title: Guatemalan National Indicted for Illegally Reentering the United States

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Guatemalan citizen has been indicted for immigration violations in the Western District of Missouri. Francisco Solis-Ralios, 20, was named in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on July 28, 2026, charging him with possession of a fraudulent immigration document and illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. Under federal statutes, Sois-Ralios is subject to a sentence of up to ten years in federal prison without parole and deportation, if convicted. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. It was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Columbia, Missouri Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Meth

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: COLUMBIA, Mo. – A Columbia, Mo. man was sentenced in federal court today for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Ronald Dale Thornton, III, 35, of Columbia, Mo., was sentenced in federal court for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine by U.S. District Judge Steven R. Bough to 15 years in prison without parole for conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. On March 19, 2024, members of the Columbia Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) served a search warrant at an Airbnb rented by Thornton in Columbia. During the search, 50 packages of methamphetamine weighing a total of 50 pounds were recovered along with $24,957 in U.S. currency. Thornton was present at the residence along with other individuals. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the Columbia Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Scout Leader Sentenced to Over 17 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: Robert Mark used hidden cameras to record minors undressing and using the bathroom GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Robert Alan Mark, 59, of Whitehall, MI, was sentenced to 208 months in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor. During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Jane M. Beckering called Mark a “predator” and said that “no matter what good things he had done, that was wrecked by” his conduct in this case. When he is released from the Bureau of Prisons, he will spend seven years on supervised release, and he will be required to register as a sex offender. For years, Mark was a leader in Boy Scouts (now Scouting America). When Scouting America began admitting female members, he served as a troop leader for female scouts as well. Scouts and their parents reported that he had hosted pool parties in his home and encouraged the girls to use his bathroom to shower and change. Investigators found that over the course of ten years, he used hidden cameras to record minor females undressed, showering, and/or using the bathroom. Recovered videos and images showed he had recorded at least eight girls, all under the age of 18, and that he had hidden cameras in his bathroom, a bedroom in his home, and a tent. U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said he was satisfied with the sentence. “Mark richly deserved the sentence he got from Judge Beckering. Anyone who sexually exploits children deserves a decisive response from the criminal justice system, and he got it here. But what really got our attention was that Mark used Scouting America to get access to them. Now more than ever, our communities need organizations like Scouting America to help our kids learn the best traditional American values, and that means we will do whatever is necessary to keep deviants like Mark far away.” “Scout leaders are trusted to protect our children, not exploit them. This sentence reflects the depravity of his conduct and makes clear that those who victimize our children will be held fully accountable,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “I commend the outstanding work of the FBI Grand Rapids WEBCHEX Task Force and the Michigan State Police for their diligent efforts throughout this investigation. FBI Detroit will continue working alongside our law enforcement partners to pursue those who prey on children and ensure they are brought to justice.” “Protecting children from exploitation is one of our highest priorities. This sentence reflects the serious and lasting harm these crimes inflict on victims, and we remain committed to working alongside our federal, state, and local partners to identify offenders, hold them accountable, and safeguard our communities.” said a spokesperson for the Michigan State Police. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Michigan State Police investigated this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.


title: Two Charleston Men Plead Guilty to Roles in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Two Charleston men pleaded guilty on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, admitting to roles in a conspiracy that distributed fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack,” in the Charleston area. Antonio Andre Smith, also known as “Bro,” 50, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and Jerry Lucilo Grass, 41, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, Smith and Grass each took part in the conspiracy between September 2025 and April 2026. Smith admitted that he distributed fentanyl generally in the Charleston area and worked with another co-conspirator to distribute fentanyl to customers. Grass admitted that he generally acquired fentanyl from a co-conspirator and re-distributed at least some of it to third parties in the Charleston area while also using some of it. As part of his guilty plea, Grass also admitted that he contacted the co-conspirator on March 8, 2026, to request an ounce of fentanyl for a customer and an additional quantity for his personal use. Grass further admitted that he also contacted a co-conspirator on March 16, 2026, to inform her that he planned to provide all the fentanyl in his possession to a customer and needed an additional ounce from her for that transaction. Grass also admitted that another co-conspirator contacted him about that transaction to confirm that the customer needed the additional ounce. Smith and Grass are scheduled to be sentenced on November 19, 2026. Smith faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million. Grass faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. Smith and Grass are among eight individuals indicted following a federal investigation of fentanyl trafficking in the Charleston area. Two of those defendants pleaded guilty to charges separate from the main indictment, which remains pending against the other defendants. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-51. ###


title: Lawrence County man sentenced to 30 years in prison for creating child pornography of sexual abuse of toddler

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – Robert Grimmett, 25, of South Point, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 360 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for creating child pornography of his sexual abuse of a toddler. “Thanks to swift work and international coordination by our HSI colleagues, this defendant—who posed an active threat to a toddler—was in handcuffs in a matter of hours,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “I am grateful to the agents of HSI and to our prosecution team for saving this child from further abuse at the hands of Grimmett, who will now serve 30 years behind bars.” According to court documents, on May 28, 2025, HSI Netherlands received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding newly produced child sexual abuse materials. Account data for the Kik application used to distribute the child pornography led investigators to Grimmett. His Facebook photos also confirmed his identity as the same man featured in the child sexual abuse materials. Within one day of HSI Netherlands receiving the cyber tip, HSI Cincinnati obtained and executed a search warrant at Grimmett’s home and Grimmett was subsequently arrested. Grimmett pleaded guilty in September 2025. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Executive Assistant United States Attorney Christy L. Muncy is representing the United States in this case. This case is 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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. # # #


title: Hamilton man convicted at trial of federal drug crimes

body_text: CINCINNATI – A federal jury has convicted Marico Keeling, 36, of Hamilton, Ohio, with three counts of narcotics crimes. Keeling was a drug dealer who distributed narcotics and conspired with others to distribute large quantities of narcotics into communities in the Southern District of Ohio and elsewhere. Specifically, Keeling was found guilty of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, distributing methamphetamine and distributing fentanyl. The verdict was announced yesterday afternoon following a trial that began on July 20 before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. According to court documents and trial testimony, from at least August 2023 through October 2024, Keeling participated in a narcotics conspiracy. Keeling had been the source of supply of nearly two pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl discovered during an undercover drug operation in Wisconsin on Dec. 19, 2023. In Cincinnati, Keeling often met other drug dealers at Dewey Avenue, where Keeling’s co-defendant brother lived. While executing search warrants of his brother’s residence on Dewey Avenue as well as Keeling’s vehicle and residence in October 2024, investigators discovered both fentanyl and methamphetamine. The government proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Keeling was responsible for the distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. He faces at least five years and up to 40 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Keeling was arrested and charged federally in October 2024. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit, announced the verdict. The DEA Cincinnati Resident Office was assisted in this investigation by members of the DEA Green Bay Resident Office, the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group, the Sharonville Police Department, the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center, the Covington Police Department and Ohio State Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Springer and Ebunoluwa Taiwo are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Jamie McDonald Assumes Role As United States Attorney For The Southern District Of New York

