title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 87 Border-Related Cases This Week

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 87 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city). In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here . A sample of border-related arrests this week: On September 22, Jesus Alfredo Castro Sanchez, a Mexican national, was arrested and charged with Attempted Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain. In the same incident, Marcos Octavio Huerta-Pena, Anabel Lopez, Lorenzo Martinez Mateos and Jaime Romero Solano – also Mexican nationals - were arrested and charged with Attempted Entry after Deportation. According to a complaint, 11 people aboard a 26-foot vessel were intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard after a brief ocean pursuit. Castro Sanchez was identified as the boat captain. The U.S. Coast guard disabled the motor of the 26-foot vessel about 9 miles north of the border. The defendants and other passengers were transported to Point Loma and turned over to the Border Patrol. On September 23, Krystal Vanessa Santibanez, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Santibanez attempted to enter the United States at the San Ysidro Port of Entry with 115 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in the spare tire, rear quarter panel and gas tank of her car. Also recently, a number of defendants with criminal records were convicted by a jury or sentenced for border-related crimes such as illegally re-entering the U.S. after previous deportation. Here are a few of those cases: On September 22, Jose Miguel Verduzco Mendoza, a Mexican national who was previously convicted of felony Disorderly Conduct with a Deadly Weapon or Dangerous Instrument and Misconduct Involving Weapons in November 2024, was sentenced in federal court to 92 days in custody for entering the U.S illegally. On September 26, Emilio Anchundia Bailon, a 41-year-old Ecuadorian citizen, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute on Board a Vessel. The amount of cocaine involved was 1,410kgs. On September 26, Pedro Valencia-Anguiano, a Mexican citizen who was previously convicted of “DUI Alcohol – Causing Bodily Injury – Use of Firearm” in 2023, was sentenced in federal court to 89 days in custody for again entering the U.S. illegally. The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners. Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


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

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Financial Fraud Cassandra Lee Corbin , 36, with no permanent address, was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for theft of government funds. According to court documents, the defendant, as the custodian of her two minor children, received Survivor Insurance Benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) upon the death of her husband. However, from November 2020 until May 2023 the children were no longer in her care and custody, and she knowingly failed to report to the SSA that she no longer had custody of the children and was not entitled to receive the benefits on their behalf. The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General investigated the crime. Corbin was indicted on May 12 and pleaded guilty on June 27. Chief U.S. District Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Sept. 25 in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00096 Violent Crime Cole Posey , 35, of Arapahoe, Wyoming, was sentenced to 50 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for assault resulting in serious bodily injury. According to court documents, on May 1, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Wind River Police Department advised the FBI that an assault had occurred at a residence in Ethete. When agents arrived, the victim was bleeding and had to be transported to the emergency room for a displaced nasal fracture caused by Posey hitting the victim in the face. The victim also had other injuries such as bruises and scratches that resulted from Posey. The Bureau of Indian Affairs Wind River Police Department and the FBI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. Posey was indicted on May 21 and pleaded guilty on July 1. Chief U.S. District Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Sept. 23 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00087 Gonnie Chad Luis Angatomope Mendez aka Luis Mendez, 44, with no permanent residence, was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release for threatening a witness or victim with physical force. According to court documents, the victim disclosed in an interview with an FBI Child and Adolescent Forensic interviewer that Mendez would abuse the victim’s mother and then turn the abuse on the victim. The physical abuse on the victim happened when the victim tried to get the other children in the house to safety. Mendez threatened to kill the victim or kill the victim’s mother if the victim told anyone about Mendez’s assaults. T he defendant provided a factual basis in which he admitted using physical force and the threat of physical force against the victim to hinder, delay and prevent the victim’s communication with law enforcement. The FBI investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Sept. 22 in Cheyenne. Case No. 24-CR-00120 Drug Trafficking Carlos Salazar, 50, with no permanent address, was sentenced to 92 months’ imprisonment with four years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) began investigating multiple people in December 2024 on suspicion of distributing methamphetamine. Throughout the investigation, agents learned that Salazar was a distributor in Wyoming and was buying his drugs from a source in Colorado. On Jan. 9, as Salazar and three others were returning from Colorado, the Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) attempted a traffic stop of the vehicle Salazar was driving in Converse County. Salazar fled and a pursuit ensued which ended with WHP using spike strips to stop the vehicle. Agents learned that methamphetamine had been tossed out of the window during the pursuit and was recovered by DCI. Wyoming DCI, Department of Homeland Security, and WHP investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie R. Morrison prosecuted the case. Salazar was arrested on complaint Feb. 7 and pleaded guilty to an Information on May 12. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Sept. 24 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00075 Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien Elmer Danillo Martinez Quinteros, 33, of Santa Barbara, Honduras, was sentenced to time served, approximately four months of imprisonment, and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on July 6, 2020, the defendant was arrested in Laramie County for driving while under the influence of alcohol. ICE determined that he was previously deported and did not apply for permission to reenter the United States legally. He was apprehended in Texas on May 20, 2025. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Sept. 25 in Cheyenne. Case No. 20-CR-00119 Public Land Violation Andres Sanchez Yobal , 64, of Bozeman, Montana, pled guilty to operating a motor vehicle with a breath alcohol concentration greater than .08, and operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license in Yellowstone National Park. He was then sentenced to a 60-day term of incarceration with credit for 19 days previously served and was ordered to serve the remaining 41-day term of incarceration immediately. The defendant was also placed on five years of unsupervised probation under various terms and conditions including a ban from Yellowstone National Park during the probationary period. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Sept. 19 in Mammoth. 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: Former JBLM soldier, convicted previously of child sexual abuse in military court, sentenced today to 25 years in prison for sexual abuse of four other minors

