title: Guatemalan Man Sentenced for Illegal Reentry into US

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Guatemala pleaded guilty to a charge of illegal reentry of a removed alien and was sentenced to time served on his conviction, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Esvin Emilio Lopez-Gonzalez, 27. According to information presented to the Court, Lopez-Gonzalez was previously removed from the United States on May 7, 2018, after illegally entering the country through Arizona. On May 28, 2025, he was encountered by special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and failed to provide any identification. Immigration authorities determined that Lopez-Gonzalez had not obtained permission to be in the United States after his prior removal and was illegally present in the United States. Lopez-Gonzalez has been in custody since his May arrest and will be returned to immigration custody for removal from the United States. Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Lopez-Gonzalez. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, combat illegal immigration, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Save our Seniors efforts results in eight arrests

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that an effort known as Save our Seniors, which targets defendants who prey on and defraud senior citizens, has resulted in the arrest of eight defendants in seven different criminal complaints. The defendants are responsible for over $11,053,989 in actual and attempted losses, impacting over 139 victims, many here in the Western District of New York (WDNY). Named in the seven criminal complaints are: Dhruv Patel , 34, of Franklin Park, NJ, is charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, and transportation of stolen money in interstate commerce and conspiracy to transport stolen money in interstate commerce, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. According to the complaint against Patel, he was caught attempting to pick up $567,000 worth of gold bars from an elderly woman in the WDNY, who fell victim to a customer support scam. Just weeks before, he was arrested in the Northern District of New York while trying to pick up $48,000 from another elderly victim, who also fell victim to a customer support scam. Patel also allegedly acted as a middleman between fraudsters and couriers, arranging for pickups to take place around the country. Patel is accused of defrauding at least 12 victims out of more than $9,100,000. Patel is currently serving a sentence of probation for a state fraud conviction. Stephen Odiboh , 53, of Stone Mountain, GA, is charged with mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. According to the complaint against Odiboh, he received money from an elderly woman in the WDNY who fell victim to a romance scam. The victim lost over $175,000, with Odiboh personally receiving $70,000. Odiboh then laundered that money. He was previously convicted of money laundering in the Southern District of New York was on supervised release when he laundered the victim’s money. Odiboh was also previously convicted of Forgery in the third degree in Gwinett County Superior Court, Gwinett, Georgia. He is accused of victimizing individuals, with losses and attempted losses totaling $356,525. Renee Thompson , 52, of North Lauderdale, FL, is charged with bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carry which carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. According to the complaint against Thompson, she created 17 counterfeit checks totaling $193,167 from a company in the WDNY, deposited them into her own checking account, and laundered the funds. The investigation revealed that she also deposited approximately $7,000 in counterfeit checks from a second company. Thompson was issued a “money mule letter,” which warns a person that they are laundering fraudulent proceeds through their accounts and can be charged with a crime if they do not stop. Despite receiving that warning, Thompson continued to launder money through her bank account, with losses and attempted losses totaling $234,485.22. She was previously convicted of bank embezzlement in the Southern District of Florida. Christopher Hernandez , 29, of North Bergen, is charged with possession and transfer of fraudulent identification documents and conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, computer fraud and conspiracy to commit computer fraud, and money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison and a maximum of 15 years. According to the complaint against Hernandez, he was part of a conspiracy that hacked into the retirement account of a victim located in the WDNY and stole $175,000 from her, which he then deposited into his own bank account and dispersed the proceeds. The investigation also discovered that Hernandez is manufacturing and selling identification documents and bank cards using stolen personally identifiable information. One of the victims whose name and information was used to create a fake license and bank card resides in the WDNY. Hernandez is accused of losses and attempted losses totaling $265,800.89. Hernandez has an extensive criminal history that includes convictions in City of Mary’s, Pennsylvania, for Felony Access Device Fraud and Felony Identity Theft; Bronx County Supreme Court for Attempted Possession of a Forged Instrument-2nd Degree; Credit Card Crime-CR Card Theft-4th Degree in Hudson County Superior Court; and Hudson County, New Jersey, for Aggravated Assault-Knowingly Pointing a Firearm-4th Degree. Touhedul Tuhin , 24, and Iftekhar Latif Nieon , 23, both of Kent, OH, are charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. According to the complaint against Tuhin and Nieon, they collected $40,000 from an elderly resident in the WDNY, who fell victim to a scam in which the perpetrators posed as Federal Trade Commission (FTC) agents; $38,000 from an 81-year-old resident of the WDNY, who fell victim to a scam in which the perpetrators posed as tech support (tech support scam); $19,500 from an elderly victim in the WDNY who fell victim to a tech support scam; and $28,000 from an elderly resident of the WDNY who fell victim to a tech support scam. The defendants, who are both in the United States on student visas, are accused of taking money from several other elderly victims in other jurisdictions including $15,000 from an elderly victim in Ohio. Tuhin and Nieon are accused of losses and attempted losses totaling $276,000. Elias Circle , 23, of Rossford, OH, is charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. According to the complaint against Circle, he and his co-conspirators sent email solicitations to elderly victims and falsely represented that they were writing on behalf of a government agency that was responsible for distributing restitution to victims. Between 2017 and 2024, Circle fraudulently induced an elderly resident of the WDNY to send him payments totaling approximately $600,000. Estermarie Jones , 35, of Rochester, NY, is charged with conspiracy, altering a postal money order, identification document fraud, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud and conspiracy to commit access device fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carry mandatory minimum penalty of two years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison. According to the complaint against Jones, she obtained approximately 50 $1.00 Postal Money Orders, altered them to increase their value to $1,000, and then deposited (or attempted to deposit) them. In addition, she used the names and other personally identifiable information of eight other victims to create fraudulent driver’s licenses with her own photograph, which she then used to open bank accounts, register two businesses with the Monroe County Clerk’s Office, fraudulently endorse checks, register for and pay utilities for her residence, and withdraw money from a victim bank account. Jones allegedly possessed approximately 31 fraudulent or stolen identification cards, four fraudulent or stolen Social Security cards, and 65 fraudulent or stolen bank cards. Jones is accused of losses and attempted losses totaling $190,032. “These cases should send a loud and clear message that if you prey on the senior citizens of our community, no matter where you are in the country, we will identify, arrest and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law,” s tated U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “Too often, many seniors fall victim to these fraudsters, who don’t think twice about taking advantage of our parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles. It’s important that we all consistently remind the seniors in our lives to reach out to a loved one or friend if they think they could be the victim of a scam.” Save our Seniors (SOS) in a working group founded in April 2025. It’s comprised of members of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, Secret Service, New York State Police, the Monroe County Sherriff’s Office, the Rochester Police Department, the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, and Lifespan of Greater Rochester Inc. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire. Additional assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Florida, the Northern District of Georgia, the District of New Jersey, and the Northern District of Ohio. If you or someone you know is asked to do any of these things mentioned in the above case, you are dealing with a fraudster, and you should do the following immediately: Do not send any more money Save copies of your communications, receipts, bank records, etc. Call your local police department or sheriff’s office, the New York State Police, or the FBI Submit a complaint online at IC3.gov In addition, an individual employed by the federal government will never: Tell you to withdraw any of your money from your bank accounts. Ask you to convert your money to gold bars or some other form of currency. Come to your house or meet you at a predetermined location and take money from you. Ask you to wire money to an account. Ask you to send money via CashApp, Zelle, Apple Pay, or any other peer-to-peer platform. Ask you to send cryptocurrency. Ask you to buy gift cards and send them (either by mailing the physical cards or by scratching them off and sending pictures of the redemption information). Tell you they need remote access to your computer or any of your accounts. Ask you for your social security number, bank account information, or any other sensitive information over phone or email. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: 5 Defendants Arrested on Federal Charges Alleging Bicoastal Drug Trafficking Organization that Shipped Cocaine and Cash via Air

