title: 81 Members of a Violent Gang in Puerto Rico Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms Violations as Part of Homeland Security Task Force Initiative

body_text: Note, the release has been updated to include an FBI Director quote and changes to the lede. No factual changes were made. Today in Puerto Rico, Attorney General Todd Blanche announced 81 members of a violent drug trafficking organization have been charged federally following a Homeland Security Task Force investigation. The FBI and the Puerto Rico Police Department successfully led the takedown and arrest yesterday of 70 defendants charged who are members of this violent drug trafficking organization that had been active for years throughout the West side of Puerto Rico. “These 81 defendants are alleged drug traffickers of ‘Los Baja Deo’ also known as ‘LBD,’ who maintained a steady supply of highly addictive and potentially lethal substances that endangered the community, fueled addiction and exposed entire public housing projects in Mayagüez and nearby neighborhoods to violence and chaos,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “During this investigation, law enforcement seized 21 firearms. It is estimated that during the span of the conspiracy, this drug trafficking organization was responsible for the distribution of at least 340 kilograms of fentanyl or fentanyl-laced narcotics, and at least 2,200 kilograms of cocaine, among other drugs, generating over $49 million in proceeds. Let this be a warning to those that are terrorizing our communities, our Homeland Security Task Forces around the country are unified to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations throughout the United States.” “These arrests reflect our commitment to remove violent gangs from our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ramírez-Carbó for the District of Puerto Rico. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office, together with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively pursue these gangs that poison our communities with dangerous drugs wherever they operate and will not relent until our neighborhoods are safe.” “This is yet another huge success for the FBI, the Homeland Security Task Force, and all of our law enforcement partners in San Juan,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Over 80 indictments of a Mayagüez transnational criminal organization involved in large‑scale narcotics trafficking across Puerto Rico - including sending controlled substances to the continental United States through the U.S. Postal Service, generating millions in illicit proceeds annually. The FBI and our partners mobilized a massive amount of resources for this takedown including 13 SWAT teams, CIRG pilots, and more and as always they executed brilliantly. These arrests disrupted one of western Puerto Rico’s most violent drug‑trafficking organizations, dismantled its leadership and distribution networks, and cut off yet another key pipeline of dealt drugs flowing into our country. Outstanding work by our FBI personnel, law enforcement partners, and DOJ.” “This takedown is the result of lengthy, meticulous work by our teams out in Aguadilla, and it’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this FBI’s efforts to crush violent crime and defend the homeland,” said Special Agent in Charge Carlos R. Goris of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “The people of Puerto Rico can trust that this FBI will continue to tear away at the foundations of these criminal enterprises until our communities can enjoy real peace. I’d like to thank our Police of Puerto Rico colleagues, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, and our HSTF partner agencies for their continued support to the FBI mission.” “The Puerto Rico Police remains committed to working hand in hand with the Homeland Security Task Force to dismantle violent criminal and drug trafficking organizations that threaten the safety of our communities and spread fear,” said Joseph González, Puerto Rico Police Superintendent. “Our officers are an essential part of these joint efforts with our federal partners, and we recognize the dedication and courage of those who carry out this critical mission every day. Together, we will continue working tirelessly to protect the people of Puerto Rico and those responsible accountable.” The indictment alleges that from 2021, the drug trafficking organization distributed heroin, fentanyl, cocaine base (crack), cocaine, and marijuana, and within 1,000 feet of the Sábalo Gardens Public Housing Project (PHP), Cuesta Las Piedras PHP, Yagüez PHP, Franklin Delano Roosevelt PHP, Colombus Landing PHP, Jardines de Concordia PHP, Monte Isleño PHP, Mar y Sol PHP, El Maní Ward, La Salud Ward, Buena Vista Sector, Liceo Sector, Broadway Ward, La Chorra Ward, Balboa Ward, Paris Ward, La Quinta Ward, Río Hondo Ward, La Mineral Sector, Villas del Oeste Neighborhood, El Seco Ward, Río Cristal Cluster, and Dulces Labios Ward, and other areas nearby, all for significant financial gain and profit. The object of the conspiracy was to distribute wholesale quantities and street-amount quantities of controlled substances and trafficking illegal firearms and ammunitions. The defendants communicated with each other using two-way radios, cell phones, instant messaging, and social media. When members of the gang perceived threats to the organization or its members, they committed violence including shootings, kidnappings, and murders to protect themselves and their organization. The gang members also transported and distributed kilogram quantities of cocaine and fentanyl. The defendants acted in different roles to further the goals of the drug trafficking conspiracy, including as leaders, drug point owners, suppliers, enforcers, runners, sellers, lookouts, and facilitators. Twenty-one defendants are facing one charge