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – A former soldier, previously stationed at Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM), was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 25 years in prison for the sexual abuse of four young children who had been left in his care. Jonathan Anthony Gentry, 36, molested six children between January 2010 and February 2014. In August of 2013, he was arrested and prosecuted in military court for sexually molesting two 13-year-olds. He was sentenced to two years in military prison. It was only years later that four other children, also left in his care, disclosed horrific sexual abuse. At the sentencing hearing Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo said, “This is the most serious kind of conduct that comes before this court… The victims were helpless children. You were the monster that was living with them. You scarred these victims for the rest of their lives.” “This defendant used threats of terrible harm to silence his victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. “These children showed great courage stepping forward to report sexual abuse that happened when they were as young as 3-years-old. The children report being strangled or forced to drink alcohol so that Gentry could molest them. Such conduct must be punished by significant prison time.” According to records filed in the case, in April 2020, two children disclosed the sexual abuse that happened during the time Gentry lived on JBLM. One child was 10 or 11 years old at the time of the sexual abuse, the other was between 5 and 9-years-old. In both cases Gentry threatened to harm the children’s families if they did not submit to the abuse or told anyone about the abuse. The third victim was between 3 and 5 years old at the time of the abuse and disclosed the abuse to a trusted adult in April 2024. Finally, a fourth victim, who was on a sleepover at the home when sexual abuse occurred in June 2013, disclosed the abuse in March 2023. On December 4, 2024, a grand jury indicted Gentry for five counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, one count of abusive sexual contact with a minor and one count of sexual abuse of a minor. On July 2, 2025, Gentry pleaded guilty to three counts of abusive sexual contact with a minor and one count of sexual abuse of a minor. In asking for a 30-year prison sentence prosecutors wrote to the court, “Gentry repeatedly raped and molested vulnerable children in his care. The seriousness of offenses like Gentry’s is measured both by the resulting trauma for these survivors and by its contribution to a national child sexual abuse epidemic. For decades, researchers have documented the staggering prevalence of child sexual abuse in America and the lifelong damage that such abuse inflicts on victims—from heightened suicide risk to increased prevalence of drug and alcohol use and myriad other mental health disorders.” Speaking in court, three of the victims described the terrible impact Gentry had on their lives: “my innocence was taken, my childhood was taken,” one said. “No amount of time he serves can compare to the loss of our childhood and the years that were stolen from us,” another told the court. Chief Juge Estudillo told them, “No words I can say will ever alleviate the pain and suffering you have gone through.” He ordered that Gentry serve 20 years of supervised release following the prison term. “It is heartbreaking that these children suffered this abuse at such a young age, and by someone who should have protected them,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “I commend them for their steadfast resolve in speaking up to ensure accountability and attempt to protect other children from potential abuse. Mr. Gentry, as a former servicemember, had a responsibility to defend the vulnerable, not exploit them. While no sentence can undo what happened to the victims, I hope this lengthy sentence sends a message to other would-be offenders that the FBI and our partners will investigate and prosecute child predators.” The case was investigated by the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon and Kristine Foerster.


title: Western District of Texas U.S. Attorney’s Office Adds 270 New Immigration Cases

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – United States Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas announced today that federal prosecutors in the district filed 270 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from Sept. 19 through 25. Significant cases include U.S. citizens arrested on human smuggling charges, illegal alien sex offenders, and numerous illegal aliens arrested across the district with multiple DWI convictions on their record. Among the new cases, two U.S. citizens, Jesus Ruiz Murillo aka Gabriella Ruiz Murillo, and Sebastian Ruiz , were arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents near Dilley on Monday. USBP agents conducted an immigration inspection on the vehicle while it was stopped at a gas station, during which the agents allegedly observed feet protruding from underneath a sun shield on the floor of the vehicle. A criminal complaint alleges that the agents discovered a total of six individuals—all determined to be Mexican nationals—hidden in the rear seats of the SUV driven by Ruiz Murillo. Ruiz Murillo and Sebastian Ruiz are siblings and were allegedly transporting the six illegal aliens from Crystal City to a stash house in San Antonio, anticipating a payment of $1,500 in cash per illegal alien. Further investigation revealed that at least four of the illegal aliens were paying $6,500 to $7,000 each to be smuggled into the United States. Ruiz and Ruiz Murillo are both charged with transportation of illegal aliens for financial gain. Mexican national Arturo Barrios-Medina was found in the Bexar County Jail after his Sept. 15 arrest on a warrant out of Florida based on a sex offender registration violation. Barrios-Medina was turned over to ICE custody on Sept. 19 and charged with illegal re-entry. In August 2004, Barrios-Medina was convicted in Florida for providing obscene material to minors and possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to one year and one day of confinement and removed from the U.S. on Oct. 7, 2004. In El Paso, U.S. citizen Edmundo Vizcaya was arrested on human smuggling charges after agents allegedly observed six individuals wearing yellow construction vests attempting to conceal themselves inside Vizcaya’s vehicle. A criminal complaint alleges that the individuals admitted to being illegal aliens and Vizcaya stated he would be paid $500 per alien he transported to a drop-off location he had coordinated with another smuggler. In 2024 in El Paso County, Vizcaya was given deferred adjudication for aggravated robbery and possession of a prohibited weapon. Mexican national Jesus Armando Ramirez-Hernandez was charged with illegal re-entry, having been previously removed from the U.S. two times, the last being in 2023 through San Ysidro, California. Ramirez-Hernandez is a convicted felon with convictions for conspiracy to transport aliens, possession of a controlled substance, assault causing bodily injury to a family member and aggravated sexual assault of a child. Jordan Lorenzo Zavala-Mendez, also a Mexican national and convicted felon, was arrested and charged with illegal re-entry. Zavala was just removed from the U.S. to Mexico on Feb. 12 after serving a one-year prison sentence for illegal re-entry. Zavala-Mendez has also been convicted twice for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and twice for possession of a controlled substance. Juan Hernandez-Cotzojay , a Guatemalan national with three prior removals, was found and arrested approximately 13 miles west of the Tornillo Port of Entry. His most recent removal was on Aug. 14 and his criminal record includes two DWI convictions in Houston. Mexican national Hector Martinez Aranda was charged with illegal re-entry after he was encountered by ICE at the Travis County Jail. He had been arrested on Sept. 19 for driving without a license and with an open container. Martinez Aranda has been convicted three times for DWI charges and was convicted for improper entry by an alien in Del Rio in 2011. He has been removed from the U.S. to Mexico twice. Also taken into ICE custody out of the Travis County Jail, Mexican national Pablo Torres Mendieta had been arrested for his second DWI charge, along with charges for bribery and fleeing a police officer. Torres Mendieta’s first DWI conviction was in 1998. He was also convicted that year for an immigration violation and was subsequently deported. He’s now federally charged with illegal re-entry. Jose Ramirez-Betancourt , also a Mexican national, was taken into ICE custody after he was encountered at the Williamson County Jail. He was convicted on Sept. 11 for a DWI and assault causing bodily injury. Additionally, Ramirez-Betancourt’s criminal record includes two previous convictions for driving while impaired in North Carolina. In Del Rio, Mexican national Jose Manuel Ibarra-Gamez was arrested and charged with illegal re-entry less than four weeks after he was removed from the U.S. for the sixth time. Ibarra-Gamez has been convicted three times for illegal re-entry and twice for DWI charges. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Massachusetts Man Admits Robbing Banks in Connecticut and New Hampshire