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – Five defendants were arrested today on a 10-count federal superseding indictment alleging their participation in a multimillion-dollar drug trafficking organization (DTO) that used luxury private shipping companies to ship via air more than 20,000 kilograms (22.1 tons) of cocaine and more than $100 million in drug proceeds between Los Angeles and New York City. Three defendants arrested today are expected to make their initial appearances this afternoon in United States District Court for the Southern District of New York: Jamel Donald Levy, 52, of Brooklyn, New York; Bruce Adams, 50, of Bronx, New York; and Cindy Rachel Imbert, 33, of Englewood, New Jersey. Two other defendants arrested today are expected to make their initial appearances and be arraigned this afternoon in Los Angeles federal court: Nohely Jimenez-Ruiz, 30, of downtown Los Angeles; and Lorna Martinez, 42, a.k.a. “Cookie,” also of downtown Los Angeles. Among the defendants currently in federal custody are the alleged ringleaders, David Rodriguez, 45, a.k.a. “Gotti” and “Fat Boy,” of Dumont, New Jersey, and Raymond O’Connell, 39, a.k.a. “Sal” and “White Boy,” of the Manhattan borough of New York City. Rodriguez and O’Connell have been in federal custody since last year. Another defendant, Ronell Sweat, 47, of New York City, is serving a 15-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty last year to a federal firearms charge. Rodriguez and O’Connell are charged with one count of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, four counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, and one count of money laundering. Eight other members of the DTO are charged in a superseding indictment returned on September 3. According to the superseding indictment, Rodriguez and O’Connell over several years directed the purchase and storage of bulk quantities of cocaine in Los Angeles, for distribution on the East Coast. From an office fronting as a jewelry store in the California Jewelry Mart in downtown Los Angeles, members of the DTO shipped locked plastic cases concealing cocaine to New York City’s Diamond District using high-value freight forwarding companies. These companies specialize in shipping jewelry, precious metals, and fine art. The cocaine was then redistributed by co-conspirators along the East Coast. Rodriguez and O’Connell also directed the shipment of drug proceeds from New York to Los Angeles, where co-conspirators laundered the money and sent it to others inside the organization. Throughout this investigation, at least 1,300 parcels were shipped between Los Angeles and New York by the defendants’ DTO. More than 800 parcels concealing cocaine were shipped from Los Angeles to New York, with a declared weight of more than 22 tons, which would have an estimated wholesale value in Los Angeles of approximately $315 million. Approximately 500 parcels were shipped from New York to Los Angeles, with a total declared value of more than $105 million. During the investigation, law enforcement seized more than $2.8 million in cash drug proceeds and more than 725 kilograms (nearly 1,600 pounds) of cocaine, as well as high-end cars and jewelry that defendants purchased using drug proceeds. Law enforcement is looking for Daniel Vega, 52, a.k.a. “Nice,” and Gregory Antonio Benitez, 40, a.k.a. “G.,” both of New York City. 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, Rodriguez and O’Connell would face mandatory sentences of life in federal prison. The cocaine distribution charges carry a 10-year mandatory minimum prison sentence and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The money laundering-related counts are punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. The Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, and the United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating this matter with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the United States Marshals Service, the California Department of Justice, California Highway Patrol, and the Glendale Police Department as well the DEA New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, comprised of special agents from the New York Division, the New York City Police Department, and the New York State Police. This investigation was led by the Southern California Drug Task Force (SCDTF), a DEA-led multi-agency task force within the Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Program. Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly Larocque and Jenna Williams of the Transnational Organized Crime Section and Victor Rodgers of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Foreign Fighter Convicted In April 2018 Double Homicide And Armed Robbery Of Florida Couple

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Craig Austin Lang (35, Kyiv, Ukraine) guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, robbery interfering with commerce, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence which resulted in death, conspiring to kill persons in a foreign country, and a violation of the Neutrality Act. Lang faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 27, 2026. Lang was indicted on December 4, 2019. According to testimony presented at trial, on April 10, 2018, two individuals, S.L., Jr. and D.L., were found dead in Estero, Florida from multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body. Further investigation revealed that the couple had traveled to Estero from Brooksville to complete the purchase of several firearms from an individual that had listed them for sale on a website known as Armslist. As a result of the investigation, Lang was identified as one of two individuals that was believed to have murdered the couple during the course of an armed robbery to steal $3,000 that the couple had intended to use to purchase the firearms. Lang, who had previously fought in Ukraine, pursued a plan to fight the Venezuelan government and committed the robbery of S.L., Jr. and D.L. to obtain money to fund travel to Venezuela. Lang’s co-defendant, Alex Zwiefelhofer, was previously convicted of the same offenses and sentenced to consecutive life-sentences. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jesus M. Casas and Benjamin S. Winter.


title: Indiana Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced To 40 Years In Federal Prison For Producing Child Sexual Abuse Images

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger today sentenced Jerry Michael Moore (42, Indiana) to 40 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for production and attempted production of child sexual abuse materials after previously being convicted of a child sex offense. Moore pleaded guilty on June 12, 2025. According to court documents, on January 30, 2025, at the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) Cruise Terminal, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers searched Moore as he returned to the United States from a cruise, because Moore had previously been convicted of sexual misconduct with a minor in 2007 in Indiana. During the examination of Moore, officers learned that Moore had a cellphone with him. A manual review of Moore’s cellphone revealed multiple surreptitious video files of what appeared to be a minor female child to whom Moore had access stored within a “hidden” folder of the photo gallery. A special agent with Homeland Security Investigations later responded to the JAXPORT Cruise Terminal and confirmed the child sexual abuse materials on the device. Moore agreed to speak with law enforcement and admitted to using multiple hidden cameras, including his cellphone, to secretly record the child to whom he had access. Moore used a hidden camera to record the child through a crawl space of a residence to access the inside of a shower through the wall. Further examination of Moore’s cellphone revealed additional surreptitious recordings of the child. This case was investigated by United States Customs and Border Protection Officers and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Morgan County Man Sentenced for Firearms Violation