of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The co-conspirators charged in the indictment are: José Onairam Medina-Marrero, also known as “La O,” “Omayra,” and “Onairam;” Jeffrey Omar Delgado-López, also known as “Jeffrey Menor” and “Menor;” Christian Oneil Meléndez-López, also known as “Chucky;” Josué Lee Obregón-Vargas, also known as “Josu,” “Chaco,” and “Cha Corta;” Ulises Irizarry-Santiago, also known as “Viejo,” “El Viejo Ulises,” “Patrón,” and “Chapo;” Anfernee Jonans Martínez-Pérez, also known as “Penny;” Ramón Miguel Rodríguez-Pacheco, also known as “Piti,” “Pitín,” “Ramoncito Pacheco,” and “Ramón el Gordo;” Nelson Rafael Vargas Valentín-Rivera, also known as “Junito;” Cristian Joel Mercado-Rodríguez, also known as “Yoyin;” Alexis Omar Millón-García, also known as “Millán,” “Millo,” and “La M;” Saturnino Barbosa-Ortiz, also known as “El Viejo” and “Nino;” Jeremy Omar González-Díaz; Rafael Orlando Martínez-Mercado, also known as “Rafita” and “Rafito;” Luis Ezequiel Bayron-Hernández, also known as “Seco” and “El Zorro;” Israel Enrique Rivera-Díaz, also known as “Isra” and “Guajiro;” Jexiel Rivera-Echandy, also known as “J. Echandy” and “La J;” Wiljaniel Echandy-Ortiz, also known as “Lenta” and “Will;” Andrés De Jesús-Camacho, also known as “Panda,” “Zeta,” “Cheo,” and “Tres Z;” Delvis Habanell Torres-Acevedo, also known as “Delvin” and “Habanell;” José Israel Román-Irizarry, also known as “Siki;” Jiam Maico Ramos-Vega, also known as “Jan;” Ricardo Alexis Torres-Rodríguez, also known as “Balita” and “Bala;” Héctor Lucas Zaragoza-Alicea, also known as “Lucas” and “Mostrito;” Alexandre Pérez-Díaz, also known as “Alex Quijá,” “Quijú,” and “Quijá;” Kevin Oneal Román-Zapata, also known as “Kevin Walter;” Miguel Ángel Rodríguez-Pacheco, also known as “Pitin Junior,” “Piti Junior,” and “Piti;” Luis Ángel Cruz-Pérez, also known as “Cecilio” and “La S;” Ashley Angely Martell-Prosper, also known as “La Rubia;” Caridad Migdali Ferrer-Carrero, also known as “Cari” and “Claribel;” Betsy Santiago-Almodovar, also known as “La Rubia” and “La Rubia de Cuestas;” Nelson Rafael Vargas-Alers; Cristal Yarits Rivera-Matías; Louwark Giovanni Rodríguez-Ramírez, also known as “Delvis;” Christian Javier Medina-Marrero; Christopher José Medina-Marrero; Kevin Bryan Ruiz-Millán, also known as “Kevin El Gordo;” Christian Oneil Flores-Ramos, also known as “Pollito” and “Pollo;” Lester Roberto Rodríguez; Joshua Omar Cornier-Valentín, also known as “Ojos Bellos,” “Joshi,” and “Jota Cornier;” José Medina-Padilla, also known as “Joselito;” Arístides Lorenzo Ruperto; José Antonio Rivera-Barbosa, also known as “Chiquitín;” Abdiel Omar Sánchez-Negrón, also known as “Blanquito;” Félix Alberto Esteves-Vargas, also known as “Felo;” Moisés Isaac González-Bayron, also known as “Moi;” Neftalí Santiago-Santiago, also known as “Gordo Papá;” Jeremy Oneell Rivera-Flores, also known as “Mon” and “Negro;” Joshua Méndez-Montes; Ryan Lowell Moreno-Ortiz, also known as “Scarface” and “Motorita;” Héctor M. Cotto-Rodríguez, also known as “Tello;” Gary Jayson Bonet-Martell; Dwight Yonice Carrero-Ramírez, also known as “Tripi;” Keithy Enid Rosas; John Emmanuel Vélez-Borrero, also known as “John el Negro” and “Johnsoto;” José Manuel Vélez-Torres, also known as “José El Barroso” and “Ubija;” Waleska Morales-Martínez; Kelvin Camuy Gonzélez, also known as “Camuy;” Diego Andrés Rivera-Ballester; Ángel Yandel Figueroa-Rivera, also known as “Dona;” Walter Jesús Colón-Rodríguez, also known as “Walter el Viejo;” José Joel Morales-Bayron, also known as “John Goti” and “Peste a Sobaco;” Amniel Josué Miró-Núñez, also known as “John Zeta;” Michael José Díaz-Deriux, also known as “Michael el Mono;” Amarilys Torres Rivera; Abiezer Bayron Vargas; Jean Michael Cruz-Robles, also known as “Jean Carlos;” Ezequiel Jamuel Soler-Vélez; Plimo Aníbal Picart-Padilla; Eriel Omar Rodríguez; Jesse Lucre Rodríguez, also known as “Macho” and “Machito;” Dereck Alberto Carrero-Torres; Santos Alexis Goden-Rodríguez, also known as “Alex Goden;” Zuleika Marie Fred-Echevarría, also known as “La Tuca;” Elizabeth Díaz-Fábregas, also known as “La Patrona;” Edwin Javier Acosta-Ortiz, also known as “Dayan” and “El Pato;” Victor González-Ramírez; Christy Marie Alicea-Torres, also known as “Marie;” Lydia Odalys Pagán-Martínez, also known as “La Flaca” and “La Boxeadora;” Roberto Jr. Granell-López; Rubi Cristina Rodríguez-Quiñones, also known as “La Rubia;” and Abdiel Manuel Ruiz-Lucena, also known as “Nacho.” If convicted on the drug charges, the defendants face a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. If convicted of both the drug and firearms charges in count seven, the defendants face a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. All defendants are facing a narcotics forfeiture allegation of more than $49.7 million in U.S. currency. This investigation was led by the FBI, the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) Mayagüez Strike Force, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), as part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Initiative. Today, the following agencies collaborated during the arrests: U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)–Office of Field Operations, CBP-Special Response Team (SRT), Puerto Rico National Guard–Counterdrug Program, Guaynabo Police Department–Special Response Team (SRT), and the Puerto Rico Police Department–SWAT Team. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alberto López-Rocafort, Teresa Zapata-Valladares, Natalia Quiñones-Cruz, María López-Aponte, and Frank Norris for the District of Puerto Rico 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 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. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Three illegal aliens, who each returned after removal multiple times and committed other crimes, sentenced in federal court