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TAYLOR DZICZEK, 43, formerly of Chicopee, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to bank robbery charges. According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI and state and local law enforcement investigated a series of robberies of banks and credit unions that occurred between September 2021 and August 2022 in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and New Hampshire, and which were committed by what appeared to be the same individual. During the investigation, Dziczek was identified as a suspect who robbed the Peoples United Bank, located at 117 East Street in Plainville, Connecticut, on May 26, 2022. On that date, Dziczek entered the bank, approached the teller counter and gave the teller a note stating words to the effect of, “I have a gun. Don‘t call 911. Don‘t set off any alarms.“ When the teller stated she did not have any more money, Dziczek pulled what appeared to be a black firearm from the front pocket of his sweatshirt and made additional statements including “Give me all the money,” “I have a gun,” and “Don‘t be a hero.” Dziczek removed some of the paper money wrappers from the money he received from the teller and discarded them at the bank before he fled the scene. Plainville Police detectives collected the discarded money wrappers as evidence. On October 21, 2022, FBI special agents surveilled Dziczek while he was in the MGM Casino in Springfield, Massachusetts, and retrieved a Red Bull energy drink can with a black straw from which Dziczek was observed drinking. Laboratory analysis connected DNA found on the black straw to DNA found on discarded money wrappers from the Plainville bank robbery. Dziczek was arrested on December 1, 2022. Dziczek pleaded guilty to three counts of bank robbery and admitted that committed the Plainville bank robbery, as well as the robberies of a Webster Bank branch in Somers, Connecticut, on October 22, 2021; a Key Bank branch in East Windsor, Connecticut, on January 6, 2022; a TD Bank branch in Nashua, New Hampshire, on June 3, 2022, during which he pointed what appeared to be a black pistol at the tellers; and a Liberty Bank branch in Meriden, Connecticut, on August 17, 2022. Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for February 20, 2026, at which time Dziczek faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 60 years. Dziczek has agreed to pay restitution in the total amount of $82,567. Dziczek has been detained since his arrest. This investigation has been conducted by the FBI New Haven Division’s Violent Crimes Task Force, FBI Boston Division, FBI Albany Division, Connecticut State Police, Massachusetts State Police, Athol (Mass.) Police Department, Avon (Conn.) Police Department, Brattleboro (Vt.) Police Department, Chicopee (Mass.) Police Department, East Windsor (Conn.) Police Department, Enfield (Conn.) Police Department, Greenfield (Mass.) Police Department, Keene (N.H.) Police Department, Meriden (Conn.) Police Department, Montague (Mass.) Police Department, Nashua (N.H.) Police Department, Plainville (Conn.) Police Department, Somers (Conn.) Police Department, and Springfield (Mass.) Police Department. The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Scientific Services has provided valuable assistance to the investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel E. Cummings, and Stephanie T. Levick. U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont and for their close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter.


title: Two East Pierce County residents, who distributed fentanyl pills via the dark web, plead guilty

body_text: Tacoma – Two residents of East Pierce County, Washington, who conspired to sell fentanyl pills via a ‘dark web’ marketplace pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Trevor Stephen Haahr, 34, of Puyallup, Washington, and Kaeli Arielle Albert, 35, of Orting, Washington, face a sentence of up to 40 years in prison when sentenced by U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright on December 18, 2025. According to the statements in the plea agreements, in early 2023, law enforcement began an investigation into sales of fentanyl pills on a marketplace located on the dark web. After ordering some of the pills that were labeled to appear as M30 oxycodone pills, law enforcement testing revealed they were fentanyl pills. Through various investigative techniques, Trevor Stephen Haahr was identified as the operator of the marketplace on the dark web. In February 2024, Haahr mailed a package in Pierce County that was searched and contained more than 10,000 fentanyl pills. Surveillance of Haahr revealed multiple quick meeting with Albert where cash and drugs were exchanged. On March 11, 2024, law enforcement executed search warrants at Haahr’s residence, office, storage locker, vehicle and at Albert’s home, amongst other locations. At Haahr’s office he was signed on to the dark web vender profile. In his truck and storage locker investigators found drug proceeds, fentanyl pills and supplies for shipping the drugs. In Albert’s residence investigators seized more than $23,000 in drug proceeds and body armor. The defendants admit in their plea agreements that they distributed more than 100,000 fentanyl laced pills. Law enforcement also seized bitcoin that Haahr had received in payment for the drugs. At the time it was seized the bitcoin was worth approximately $50,000. Haahr is forfeiting the bitcoin as proceeds of his drug dealing. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend sentences at the low end of the guidelines range calculated by the court. Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances in this volume is punishable by up to 40 years in prison. Possession with intent to distribute is punishable by up to twenty years in prison. Haahr pleaded guilty to the conspiracy count and to possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. Albert pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Judge Cartwright is not bound by the recommendations and can impose any sentence allowed by law. The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Brian Wynne and Casey Conzatti.


title: Jury Finds District Man Guilty in 2019 Mass Shooting Case

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Ronnell Offutt, 36, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a jury of four counts of assault with intent to kill while armed (one of which included a minor-victim enhancement) in a rush-hour shooting that took place at a crowded bus stop at the corner of Pennsylvania Ave and Minnesota Ave, Southeast, on February 4, 2019, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Offutt also was found guilty of four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. The verdict was returned on September 26, 2025, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Danya A. Dayson scheduled sentencing for December 12, 2025. “This is yet another case of uncontrolled violence on the streets of DC,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “My office will continue to fight to prosecute and convict those who think vigilante justice is the answer to their personal disputes.” According to the government’s evidence, on February 4, 2019, at about 4:15 p.m., the defendant was brutally assaulted at the intersection of Pennsylvania and Minnesota Avenues—beaten, with his hair ripped out and his car windows shattered. He argued with some of his assailants, and an off-duty MPD commander saw the tail end of the incident. Offutt refused to make a report and made clear to the MPD commander that he wanted nothing to do with the police. He left, and cell location data indicated he returned home. Approximately one hour later, that same cell location data showed that Offutt returned to the area of Pennsylvania and Minnesota Avenues. Video footage showed him returning to the very same streetcorner—this time, with a gun. Offutt shot eight times into the rush-hour crowd standing near a bus stop, seeking revenge on those who had assaulted him. In his barrage of gunfire, a 5-year-old girl was shot in the arm, an adult male was shot through the chest, another adult male was shot twice – once in the arm and once in the buttocks, and another adult male was shot in the thigh. Miraculously, no one died. Each of the victims was transported to area hospitals and fully recovered, though each would carry scars for the rest of their lives. Offutt fled the scene, but the MPD commander had taken his picture and a picture of his license plate an hour earlier. Ballistics evidence showed that a firearm later recovered in Maryland was the firearm used in the shooting, and DNA evidence linked that firearm to Offutt. Additionally, eyewitnesses and video footage made clear to the jury that Offutt was the shooter. One local man who heard the first shots looked out his office window, saw the shooting happen, and took pictures of the shooter—those pictures showed Offutt wearing the same hat and shoes as he had been wearing an hour before, as captured in the photograph taken by the MPD commander. Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey Comber and Michael Roberts.


title: District of Arizona Charges 181 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from September 20, 2025, through September 26, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 181 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 82 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 80 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 18 cases against 19 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Recent matters of interest include: United States v. Ignacio Villalobos-Lopez : On September 22, Ignacio Villalobos-Lopez, a citizen of Mexico who was illegally present in the United States after previously being removed, was contacted by law enforcement while transporting four illegal aliens. Law enforcement learned that Villalobos-Lopez had previously transported illegal aliens and that he expected to be paid $500.00 per person that he transported. Villalobos-Lopez was charged by criminal complaint for Illegal Entry and Transportation of an Illegal Alien. [Case Number: 25-MJ-9410] United States v. Marco Villareal-Aguilar : On September 25, Marco Villareal-Aguilar, a citizen of Mexico who was illegally present in the United States, was charged with Bringing in an Illegal Alien for Profit. As alleged in the complaint, Border Patrol camera operators observed a group of approximately 10 subjects walking near the border on the Tohono O'odham Nation. Agents responded to the area and apprehended nine subjects dressed in camouflage who had carpet booties covering their shoes. All nine subjects were determined to be Mexican citizens, illegally present in the United States. Villareal-Aguilar was identified by members of the group as the foot guide who led them across the border and coordinated their movement with scouts using a cellphone and radio. [Case Number: 25-MJ-14135] United States v. Nathan Vega : On September 25, Nathan Vega was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. As alleged in the complaint, Border Patrol agents observed Vega driving in a suspicious pattern on the Tohono O'odham Nation near the international border, making multiple U-turns and a brief stop. When agents tried to stop Vega to conduct an immigration inspection, he sped away, leading agents on a more than 30-mile car chase and reaching speeds of 115 miles per hour. Eventually, Vega stopped his vehicle and individuals in camouflage clothing fled from the vehicle. Five of those individuals were apprehended and determined to be Mexican citizens illegally present in the United States. [Case Number: 25-MJ-14134] These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-156_September 26 Immigration Enforcement # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Wilmington Couple Convicted at Trial of Trafficking Young Woman