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Remington Colt Arnold, 34, of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, West Virginia State Police were serving a parole violation warrant on Arnold at a home. The homeowner allowed officers inside, where officers found Arnold asleep with a pistol nearby. Following Arnold’s arrest, a search resulted in a seizure of a backpack containing ammunition. Arnold is prohibited from having firearms because of prior assault and grand larceny convictions. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor Hurney prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the West Virginia State Police. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.


title: Retired U.S. Navy Admiral Sentenced to Six Years in Bribery Scheme

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Admiral Robert P. Burke (USN-Ret.), 62, of Coconut Creek, Florida, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 72 months in prison in connection with accepting future employment at a government vendor in exchange for awarding that company a government contract, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Following a five-day trial, a federal jury found Burke guilty on May 19 of conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, performing acts affecting a personal financial interest, and concealing material facts from the United States. In addition to the six-year prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Trevor N. McFadden ordered Burke to serve three years of supervised release, to pay $322,850 in restitution, and to pay $86,748.08 in forfeiture. Joining in the announcement were Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Stanley A. Newell of the DoD Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Transnational Operations Field Office, and Assistant Director in Charge Reid Davis of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division. “Integrity — not cash — is the currency of public service. Admiral Burke rose to the pinnacle of the U.S. Navy, entrusted with leadership and honor. But instead of leading by example, he cashed in that trust — turning four stars into dollar signs and trading duty for a corporate payday,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message: if you sell your honor and trade your influence, you’ll pay the price — in prison time.” “No individual, regardless of rank or prior service, is above the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Newell of the DCIS. “The actions uncovered in this investigation represent a serious breach of the public trust and dishonor the values of integrity and accountability that military service demands. DCIS remains committed to ensuring that corruption of this nature is met with consequences.” “Any individual involved in corrupting Department of the Navy acquisitions will be held accountable, regardless of rank or position,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS remains steadfast in bringing those to justice who commit crimes that erode public trust in the Department of the Navy’s procurement process.” "When Burke awarded a contract to Kim and Messenger's company in exchange for future employment, he put himself ahead of thousands of civilian and military personnel serving under his command," said Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal Division. "As today's sentencing demonstrates, the FBI remains committed to bringing government officials — even four-star admirals — to justice when they abuse their positions of power for personal gain." According to court documents and as the evidence proved at trial, from 2020 to 2022, Burke was a four-star Admiral who oversaw U.S. naval operations in Europe, Russia, and most of Africa, and commanded thousands of civilian and military personnel. Burke’s co-defendants, Yongchul “Charlie” Kim and Meghan Messenger, were the co-CEOs of a company (Company A) and provided a workforce training pilot program to a small component of the Navy from August 2018 through July 2019. The Navy terminated that contract with Company A in late 2019 and directed Company A not to contact Burke directly about contracting actions. Despite the Navy’s instructions, the co-defendants met with Burke in Washington, D.C., in July 2021, to reestablish Company A’s business relationship with the Navy. At the meeting, the co-defendants agreed that Burke would use his position as a Navy Admiral to steer a contract to Company A in exchange for future employment at the company. They further agreed that Burke would later use his official position to influence other Navy officers to award another contract to Company A to train a large portion of the Navy with a value one of the co-defendants allegedly estimated to be in the “triple digit millions.” In December 2021, Burke ordered his staff to award a $355,000 contract to Company A to train personnel under Burke’s command in Italy and Spain. Company A performed the training in January 2022. Thereafter, Burke promoted Company A in a failed effort to convince another senior Navy Admiral to award another contract to Company A. To conceal the scheme, Burke made several false and misleading statements to the Navy, including by falsely implying that Company A’s employment discussions with Burke only began months after the contract was awarded and omitting the truth on his required government ethics disclosure forms. In October 2022, Burke began working at Company A at a yearly starting salary of $500,000 and a grant of 100,000 stock options. This case was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca G. Ross for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Trevor Wilmot and former Trial Attorney Kathryn Fifield. It was investigated and indicted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Rothstein. 24cr265


title: Seven Charged with Kidnapping Conspiracy

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – Seven Massachusetts men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly conspiring to kidnap and torture a victim in February 2025. The following defendants have been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and one count of obstruction of justice by tampering with a witness, victim, or informant by physical force or threat. Two additional unnamed defendants were also charged. Brian Cardoso, a/k/a “B,” 33, of Dorchester; Marcus Castaldi, a/k/a “Skino,” 29, of Revere; Melvin Coleman, a/k/a “Mel,” 34, of Roxbury; Anthony Lima, a/k/a “YT,” 37, of Quincy; and Samuel Alouidor, 27, of Dorchester. On April 22, 2025, Cardoso was charged by criminal complaint in connection with the alleged offenses. According to charging documents, Cardoso has been identified as a member/associate of NOB, a Dorchester-based street gang. NOB – an abbreviation for the Norton/Olney/Barry streets in Dorchester – is alleged to be a violent criminal enterprise whose members and associates are involved in numerous types of criminal activities, including murder, drug trafficking, sex trafficking, robberies, firearm offenses and other violent crimes. It is alleged that, on Feb. 27, 2025, the kidnappers, with masks concealing their faces, assaulted the victim outside his home in Quincy and forced the victim at gunpoint into the passenger seat of the victim’s vehicle. The masked kidnappers allegedly drove the victim to a garage in Saugus where they demanded ransom from the victim, held the victim at gunpoint, threatened to kill the victim and beat, burned and assaulted the victim. The kidnappers allegedly used the victim’s cell phone to videocall the victim’s contacts, including the victim’s spouse, to demand ransom. It is alleged that during these videocalls, the kidnappers displayed their torture of the victim. Some of the defendants allegedly picked up ransom from the victim’s spouse and an acquaintance of the victim. The kidnappers allegedly obtained approximately $4,000 in cash from the victim as well as the victim’s credit and debit cards, and a total of $18,000 in cash and a Rolex watch from the victim’s spouse and an acquaintance of the victim whom the kidnappers had video called. The kidnappers then allegedly drove the victim back to Quincy and released the victim in the early morning hours of Feb. 28, 2025. “The conduct alleged in this case is nothing short of barbaric. These defendants allegedly inflicted unimaginable suffering, not only on the victim but on his loved ones. Such lawless depravity is an affront to every value we stand for and it will not be tolerated in our communities,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Today’s arrests make clear that the law – not violence and intimidation – will have the final word, and those who commit such savage crimes will face the full weight of the federal justice system.” “Today’s arrests by FBI Boston’s Violent Crimes Task Force ensures the men behind these alleged heinous acts of violence are brought to justice for what they’ve done and prevents them from terrorizing anyone else. What they’re accused of doing is nothing short of a terrifying nightmare brought to life; forcing a victim into their car at gunpoint and driving to a garage where the victim was beaten, burned, tortured, and used as a human bargaining chip for ransom,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Our goal is to provide some measure of justice for the victim in this case, and work with our partners to eradicate the drivers of violent crime in our communities.” The charge of conspiracy to commit kidnapping provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of obstruction of justice by tampering with a witness, victim, or informant by physical force or threat provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. U.S. Attorney Foley and FBI SAC Docks made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; and the Quincy, Boston, Central Falls (R.I.), Everett, Wellesley, Braintree, Revere, Somerville, Malden and Dedham Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Gonzalez Sanchez of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Three Sentenced in Fentanyl Drug Trafficking Operation in Eastern Panhandle