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Jamie McDonald has assumed the role of United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Earlier today, Judge Laura Taylor Swain, Chief District Judge for the Southern District of New York, informed the Office that the Court has appointed Mr. McDonald to serve as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 546(d), upon U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton’s resignation. Yesterday, Mr. Clayton was confirmed by the Senate to serve as Director of National Intelligence. Mr. Clayton tendered his resignation as U.S. Attorney, effective earlier today. Mr. McDonald was sworn in as the U.S. Attorney by Chief Judge Swain. Sean S. Buckley will continue in his role as Deputy United States Attorney, Amanda Houle will continue in her role as Chief of the Criminal Division, and Jeff Oestericher will continue in his role as Chief of the Civil Division as contemplated in the transition announcement of July 8, 2026. Mr. McDonald previously served in the Office as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division until 2017. In that role, Mr. McDonald participated in significant organized crime, white collar, and violent crimes prosecutions, including those of senior members of the Genovese Organized Crime Family ; the sitting New York State Assembly Speaker, Sheldon Silver ; and a 48-defendant rival street gangs case . From 2017 to 2020, Mr. McDonald served as the Director of Enforcement at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), where he had overall responsibility for all aspects of the CFTC’s enforcement program, including its investigations, litigations, and market surveillance activities. Under his leadership, the agency prioritized cases involving market manipulation, other forms of market abuse, and fraud, as well as the pursuit of parallel actions with the Department of Justice. Notably, during the last year of Mr. McDonald’s time at the CFTC, the agency brought an unprecedented number of enforcement actions. Following his tenure at the Southern District of New York and the CFTC, Mr. McDonald served as a Partner at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP where he was Co-Head of both the firm’s Securities & Commodities Investigations Practice and its Commodities, Futures and Derivatives Group. While at Sullivan & Cromwell, Mr. McDonald also served as an Adviser to the American Law Institute’s Principles of Compliance, Risk Management, and Enforcement. Mr. McDonald previously served as a Visiting Scholar at Harvard Business School and as a Senior Fellow at New York University Law School’s Program on Corporate Compliance and Enforcement. Earlier in his career, Mr. McDonald served as a law clerk to Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., of the U.S. Supreme Court and Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. From 2008 to 2009, Mr. McDonald served as a Deputy Associate Counsel in the Office of the White House Counsel. Originally from Oklahoma, Mr. McDonald graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law and from Harvard College.


title: Fraudster Sentenced To 51 Months In Prison For Running Ponzi Scheme

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that MATTHEW MELTON was sentenced to 51 months in prison for committing securities fraud by running a Ponzi scheme. MELTON pled guilty in April 2026 to securities fraud before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who imposed today’s sentence. “Matthew Melton sold investors on a sophisticated trading strategy and guaranteed extraordinary returns,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “In reality, the supposed algorithm did not exist, and he used investor money to fund his lifestyle and sustain his scheme before fleeing the country. Our Office and our partners are committed to holding financial fraudsters personally accountable, and if you defraud our retail investors, we will bring you to justice. In the past 18 months, our Office has criminally charged 27 CEOs and corporate leaders with fraud, charged 12 individuals with insider trading, and doubled the number of insider trading investigations year over year.” According to the Indictment and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings: MELTON promoted an investment vehicle he called “Price Physics,” which purported to invest in futures contracts using a proprietary trading algorithm. He promised investors guaranteed returns of up to 12% per month, of which he said he would keep only 2% as compensation. In reality, there was no proprietary trading algorithm, and MELTON invested almost none of the millions of dollars he raised in the manner promised to investors. The few times that MELTON did make trades, it was not in futures contracts, and the trading was generally unprofitable. For the most part, instead of trading, MELTON used his investors’ money to pay his personal expenses—including mortgage payments and sailing excursions—and to pay earlier investors in Ponzi-like fashion. On approximately December 15, 2020, MELTON received word of a criminal investigation. Four days later, MELTON fled the United States and stopped using his email account, credit cards, bank accounts, and phone number, and soon after, MELTON soon stopped communicating with investors. MELTON remained at large for the next three years, until he was apprehended by law enforcement in October 2023, while he was traveling through the United Kingdom. MELTON was extradited back to the United States in December 2025. * * * In addition to the prison term, MELTON, 62, of Boulder, Colorado, was ordered to pay restitution, in an amount to be determined within 90 days, and forfeiture in the amount of $3,756,135, representing proceeds from his illegal scheme. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Clayton also expressed appreciation for the assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. DiBattista is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Pearl River Man Sentenced for Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Jackson, MS – A Pearl River man was sentenced today to 80 months in prison for possession of firearm by convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Director Gabriel Billie of Choctaw Public Safety made the announcement. According to court documents, Jehovah Horace Dixon, 25, was found to be in possession of a firearm on the Choctaw Indian Reservation after he had previously been convicted of felony offense. In June of 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Dixon and on April 28, 2026, Dixon entered a plea of guilty to the charge. On July 29, 2026, Dixon was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release upon his release from prison. Dixon was also fined $1,500. The conviction was a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Trails Task Force which is comprised of officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Choctaw Police Department, Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department, and various state and local law enforcement agencies. U.S. Attorney Kruger commended the work of the Safe Trails Task Force, the Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department, and the Choctaw Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Payne, Brian K. Burns, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kalleigh McCoy.


title: Multiple defendants sentenced after pleading guilty to firearms-related charges

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

body_text: SAVANNAH, Georgia: The illegal sale of firearms and felons in possession of ammunition or firearms results in prison sentences for multiple defendants in separate cases. The sentences imposed in U.S. District Court were announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include: Jeremy Nicholas McLloyd , 34, of Douglas, Georgia, was sentenced to 152 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon. McLloyd was found in possession of ammunition during a November 2024 traffic stop in Chatham County. Charles Edward Collins , 47, of Augusta, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and a $1,500 fine followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon. Collins was found to be in possession of a Ruger 10/22, .22 caliber rifle along with multiple rounds of ammunition in May 2025 during a traffic stop by Georgia State Patrol in Richmond County. Raymond Gregory Myers , 57, and Iris Candace Young , 62, both of Hephzibah, Georgia, were each sentenced to 26 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to Engaging in the Business of Dealing Firearms Without a License. From June 2021 to March 2023, investigators with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives found that Myers and Young were engaged in the business of the sale of firearms in Burke County without required federal licensing. There is no parole in the federal system. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition. “The illegal possession or sale of firearms poses a significant risk to the public and will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Working together, our law enforcement partners and the ATF have effectively disrupted the illegal flow of firearms in our community.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Georgia State Patrol, and local law enforcement agencies assisted in the investigation of these cases. These cases were prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey L. Scanlon, Joshua Kyle Davis, Henry W. Syms Jr., Tara M. Lyons, and Jennifer J. Kirkland.