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – On September 25, 2025, following a four-day trial, a federal jury in Raleigh convicted Dartez Omar Faulk and Rosalind Carol Comfort of three counts of sex trafficking following a four day trial. “These depraved reprobates preyed on vulnerable young women to make money from their suffering and addiction,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Mercifully, one woman’s mama bear quickly sprang into action when she could not reach her daughter after a few days and promptly called law enforcement. The FBI and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office acted with admirable alacrity and remarkably rescued the daughter before something worse happened. A team of Federal Prosecutors fought hard to serve these miscreants justice for their heinous acts. Now these villains can expect to receive decades in prison they earned at sentencing. All of New Hanover County should sleep more peacefully knowing these two will not prowl the streets for a long time.” “Human traffickers often prey on the vulnerability of their victims, making empty promises for a better life with a stable and loving home. It's nothing more than a bait-and-switch scheme. Quickly, they force victims into sex or labor trafficking, for personal profit. The FBI and our local law enforcement partners will never stop working to combat trafficking of any kind in our communities,” said James C. Barnacle Jr., the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Faulk and Comfort lured a 26-year-old woman into commercial sex by preying on her drug addiction and abusive relationship. Between January 22 and 29, 2024, they coerced her into prostitution using violence, threats, drugs, and intimidation. They took all the money, did not let her leave the apartment where they were prostituting her, and hunted her down when she tried to escape. Faulk told Comfort that he would kill the victim at one point, and Comfort told him that they had been seen on camera with her. On January 28, Faulk sent text messages to the victim’s mother threatening to kill her if her mother did not pay $3,500. The mother called 911 and reported her daughter missing. On January 29, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office identified online ads connected to the defendants. Working with the FBI, investigators rescued the victim. Further investigation revealed that Faulk and Comfort had lured a second vulnerable young woman, only 20 years old, into commercial sex, going so far as to advertise her for sex as she lay unconscious from a drug overdose. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III accepted the verdict. The FBI, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office and Carolina Beach PD investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Blondel and Ashley Foxx are prosecuting the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.7:24-CR-00091-D-BM. ###


title: Fort Lauderdale Man Charged with Child Sexual Abuse Material Offenses

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A Fort Lauderdale man was arraigned today on a three-count indictment charging him with distribution, production, and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to court documents, Ian Zachary Adams, 29, created multiple anonymous profiles on a social media platform to upload and distribute CSAM depicting children between the ages of two and 16. Investigators also recovered from one of Adams’s electronic devices a screen recording of a video chat in which a 10-year-old child engaged in sexually explicit conduct at his request. U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of FBI, Miami Field Office, and Sheriff Gregory Tony of the Broward Sheriff’s Office announced the charges. FBI Miami, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, and the Broward Sheriff's Office are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Camille Smith is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 25-cr-60222. ###


title: Major Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – William Wayne Ray Schubel, 33, has been sentenced to 140 months of imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release for distributing large amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine, in addition to illegally possessing numerous firearms, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “A four-time felon who chose to poison our communities is now going to federal prison for more than a decade,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Methamphetamine is one of the deadliest forces eating away at Minnesota’s neighborhoods. We will keep putting major dealers behind bars until our communities are free from this poison.” Law enforcement identified Schubel as a high-volume methamphetamine dealer. A confidential informant saw Schubel in possession of five pounds of methamphetamine individually packaged in one-pound vacuum sealed bags. The informant also heard the defendant discussing his receipt of fifty pounds of methamphetamine. On January 10, 2024, law enforcement executed search warrants at Schubel’s two residences—a home in Oak Grove, Minnesota, and an apartment in Anoka, Minnesota. Inside Schubel’s Oak Grove home, law enforcement found 746 grams of methamphetamine and 220 grams of cocaine inside a backpack that also contained a digital scale. Also at the Oak Grove residence, police found a vast array of firearms (12 in total), ammunition, and firearm accessories. This included, among other things, a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol (bearing the defendant’s DNA) with an extended magazine concealed under the defendant’s pillow. Inside Schubel’s Anoka apartment, law enforcement found an additional five grams of methamphetamine, a firearm cleaning kit, and multiple rolls of vacuum seal bags. Schubel was arrested that day, in his car. The defendant had $2,378 on his person as well as a cellphone. Agents searched Schubel’s phone and found more evidence of drug trafficking. Agents found messages where Schubel sent drug “menus” to customers, listing various controlled substances using code names and offering the controlled substances for sale in full pound, half-pound, and quarter-pound amounts. Agents also found messages where Schubel discussed selling controlled substances and his knowledge that doing so would entail significant consequences. Among other things, Schubel explained he was going to delete his messenger app, because “the Feds can find it and look at that shit" Schubel has a long and violent criminal history. Schubel has four prior felony convictions, including a conviction for domestic assault by strangulation, and three convictions for drug distribution and possession. Because of his prior felony convictions, it is illegal for Schubel to possess firearms and ammunition. Schubel was sentenced in U.S. District Court before District Judge John R. Tunheim. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raphael B. Coburn prosecuted the case.


title: Newton Psychologist Agrees to Plead Guilty to Fraud and Money Laundering

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Newton, Mass. psychologist has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty to allegedly defrauding two victims, his psychotherapy patient and one of his own relatives. Eric Brown, 76, has agreed to plead guilty to an Information charging him with two counts of wire fraud and one count of engaging in an unlawful money transaction. A plea hearing will be scheduled at a later date. According to court filings, Brown was a psychotherapist to a Massachusetts victim who had been injured after being struck by a drunk driver. In February 2022, the victim allegedly asked Brown to serve as the trustee of a trust benefitting the victim. The trust held approximately $700,000, which was the victim’s settlement from the accident. As trustee, Brown allegedly had exclusive control over the victim’s money and a duty to use it for the victim’s health, support and maintenance. Brown then allegedly fell victim to an online investment confidence scam. At the direction of a scammer pretending to be in an online relationship with him, Brown allegedly depleted the trust without telling the victim why, to invest $600,000 of the victim’s money overseas. Separately, Brown allegedly deceived a family member into lending him an additional $310,000. Brown falsely told his relative that he needed the money to finance improvements on a commercial office building that Brown owned. Brown allegedly did not tell his relative about his online relationship or the overseas investment he intended to make. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit, is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Inmate Convicted Of Slashing Federal Corrections Officer In New York City Prison