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Three more have been sentenced for their roles in a drug trafficking organization. The indictment, returned in January 2024 charged 82 defendants, including Gary Brown, Jr., for their roles in an organization that was selling substantial amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties. Those sentenced this week include: Bradley David Welsh, age 53, of Boonsboro, Maryland, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison. David Lewis Pennington, Jr., age 21, of Huntington, West Virginia, was sentenced to 87 months. Lynn Wood Campbell, age 45, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 84 months in prison. Of the 82 defendants, 81 have been convicted. Including this week’s three, 77 defendants have been sentenced. Brown, Jr. was sentenced to 327 months in federal prison in May 2025. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lara Omps-Botteicher and Kyle Kane prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided. Investigative agencies include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Pittsburgh Field Division and Baltimore Field Division); the Drug Enforcement Administration; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the United States Marshals Service; the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the West Virginia Air National Guard; the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office; the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office; Ranson Police Department; Martinsburg Police Department; Charles Town Police Department; the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; Stafford County Sheriff's Office (Virginia); Frederick County Sheriff's Office (Maryland); Frederick County Sheriff's Office (Virginia); Winchester Police Department; and the Clarke County Sheriff's Office (Virginia). This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Find the original case press release here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/investigators-dismantle-fentanyl-drug-trafficking-network-eastern-panhandle


title: Tren de Aragua Members Charged with May 2024 Double Murder in the Bronx and Other Racketeering Offenses