title: Fifth Defendant Sentenced for Bank Fraud and Tax Offenses Arising from Multi-Year Homeowners Insurance Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Lisette Patricio, 64, of Davie, has been sentenced to 45 months in federal prison for her role in a multi-year homeowners insurance fraud scheme that generated more than $6 million in illicit proceeds and resulted in the cancellation of nearly 4,000 homeowners insurance policies across Florida. U.S. District Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz II imposed the sentence after Patricio pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and making and filing false federal income tax returns. Patricio has also been ordered to forfeit $1.78 million in fraud proceeds and pay $593,033 to the IRS. Patricio is the fifth and final defendant to be convicted and sentenced for participating in the scheme. “Nearly 4,000 Florida homeowners had their insurance policies fraudulently canceled so that these defendants could enrich themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This final sentence closes a years-long prosecution that held every participant accountable and recovered millions in criminal proceeds. Our Office will continue pursuing complex financial schemes that exploit vulnerable homeowners and threaten the integrity of our financial and insurance systems.” “Florida homeowners deserved justice, and they now got it,” said Special Agent in Charge Ron Loecker of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Florida Field Office. “This case proves how effective our collaboration with state and local partners can be when financial fraud threatens our communities.” According to court records, Arturo Morales targeted financially distressed homeowners facing foreclosure or loan modification proceedings and used their identities to fraudulently cancel their homeowners insurance policies without their knowledge. Morales’s sister, Darely Carballeira, supervised licensed insurance agents who prepared false paperwork to process the unauthorized cancellations. To conceal the fraud, the conspirators falsely claimed to have obtained replacement coverage from another insurer. Instead, the refunded insurance premiums were diverted into bank accounts controlled by Patricio and used to purchase low-cost surplus-lines insurance policies that provided only limited coverage. Patricio oversaw the scheme’s recordkeeping and distributed the fraud proceeds among herself, Morales, Carballeira, and a team of cooperating insurance agents, including Yarelis Felipe. When homeowners questioned the cancellations or expressed concern about their insurance coverage, the agents falsely assured them that they remained fully insured or repurchased full coverage. The scheme resulted in the fraudulent cancellation of nearly 4,000 homeowners insurance policies and generated more than $6 million in illegal proceeds. Previously sentenced defendants include: Darely Carballeira (25-cr-20034 and 24-cr-20061): 51 months in prison for bank fraud and filing a false tax return. Antonio Carballeira (24-cr-20061): six months in prison for filing a false federal income tax return. Arturo Morales (25-cr-20034): 57 months in prison for bank fraud. Yarelis Felipe (25-cr-20328): 10 months in prison for bank fraud. IRS-CI, Florida Field Office, investigated the case with assistance from the Florida Department of Financial Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jon Juenger and Sean Cronin prosecuted the cases. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 23-cr-20486. ###


title: California Man Who Secretly Recorded Children Using Spyware Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: MIAMI – A California man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting children by secretly recording minors through spyware installed on laptop computers and directing children overseas to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM). U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Becerra sentenced Jacob Melvin Hart, 46, of California, after he pleaded guilty to attempted production of visual depictions involving sexual exploitation of a minor and transportation of visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of minors. “This defendant weaponized technology and abused positions of trust to invade children’s most private spaces and sexually exploit them,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The 40-year sentence imposed on Jacob Melvin Hart means he will likely spend the rest of his life in federal prison. It protects children from a calculated predator and demonstrates that we will pursue those who produce and solicit child sexual abuse material, whether their victims are here at home or across the world.” Hart was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection upon his return to the U.S. through Miami International Airport following a mission trip to Haiti. An inspection of Hart’s electronic devices revealed CSAM, including images and videos that he had directed minor children in Russia to create at his request. The subsequent investigation revealed that Hart had previously worked as an IT consultant for a California church, where he had access to numerous minor children. Hart provided laptops equipped with spyware to several children, allowing him to remotely activate the computers’ cameras without the children’s knowledge. Using the spyware, Hart secretly recorded at least eight minor victims and possessed sexually explicit depictions of those children. In 2006, Hart was convicted in Oregon of invasion of privacy after secretly installing a hidden camera in a girls’ locker room at a summer camp. During sentencing in this case, the Court described the scope of Hart’s conduct as “extraordinary.” U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement. HSI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brianna Coakley prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 25-cr-20303. ###


title: Spring Valley Man Charged with Distributing Potent Synthetic Opioid that Resulted in Overdose Death of Pacific Beach Resident

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging Matthew Ray Calas of Spring Valley with distributing a powerful synthetic opioid—N-Pyrrolidino Protonitazene—that resulted in the death of a 67-year-old San Diego resident. According to court records, Calas advertised drugs for sale on Craigslist using coded language. In text messages with the victim, Calas offered to sell the victim “red devil nitazene,” a smokeable crystal powder. The victim was found on the floor holding drug paraphernalia, suggesting he died shortly after ingesting the substance. Three months later, Calas sold more of the “Red Devil” to an undercover law enforcement officer. Calas is also charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Butonitazene, and Methamphetamine; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; and Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. N-Pyrrolidino Protonitazene (often abbreviated NPP) is a synthetic opioid in the nitazene family. Nitazenes are a class of laboratory-made opioids that were originally developed decades ago in pharmaceutical research but were generally not approved for medical use. Some newer nitazene analogs have emerged in the illicit drug supply and are associated with overdose deaths. It is extremely potent and has opioid effects similar to fentanyl and other powerful opioids. Naloxone (Narcan) can help reverse opioid overdose effects from NPP, though multiple doses may sometimes be needed with very potent opioids. Special agents and officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Overdose Response Team led the investigation. This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the San Diego Police Department, the La Mesa Police Department, National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, the California Department of Health Care Services, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service to investigate and prosecute the distribution of dangerous illegal drugs—fentanyl in particular—that result in overdose deaths. The Drug Enforcement Administration created the Overdose Response Team as a response to the increase in overdose deaths in San Diego County. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith D. Ellison. DEFENDANT Case Number 25CR4692-DMS Matthew Ray Calas Age: 44 Spring Valley, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Counts 1, 2, and 4 Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 841(a)(l) – Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Butonitazine, and Methamphetamine Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison Count 3 Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 841(a)(l), (b)(1)(C) – Distribution of N-Pyrrolidino Protonitazene Resulting in Death Maximum Penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory minimum 20 years Count 5 Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 924(c)(l) – Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime Maximum Penalty: Mandatory minimum five years in prison Count 6 Title 18, U.S.C., Sec. 922(g)(l) – Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Drug Enforcement Administration San Diego Police Department Homeland Security Investigations California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force California Department of Health Care Services La Mesa Police Department San Diego County District Attorney’s Office Naval Criminal Investigative Service *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Interpol, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.