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – Three men were sentenced this week in U.S. District Court in Seattle for repeatedly returning to the U.S. after being removed and committing other crimes while here, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Defendant Marlon Arteaga-Calix, 42, a citizen of Honduras, was given a two-year sentence for illegally returning after removal. He was arrested while trying to flee from authorities at Joint Base Lewis McChord and leading police on a footrace across I-5. When arrested Arteaga-Calix had fentanyl in his possession. At his sentencing hearing on Tuesday August 25 th , U.S. District Judge James L. Robart said, “Fentanyl is an extremely dangerous substance and triggers a pattern that people die… I need to protect the public from further crimes of this defendant because of what he does when he returns to the U.S.” According to records filed in the case, this is Arteaga-Calix’ fourth federal prison sentence for returning after removal. He has been sentenced to prison for that crime in Oregon, Utah, and Colorado. He has been removed from the U.S. in 2005, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2018, and 2021. After returning he has convictions for multiple drug offenses involving cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl. He also was convicted of an assault on a health care worker. Arteaga-Calix will likely be removed following his prison term. On Monday August 24, 2026, Dimas Alexander Mejia Garah, 35, a citizen of Honduras was sentenced to time-served for his return after removal. Garah will now be returned to the custody of Snohomish County where he faces 40 months in prison for being arrested in connection with drug trafficking. Mejia Garah has been removed from the U.S. in 2009, twice in 2012, in 2014, and again in 2023. Mejia Garah was found in Snohomish County in 2025 when law enforcement served a search warrant at his residence. Mejia Garah has twice been convicted in Utah of trafficking narcotics and had another drug possession conviction in Colorado. At the time of his arrest in Snohomish County, there was a warrant for Mejia Garah’s arrest in California. Following his prison sentence in the drug case, Mejia Garah will likely be removed to Honduras again. And finally, today, Yair Ramirez Aguilar, 32, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served for returning after removal. Ramirez Aguilar has illegally re-entered the U.S. four times after being removed. In November 2019 he attempted to enter the U.S. at Douglas, Arizona using someone else’s identification. He was convicted of illegal entry and removed. Twelve days later he was caught attempting to enter at Calexico, California, and was removed. In February 2020 and March 2020, he was caught again attempting to enter at Calexico and was removed both times. Over the last five years, Ramirez Aguilar has been repeatedly arrested for a variety of criminal offenses. In 2021 he was arrested by the Burien Police Department for DUI and Negligent Driving – First Degree. In 2022 and 2023 he had arrests for Physical Control of Vehicle Under the Influence, DUI, and Hit and Run Attended Vehicle. He was convicted in 2025. He has a pending DUI charge from 2026. He also has pending domestic violence assault charges from arrests in 2024 and 2025. In imposing the time served sentence Judge Lauren King said, “You have been repeatedly removed from the U.S., but your brief time here has been marked by repeated crimes.” “Each of these cases take federal resources and court time because sanctuary policies in Washington prohibits cooperation with immigration enforcement,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “But for our intervention, the public would never know about the immigration history of these defendants, and they would have been released back into the community, to sell drugs, drive drunk, or commit assaults just as they did before we were able to get them into custody.” Each of these cases were investigated by Homeland Security Investigations’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (HSI-ICE).