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department announced today the unsealing of a superseding indictment (the “superseding indictment”) charging 10 members of the designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA) with participating in a racketeering conspiracy and committing multiple violent crimes in aid of racketeering. Keiber Jaen Martinez, also known as “Keybe;” Samuel Gonzalez Castro, also known as “Klei” and “Kley;” Eferson Morillo-Gomez, also known as “Jefferson” and “Efe Trebol;” Keiver Silva-Jimenez, also known as “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky”; Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica, also known as “Keiner;” and Marlon Farias, also known as “Bili,” were charged with participating in the murders of Claretha LaQuesha Daniels and Justin Lawless on May 24, 2024, in the vicinity of 2290 Davidson Avenue in the Bronx, New York, which also resulted in a third victim being shot and injured. Gonzalez Castro was also charged with participating in the shooting of a rival gang member on Aug. 3, 2024, in the vicinity of Roosevelt Avenue and 90th Street in Queens, New York, which also resulted in an innocent bystander being shot and injured. Six of the 10 defendants charged in the superseding indictment were previously charged with racketeering, firearms, drug, and sex trafficking offenses on April 16. Eight of the defendants are already either in federal custody or state custody. Silva-Jimenez is currently at large. Farias was previously removed from the United States by immigration authorities. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote for the Southern District of New York. “The Department of Justice is completely committed to destroying Tren De Aragua and bringing its members to justice for their horrific crimes against the American people,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s indictment reflects our ongoing efforts to dismantle this terrorist organization by any legal means necessary.” “Tren de Aragua is one of the most violent and ruthless terrorist gangs on planet earth,” said U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem. “They murder those who stand against them. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are utilizing a whole-of-government approach to arrest and deport these foreign terrorists. Today’s murder and racketeering indictment is a victory for the rule of law and the American people. Thanks to our collaboration with federal and local partners, Americans can rest easy at night knowing these dangerous terrorists are off our streets. Let me be clear: If you are in this country illegally and break our laws, we will hunt you down, arrest you, and you will never return. That’s a promise.” “As alleged, these members of Tren de Aragua were illegally present in the United States and committed a series of devastating and horrific crimes, including robberies, sex trafficking, drug trafficking, and the murders of Claretha LaQuesha Daniels and Justin Lawless outside of an apartment building in the Bronx,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York. “We are committed to putting cartels, gangs, and others who poison our children and pursue violence as a way of life out of business. We and our law enforcement partners know that is what New Yorkers want, and it is what they deserve.” “As demonstrated with today’s allegations, the Tren de Aragua street gang has unleashed a reign of terror in New York, marked by brutal and unforgiving violence that defies humanity,” said Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York Field Office. “With ruthless tactics and a disregard for human life, this foreign terrorist organization has become a symbol of unchecked brutality. HSI New York, together with our law enforcement partners, is waging an unyielding offensive against TdA and Anti-Tren, dismantling gang operations piece by piece and pursuing their members with relentless determination. HSI will not rest until this ruthless criminal enterprise is obliterated and the streets are reclaimed from their grip of savagery.” “Tren de Aragua has been terrorizing New York City streets, causing widespread violence and claiming lives,” said New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Over the past few months, the NYPD has taken significant action to root out this criminal enterprise and shut down their operations across the city, and today’s indictment reflects our relentless efforts. I want to thank all our law enforcement partners for their continued commitment to making New York City safer.” According to the allegations contained in the superseding indictment: TdA is a criminal organization that operated throughout New York City, including the boroughs of the Bronx and Queens, as well as internationally in Venezuela, Peru, and elsewhere. The purposes of TdA included: Preserving and protecting the power and territory of TdA and its members and associates through acts involving murder, assault, robbery, other acts of violence, and threats of violence, including acts of violence and threats of violence directed at former members and associates of TdA who associated with a splinter organization known as Anti-Tren. Enriching the members and associates of TdA through, among other things: The unlawful smuggling of individuals, including young women from Venezuela, into Colombia, Peru and the United States; The sex trafficking of young women (whom members and associates of TdA often refer to as “multadas”) who had been unlawfully smuggled into Peru and the United States; The trafficking of controlled substances, including a mixed substance called “tusi” that contains ketamine; And armed robberies. Keeping victims and potential victims in fear of TdA and its members and associates through threats and acts of violence. Promoting and enhancing TdA and the reputation and activities of its members and associates. Providing assistance to members and associates of TdA who committed crimes for and on behalf of TdA, such as lodging and interstate transportation for members and associates of TdA to flee prosecution. Protecting TdA and its members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities through acts of intimidation, threats, and violence against potential witnesses to crimes committed by members of TdA. Members and associates of TdA transported young women, again often referred to by members and associates of TdA as “multadas,” from Venezuela into Peru and the United States in exchange for debts that the young women would pay back to TdA by engaging in commercial sex work. Members of TdA enforced compliance among these young women by, among other things: Threatening to kill the young women and their families, Assaulting the young women, Shooting or killing the young women, And tracking down and kidnapping the young women who tried to flee. Members of TdA also committed and conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit, acts of violence, including acts involving murder and assault, to protect and expand TdA’s criminal operations; resolve disputes within TdA; to retaliate against rival organizations, including Anti-Tren; and to maintain control over sex trafficking victims. TdA members and associates also trafficked controlled substances, committed robberies, and obtained, possessed, trafficked, and used firearms and ammunition. On May 24, 2024, Jaen Martinez, Gonzalez Castro, Morillo-Gomez, Silva-Jimenez, Ibarra-Mujica, and Farias agreed with others to kill Daniels and Lawless in the vicinity of 2290 Davidson Avenue in the Bronx. Jaen Martinez, Gonzalez Castro, Morillo-Gomez, Silva-Jimenez, Ibarra-Mujica, and Farias then shot and aided and abetted the shooting of Daniels, Lawless, and another victim (Victim-3), which resulted in the deaths of Daniels and Lawless, and multiple non-fatal gunshot wounds to Victim-3. Daniels was 44 years old, and Lawless was 36 years old. On Aug. 4, 2024, Gonzalez Castro shot and injured a rival gang member from Anti-Tren (Rival-1), a splinter organization of former TdA members, in the vicinity of Roosevelt Avenue and 89th Street in Queens. During the shooting, a bystander (Victim-4) was also shot and injured. On Sept. 30, 2024, Valero-Calderon, Gonzalez Castro, and Morillo-Gomez committed a gunpoint carjacking and robbery of an employee of a car dealership (Victim-1) in the Bronx. A chart containing the names, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants is set forth below. The maximum potential penalties in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. The Justice Department praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and NYPD and also thanked the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office; the Aurora Police Department in Aurora, Colorado; Joint Task Force Vulcan; the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS); U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Gang Unit and New York Human Intelligence Division; ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations New York; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the New York City Crime Analysis Center at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. This case is a part of Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), which was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded to target Tren de Aragua, and is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the Southern District of New York; the Eastern District of New York; the District of New Jersey; the Northern District of Ohio; the District of Utah; the District of Massachusetts; the Eastern District of Texas; the Southern District of Florida; the Eastern District of Virginia; the Southern District of California; the District of Nevada; the District of Alaska; the Southern District of Texas; and the District of Columbia, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; HSI; the ATF; USMS; and the Federal Bureau of Prisons have been essential law enforcement partners with JTFV. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Justice Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods. This case is being handled by attorneys from JTFV and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jun Xiang, Kathryn Wheelock, Timothy Ly, and Andrew K. Chan for the Southern District of New York are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the superseding indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law . COUNT CHARGE DEFENDANTS MAX. PENALTIES 1 Racketeering conspiracy 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d) Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,” Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,” Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,” Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” Marlon Farias aka “Bili” Brayan Oliveros-Chero, Sandro Oliveros-Chero, and Armando Jose Perez Gonzalez aka “Biblia” Life in prison 2 Drug trafficking conspiracy 21 U.S.C. § 846 Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,” Brayan Oliveros-Chero, Sandro Oliveros-Chero, and Armando Jose Perez Gonzalez aka “Biblia” 20 years in prison 3 Carjacking conspiracy 18 U.S.C. § 371 Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,” Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,” Five years in prison 4 Carjacking 18 U.S.C. § 2119 Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,” Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” and Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,” 15 years in prison 5 Hobbs Act robbery 18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2 Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,” Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” and Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,” 20 years in prison 6 Firearm use, carrying, and possession – September 30, 2024 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and (ii), and 2 Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,” Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” and Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,” Life in prison Mandatory minimum penalty of seven years in prison 7 Attempted Hobbs Act extortion 18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2 Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,” Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” and Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,” 20 years in prison 8 Firearm use, carrying, and possession – conspiracy 18 U.S.C. § 924(o) Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,” Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” and Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,” 20 years in prison 9 Firearm use, carrying, and possession – conspiracy 18 U.S.C. § 924(o) Brayan Oliveros-Chero, and Sandro Oliveros-Chero 20 years in prison 10 Firearm use, carrying, and possession 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and 2 Brayan Oliveros-Chero 20 years in prison 11 Possession of ammunition by an illegal alien 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2 Brayan Oliveros-Chero 15 years in prison 12 Possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2 Sandro Oliveros-Chero 15 years in prison 13 Firearm use, carrying, and possession 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and 2 Armando Jose Perez Gonzalez aka “Biblia” Life in prison Mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison 14 Possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2 Armando Jose Perez Gonzalez aka “Biblia” 15 years in prison 15 Murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering – Claretha LaQuesha Daniels 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(1), (a)(3), and 2 Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,” Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,” Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,” Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and Marlon Farias aka “Bili” Life in prison or death Mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison 16 Firearms use, carrying, and possession – Claretha LaQuesha Daniels 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2 Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,” Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,” Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,” Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and Marlon Farias aka “Bili” Life in prison Mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison 17 Murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering – Justin Lawless 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(1), (a)(3), and 2 Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,” Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,” Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,” Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and Marlon Farias aka “Bili” Life in prison or death Mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison 18 Firearms use, carrying, and possession – Justin Lawless 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2 Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,” Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,” Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,” Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and Marlon Farias aka “Bili” Life in prison Mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison 19 Attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering – Victim-3 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(1), (a)(3), and 2 Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,” Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,” Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,” Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and Marlon Farias aka “Bili” 20 years in prison 20 Firearms use, carrying, and possession – Victim-3 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2 Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,” Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,” Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,” Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and Marlon Farias aka “Bili” Life in prison Mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison 21 Conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,” Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,” Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,” Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and Marlon Farias aka “Bili” Life in prison Mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison 22 Possession of ammunition by an illegal alien 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2 Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,” Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,” Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,” Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and Marlon Farias aka “Bili” 15 years in prison 23 Attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering – August 3, 2024, Shooting Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” 20 years in prison 24 Firearms use, carrying, and possession – August 3, 2024, Shooting 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2 Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” Life in prison Mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison 25 Possession of ammunition by an illegal alien 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2 Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” 15 years in prison Note : A copy of the superseding indictment can be found here .


title: Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Act as Illegal Agent of the Chinese Government in the United States

body_text: Yuanjun Tang, 68, a naturalized citizen of the United States and resident of Flushing, Queens, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to act in the United States as an unregistered agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). According to court documents, Tang is a former PRC citizen who was imprisoned in the PRC for his activities as a dissident opposing the one-party authoritarian political system controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the PRC’s sole ruling party, including during the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations. In 2002, Tang defected to Taiwan, and he was subsequently granted political asylum in the United States. He has since resided continuously in New York City, where he has regularly participated in events with fellow PRC dissidents and leads a nonprofit dedicated to promoting democracy in China. Between at least 2018 and June 2023, Tang acted in the United States as an agent of the PRC by gathering information and completing tasks at the direction of the PRC’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), which is the PRC’s principal civilian intelligence agency. The MSS is responsible for, among other things, the PRC’s foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, espionage, and political security functions. Specifically, Tang regularly received instructions from and reported to an MSS intelligence officer regarding individuals and groups viewed by the PRC as potentially adverse to the PRC’s interests, including prominent U.S.-based Chinese democracy activists and dissidents. This included providing the MSS information about specific individuals identified by the MSS as persons of interest, as well as naming, photographing, and recording individuals participating in pro-democracy activities in the U.S. Tang provided the MSS a range of additional information, such as contact information belonging to immigration lawyers based in New York City and details about the process for gaining political asylum in the United States. Tang accepted monetary payments for his work and traveled at least three times to Macau and mainland China for face-to-face meetings with MSS intelligence officers, during which he submitted to polygraphs and questioning. During one of these meetings, he allowed the MSS to install an application on one of his cellphones to facilitate the instantaneous transmission of photographs and other information from his phone to the MSS and accepted a laptop for use in communicating with the MSS. Tang used a large number of electronic devices and online services to collect or transmit information on behalf of the MSS. Law enforcement agents recovered specific instructions Tang received from the MSS, including via encrypted methods, as well as photographs, videos, and documents that Tang collected or created for transmission to the MSS. Tang not only provided the MSS information about specific individuals and events but also helped the MSS infiltrate a group chat on an encrypted messaging application used by numerous U.S.-based PRC dissidents and pro-democracy activists to communicate about pro-democracy issues and express criticism of the PRC government. Tang pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the Attorney General, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 29, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI New York Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane Yumi Chong for the Southern District of New York and Trial Attorney Sean O’Dowd of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Brockton Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearm Offenses