title: Estimated $20 Million Worth of Cocaine Seized from Commercial Truck at Border

body_text: CALEXICO – Federal law enforcement officers seized more than half a ton of cocaine worth more than $20 million hidden in the floorboards of a commercial truck and attached flatbed trailer at the Calexico Port of Entry. It was the second-largest cocaine seizure in 2026 in the Southern District of California. The largest seizure was in May when more than a ton of cocaine estimated to be worth $45 million was discovered in connection with a subterranean cross-border tunnel. In the most recent case, the driver and only occupant of the truck, Jose Manuel Lopez Lopez, was arrested and charged with illegally importing cocaine into the United States. The amount of cocaine seized is considered “a tremendous amount of drugs, even by the standards of this district,” according to the government’s motion to detain the defendant. Lopez entered a not-guilty plea at his arraignment in federal court yesterday. A detention hearing is scheduled for August 3 at 10 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lupe Rodriguez Jr. In addition to the hidden cocaine, the trailer was loaded with 269 bundles of rebar . Customs and Border Protection officers, working with agents from Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration, X-rayed the trailer and observed anomalies in the floorboards. A drug-sniffing dog alerted to the trailer. After unloading the rebar, officers unscrewed the planks from the wooden floor of the trailer and discovered they were stuffed with drugs. In total, 366 packages of cocaine weighing 1002.13 pounds (454.56 kilograms) were removed from the trailer. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Benjamin and Lawrence Casper. DEFENDANT Case Number 26-mj-08705 Jose Manuel Lopez Lopez Age: 44 Mexicali, Mexico SUMMARY OF CHARGES Importation of Cocaine – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 952 and 960 Maximum penalty: Life in prison; Mandatory minimum 10 years INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Customs and Border Protection Homeland Security Investigations Drug Enforcement Administration *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. This case was investigated and prosecuted by the California Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Sioux Falls Woman Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Sioux Falls

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on July 27, 2026. Jannelle Olson, 47, was sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Olson was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in October 2025. She pleaded guilty on May 4, 2026. The investigation in this matter revealed that Olson’s co-conspirator transported methamphetamine from Omaha to Sioux Falls to have it redistributed there. Olson obtained methamphetamine from her co-conspirator on multiple occasions and lined up customers for him to sell to. On July 31, 2025, investigators met Olson and her co-conspirator after they tracked a phone moving from Omaha to Sioux Falls. They caught Olson with approximately two pounds of methamphetamine in her vehicle and found an additional two pounds of methamphetamine in her co-conspirator’s vehicle. In total, investigators determined Olson was responsible for distributing approximately seven pounds of methamphetamine during her involvement in the conspiracy. 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). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case. Olson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Sioux Falls Woman Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Sioux Falls Area

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on July 27, 2026. Kourtney Lang, 33, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Lang was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025. She pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026. Lang was part of the Matthew Shade drug trafficking organization that obtained methamphetamine and fentanyl in Arizona and then distributed the drugs in South Dakota. Lang’s co-conspirators worked to get the methamphetamine to South Dakota through the mail and also by car. Once the methamphetamine was in South Dakota, Lang assisted her co-conspirators by working to distribute it to others and by collecting drug debts. In total, investigators believe that Lang was involved with distributing over eight pounds of methamphetamine throughout her involvement with the conspiracy. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force and the United States Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case. Lang was ordered to self-surrender to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service on August 17, 2026.


title: Mission Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison  for Possessing a Firearm as a Felon

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota man convicted of Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. The sentencing took place on July 27, 2026. Tevin Thin Elk, Sr., age 29, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Thin Elk was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 27, 2026. The conviction stems from an incident on April 5, 2025, when Thin Elk, who was on supervised release for his prior federal conviction for Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm, was encountered in a rural area in the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. Law enforcement had been called to the area due to neighbors hearing multiple gunshots. Law enforcement encountered Thin Elk, who was intoxicated. Officers observed numerous spent shotgun shells and open alcohol containers and recovered a semi-automatic shotgun nearby. 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). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case. Thin Elk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Convictions through Guilty Pleas and Sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (July 20 through July 23, 2026)

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of July 20 through July 23, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations—including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations. Convictions through Guilty Pleas: On July 21, 2026, Sergio Ramírez-Payano pleaded guilty to possessing a machinegun in Criminal Case 25-409 (GMM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with possessing with intent to distribute more than five (5) kilograms of cocaine, possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, possessing a machinegun in furtherance of drug trafficking, the possession of a firearm by a felon, and possessing a machinegun. Defendant was arrested on October 1, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 20, 2026. AUSA Joseph Russell is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 22, 2026, Juan José De la Cruz Natera pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 21, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 22, 2026, Yanzie Vázquez González pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 22, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 22, 2026, Pedro J. Santiago Rodríguez pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 22, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 23, 2026, Michael Félix Sánchez Ogando pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 22, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 23, 2026, Luis Manuel Olivo Morán pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 22, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. Sentencings: On July 22, 2026, Joseph David Vázquez Ayala was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Silvia Carreño Coll to a term of imprisonment of 78 months and 8 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on July 11, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-272 (SCC) and pleaded guilty on April 22, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 22, 2026, Omar Jhon Paredes was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Aida Delgado Colón to 37 months of imprisonment and five years of supervised release for conspiracy to import cocaine in excess of 150 kilograms of cocaine and a concurrent term of six months imprisonment for improper entry by alien. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on May 8, 2025, in Criminal case 25-226 (ADC), and pled guilty to the charge(s) on March 12, 2026. AUSA Luis A. Valentín is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 23, 2026, Denis Ditrán was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Raúl Arias-Marxuach to time served with immediate deportation to the Dominican Republic and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit wire, mail, and bank fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. According to court documents, this defendant was indicted on June 12, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-275(RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 25, 2026. SAUSA Vanessa Bonano is in charge of the prosecution of the case. These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department. ###


title: Private Tutor Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of Children