title: Three Men Sentenced for Providing Material Support to Separatists in Cameroon

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three individuals have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to provide material support or resources to kill, kidnap, and maim persons and use weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) in a foreign country. The defendants conspired to provide funds and equipment to separatist fighters in Cameroon to allow them to construct and use IEDs against various targets in the Northwest Region of Cameroon. Francis Chenyi, Sr., 52, of Saint Paul, Minn. and Lah Nestor Langmi, 49, of Buffalo, N.Y., both citizens of Cameroon, were sentenced to 180 months each in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Claude Ngenevu Chi, 43, of Kansas City, Mo., was sentenced to 63 months, followed by three years of supervised release. Previously, Chenyi and Langmi, both of whom are U.S. citizens of Cameroonian origin, were found guilty after a federal jury trial of one count of a conspiracy to provide material support or resources intended to be used to carry out conspiracies to kill, kidnap, and maim persons in a foreign country and to use a WMD outside the United States. Chenyi and Langmi were also found guilty of one count of being involved in an international money laundering conspiracy that transferred funds from the United States to Cameroon to promote conspiracies to kill, kidnap, and maim and use WMDs abroad. Additionally, Chenyi was convicted of conspiring to provide material support and resources to use a WMD abroad. Chi previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support and resources to use WMDs abroad. According to court documents and evidence from trial, Langmi sent an audio message to separatist fighters requesting they kidnap a traditional leader in Cameroon. Following a battle with Cameroonian forces, separatists took the traditional leader along with the Catholic Cardinal Christian Tumi, who was traveling with the traditional leader, from their vehicles. Following the kidnapping, Chenyi, provided the interrogation questions to be asked of the traditional leader and the Cardinal and approved the transferring of funds through peer-to-peer transactions to the separatist fighters in Cameroon to further the kidnapping. Chenyi was involved in ransom payments by individuals outside of Cameroon for the release of family members taken in Cameroon and communicated with Langmi about these payments. Multiple instances occurred in which co-conspirators, including Langmi, requested funds to purchase IEDs or components of IEDs for construction and use in Cameroon that were approved and funded by Chenyi. Chenyi also coordinated with individuals in Cameroon to ensure separatist fighters he supported obtained training on IED use. The defendants corresponded with co-conspirators in Cameroon to coordinate development, payment for, and logistical support toward IED use upon targets in Cameroon. Around Dec. 3, 2020, Chenyi was requested to provide funds for construction of multiple IEDs to be used in connection with efforts to enforce a lockdown of an area before an upcoming election. Chenyi, along with Chi, agreed to provide funds for the IEDs’ construction and Chenyi coordinated the transfer of funds from the United States through peer-to-peer transactions to the separatist fighters in Cameroon. Langmi coordinated with, and provided funds to, an unindicted co-conspirator to develop IEDs and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) in Cameroon and kept Chenyi apprised of the IED and RPG development. Langmi also attempted to coordinate attacks near the 2021 African Cup of Nations soccer tournament hosted in Cameroon, as well as various cities throughout the Northwest Region in the spring of 2022. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean T. Foley and Joseph M. Marquez for the Western District of Missouri, with the assistance of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Kansas City Field Office.