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today the conviction in Manhattan federal court of MARIO POWELL for assaulting a corrections officer with a deadly and dangerous weapon and for possession of prison contraband. The jury convicted POWELL following a five-day trial before U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan. “Mario Powell brutally assaulted a federal corrections officer with a makeshift weapon made of razor blades,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Today, a jury of his peers held Powell accountable for this vicious attack. Our Office is proud to stand behind and pursue justice for our law enforcement partners who bravely put their lives on the line every day to protect the people of New York.” According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and the evidence presented during the trial: On May 30, 2020, at the Metropolitan Correctional Center, POWELL forcibly assaulted a corrections officer with a deadly and dangerous weapon and, in doing so, lacerated the officer’s neck. In order to commit the attack, POWELL obtained and possessed a weapon made of razor blades. * * * POWELL, 34, of the Bronx, New York, was convicted of one count of assault on a federal officer using a deadly or dangerous weapon, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of possession of prison contraband, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. POWELL is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Cronan on November 14, 2025. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas John Wright, Henry L. Ross, and Leslie B. Arffa are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Myrnette Millington and Phineas Santello.


title: Five Indicted On Drug Conspiracy And Drug-Related Charges

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Anthony Wayne Schoggins, age 40, of McAlester, Oklahoma, Gabrielle Ralene Dawn Brown, age 30, of McAlester, Oklahoma, John Douglas Renkes, age 38, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Charlie Dawn Edwards, age 45, of McAlester, Oklahoma, and Gerardo Cisneros Jr., age 49, of McAlester, Oklahoma, were each indicted for Drug Conspiracy, punishable by not less than 10 years imprisonment and up to a $10,000,000 fine. In addition to the Drug Conspiracy charges, three defendants face additional charges: Schoggins and Brown are charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine, punishable by not less than 5 years imprisonment and up to a $5,000,000 fine; and Edwards is charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment and up to a $1,000,000 fine. The Indictment alleges that beginning in or about March 2025 and continuing until on or about the date of the indictment, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere, the defendants willfully and knowingly combined, conspired, confederated, and agreed together, and with others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to commit offenses against the United States, namely the possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine. The Indictment further alleges that on or about June 1, 2025, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Schoggins and Brown knowingly and intentionally possessed 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, both Schedule II controlled substances, with intent to distribute. Finally, the Indictment alleges that on or about June 9, 2025, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Edwards knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance. The charges arose from a joint investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration-McAlester Resident Office, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the McAlester Police Department, and the District 18 Drug Task Force. A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt. A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant. All defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Howanitz is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.


title: Brockton Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition

body_text: BOSTON – A self-admitted gang member from Brockton, who was previously convicted of killing a 17-year-old outside a Roxbury high school, was sentenced today for drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Andre McNeil, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to seven years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. In April 2025 , McNeil pleaded guilty to one count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. McNeil was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2024. On Feb. 2, 2024, searches were executed on McNeil’s vehicle and several associated residences. As a result, approximately 31 grams of cocaine, three handguns, two high-capacity magazines, five other magazines, approximately 101 rounds of 9mm ammunition and approximately $17,406 dollars, along with numerous cellular devices were seized. Numerous items used in drug trafficking, including scales, a money counter, baggies and a drug ledger were also found at the search locations. McNeil is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2014 manslaughter conviction in Suffolk Superior Court for shooting and killing a 17-year-old boy outside a Roxbury high school, for which he was sentenced to more than 12 years in state prison. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Brockton, Foxboro and Taunton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dawley of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit prosecuted the case. 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 gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Everett, Washington, man pleads guilty to three federal felonies stemming from pipe bomb that destroyed car at apartment complex

body_text: Seattle – A 54-year-old Everett, Washington man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to three federal felonies in connection with a pipe bomb explosion that destroyed a neighbor’s car, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Steven Goldstine was originally charged in Snohomish County for the suspected hate crime. Today he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a destructive device on December 31, 2024; unlawful possession of ammunition on March 17, 2025; and unlawful possession of a firearm on September 4, 2020. Sentencing is scheduled in front of U.S. District Judge John H. Chun on December 15, 2025. According to records filed in the case, on December 31, 2024, Everett Police responded to reports of an explosion in a car parked at an apartment complex. The victims told police they suspected Goldstine due to prior conflicts they had had with him. The day after the explosion they received a voice message using racial slurs and referencing the explosion in the vehicle. Further analysis of the records led investigators to believe it was Goldstine. Using video footage from the apartment complex and other cameras in the area investigators determined the bomber’s clothing and direction of travel. When they executed a search warrant at Goldstine’s home law enforcement found a jacket and shoes that appeared to match those seen in the video. Law enforcement also seized more than 700 rounds of ammunition. Goldstine is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to prior felony convictions for burglary, arson, and possession of stolen property. Goldstine pleaded guilty to that felony today. In reviewing Goldstine’s history, law enforcement determined that on September 17, 2020, law enforcement searched Goldstine’s residence following a report that while out in his car he had pointed a gun at protestors. The action was captured on video. In the search of Goldstine’s home in 2020, the firearm was seized by law enforcement. Goldstine pleaded guilty today to that illegal firearms possession. Unlawful possession of a destructive device and unlawful possession of a firearm, as charged in this case, are both punishable by up to ten years in prison. Unlawful possession of ammunition is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The actual sentence will be determined by Judge Chun after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. The case is being investigated by the Everett Police Department, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Manca for the Western District of Washington and Trial Attorney Taylor Payne of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.


title: Kansas woman sentenced for murder of U.S. soldier husband

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: TOPEKA, KAN. A Kansas woman was sentenced to 293 months in prison for the murder of her husband, a U.S. Army soldier. On February 14, 2025, a federal jury found Margaret E. Shafe, 31, guilty of murder in the second degree for killing her husband, Greg Shafe, in February 2024 at their home on the Fort Riley military installation. Evidence presented at trial showed that Shafe shot her husband in the face while in the presence of two minor children. “Margaret Shafe deserves to go to prison. The evidence in this case showed she murdered her husband while the couple’s two young daughters were in the home,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “The Court heard brave testimony from Ms. Shafe’s own daughter who witnessed her mother shoot her stepfather in a fury.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division, and Fort Riley Fire and Emergency Services investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Walton and Lindsey Debenham and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Graham prosecuted the case. ###


title: Federal Grand Jury Charges Three Women with Following ICE Agent Home from Work and Livestreaming His Home Address on Instagram