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Beaverton, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for sexually exploiting a child online. Erlend Secret Vikar aka Joshua Evan Huff, 41, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison and 30 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to one of the victims. “Internet crimes that exploit children are deplorable and lead to long-term impacts to the children who are targeted and victimized,” said U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford. “Today’s 15-year sentence reflects that seriousness. Our office is dedicated to protecting children from these insidious crimes.” According to court documents, from around November 2022 through August 2023, Vikar messaged and video chatted with a 16-year-old child who lives in Germany, coercing her to engage in sexually explicit conduct. Vikar met the victim on Reddit and later communicated with the child on Discord. He was able to gain the victim’s trust and then sent the victim pornographic videos and photos and coerced the minor to send him sexually explicit photos and videos. Many of the videos he received of the minor were made according to his requests. He further coerced the victim to contact other men online. Vikar, who had legally changed his name from Joshua Evan Huff is believed to have worked as a Private Tutor in Beaverton. Vikar was arrested in October 2024 in Cloverdale, Virginia. On November 19, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 2-count indictment charging Erlend Vikar with coercion and enticement of a minor and sexual exploitation of children. On April 27, 2026, Vikar pleaded guilty to the charge sexual exploitation of children. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliza Carmen Rodriguez. Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children is encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov . Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org . This case was brought in collaboration with 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 www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Portland Woman Pleads Guilty to Assaulting a Federal Officer

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland, Oregon, woman pleaded guilty on July 23, 2026, for assaulting a federal officer near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland. Oriana Korol, 39, pleaded guilty to a one-count information charging assault of a federal officer. According to court documents, on October 12, 2025, federal officers were clearing the driveway of an ICE facility in South Portland to allow employees to exit. While law enforcement was arresting another person a short distance away from the property, Korol interfered with the arrest of that person and, after being moved away from the arrest, kicked a federal officer. Korol faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. She will be sentenced on August 24, 2026, before a U.S. magistrate court judge. U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement. The Federal Protective Service is investigating the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon is prosecuting the case.


title: Portland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man was sentenced to federal prison yesterday for possessing child sexual abuse material. Walter Albert Sebaste, 41, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison and 10 years’ supervised release. “Crimes against children are a priority for my office. Children are the future of our nation. Their abuse is magnified when it is recorded and accessed by criminals such as Walter Sebaste,” said U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford. “Today’s sentence is a reflection of the serious harm caused every time a child’s abuse is viewed, and the culmination of the hard work of the FBI and our office to hold abusers accountable.” “Today’s sentence reflects the unwavering commitment of the FBI and our partners to protect children and hold child sex offenders accountable,” said the FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson. “Our work is driven by the courage of victims, and we stand with them as they seek justice and healing. We are grateful for the partnership of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon in bringing offenders like Walter Sebaste before the court. These crimes cause profound harm, and there is absolutely no place for them in our community.” On September 19, 2025, Sebaste’s residence in Portland was searched and his electronic devices were seized. Sebaste was in possession of over 1000 images of child sexual abuse material. On February 19, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Sebaste with possession of child pornography. On April 30, 2026, Sebaste pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material. This case was investigated by FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Rochat. Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov . Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org . This case was brought in collaboration with 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 www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Lane County Sheriff’s Deputy Charged with Child Exploitation Offenses

body_text: EUGENE, Ore.—A Lane County Sheriff’s Deputy was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with actual and attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, enticement of a minor, and receipt of child sexual abuse material. Dylan Ford, 29, made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings. According to court documents, Ford allegedly exchanged sexually explicit chats, images, and videos with multiple children under the age of 16. He used Telegram, an encrypted chat platform, and disappearing photo apps to begin conversations that would develop into sexual exchanges with the children. As part of their investigation, state and federal investigators obtained a search warrant and searched Ford’s cell phone. Ford’s phone contained numerous conversations with self-described minors in which he enticed the children into sending him custom child sexual abuse material, including instructing specific sexual acts involving the use of household items. Investigators also located a video depicting a distressed, crying minor carrying out various sexual acts. In some of the chats, Ford sent minors a colleague’s social media profile photo in an apparent effort to shield his identity. The Lane County Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of the Linn County Sheriff’s Office immediately upon becoming aware of the possibility that Ford was engaging in this activity. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office then contacted the FBI to collaborate on the investigation. Ford was arrested on July 28, 2026, by the FBI. This case was investigated by the FBI in coordination with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Will McLaren. Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children is encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov . Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org . This case was brought in collaboration with 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 www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Las Vegas Man Sentenced for Aiming High-Power Laser at Police Helicopter

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today by United States Chief Judge Andrew P. Gordon to nine months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for pointing a high-power laser at a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department helicopter as it was responding to a call in 2025. The government requested a sentence of 21 months’ imprisonment. “Aiming a laser at an aircraft isn't a joke—it's a federal crime that puts lives at risk,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “When someone intentionally interferes with a law enforcement helicopter responding to an emergency, they aren't just endangering the crew; they're jeopardizing everyone depending on that aircraft to do its job. If you think pointing a laser at an aircraft is a joke, today's sentence should make clear that federal prison is the punchline.” “Pointing a laser into the sky is not a harmless joke,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “Pointing one at a police helicopter is a direct threat to the safety of the pilot, the passengers, and everyone on the ground below. High-powered laser beams can instantly impair a pilot's vision during the most critical phases of flight, turning a routine mission into a potential catastrophe. The FBI will use every available resource to track the illegal use of lasers back to their source. If you aim a laser at an aircraft, expect us to come knocking at your door.” According to court documents, on January 2, 2025, Sergio Octavio Sanchez aimed the beam of a green laser pointer at a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department helicopter several times as the helicopter was providing aerial support for officers on the ground. When the laser struck the aircraft, the pilot had to shield his eyes and divert from its assignment and flight path. Pointing a laser pointer into the sky to see how far it will shine may seem like a fun thing to do but it can have serious consequences. Aiming a laser beam at an aircraft poses a serious safety risk for those on board and on the ground. Laser beams can cause disorientation, temporary blindness - potentially causing a midair collision or other incident - and in some cases permanent vision problems or blindness. According to the FAA , in 2025, pilots reported 10,993 laser strikes. Sanchez pleaded guilty to one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. The FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Tina Snellings prosecuted the case. If you spot someone aiming a laser at the sky in a suspicious manner, you can report it to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or visiting tips.fbi.gov . You can also report laser strikes to local law enforcement and the FAA. ###


title: Two New Jersey Men and a Washington Man Plead Guilty to  Terrorism-Related Offenses for Supporting ISIS

