and night. Thomas gave the thieves instructions on the types of converters he was looking for and how to best cut the converters off vehicles. He also loaned the thieves money to pay for their motel rooms, saws, and bail. The loans were contingent on the thieves continuing to steal for him. After law enforcement officers executed an initial search at Thomas’ home and storage unit in mid-2021, Thomas continued with the illegal activities and tried to cover up the illegal activity by taking photographs of the thieves and their IDs each time he made the sales, requesting Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) for the vehicles from which the converters were supposedly cut, and having the thieves sign pieces of paper stating that the converters were not stolen. But Thomas did not actually change anything. For example, he continued conducting sales in the same places with the same thieves. He allowed the thieves to use fake and stolen IDs and provide him with false VINs. In some instances when the thieves did not provide VINs, he went out on his own after the sales were completed and collected VINs from random vehicles. Thomas also completed sales to undercover law enforcement where he said that he did not care where the VINs or converters came from. The following are examples of photographs of Thomas purchasing stolen converters from thieves, along with the stolen converters that were found at his home and storage unit. Thomas drove the stolen converters to Oregon where he sold them to a metal recycling company for more than $2.7 million. The recycling company paid Thomas by wire transfer. He then withdrew the money from his bank accounts through hundreds of cash withdrawals that were under the $10,000 reporting threshold. The jury found that these transactions were designed to conceal his illegal activities. After Thomas was arrested in April 2023, reports of converter theft in the Fresno area decreased by more than 90 percent. This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Clovis Police Department, and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Barton and Justin Gilio prosecuted the case.


title: Las Vegas Woman Arrested And Charged With Threatening And Assaulting Flight Crew

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident was arrested Tuesday and made her initial court appearance today for allegedly assaulting a flight attendant and intimidating other flight attendants during a flight to Las Vegas, Nevada. According to allegations contained in the criminal complaint and statements made in court, on September 16, 2025, Ketty J. Dilone was a passenger aboard an American Airlines flight from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, to Las Vegas, connecting through Charlotte, North Carolina. On the flight from Charlotte to Las Vegas, Dilone was walking down the aisle and yelling. She allegedly started to verbally threaten multiple flight attendants. Due to Dilone’s disruptive and threatening behavior, she had to be restrained in her seat with zip ties and duct tape. She allegedly kicked a flight attendant causing the flight attendant to fall. When the flight arrived at Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers responded and took Dilone into custody. Dilone is charged with one-count of interference with a flight crew and one-count of assault by striking, beating, or wounding. United States Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah scheduled a preliminary hearing for October 1, 2025. If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty is 20 years of imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Division made the announcement. The FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Tina Snellings is prosecuting the case. If you’ve been the victim of a crime committed aboard an aircraft or have witnessed one take place, report it to your flight crew, airport authority police, and the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov . A complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ###


title: Rensselaer County Man Pleads Guilty to Money Order Fraud

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Matthew Dundas, age 26, of Petersburgh, New York, pled guilty on Tuesday to money order fraud. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Matthew M. Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Area Field Office of the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General (“USPS-OIG”), made the announcement. Dundas admitted that between January 2023 and September 2024, while he was employed with the USPS, he fraudulently issued 105 money orders to himself without paying for them, and stole $76,976.61 from the United States. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Stealing from the government is a serious crime under any circumstance, but it is especially shocking when the perpetrator is a public servant engaged in self-dealing. We thank the Office of Inspector General for its continued efforts to root out fraud from within.” USPS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Matthew M. Modafferi stated, “The Special Agents of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General will continue to maintain the integrity of the U.S. Postal Service and its personnel. Our office will continue to vigorously investigate Postal Service employees who violate the public’s trust. This case serves as an excellent example of the successful collaboration between the USPS OIG and the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York to pursue and prosecute Postal Service employees involved in criminal activity. The USPS OIG is thankful for the great longstanding relationships we have with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to combat fraud.” Sentencing is scheduled for January 14, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. Dundas faces a maximum term of 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. The USPS-OIG is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case.


title: Indiana Man Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Cocaine

component: USAO - Arkansas, Western

body_text: TEXARKANA – A South Bend, Indiana man was sentenced yesterday to 235 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release for possessing 20 kilograms of cocaine with intent to distribute it. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the trial and sentencing hearing, which were held in the U.S. District Court in Texarkana. According to court documents, on February 26, 2022, an Arkansas State Trooper conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Sidney Hunt , age 42, on Interstate 30 near Hope, Arkansas. Hunt initially consented to a search of the vehicle, but after the Trooper located a large amount of narcotics in the rear compartment, Hunt fled across all four lanes of Interstate 30 and into the woods. Hunt was later located walking alongside the interstate and taken into custody. The narcotics seized from Hunt’s vehicle were later determined to be approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine. Hunt was indicted on drug trafficking charges by a Federal Grand Jury in the Western District of Arkansas in July of 2022. In April 2025, a Texarkana-area federal jury found Hunt guilty of all charges. During the trial, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent testified that the street value of 20 kilograms of cocaine at the time of Hunt’s arrest was approximately $360,000. Trial testimony also revealed that Hunt obtained the narcotics in Texas and was transporting them to a drug trafficker in Tennessee when he was stopped by Arkansas law enforcement. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement. Arkansas State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon Still and Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Jones prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov .


title: Repeat Offender Sentenced to 14 years in Federal Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine in Texarkana

body_text: TEXARKANA – A prior felon was sentenced yesterday to 168 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for distributing methamphetamine in Texarkana, Arkansas. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court at Texarkana. According to court records, on August 11, 2021, Terry Duran Martin, age 40 , sold more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine to a confidential informant working with the Bi-State Narcotics Task force and the FBI. At the time, Martin had only recently completed a term of post-prison supervision stemming from a 2013 federal cocaine trafficking conviction. Martin was indicted by the United States Grand Jury in connection with the August 11, 2021, methamphetamine transaction, and later pleaded guilty to that offense on December 12, 2024. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes made the announcement. The Bi-State Narcotics Task Force and the FBI investigated the case, Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Jones prosecuted the case. Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov .


title: Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty To Unlawful Reentry

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Carlos Arturo Cahuex-Martinez, a/k/a Carlos Arturo Cahuex, a/k/a Carlos Cahuex-Martinez, a/k/a Carlos Martinez, age 45, a Guatemalan national unlawfully present in Wagoner, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than ten years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00. The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division. The Indictment alleged that on July 22, 2025, Cahuex-Martinez, 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 July 3, 2018, November 13, 2018, and January 26, 2022. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. 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. Cahuex-Martinez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.


body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jose Luis Jimenez-Hernandez, a/k/a Jose Luis Jiminez-Hernandez, age 45, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than two years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00. The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division. The Indictment alleged that on July 24, 2025, Jimenez-Hernandez, 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 10, 2012, June 14, 2013, and October 25, 2013. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. 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. Jimenez-Hernandez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.


title: Okmulgee Resident Sentenced For Illegally Possessing Ammunition

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Sterling Ross, IV, age 32, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Okmulgee Police Department. On March 12, 2025, Ross pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on April 29, 2024, Ross ran a stop sign, then attempted to evade police. Ross then led police on a high-speed chase through Okmulgee before fleeing the vehicle, leaving with the engine running and the doors open. While securing the vehicle, police discovered a Glock magazine with 12 rounds of ammunition. Ross had previously been convicted a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment at the time he possessed the ammunition. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Ross 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 Resident Sentenced For Stalking

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Garrick DaVaughn McCrary, age 30, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for one count of Stalking. The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department. On May 9, 2025, McCrary pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, from April 2023 until January 16, 2025, McCrary used the internet and social media apps to send graphic messages designed to injure, harass, and intimidate the victim. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. McCrary 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 Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.


title: Stilwell Resident Sentenced To Ten Years For Voluntary Manslaughter

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Mose Adam Smith, age 43, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 121 months in prison for one count of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, to be followed by three years of Supervised Release. The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office, the Grant County, Wisconsin Sheriff’s Office, and the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory. On April 10, 2025, Smith was found guilty by a federal jury at trial. According to investigators, on July 17, 2023, Smith struck the victim during an altercation at the victim’s Sallisaw residence. The victim died from blunt force trauma and injuries sustained in the fight. Smith and co-defendant Kimberly Dawn Ball-Gilbert fled the state in the victim’s truck and were apprehended ten days later by law enforcement in Illinois. The crime occurred in Sequoyah County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. On March 19, 2025, Ball-Gilbert, age 42, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to an Information of one count of Voluntary Manslaughter. At her plea hearing, Ball-Gilbert admitted to aiding and abetting Smith’s actions in causing the victim’s death. Sentencing for Ball-Gilbert has not yet been scheduled. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Smith will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick M. Flanigan and Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.


title: California Drug Dealer Sentenced to 55 Months in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Guam & Northern Mariana Islands

body_text: Hagåtña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Anthony Kenneth Johnson, age 68, from Merced, California, was sentenced on September 17, 2025, in the District Court of Guam to 55 months imprisonment for Distribution of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). The Court also ordered three years of supervised release following imprisonment, forfeiture of $1,000 in drug proceeds, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits. On August 17, 2017, United States Postal Inspectors intercepted a package containing 23.09 grams of methamphetamine. After delivering the package under surveillance, the recipient, Kevin Mayberry, admitted to receiving the drugs and identified Johnson as the sender. At the time, Johnson was on supervised release after serving 244 months for a previous methamphetamine conspiracy conviction. In March and April 2020, after a 20-month revocation of his supervised release, Johnson sent two more packages of methamphetamine to Mayberry. The first contained 7.99 grams, for which they agreed on a $250 payment. Postal Inspectors sent a money order to Johnson, which he cashed. The second package contained 25.53 grams. Johnson indicated he wanted $1,000 for the drugs, using the term “zip” for an ounce of methamphetamine. Postal Inspectors sent two money orders totaling $750, which Johnson cashed. In total, Johnson distributed 56.61 grams of methamphetamine, all with a purity of at least 80 percent. Co-conspirator Kevin Mayberry previously pled guilty to Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride with Intent to Distribute and was sentenced to 110 Months in Federal Prison. “Drug trafficking by offenders under post-conviction supervision will not be tolerated, regardless of the quantity involved,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “This investigation is another example of the benefits of multi-agency partners working together to keep our communities safe.” “This sentence sends a message that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service will not allow the U.S. Mail to be used to distribute harmful narcotics in Guam or anywhere else.” said U.S. Postal Inspection Service San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Stephen Sherwood. “I would like to thank our partners on the task force including the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, the Guam Police Department, and the Guam Army National Guard Counterdrug Program for their valuable work keeping dangerous substances out of the mail and out of the community.” This investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Guam Police Department, with prosecution handled by Assistant United States Attorney Devarup Rastogi in the District of Guam.