body_text: BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for possessing multiple kilograms of narcotics intended for distribution as well as a firearm equipped with a machinegun conversion device. Zairi Andrade, a/k/a “Z-Money,” 19, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian E. Murphy to eight years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In June 2025, Andrade pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On Dec. 3, 2024, Andrade’s residence was one of four locations searched pursuant to an investigation into a drug trafficking organization in Brockton. It was determined that Andrade’s bedroom was being used as a stash location for a drug trafficking organization. In Andrade’s bedroom, over two kilograms of fentanyl and nearly two kilograms of cocaine, as well as a 9-millimeter Glock 17 handgun equipped with an apparent machinegun conversion device, laser sight and an extended magazine were located. A 50-round drum-style magazine, a second extended magazine, numerous rounds of ammunition, and various items associated with the mixing and packaging of narcotics were also located. 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 Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Cutshall of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Ecuadorian National Sentenced to Six Months in Prison for Illegal Reentry

body_text: BOSTON – An Ecuadorian national unlawfully residing in Lawrence was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after deportation. The defendant attempted to enter the U.S. six times and was arrested in Lawrence, Mass., in November 2021 on state charges of assault and battery for which he received a suspended sentence and was released from state custody without notice to immigration authorities. Carlos Guaico-Bano, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to six months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In June 2025 , Guaico-Bano pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Rios-Nolasco was arrested in May 2025. On Feb. 4, 2020, Feb. 10, 2020, Feb. 19, 2020 and March 3, 2020, Guaico-Bano was encountered by Border Patrol in Brackettville, Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas. In each of these four instances, it was determined that Guaico-Bano had no lawful right to be present in the United States and returned him to the Mexican side of the border. During his March 3, 2020, encounter with Border Patrol, Guaico-Bano was served with a Notice to Appear at removal proceedings on March 10, 2020. However, instead of appearing for removal proceedings as directed, Guaico-Bano attempted to enter the U.S. without permission for a fifth time. Guaico-Bano was immediately placed into custody and processed for removal back to Ecuador. He was ordered removed from the United States the same day. In September 2020, Guaico-Bano was caught attempting to illegally enter the United States for a sixth time and was removed back to Ecuador. On Nov. 23, 2021, immigration authorities became aware that Guaico-Bano had illegally reentered the United States following his arrest on Nov. 17, 2021, in Lawrence, for assault and battery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He was later convicted of these charges and received an 18-month suspended sentence. However, Guaico-Bano was released from custody before immigration authorities could take action. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Collects $48 Million Restitution Ordered Against Insys Executives Convicted of Health Care Racketeering Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced today that her office has collected the entire $48,344,036 in criminal restitution awarded to victims of a health care racketeering conspiracy committed by the founder and six former executives of Insys Therapeutics. John N. Kapoor , Insys founder and former Executive Chairman; Richard M. Simon, the former National Director of Sales; Sunrise Lee, a former Regional Sales Director; Joseph A. Rowan, a former Regional Sales Director; and Michael J. Gurry, the former Vice President of Managed Markets, were convicted by a federal jury in May 2019 in connection with bribing medical practitioners to prescribe Subsys, a highly-addictive sublingual fentanyl spray intended for cancer patients experiencing breakthrough pain, and for defrauding Medicare and private insurance carriers. Two other Insys executives – Michael Babich , the former CEO and President of the company and Alec Burlakoff , the former Vice President of Sales – pleaded guilty. The court ordered the defendants to pay $48,344,036 in restitution to victims of the defendants’ crimes, including individual patient-victims, several insurance companies and Medicare. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is responsible for collecting criminal restitution. Since the defendants’ sentencings, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has diligently pursued enforcement of the restitution until it was collected in full. Subsys, a drug owned and manufactured by Insys Therapeutics, Inc., was a fentanyl-based, rapid-onset opioid approved to treat cancer patients suffering intense breakthrough pain. From May 2012 to December 2015, the defendants conspired to bribe practitioners, many of whom operated pain clinics, in order to induce them to prescribe Subsys to patients, often when medically unnecessary. The defendants used pharmacy data to identify practitioners who either prescribed unusually high volumes of rapid-onset opioids, or had demonstrated a capacity to do so, and bribed and provided kickbacks to the practitioners to increase the number of new Subsys prescriptions as well as to increase the dosage and number of units of Subsys. The defendants measured the success by comparing the net revenue earned from targeted practitioners with the total value of bribes and kickbacks paid. The defendants used this information to reduce or eliminate bribes paid to practitioners who failed to meet satisfactory prescribing requirements. The defendants also conspired to mislead and defraud health insurance providers who were reluctant to approve payment for the expensive drug when it was prescribed for patients without cancer. Medicare would not approve payment for the drug unless the patient was being treated for breakthrough cancer pain. The Asset Recovery Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office oversaw restitution enforcement, which was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra Amrhein and Raquelle L. Kaye.


title: Tucson Man Sentenced to Over 8 Years in Prison for Attempted Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activity

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – John Stephen Baker, 71, of Tucson, was sentenced on September 10, by United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 8.5 years in prison, followed by a term of lifetime supervised release. Baker previously pleaded guilty to Attempted Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activity. Beginning around February 6, 2023, and continuing through May 10, 2023, Baker communicated with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old female, who was actually an undercover special agent with Homeland Security Investigations. During his chats with the undercover agent, Baker asked about previous sexual experiences and expressed fears with engaging in sexual intercourse with an underage female because of the potential for arrest. Nonetheless, on May 10, 2023, Baker traveled from his home in Tucson to Sahuarita, Arizona, with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity with the person he believed to be an underage female. 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. Attorney’s Officers and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Nathaniel J. Walters and Jennifer H. Berman, District of Arizona, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-23-01362-TUC-JGZ RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-148_Baker # # # 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 Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Former Massachusetts National Guardsman Pleads Guilty to Possession and Distribution of Child Pornography

body_text: BOSTON – A former Master Sergeant of the 102 Security Forces of the Massachusetts National Guard stationed in Sandwich, Mass. pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to possession and distribution of child pornography. Nicholas Wells, 44, pleaded guilty to possession and distribution of child pornography before U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani who scheduled sentencing for Jan. 6, 2026. In September 2024 , Wells was indicted by a federal grand jury. Wells engaged in chats on a messaging application, in which he discussed his interest in minors and distributed videos depicting child pornography. Over 300 images and 100 videos depicting child pornography were located on his phone. It was also determined that Wells distributed over 70 videos depicting child pornography, some of which involved infants. The charge of possessing child pornography provides for a sentence up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine up to $250,000. The charge of distributing child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and not more than 20 years in prison, five years to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. 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. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Barnstable and Sandwich Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Illegal alien indicted for child sexual assault material offenses