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Two men from Montclair, New Jersey and a man from Kent, Washington admitted to charges related to supporting the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (“ISIS”), U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Tomas-Kaan Jimenez-Guzel, 19, and Milo Sedarat, 21, both of Montclair, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on July 27, 2026 and July 28, 2026, respectively, before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court to terrorism-related offenses. Jimenez-Guzel pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, and Sedarat pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with concealment of material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Additionally, Saed Ali Mirreh, 20, of Kent, Washington pleaded guilty on July 22, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones in U.S. District Court in Seattle, Washington to an Information charging him with conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Mirreh was originally charged with the conspiracy in the District of New Jersey and consented to have his case transferred to the Western District of Washington for purposes of pleading guilty. “Any individual supporting ISIS or other terrorist organizations, regardless of whether it involves organizing an attack, planning to travel overseas, or funding others to join ISIS will be investigated swiftly and prosecuted. Jimenez-Guzel and Mirreh planned to travel abroad to actively fight with ISIS, and Sedarat surreptitiously provided funding for those plans. This Office is committed to disrupting foreign terrorist organizations, preventing ISIS-inspired terrorism, and holding accountable those individuals who support terrorist organizations.” - U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer “These men actively plotted and planned to go overseas to fight with ISIS, one of the worst terrorist organizations responsible for unspeakable violence all over the world. FBI Newark Joint Terrorism Task Force and our law enforcement partners thwarted their plans and stopped Jimenez-Guzel as he arrived at the airport. Regardless of the intent to either fight overseas or plot an attack on our soil - we will tenaciously investigate and arrest anyone supporting and conspiring with terrorists,” said Stefanie Roddy, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Newark. According to documents filed in the cases and statements made in court: From July 24, 2025 to November 4, 2025, through communications on encrypted messaging applications, Jimenez-Guzel, Mirreh, and other co-conspirators agreed to travel to Turkey in November 2025. They also agreed with other co-conspirators to travel from Turkey to “sham,” which is an Arabic term for the historical region of greater Syria, to join ISIS as fighters. On October 18, 2025, Sedarat met with Jimenez-Guzel and provided him $500 in cash to assist with buying a plane ticket for Mirreh to travel to join ISIS as part of the conspiracy. Sedarat took steps to conceal that monetary transfer from law enforcement by instructing Jimenez-Guzel to not take his cell phone to the meeting where the money was exchanged and by deliberately using cash instead of other electronic money transfers. On October 26, 2025, Jimenez-Guzel then transferred $500 to Mirreh. On October 27, 2025, Jimenez-Guzel purchased a plane ticket to depart from Newark Liberty International Airport to Istanbul, Turkey on November 17, 2025. On October 28, 2025, Mirreh purchased a ticket to depart from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Istanbul, Turkey on November 16, 2025. After other individuals in Dearborn, Michigan, with whom Jimenez-Guzel and Mirreh were communicating were arrested on October 31, 2025, and charged with offenses related to those individuals’ plot to carry out a violent attack on behalf of ISIS, Jimenez-Guzel, Mirreh, and their co-conspirators accelerated their travel plans. On November 3, 2025, Jimenez-Guzel re-booked his flight to Turkey to leave instead on November 5, 2025 (in the early morning hours, shortly after midnight on November 4, 2025). Then, on November 4, 2025, after communicating with Jimenez-Guzel and other co-conspirators, Mirreh booked an additional flight to Turkey to depart on November 5, 2025. On November 4, 2025, Jimenez-Guzel was arrested after arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport, and Mirreh was arrested later that evening at his home in Washington. The count of conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization to which Jimenez-Guzel and Mirreh pleaded guilty carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of life of supervised release. The charge of concealing material support to which Sedarat pleaded guilty carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of life of supervised release. Mirreh’s sentencing is scheduled for October 16, 2026, Sedarat’s sentencing is scheduled for December 2, 2026, and Jimenez-Guzel’s sentencing is scheduled for December 3, 2026. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited Special Agents and Joint Terrorism Task Force Officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, New Jersey and Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington in Seattle, Washington; and officers of the New York Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, Montclair Police Department, under the direction of Chief Todd M. Conforti, and Rowan University Police Department, under the direction of Chief Rachel Baum. The government is represented in the cases against Jimenez-Guzel and Mirreh by Assistant U.S. Attorney Camila A. Garces of the National Security Unit in Newark, New Jersey with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg of the National Security Unit in Seattle, Washington. The government is represented in the case against Sedarat by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey S. Smith of the National Security Unit in Newark, New Jersey. Trial Attorneys John Cella, Patrick Cashman, and James Donnelly of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division provided substantial assistance for all three cases. ### Defense counsel for Jimenez-Guzel: Deirdre von Dornum, Esq. Defense counsel Sedarat: Areeb Salim, Esq. and Anita Aboagye-Agyeman, Esq. Defense counsel for Mirreh: Dawn Farina, Esq. and Casey M. Arbenz, Esq. jimenezguzel.information.pdf sedarat.information.pdf


title: Founder And Former CEO of New Jersey Based Eye Care Group Charged with Health Care Fraud Conspiracy and Paying Illegal Kickbacks