title: St. Joseph Man Sentenced to 50 Years Imprisonment for Drug & Money Laundering Conspiracy

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A St. Joseph, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to commit drug trafficking and money laundering. Montrez Dixon, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to a total of 50 years in federal prison without parole for participating in a conspiracy to commit drug trafficking and money laundering. On July 29, 2020, law enforcement officers recovered a package shipped to Kansas City, Mo. from Arizona, which contained 4,715 fentanyl pills. The investigation revealed that Dixon distributed this package and other packages to the Western District of Missouri, containing thousands of fentanyl pills. On Nov. 30, 2022, law enforcement officers with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service executed a search warrant on Dixon’s residence in Los Angeles, where over 7,500 fentanyl pills and a firearm were recovered. Dixon fled to Fresno, Calif., where he was ultimately arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service. On Sept. 18, 2025, a jury found Dixon guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl and one count of conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering. Three co-defendants had already pleaded guilty in this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Internal Revenue Services; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Kansas City, Missouri Police Department; Kansas City, Kansas Police Department; Buchanan County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office; Buchanan County, Missouri Drug Strike Force; St. Joseph, Missouri Police Department; Kansas City, Missouri Police Crime Laboratory; and DEA-North Central Laboratory. Homeland Security Task Force 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 Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.


title: Nevada, Missouri Man Sentenced for Embezzling Approximately $1.5 Million from Employer and Filing a False Tax Return

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Nevada, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for a fraud scheme and filing false income tax returns. Justin Marquardt, 55, was sentenced by United States District Judge Greg Kays, to 48 months in federal prison, followed by a three-year term of supervised release, for a fraud scheme in which he embezzled approximately $1.5 million from his employer and for failing to disclose the embezzled funds as income on his federal income tax returns. Marquardt was also ordered to pay full restitution to the victims of his crimes. This successful prosecution is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. Marquardt previously admitted that he stole approximately $1.5 million from his employer’s bank accounts and used those funds for his personal benefit. Marquardt held the title of executive director at his employer’s company and by virtue of his position, had access to all company finances and financial accounts from 1994 to 2023. As part of his scheme, Marquardt, without authorization, transferred funds from his employer’s bank accounts to his personal accounts and wrote himself unauthorized checks from business bank accounts. Marquardt spent most of the money on personal expenses, including travel and gambling both online and at casinos. To hide his embezzlement, Marquardt omitted these unauthorized transactions from the business’s QuickBooks ledger he provided to an accountant and tax preparer. Marquardt recorded false and fraudulent payments as business expenses in the QuickBooks records to conceal his embezzlement. Marquardt embezzled at least $1,387,926.39 and has been ordered to pay this amount as restitution to his former employer. For tax years 2017 – 2020 and 2023, Marquardt filed United States federal income tax returns on Forms 1040 in which he willfully failed to report his embezzled income. As a result of his false tax returns, he has been ordered to pay restitution of $322,596 to the Internal Revenue Service and Missouri Department of Revenue. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Venneman. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. National Fraud Enforcement Division On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs


title: Guatemalan Illegal Alien Sentenced to 84 Months for Aggravated Identity Theft of Minnesota Man