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 28-year-old Mexican national who illegally resided in Laredo has been charged with possession, receipt and distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Originally charged by criminal complaint Aug. 21, Alfredo Gutierrez-Cantu remains in custody pending further criminal proceedings. He is expected to make an appearance on the charges contained in the indictment in the near future before a U.S. magistrate judge in Laredo. According to the charges, Gutierrez-Cantu came to the attention of law enforcement upon discovery of a Google account linked to a Laredo address containing child sexual assault material (CSAM). Gutierrez-Cantu was allegedly the owner of the Google account and resided at the location. The charges allege he would visit group chats where weblinks directed him towards a site with approximately 500 CSAM files. Authorities executed a search warrant and seized several electronic devices which allegedly contained several CSAM images and videos. One video depicted three minors engaged in sexual acts which he “forgot to delete” because he was too busy, according to the charges. “The allegations, if true, demonstrate that the defendant is somebody who shouldn’t be in our country, and definitely shouldn’t be out walking the streets of our community,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas won’t pull any punches when it comes to border security or the investigation and apprehension of those who consume child sexual abuse materials.” If convicted, Gutierrez-Cantu faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, Laredo Child Exploitation Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page . An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


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

component: Antitrust Division

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


title: Third Defendant Charged on Firearms Violations in Connection with Convenience Store Shooting

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

body_text: YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A third Trumbull County man has been charged in connection with a convenience store shooting Aug. 3, in Warren, Ohio, that left one person dead. A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Sean King, 37, with being a felon in possession of ammunition. He was previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base (crack), fentanyl, fentanyl analogues and heroin; and distribution of heroin and fentanyl in 2022. The grand jury also returned indictments for two individuals previously charged via criminal complaint in connection to the Aug. 3 shooting: Jumal Ellis Rowe, 32, charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; he was previously convicted of trafficking cocaine in 2013 and possession of cocaine in 2020. Rayjon Ray McElroy, 25, charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person; he was previously convicted of domestic violence in 2022. All defendants are from Warren, Ohio. According to court documents, on Aug. 3, the Warren Police Department and the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of gunshots and of an individual who was shot at a Convenient Food Mart in Warren. Investigators reviewing the store’s surveillance footage found that around 5 a.m., several individuals were loitering and playing a dice game on the walkway just outside the main door. A fight broke out shortly thereafter and then escalated into a mass shooting incident in the parking lot between multiple individuals. One individual was later pronounced dead and another injured as a result. If convicted, the defendants face up to 15 years in federal prison. Each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Youngstown Field Office, Warren Police Department, and the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Yasmine Makridis and Kevin E. Bringman for the Northern District of Ohio. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Tango Blast gang member sentenced for firearm felony

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 28-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been ordered to federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The court found documented Tango Blast gang member Kristian Ariel Garcia guilty as charged following a one-day bench trial Feb. 18. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Garcia to serve 70 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court considered the circumstances of his arrest and noted Garcia’s violent criminal history to include murder, burglary of a habitation, kidnapping and aggravated assault. At the hearing, the court also heard additional evidence that Garcia had victimized his girlfriend after breaking into her house, kidnapping her and her 18-month-old daughter and holding them captive. Evidence showed he had drugged the baby to keep her quiet during the ordeal. Judge Ramos also considered the fact that Garcia has been convicted of murder after stabbing a woman to death. “Violent felons like Mr. Garcia have no business possessing firearms,” Ganjei said. “This sentence sends a strong message to other felons—handle a firearm and we will hand you a prison term.” On Jan. 9, 2021, authorities conducted a traffic stop because Garcia was driving without headlights. Before stopping, Garcia handed the gun to his then girlfriend and instructed her to hide it. As law enforcement recovered the weapon, they discovered blood and organic matter on the slide. The investigation revealed that less than 24 hours earlier, Garcia had used the firearm to assault a man while stealing his cellphone. At trial, the court heard that Garcia had previous felonies at the time he had the firearm. As such, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Corpus Christi Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara J. De Peña prosecuted the case.


title: Apopka Man Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud And Aggravated Identity Theft

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Keith Oelerich (62, Apopka) has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Oelerich faces a minimum penalty of 2 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, in December 2018, Oelerich, the owner of Empire Sheds and More, LLC (Empire Sheds), a portable storage shed company, entered into an agreement with a loan financing company. Under the agreement, Empire Sheds submitted to the loan financing company rent-to-own contracts between Empire Sheds and its customers for the rental and purchase of sheds. The loan financing company paid Empire Sheds the purchase price of the sheds, and Empire Sheds’ customers were required to pay the loan financing company regular monthly rental payments for the sheds under the terms of the rent-to-own agreements. Between December 2018 and September 2023, Oelerich used other individuals’ personal identifiable information to create 1,043 false and fraudulent rent-to-own agreements and submitted those false and fraudulent agreements to the loan financing company. As a result, the loan financing company paid Oelerich a total of $17,964,680, the purchase prices of the sheds referenced in the agreements. Oelerich has agreed to forfeit $17,964,680, the proceeds he obtained as a result of his offenses. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chauncey Bratt and Diane Hu.


title: Lawrence Men Charged with Manufacturing Counterfeit Pills

body_text: BOSTON – Two Lawrence men were charged yesterday in connection with an investigation targeting a drug manufacturing ring. Over 18 kilograms of suspected controlled substances and a pill press were recovered during searches. Jose Vasquez Lantigua, 47, and Manuel Santana-Soto, 35, both of Lawrence, Mass., were each charged with one count of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute and manufacture controlled substances, and one count of manufacture and possession of controlled substances with intent to manufacture and distribute. Lantigua and Santana-Soto were both arrested and charged in state court on Aug. 28, 2025, along with a third alleged co-conspirator, Joshua Morales. Morales was charged with federal drug offenses in connection with this case on Aug. 29, 2025 and remains in federal custody. Lantigua and Santana-Soto remain in state custody and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. According to the charging documents, Morales was observed entering and leaving a known drug distribution and manufacturing location inside a third-floor apartment in Methuen. It is alleged that Morales then drove to a location in Lawrence, where he was detained. During a search of Morales’ vehicle, 10,000 counterfeit Percocet pills believed to contain fentanyl were allegedly recovered. During a search of the residence in Methuen, fresh footprints in powders believed to be controlled substances were observed upon entry into the premises. Those footprints led down an interior staircase to the second-floor apartment, where Lantigua and Santana-Soto were allegedly encountered. Lantigua and Santana-Soto were allegedly observed to be wearing flip flops with soles that matched the powdered footprints. According to the charging documents, Lantigua and Santana-Soto are believed to had fled the third-floor unit and broken into the second-floor unit of another tenant before officers made entry. During the search of the third-floor apartment, an automated pill press was allegedly located, along with multiple kilograms of counterfeit Adderall and Percocet pills believed to contain fentanyl and methamphetamine. Numerous implements used in the pill manufacturing process, including cutting agents, blenders, scales, bowls and bags full of suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine powders and binding agents were also located. The charge of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute or manufacture, provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of manufacturing and possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute or manufacture provides for a maximum penalty of up to 20 years, at least three years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. 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; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Methuen Police Chief Scott J. McNamara made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Essex and Middlesex County District Attorney’s Offices; the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; and the Lynn, Medford and Peabody Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Two Pennsylvania Men Charged With Defrauding Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program of Nearly $220,000