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. –Charges were brought today against the founder and former CEO of a New Jersey based management company that oversaw an optometry practice and eye surgery center for conspiring to commit and committing health care fraud and violating the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, announced U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer. E. Bruce DiDonato, 71, of Princeton, New Jersey, was charged in a seven-count Indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, two substantive counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to offer and pay health care kickbacks in connection with illegal referrals, and three substantive counts of paying health care kickbacks. “As alleged, the defendant used his company to pay doctors and surgeons illegal kickbacks in exchange for the surgeons bringing patients to his eye care practice, where they were subjected to unnecessary diagnostic tests all so the defendant could enrich himself by billing Medicare. This Office will continue to pursue and prioritize complex health care fraud schemes that waste Government funds and harm patients.” - U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer “Dr. DiDonato's alleged deception of his patients, staff, and Medicare, which countless Americans depend on, is a scheme rife with disregard for the rules and integrity that govern the medical industry.” says FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy. “People must be able to trust their doctors, and many do so, albeit blindly. This case demonstrates the FBI's commitment to rooting out fraudsters and bringing justice to the victims impacted by these crimes.” “Medicare patients deserve care guided by medical need, not illicit financial arrangements,” said Special Agent in Charge Naomi D. Gruchacz of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “As alleged, the defendant put profit ahead of patient well‑being and misused the Medicare program through unnecessary testing and illegal kickbacks, diverting critical resources away from those who rely on them. HHS‑OIG, alongside our law enforcement partners, remains steadfast in protecting patients, safeguarding taxpayer funds, and upholding the integrity of federally funded health care programs.” According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: DiDonato was the founder of Campus Eye LLC and Campus Eye Surgery Center LLC, an optometry practice and ambulatory surgery center located in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. In 2021, DiDonato sold a portion of his interest in those entities to a private equity firm and assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of a newly-formed management company, Campus Eye Management Holdings, LLC, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Campus Eye Management, LLC (together, the “Campus Eye Entities”), which operated the optometry care practice and eye surgery center. Both prior to and after he and outside investors formed the Campus Eye Entities and he became the CEO, DiDonato conspired with others to defraud Medicare by performing and billing for unnecessary diagnostic tests at the surgery center. DiDonato allegedly paid kickbacks and bribes to ophthalmologists in exchange for their referral of patients who needed eye surgeries and then subjected the patients to diagnostic tests that were duplicative of tests they had previously received or were unnecessary for the type of surgery being performed. Neither DiDonato nor the optometrist reviewed the tests, and in most instances the ophthalmologists did not review or rely on the tests to inform their treatment decisions in advance of surgery. DiDonato allegedly concealed the payment of kickbacks and bribes by creating sham agreements that described the payments as consulting fees, and paying in the form of monthly “flat fees” that were actually based on a percentage of the optometry practice’s Medicare reimbursement for diagnostic tests performed on patients the providers had referred in the previous year. DiDonato allegedly caused the submission of approximately $3.4 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare, of which Medicare paid approximately $1 million. If convicted, DiDonato faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment on the health care fraud conspiracy and substantive health care fraud counts, 5 years imprisonment on the kickback conspiracy count, and 10 years imprisonment for each of the substantive kickback counts. Separately, the Department of Justice announced that it has resolved its criminal health care fraud investigation into the Campus Eye Entities pursuant to Part I of the Criminal Division’s Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy (CEP). As part of the resolution , the Department has declined to prosecute the Campus Eye Entities for the healthcare fraud and kickback scheme carried out by DiDonato and others, and the Campus Eye Entities have agreed to pay $1 million in disgorgement. United States Attorney Frazer credited special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, in Newark, New Jersey, and the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz, with the investigation. The Department of Justice has established the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the National Fraud Enforcement Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. The National Fraud Enforcement Division will fulfill that mission by coordinating with agencies responsible for administering benefit programs; partnering with federal, tribal, state, territorial, and local law enforcement on fraud-fighting efforts; developing systems and processes that ensure efficient identification of fraud against taxpayer dollars; and equipping prosecutors and law enforcement with state-of-the-art tools and resources needed to bring criminal actors to justice. The attorneys in the National Fraud Enforcement Division will work every day to protect the financial integrity of our government and the tax system that supports it. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake A. Nasar and Unit Chief George L. Brandley of the Office’s Health Care Fraud and Opioid Enforcement Unit, and Acting Assistant Chief Darren C. Halverson and Trial Attorney Lindsey D. Carsen of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### Defense counsel: Thomas H. Barnard, Esq. didonato.indictment.pdf


title: Federal Corrections Officer Charged with Sexually Abusing Inmate at FCI Fort Dix

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A Middlesex County woman was charged in a criminal complaint with sexual abuse of an individual in federal custody, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today. Jordan Pensak, 27, a corrections officer at Federal Correctional Institution Fort Dix (“Fort Dix”), was charged by complaint with one count of sexual abuse of an individual in federal custody. Fort Dix is a low-security federal correctional institution in Burlington County. According to the complaint and statements made in court: Pensak had a consensual sexual relationship with an inmate at Fort Dix and had sex with him in January 2026. Pensak and the inmate also exchanged sexually explicit photographs and messages over social media and electronic applications, facilitated by the inmate’s use of two contraband cell phones while in custody at Fort Dix. Pensak admitted to having a sexual relationship with the inmate in text messages sent to multiple individuals, including family members of the inmate. In one of those communications Pensak raised concerns that she might be pregnant with the inmate’s child. Pensak made her initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Pascal in federal District Court in Camden on July 28, 2026, and was released on bail. If convicted of sexual abuse of an individual in federal custody, Pensak faces a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy; and the Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Timothy Edminston, with the investigations. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph McFarlane of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Division. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### Defense counsel: Mark Catanzaro, Esq. pensak.complaint.pdf


title: Lawrence Man Sentenced to More than 3 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Fentanyl Trafficking Organization, in Case Brought by New Hampshire’s Homeland Security Task Force

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: CONCORD – Alexander German, 28, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was sentenced yesterday in federal court for fentanyl trafficking conspiracy in a case brought by New Hampshire’s Homeland Security Task Force, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. German was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty to 38 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. German previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. “Mr. German was a critical link in a drug trafficking operation that moved dangerous drugs into New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. “This years-long sentence makes clear that if you traffic fentanyl, you will be held accountable.” “This sentence sends a clear message to those who profit from poisoning our communities with fentanyl: there are serious consequences for fueling this deadly epidemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, New England Field Division. “Every dose of fentanyl trafficked into New Hampshire puts lives at risk and leaves families devastated. Thanks to the relentless work of the New Hampshire Homeland Security Task Force and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, another drug trafficker has been held accountable. DEA remains committed to identifying, investigating, and dismantling the criminal networks responsible for bringing fentanyl into New England, and we will continue working alongside our partners to protect the public and save lives.” According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in the fall of 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated a Lawrence-based organization that distributed fentanyl across New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The organization used social media, mobile messaging apps, and a dedicated phone line to take drug orders and send runners to make deliveries. German served as a runner for the organization, conducting multiple hand-to-hand drug sales of fentanyl in Lawrence, Massachusetts, with a DEA undercover officer. German also facilitated the preparation of an additional fentanyl destined for an undercover officer in Nashua, New Hampshire. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cesar A. Vega and Mike Shannon are prosecuting the case. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Hampshire comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, IRS, DEA, ATF, USMS, and DSS with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire.


title: Repeat Drug Offender Receives Federal Prison Sentence for  Methamphetamine Sales in Wheeling

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - A Dayton, Ohio man will spend the next 7 years in prison for selling methamphetamine in Wheeling, West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Darryl C. Durant, also known as “Baby Brah,” age 44, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine. Durant sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on Wheeling Island on several occasions. Durant has several prior drug convictions. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. 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 (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration. U.S. Judge John Preston Bailey presided.


title: Abilene Man Receives 50-year Sentence for Producing and Transporting Child Pornography