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury has returned a two-count indictment charging three women – two from Southern California and one from Colorado – with following a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent home, livestreaming their pursuit and then posting the victim’s home address on Instagram, the Justice Department announced today. The grand jury on Tuesday and unsealed today charged following defendants with one count of conspiracy and one count of publicly disclosing the personal information of a federal agent: Cynthia Raygoza, 37, of Riverside; Ashleigh Brown, 38, of Aurora, Colorado; and Sandra Carmona Samane, 25, of Panaroma City. Brown and Samane have been arrested on federal criminal complaints. Brown, who also is charged in a separate case with assault on a federal officer, is in federal custody without bond. Samane is free on $5,000 bond. Their arraignments are scheduled for September 29 and October 9, respectively. Law enforcement is continuing its search for Raygoza. “Our brave federal agents put their lives on the line every day to keep our nation safe,” said Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “The conduct of these defendants are deeply offensive to law enforcement officers and their families. If you threaten, dox, or harm in any manner one of our agents or employees, you will face prosecution and prison time.” According to the indictment, on August 28, 2025, the defendants followed the victim – an ICE agent – from the Civic Center in downtown Los Angeles to his personal residence. The defendants livestreamed on their Instagram accounts their pursuit of the victim and provided directions as they followed the victim home, encouraging their viewers to share the livestream. Their Instagram accounts used to livestream the event were “ice_out_of_la,” “defendmesoamericanculture,” and “corn_maiden_design.” Upon arriving at the victim’s personal residence, the defendants shouted to bystanders while livestreaming on Instagram that their “neighbor is ICE,” “la migra lives here,” and “ICE lives on your street and you should know.” The defendants publicly disclosed on Instagram the victim’s home address and told viewers, “Come on down.” An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. If convicted, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count. Homeland Security Investigations is investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Thi Hoang Ho and Neil P. Thakor of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Former Financial Advisor sentenced to 32 months in prison for stealing more than $500,000 from client’s trust account

body_text: Seattle – A former Seattle-area Financial Advisor was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 32 months in prison for wire fraud, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Michael P. Raineri, 63, stole $531,411 from a client’s trust account over about six years. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez noted that Raineri took advantage of someone who trusted him as a financial expert. The majority of Americans look to financial advisors as expert in their field, similar how people go to doctors. These people trust these experts with their life, the judge said. According to records filed in the case, in 2013 the victim inherited about $2 million held in a revocable trust. When he received the inheritance, the victim also had a team of people to help manage the money and Raineri was one of them. The victim told the advisors he did not want to take any risks with the money but instead wanted to have it for his retirement. Over the next ten years, Raineri ingratiated himself with the victim and stayed as an advisor to the victim’s trust even when Raineri switched financial firms. He used various false justifications to convince the victim to provide him with blank checks, with a power of attorney, and with a key to his apartment. These tools were all used so that Raineri could defraud the client. Between 2016 and 2020, Raineri used twelve blank checks to steal $397,000 from the victims account, passing it through another client’s account before depositing it in his own bank account. Later he moved some $115,226 from the victim’s account directly to his own. He even paid the lease on his luxury car from the victim’s account. In 2022, the victim became concerned about the balances in his account and an audit revealed the theft. Raineri was indicted in November 2024. He pleaded guilty to wire fraud in June 2025. In asking for a 41-month prison sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Sanaa Nagi wrote to the court that Raineri didn’t just steal money, he violated the victim’s trust. The victim was left with less than a quarter of his inheritance. “He had to begin working full time to have enough money to live. Now, instead of travelling and enjoying what would be his retirement years, (the victim) works at least 40 hours a week… making approximately $24 an hour. A recent wrist injury and his advanced age make his work difficult at times. He has to live more frugally than ever before.” Judge Martinez ordered full restitution of $531,411. Raineri must complete three years of supervised release following sentencing. The case was investigated by the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sanaa Nagi.


title: Winfield Woman Ordered to Repay Funds from PPP Loan Fraud

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Jade Price, 29 years old, of Winfield, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to wire fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Price was sentenced to 12 months of probation and ordered to pay $80,355.18 in restitution to the Small Business Administration. According to documents in the case, Price falsely claimed gross income for a business when she applied for four Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. The PPP program provided loans to small businesses for job retention and other expenses as part the CARES Act and for emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of her fraudulent representations, Price received PPP funds which she used for her own benefit on personal items. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jerome W. McKeever.


title: Member Of Darrin Southall Drug Organization Sentenced In Federal Court

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL –A member of Darrin Southall’s drug trafficking organization was sentenced in federal court on September 25, 2025. Henderson Pippins, 45, a resident of Mobile, was sentenced to 197 months in federal prison on the charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. According to court documents, Southall ran a continuing criminal enterprise involving the distribution of massive amounts of controlled substances in the Mobile, Alabama, area, and the laundering of drug proceeds through bank accounts and nominees. Court documents also establish that Pippins’ role in the conspiracy was as a kilogram-level distributor of the drugs in the Mobile area. On February 18, 2022, Southall was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison on his guilty plea to conducting a continuing criminal enterprise, drug distribution and conspiracy to launder drug proceeds. United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer imposed the 197-month sentence in Pippins’ case and further ordered that Pippins serve five years on supervised release following his imprisonment. As conditions of Pippins’ supervision, he will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and he will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion. No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Pippins pay $200 in special assessments. The case was investigated by the Mobile Police Department, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Saraland Police Department, the St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Seven-Time Convicted Felon Sentenced To 15 Years

body_text: MOBILE, AL –A resident of Irvington, Alabama, was sentenced on his third felony conviction in federal court this morning to 15 years imprisonment. Voeruth Meas, 40, was sentenced on his two most recent federal charges, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, this morning. According to court documents, Meas’ first conviction in federal court was for two separate charges, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and knowing possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. On November 6, 2006, Means was sentenced to 188 months imprisonment to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release. After Meas was released from prison but while he was under supervised release, he was arrested again on three additional charges of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Drug User in Possession of a Firearm, and Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number. Meas was pled guilty to those three charges and was sentenced on April 13, 2015, to 70 months imprisonment, consecutive to an 8-month sentence for the violation of his supervised release conditions. Additional supervised release was imposed to follow the total prison sentence of 78 months. Meas was released again to supervision on April 5, 2021. On August 11, 2021, an arrest warrant issued for Meas’ failure to comply with the terms of his supervision. When he was arrested on that warrant, October 19, 2021, U.S. deputy marshals found him in possession of a Smith & Wesson 9 mm semiautomatic pistol, along with methamphetamine ice, marijuana, cocaine and a meth pipe. Meas was arrested the last time on July 25, 2024, after an investigation by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office revealed that he had been selling methamphetamine in the parking lot of a motel on West I-65 Service Road in Mobile. Deputies followed him as he drove away from that location and stopped his vehicle. They found methamphetamine ice in the vehicle. Meas was advised of his constitutional rights and admitted he was responsible for the distribution of approximately 168 grams of methamphetamine ice. Meas pled guilty to the last two charges, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, in May of 2025. United States District Court Judge Kristi Dubose imposed the 15-year sentence in Meas’ case and further ordered that Meas serve ten years on supervised release following his imprisonment. As conditions of Meas’ supervision, he will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and he will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion. No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Meas pay $200 in special assessments. Judge Dubose also ordered the forfeiture of the firearm Meas illegally possessed in 2021. The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