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An illegal alien from Guatemala residing in St. Joseph, Mo., was sentenced in federal court for fraudulently using a Minnesota man’s identity for over a decade to work legally in the United States. Romeo Perez-Bravo, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to seven years imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release for assuming the victim’s identity to live and work in the United States. Perez-Bravo was also ordered to pay the victim restitution for the funds he expended attempting to regain his identity. This sentence includes two years for aggravated identity theft and five years for illegal reentry to the United States after a previous felony conviction. This successful prosecution is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. “The actions of Romeo Perez-Bravo caused extensive harm to the victim, including substantial lost wages, impact to the victim’s credit, and countless hours spent trying to resolve the consequences; hours that can never be restored,” said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the District of Western Missouri. “Identity theft is a serious crime that can have lasting consequences for victims while also placing an unnecessary burden on taxpayers, government programs, and the agencies responsible for administering them. Our district will continue to aggressively pursue those who break the law by not only fraudulently assuming the identity of an American citizen, but also violating our country’s immigration policies.” “For more than a decade, this defendant stole more than a name. He stole a real person’s financial security, peace of mind, and ability to live free from the consequences of someone else’s crimes,” said Rick Sabatini, Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City Special Agent Charge. “HSI Kansas City will continue to pursue identity thieves, repeat immigration offenders, and criminal aliens who exploit our systems and victimize innocent Americans. If you use fraud to hide, work, or commit crimes in our communities, we will find you and bring you to justice.” Perez-Bravo admitted that beginning in Missouri in 2009, he used the victim’s name, social security number, and date of birth to fraudulently obtain work authorization. He also used the victim’s identity to obtain a Missouri non-driver’s license and to register vehicles. At the sentencing hearing, the victim testified that he learned someone had stolen his identity when his wages began to be garnished for an unknown debt. He inquired with the Social Security Administration and was told there were several employers reporting wages under his SSN in states he never visited or lived in. For over a decade, the victim received demand letters from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for unpaid tax debts accrued by Perez-Bravo working under his identity. The victim estimated he had paid nearly $15,000 to the IRS and continues to pay monthly installments on the tax debts. The victim also incurred expenses related to attempting to remove Perez-Bravo’s taxes from his record. Perez-Bravo was illegally present in the United States after being deported three previous times in 2005, 2008, and 2009. While illegally present in the United States, Perez-Bravo was convicted of six driving while intoxicated offenses, domestic violence, and three felonies including terroristic threats and aggravated forgery. He also used the victim’s identity when he was found liable in a wrongful death suit for a vehicle crash he caused. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda K. Hanson. It was investigated by the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations, the Olivia Minnesota Police Department, and the St. Joseph Missouri Police Department. National Fraud Enforcement Division On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Alexandria Man Sentenced to Over Four Years in Federal Prison After Concealing Machinegun on 10-Year-Old Child

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

body_text: ALEXANDRIA – On August 21, 2026, United States District Judge Jerry Edwards Jr. sentenced Sheldon Doral Franklin , 33, of Alexandria, to over four years in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, after his April 17, 2026, guilty plea to Felon in Possession of a Firearm. “This defendant recklessly used a 10-year-old child to hide a fully automatic weapon and then ran from law enforcement to escape the consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Machinegun conversion devices are extremely dangerous, and our Office will continue to hold accountable those who endanger children, community members, and police officers by illegally possessing these dangerous weapons.” According to court documents, the investigation began on March 23, 2024, when a Pineville Police Department (PPD) officer monitoring a license plate reader alert system received an alert for a stolen maroon Nissan Sentra reported out of Opelousas. The officer quickly located the Sentra traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 167. When the officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the vehicle continued driving until the police siren was activated. Additional officers arrived and ordered Franklin , the driver and a convicted felon, out of the car. Franklin initially refused commands to keep his hands in view but eventually complied and was handcuffed. When questioned, Franklin identified the passenger as his 10-year-old child. Franklin then claimed he was unaware the vehicle had been stolen, stating it had been loaned to him by his girlfriend. When officers informed Franklin that they needed to search his child, he refused to give permission. The child also refused commands and kept a bag of chips pressed against his leg. As an officer attempted to move the child's arms, he felt what appeared to be a handgun concealed between the chip bag and the child's leg. Franklin then fled on foot but was quickly apprehended by law enforcement. Officers recovered the weapon, a loaded Glock Model 23, .40-caliber pistol equipped with a Machine Gun Conversion Device (MCD), also known as a switch, making the firearm fully automatic. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and PPD investigated the case. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert F. Moody with assistance from Legal Assistant Amanda Morgan. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 1:25-cr-00235-01. ### CONTACT: Public Affairs: USALAW-News@usdoj.gov United States Attorney’s Office: www.justice.gov/usao-wdla X: @USAO_WDLA Facebook: USAO_WDLA (337) 262-6704