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: ABILENE, Texas—United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Ryan Raybould, announced that Kaleb Marc Rodriquez, a 27-year-old Abilene man who produced and transported child sexual abuse material was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison on July 22. “I can think of few things more reprehensible than an individual entrusted with the care and well-being of a minor, who then takes advantage of a tragedy to betray that trust and horrifically violate that child in his care,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “This sentence affirms my office’s commitment to protecting children and prosecuting these vile criminals. I am extremely grateful to our law enforcement partners and the prosecutorial team for ensuring this predator can never again sexually exploit children in North Texas.” “Protecting children from exploitation is a core mission for HSI. This sentence demonstrates that those who commit these crimes will be held fully accountable, said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard. “We are grateful for the dedicated efforts of the Abilene Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in ensuring that this offender will no longer pose a threat to vulnerable children. HSI will continue to work tirelessly to investigate, apprehend, and prosecute those who prey on minors, and to support victims and their families throughout the process.” According to court documents: On Sept. 22, 2024, Jane Doe 1’s grandmother had a stroke, so her mother left Doe and her two siblings in Rodriquez’s care at her apartment. Doe’s mother also said she lent her phone to Rodriquez at that time. On Feb. 17, 2025, Doe’s mother noticed that Rodriguez was logged into his Gmail account on her phone. She looked in Rodriquez’s account and saw that he had emailed himself a sexually explicit video of Doe, who was 14 years old at the time, the day he was alone with her at the apartment. Doe’s mother contacted the Abilene Police Department to report the sexual assault of a child. APD officers responded and found a Snapchat video, which was produced at Doe’s apartment in Abilene. Based on a computer forensic analysis, Rodriguez used Doe’s mother’s cellular telephone and Snapchat account to create child pornography of the minor victim and then emailed that video to himself so he could access it from other electronic devices. During the 19-second sexually explicit video of Doe, APD detectives were able to identify Rodriquez’s hand because he had distinctive tattoos on them. During an interview with APD, Rodriquez admitted that he knew Doe and that he lived with Doe’s family for about five to six months before the interview. Rodriquez admitted that he knew Doe was 14 because he went to her birthday party. Rodriquez recalled the stroke in September 2024 and that he may have been with Doe then. The APD detective asked, “what if I told you that I saw your hands in a video with [Doe]?” Rodriquez replied, “I’d probably believe you.” The detective asked, “What if I told you the videos showed [Doe’s] anus and vagina?” Rodriquez responded, “Oh, my God. That, I have no clue. But I’d probably believe you because I was on drugs.” The APD detective later told Rodriquez that he was going to jail. Rodriquez asked the detective to tell [Doe’s] family that he was sorry. At the sentencing hearing, one of the victims stated, “I am glad that I don’t have to see you anymore. Knowing I am safe from being hurt by you again gives me some peace.” A grand jury indicted Rodriguez in January 2026. He pleaded guilty to production of child pornography and transportation of child pornography in March 2026. U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix sentenced him to 600 months in federal prison. Homeland Security Investigations and the Abilene Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey R. Haag, West Texas Branch Chief, prosecuted the case. The Justice Department is committed to combating child sexual exploitation and brought this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org .


title: Kellyville Man Sentenced After Agents Discovered He Was Receiving Illegal Drugs Through the Mail

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Kellyville man was sentenced today for attempting to possess nearly a pound of methamphetamine for distribution and possessing a firearm while drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Austin Dewayne Nation, 31, for Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking. Nation was ordered to serve 210 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Postal Service began a targeted investigation in 2025 regarding controlled substance distribution. The investigation revealed that Nation was receiving illegal narcotics through the mail. Nation received numerous parcels of mail in a 60-day period from out of state. When a package was delivered to the post office, a K9 deputy with the Tulsa County Sheriff’s alerted its handler that drugs were inside the parcel. Agents obtained a search warrant for the package and discovered more than 445 grams of methamphetamine disguised as counterfeit pills. Agents swapped the drugs out and allowed the package to be delivered. Agents saw Nation receive the package at his home and detained him. After agents obtained a search warrant for Nation’s home in Kellyville, court records show they found additional drugs, scales, baggies, approximately $3,625 in cash, and two firearms. Nation will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Postal Service, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office, the Tulsa Police Department, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy prosecuted the case.


title: Habitual Abuser Sent to Prison for Assaulting Girlfriend and Coercing Her to Lie to Law Enforcement

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A habitual domestic assault offender from Tulsa was sentenced for assaulting his girlfriend and coercing her to lie to law enforcement, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Jordi Monroe Ridgebear, 30, for Domestic Assault in Indian Country by a Habitual Offender and Witness Tampering by Corrupt Persuasion. Ridgebear was ordered to serve 45 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. In 2024, Ridgebear and his girlfriend were drinking. They began arguing, and his girlfriend called 911. Court documents say that she can be heard on the 911 call telling Ridgebear to get off her and asking him to leave. Ridgebear can be heard saying that he will hit her. When officers arrived, she told them that Ridgebear shoved her, put his hands around her throat, pulled her hair, and punched her. Officers arrested Ridgebear for domestic violence. While in jail, Ridgebear contacted the victim numerous times. He told the victim not to cooperate with law enforcement and to file an affidavit recanting the allegations, hoping the charges would be dropped. Additionally, Ridgebear attempted to persuade her not to testify before the grand jury. Court documents show that Ridgebear has had eight arrests for domestic violence. In 2017, Ridgebear was convicted of domestic abuse, and in 2020, he was convicted of domestic assault with a dangerous weapon. Ridgebear will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd prosecuted the case. If you think that you or a loved one may be in an abusive relationship, Domestic Violence Intervention Services offers services for all survivors. You can call the 24-hour information and crisis line at (918) 743-5763 or (918) 7-HELP-ME for more information. You can also get more information by texting our 8 PM to 1 AM Text Line: Text SAFE to 207-777


title: South Carolina Man Receives 20 Years in Prison for Intent to Engage in Sexual Conduct with a Minor

body_text: TOLEDO, Ohio – A South Carolina man was sentenced to prison after he admitted to travelling more than 700 miles from the Augusta area to Toledo to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a purported seven-year-old girl. Edward Wade Green, 54, of Aiken, South Carolina, was sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey J. Helmick, after he pleaded guilty in March 2024 to: Coercion or Enticement of a Minor Traveling with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with a Minor Transportation of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct Possession of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct He was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $78,000 in restitution to 26 victims. According to court documents, in April 2023, Green was communicating with an undercover agent, on an online platform, who purported to have a seven-year-old daughter. During these communications, Green expressed sexual interest in the purported daughter. After several online conversations, Green agreed to meet the fictitious seven-year-old at a prearranged location in Toledo, Ohio, for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with her. Upon Green’s arrival at the agreed-upon location, he was apprehended by federal agents and taken into custody. During a forensic examination of Green’s electronic devices, they were found to contain visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, with at least one image involving a prepubescent minor under the age of 12. The investigation was conducted by the FBI Toledo Resident Agency’s Child Exploitation Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Al-Sorghal i and Frank H. Spryszak prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and 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. To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.