body_text: MOBILE, AL –A resident of Irvington, Alabama, was sentenced on his third felony conviction in federal court this morning to 15 years imprisonment. Voeruth Meas, 40, was sentenced on his two most recent federal charges, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, this morning. According to court documents, Meas’ first conviction in federal court was for two separate charges, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and knowing possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. On November 6, 2006, Means was sentenced to 188 months imprisonment to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release. After Meas was released from prison but while he was under supervised release, he was arrested again on three additional charges of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Drug User in Possession of a Firearm, and Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number. Meas was pled guilty to those three charges and was sentenced on April 13, 2015, to 70 months imprisonment, consecutive to an 8-month sentence for the violation of his supervised release conditions. Additional supervised release was imposed to follow the total prison sentence of 78 months. Meas was released again to supervision on April 5, 2021. On August 11, 2021, an arrest warrant issued for Meas’ failure to comply with the terms of his supervision. When he was arrested on that warrant, October 19, 2021, U.S. deputy marshals found him in possession of a Smith & Wesson 9 mm semiautomatic pistol, along with methamphetamine ice, marijuana, cocaine and a meth pipe. Meas was arrested the last time on July 25, 2024, after an investigation by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office revealed that he had been selling methamphetamine in the parking lot of a motel on West I-65 Service Road in Mobile. Deputies followed him as he drove away from that location and stopped his vehicle. They found methamphetamine ice in the vehicle. Meas was advised of his constitutional rights and admitted he was responsible for the distribution of approximately 168 grams of methamphetamine ice. Meas pled guilty to the last two charges, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, in May of 2025. United States District Court Judge Kristi Dubose imposed the 15-year sentence in Meas’ case and further ordered that Meas serve ten years on supervised release following his imprisonment. As conditions of Meas’ supervision, he will also undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, and he will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion. No fine was imposed but the judge ordered that Meas pay $200 in special assessments. Judge Dubose also ordered the forfeiture of the firearm Meas illegally possessed in 2021. The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. ###


title: Omaha Man Sentenced for Straw Purchase of Firearm for Convicted Felon

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Nick Koborg, 26, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 26, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for making a false statement during a firearm purchase. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Koborg to 33 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Koborg’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. On November 10, 2022, Koborg purchased a Glock semi-automatic pistol from Scheels in Omaha. To make the purchase, Koborg filled out paperwork and intentionally made the false representation that he was the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm when in fact he knew that he was not the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm. After Koborg purchased the handgun, he provided it to a convicted felon who was legally prohibited from purchasing and possessing firearms. According to phone messages recovered pursuant to a search warrant, Koborg had agreed to purchase the firearm for the convicted felon in exchange for a “purchase fee.” The handgun, along with three others Koborg had purchased, was recovered in May 2023 when law enforcement agents executed search warrants tied to a drug trafficking investigation. At sentencing, Koborg was held responsible for buying the four handguns for other people, two for the convicted felon and two for another person involved in the drug distribution. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bellevue Police Department.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Firearms and Drug Trafficking Crimes

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Latrell Knight, 20, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on September 25, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl analogue, distribution of fentanyl analogue, and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Knight to 120 months’ imprisonment on the conspiracy charge, 87 months’ imprisonment on the distribution charge to be served concurrently, and a consecutive 60-month term of imprisonment on the firearm charge, for a total sentence of 180 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After Knight’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. In 2024, Federal Bureau of Investigations determined that associates and co-conspirators Latrell Knight and Dale Jackson were receiving “M-30” pills from a common drug supplier and selling them. “M-30” pills are frequently counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and analogues of fentanyl. Between April 17, 2024, through September 10, 2024, Knight and Jackson sold a confidential source (CS) M-30 pills. These transactions would occur outside of Knight’s residence and at a Casey’s gas station near 72nd and Grover streets in Omaha. Knight and Jackson would sell together and separately. In addition to the pills, Knight sold a DB9 9mm handgun to the CS during a drug deal on May 6 and a Glock 17 9mm handgun to the CS on July 11. In total about 1,616 M-30 pills were sold to the CS as part of the conspiracy. Both were arrested on January 23, 2025. Knight’s co-conspirator, Jackson, pleaded guilty to distribution and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl analogue. He was sentenced on August 15, 2025, to 120 months’ imprisonment on the conspiracy charge and 70 months’ imprisonment on the distribution charge, both sentences were ordered to run concurrently. 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. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Omaha Police Department.


title: Manhattan Teacher Charged With Possession And Distribution Of Child Pornography

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Ricky J. Patel, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, and Special Commissioner of the Office of the Special Commissioner of Investigation for the NYC School District (“SCI”), Anastasia Coleman, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging CHRISTOPHER WARD with possessing and distributing hundreds of images and videos of child pornography that depict pre-pubescent children engaging in sexually explicit conduct. WARD was arrested yesterday and presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave in Manhattan federal court. “Every day, Christopher Ward stood at the front of a classroom of first graders while allegedly storing hundreds of images exploiting children just like them,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The women and men of our Office are committed to ridding New York of child pornography. Together with our partners at Homeland Security Investigations and the New York City Police Department Special Investigations Unit, we will aggressively pursue and prosecute those who create, possess, and distribute child pornography.” “Christopher Ward, a first-grade teacher, is accused of possessing and distributing child pornography, and even acknowledging his sexual attraction to his students—allegations that are chillingly disturbing and strike at the heart of every parent's fears,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “With over four years spent in close proximity to young children, the gravity of these accusations cannot be overstated. The safety of our children demands our unflinching attention, and HSI will not stop until the full facts are exposed and every offender faces the consequences.” “When we send our children to school every day, we trust that they will be cared for and protected by their teachers. Instead, Christopher Ward made every parent’s worst nightmare a reality,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “These allegations are as sickening as they are illegal, and there is absolutely zero tolerance for anyone who exploits our most innocent in this way. I want to thank the NYPD investigators and our partners at HSI, SCI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for putting an end to this horrific behavior and ensuring our children our safe.” “Christopher Ward's actions as alleged are repugnant—and violate the trust of his school, his students, and the community overall,” said SCI Special Commissioner Anastasia Coleman. “Possession of child pornography and other types of exploitation of minors are among the most serious issues society combats, and SCI works tirelessly to root out such misconduct from the New York City school district. SCI is grateful for its partners in law enforcement for their efforts in bringing Christopher Ward to justice.” According to the allegations contained in the Complaint: [1] From approximately September 2024 to approximately September 2025, WARD worked as a first-grade teacher at an elementary school in Queens, New York. Prior to that, from approximately January 2021 to approximately June 2024, WARD worked as a first-grade teacher at a school in Manhattan, New York. From at least in or about July 14, 2024, through in or about July 22, 2025, WARD possessed and distributed hundreds of images and videos constituting child pornography on his account with an electronic mobile messaging application. * * * WARD, 37, of Farmingdale, New York, is charged with one count of receiving and distributing material containing child pornography, including files containing sexually explicit images of minors, and one count of possessing child pornography, including images and videos of prepubescent minors and minors who had not attained 12 years of age. Both counts carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Clayton praised the efforts of HSI, their agents and Task Force Officers; the NYPD Special Investigations Unit, Computer Crimes Squad; the SCI Investigators; the Complex Analytics and Social Media Enhancement Team at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area; the Special Agents and Task Force Officers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York; and the Southern District of New York Digital Forensic Unit. The case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adabelle U. Ekechukwu is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. u.s._v._ward_complaint.pdf [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Rapid City Man Found Guilty of Attempted  Enticement of a Minor following Federal Jury Trial