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Alexander Daravina, aka Alexander Danazina and “Colombian Al,” 38, of Dallas, Pennsylvania, and Moses Benabe, 25, of Philadelphia, Pa., were charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, seven counts of wire fraud, and seven counts of aggravated identity theft, arising from a scheme to defraud the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”) program of at least $218,570. The PUA program was established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, enacted in March 2020, and provided unemployment benefits to individuals not eligible for regular unemployment compensation or extended unemployment benefits. When PUA applications were approved, applicants were eligible to receive benefits via electronic funds transfer, or in a check or debit card mailed to the address on the application. The indictment alleges that, from about July 2020 through September 2020, Daravina, while incarcerated at State Correctional Institution Phoenix (“SCI Phoenix”), obtained the personal identification information (“PII”), such as names, dates of birth, and social security numbers, of dozens of real people, including other inmates at the facility. Daravina then shared that PII with Benabe and others and directed them to apply for PUA benefits on behalf of those people, even though the defendants both knew that the individuals weren’t eligible for PUA benefits. The indictment further alleges that Benabe used the PII provided, including the information of dozens of SCI Phoenix inmates, to fraudulently apply for PUA benefits. When the applications were approved, Benabe had the debit cards sent to addresses under the control of members of the conspiracy. He and his co-conspirators then withdrew cash from ATMs and purchased items, using the fraudulently issued cards. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum possible sentence of 161 years’ imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of two years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $3.75 million fine. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Dubnoff. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.


title: Justice Department Sues Oregon and Maine for Failure to Provide Voter Registration Rolls

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Today, the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division sued the states of Oregon and Maine , and their respective Secretaries of State, for failing to provide information regarding voter list maintenance procedures and electronic copies of statewide voter registration lists. “States simply cannot pick and choose which federal laws they will comply with, including our voting laws, which ensure that all American citizens have equal access to the ballot in federal elections,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “American citizens have a right to feel confident in the integrity of our electoral process, and the refusal of certain states to protect their citizens against vote dilution will result in legal consequences.” The lawsuit against Oregon alleges that Oregon and its Secretary of State Tobias Read violated the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and the Civil Rights Act of 1960 (CRA) by refusing to produce the current unredacted electronic copy of the state’s voter registration list, to provide information on the state’s voter list maintenance program, and to disclose registration information for any ineligible voters. The lawsuit against Maine alleges that Maine and its Secretary of State Shenna Bellows violated the NVRA, HAVA, and CRA by refusing to provide data regarding the removal of ineligible individuals and to produce an unredacted, computerized state voter registration list. Yet both states gave identical information requested by the Justice Department to a private organization.


title: Fentanyl Overdose Death Leads to Oklahoma Trio being Sentenced to Serve 26 Years Collectively in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Distribution

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – JOSEPH PRESTON ANDERSON , 37, and TIFFANI AMBER STEVENS , 31, of Oklahoma City, and KALUB LYNN ROBINSON , 30, of Blanchard, have been sentenced for their roles in distributing fentanyl, the use of which resulted in an overdose death, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to public record, beginning in at least September 2023, Anderson and Stevens were engaged in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl to others. On December 3, 2023, the two distributed fentanyl powder to Robinson, and Robinson distributed that fentanyl to another person the following day, the use of which led to the victim’s death. Public record further reflects that, despite knowing of the victim’s death, Anderson and Stevens continued to sell fentanyl through January 2024. Anderson and Stevens were charged with a drug conspiracy in May 2025 and have pleaded guilty. On October 22, 2024, Robinson was charged with distribution of fentanyl, a charge to which he has since pleaded guilty as well. At their sentencing hearings on September 15, 2025, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell sentenced Anderson to serve 180 months, Stevens to serve 72 months, and Robinson to serve 60 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for each. The defendants were also each ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,725.60, amounting to a total restitution award of $8,176.80. In announcing his sentences, Judge Russell stated that the circumstances were “tragic beyond belief” and expressed that the world must know that there are significant consequences for dealing fentanyl. This case is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and demonstrates the importance of the DEA’s “One Pill Can Kill” campaign. More information about “One Pill Can Kill” can be found at https://www.dea.gov/onepill . Further information about the danger associated with fentanyl distribution and use can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96JQ56kuJQI . Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Joynes and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaleigh Blackwell prosecuted the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Georgia Man Sentenced to Over 4 Years in Prison for Fraud Targeting AHCCCS

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Kenneth Terrell Harrison, 45, of College Park, Georgia was sentenced on Monday by United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to 52 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Harrison was also ordered to pay restitution to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (“AHCCCS”) in the amount of $6,538,485.09. Harrison admitted that he owned an outpatient behavioral health counseling service, Aurtism, LLC, located in Mesa. Aurtism applied to be a medical provider for AHCCCS, Arizona’s Medicaid agency, in 2019. At the time Aurtism applied to AHCCCS, Harrison admitted that he did not disclose his ownership interest in Aurtism to AHCCCS because he was worried that if he accurately described his involvement as the primary owner of the business, AHCCCS would deny the application based upon Harrison’s prior criminal history. Harrison further admitted that he engaged in a fraudulent billing practice targeting AHCCCS. Specifically, starting in January 2020, Harrison began obtaining AHCCCS identification numbers for AHCCCS enrollees, some of whom visited the Aurtism facility, while others he obtained fraudulently. Nearly all of the AHCCCS enrollees billed for by Harrison were members of the American Indian Health Plan (“AIHP”). Aurtism fraudulently billed AHCCCS for services that were never provided to the AHCCCS enrollees. Between January 2020 and October 2021, Aurtism fraudulently billed AHCCCS for $6,538,485.09. At the sentencing hearing, the Court noted the particular harm done to vulnerable populations in Arizona as a result of this type of fraud. The FBI’s Phoenix Division and IRS Criminal Investigation’s Phoenix Field Office conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aron Ketchel, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-24-0393-MTL RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-149_Harrison # # # 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 Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.