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Brandon Bishop, age 38, of Rapid City, South Dakota, of Attempted Enticement of a Minor following a two-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City. The verdict was returned on September 23, 2025. The charge carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, a minimum of five years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered. Bishop was arrested and federally indicted in August 2024 following the annual undercover operation targeting internet predators, which was conducted in western South Dakota during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Over the course of five days, Bishop engaged with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl on MeetMe, an online “hookup” application, and via text messages. The minor was actually the undercover persona of a Rapid City Police Detective, assigned to the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. When the minor declined to send him a naked photo of herself, which Bishop requested, Bishop asked her to have sex with him and described various sex acts to her. Bishop offered alcohol, drugs, and money to the minor if she would “chill” with him. On August 6, 2024, Bishop rode his bicycle to a nearby gas station to meet the minor but was instead confronted by law enforcement agents. Bishop fled on foot and threw his cellular phone into a storm drain. The phone was recovered, and evidence of Bishop’s crimes was located on it. Bishop later claimed he believed the person he was communicating with was an adult. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Rapid City Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case. A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date has been set for January 12, 2026. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Forfeiture Actions Result in Remission of More Than $2.8 Million to Okaloosa Victim Charities

component: Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced today that more than $2.8 million in unlawfully retained bingo profits forfeited through criminal asset forfeiture actions have been sent to ten Okaloosa County charities as part of the Department of Justice’s remission process. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Victims of crime too often suffer losses at the hands of criminals that cannot ever be restored, but my office is committed to taking action to ensure those offenders cannot reap or retain the benefits of their wrongdoing, and we will remit the proceeds of those forfeitures whenever possible to compensate victims to the greatest extent. This case required substantial effort from our state and federal law enforcement partners to investigate and bring the defendants to justice, and this multi-million dollar recovery by my office and remission to victim charities will have a meaningful impact on our community.” Larry and Dixie Masino were federally prosecuted and sentenced for illegal gambling and money laundering charges stemming from their ownership and operation of Racetrack Bingo in Fort Walton Beach, which purported to conduct bingo games and provide the proceeds to a group of local non-profit organizations. The Masinos made it appear that Racetrack Bingo was running charitable bingo when they were actually illegally conducting bingo and pocketing a substantial amount of the proceeds for themselves. Between 2006 and 2015, the Masino family personally retained and laundered over $5.8 million in illegal gambling profit that should have either gone to charities running the bingo games or returned to the players in the form of prizes. As part of their sentences, the Masinos were ordered to forfeit substantial sums of money seized from bank accounts and three real properties. Funds forfeited and deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund may be used to compensate victims and restore losses caused by criminal conduct. The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida requested and received permission from the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) to remit the forfeited funds back to the victim charities. MLARS administers the Department’s Asset Forfeiture Program victim compensation process to ensure forfeited funds are returned to victims when possible. The forfeited assets in this case were converted to over $2.8 million, which will be shared among the following member non-profit organizations making up Fort Walton Beach Charities LLC: The ARC of the Emerald Coast, formerly Horizons of Okaloosa County, Inc.; Boys and Girls Club of the Emerald Coast; Emerald Coast Science Center; Habitat for Humanity in Okaloosa County; Horizons Foundation of Okaloosa County; Mental Health Association of Okaloosa and Walton Counties; Northwest Florida Ballet; Northwest Florida Fair Association; Okaloosa County Festival Association; and Order Sons of Italy in America, Joseph B. Franzalia Lodge 2422. “After all these years of investigation and legal battles, I am thrilled to see these forfeited funds returned to the deserving charities of Okaloosa County,” said Sheriff Eric Aden. “This long-awaited justice not only holds the perpetrators accountable but also restores vital resources to organizations that uplift our community.” “Through financial fraud, Larry and Dixie Masino betrayed charities providing important services to their communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker, IRS Criminal Investigation Tampa Field Office. “I am proud of the work IRS Criminal Investigation special agents, our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office did to ensure these charities were made whole again.” The forfeiture actions were the result of a joint investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: FORMER TALLAHASSEE MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO  CHILD EXPLOITATION CRIMES

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Gabriel Michael Stoelzel, 26, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, formerly of Tallahassee, pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to entice or persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity, distribution of child pornography, and receipt of child pornography. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “It is one of our highest duties to protect our children from the predations of sex offenders like this defendant, so I applaud the outstanding investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners to identify and catch this offender. My office will continue to prosecute these sick individuals with the full force of the law to keep our children safe both online and in our communities.” Court documents reflect that in 2024, the Tallahassee Police Department received CyberTips that were generated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children based on information provided by online social media platforms. Records show that the defendant uploaded child pornography to social media servers while he sent the files to other users. An investigation revealed that the defendant had been communicating with other users, some of whom said that they were as young as 14 years of age, to convince them to meet for sex. Additionally, the investigation revealed that the defendant sent and received child pornography through an online application. The defendant faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, up to a maximum of life imprisonment, followed by five years to life of supervision upon release. The case involved a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. Sentencing is scheduled for January 5, 2026, at 10:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Greenville Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: Montgomery, Ala. – Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced today that a Greenville, Alabama, man has been sentenced to federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. On September 23, 2025, a federal judge ordered that 41-year-old Undray Lamond Lowery serve 120 months in prison. Following his prison term, Lowery will serve three years of supervised release. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole. According to court records and police reports, on January 1, 2023, a Greenville patrol officer spotted a vehicle matching the description of one potentially linked to a shots-fired incident at a residence the night before. The officer recognized Lowery as the driver and was aware that Lowery had outstanding arrest warrants. After Lowery pulled into a parking lot and exited the vehicle, the officer placed him under arrest. During a search of the vehicle, officers found a handgun. Because Lowery has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. On June 11, 2025, Lowery pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Greenville Police Department investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney Paul Markovits prosecuted. 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 (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).


title: Rock Hill Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Fentanyl

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Sean Demetrius Goins, 54, of Rock Hill, has been sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that the defendant sold fentanyl or possessed with the intent to sell it on eight occasions. Goins was the leader of a drug trafficking organization that spanned from Rock Hill to Columbia. After his arrest in May 2023, federal agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration located four firearms, miscellaneous rounds of ammunition, two kilogram presses, 1,365 grams of fentanyl, and 494 grams of cocaine. Two of the firearms had previously been reported as stolen. The defendant was ultimately held responsible for 11,475 grams of fentanyl, 495 grams of cocaine, and 29 grams of fentanyl analogue. The defendant had previously been convicted in the Middle District of Pennsylvania for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, for which he received a 20-year sentence. The defendant also had a prior felony conviction from 2020 for assault with a dangerous weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, and habitual offender. United States District Judge Sherri Lydon sentenced Goins to 245 months imprisonment, to be followed by an eight-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting the case. ###