title: Federal Jury Convicts Puerto Rican Man of  Trafficking 65 Kilograms of Cocaine   During Boat Chase West of Savanah Island

component: USAO - Virgin Islands

body_text: St. Thomas, USVI – U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that a federal jury convicted Jean Carlos Torres Cruz, of Puerto Rico, for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance pursuant to 21 U.S.C §§ 841(b)(1)(A) and 846. After a two-day trial, the defendant was convicted as charged. The defendant faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 120 months imprisonment and up to life in prison. The Chief District Court Judge, Robert A. Molloy, will schedule a sentencing hearing to determine the sentence to be imposed. According to court documents and testimony presented at trial, on July 21, 2025, the defendant was stopped while a passenger on a boat in the waters near Savanah Island, just west of St. Thomas, USVI. At approximately 3:00 a.m., U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection Air and Marine (AMO) detected a vessel operating without navigation lights traveling towards St. Thomas, USVI from Culebra, PR. AMO-St. Thomas launched a vessel to investigate and located the lights-out vessel west of Savanah Island heading towards Culebra, PR. The vessel fled from the AMO vessel while the defendant threw bags overboard. The vessel stopped after AMO agents fired warnings flares in front of the fleeing boat. Once the boat was stopped, and the defendant and another male were arrested, AMO agents searched the area and recovered two duffle bags that the defendant threw overboard. The duffel bags contained 65 packages. A Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratory analyst confirmed that the 65 packages contained approximately 65 kilograms of cocaine. This case was investigated jointly by the AMO and the DEA. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney, Erik Tate and Criminal Chief Kyle Payne.


title: Woman Charged with Health Care Fraud After Submitting False Claims to Utah Medicaid and Receiving Millions in Payout

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY , Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment today charging Jazzamin Clark with health care fraud after she allegedly submitted fraudulent claims to Utah Medicaid for therapy services that were either not rendered; rendered by unqualified, unlicensed providers; or non-covered therapy services. This resulted in Utah Medicaid paying over $4 million in claims. According to allegations in court documents, from July 2024 through October 2025, Jazzamin Tashay Clark, 43, of Salt Lake City, Utah and Las Vegas, Nevada, allegedly defrauded the federal health care benefit program, Medicaid, to obtain money for her own financial benefit. Medicaid receives both federal and state funding and is intended to provide health care benefits to indigent individuals, including certain people who are aged, blind, disabled, or have dependent children. The Medicaid program in Utah is overseen and administered by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and Utah Medicaid. As alleged, Clark established businesses purportedly to treat individuals facing substance abuse use disorder in Salt Lake City. In order to obtain federal funds, she recruited Medicaid-eligible beneficiaries, often drawn from people experiencing homelessness, and claimed to provide them with Medicaid-reimbursable services. Medicaid claims are required to include, among other things, the National Provider Identifier (NPI) number for the healthcare provider who ordered, supervised, or performed the billed services. Clark caused Medicaid to be billed for therapy and other services under the NPI numbers for several out-of-state providers, many of whom were unqualified to provide such services and were not even aware that their NPI numbers were being used in this way. As another part of the alleged scheme, Clark rented houses in West Valley City and elsewhere to purportedly serve as “sober living homes.” In reality, however, these homes left Medicaid beneficiaries who struggled with substance abuse to fend for themselves rather than helping them maintain sobriety. Throughout the scheme, Clark caused Medicaid to be billed for services that were never provided, services provided by unqualified and unlicensed individuals, and services that were otherwise not eligible for reimbursement, totaling over $4 million. Clark is charged with health care fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. Her initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for September 9, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. “This administration—and my office—remains firmly committed to pursuing individuals who attempt to steal from taxpayer funded programs,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak for the District of Utah. “I am grateful for the dedication of our law enforcement partners and our prosecutors, whose collaborative efforts are essential in combating fraud and ensuring justice for all victims.” The case is being investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) of the Utah Attorney General’s Office, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Y. Hirata, Sachi J. Jepson, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kaye Lynn Wooton, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah, are prosecuting the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Attachments: jazzamin_t._clark.indictment.pdf


title: Inmate Pleads Guilty to Possessing Drugs at FCI Beckley

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Quantel Saunders, 31, an inmate, pleaded guilty today to possession of contraband in a federal correctional institution. According to court documents and statements made in court, Saunders was an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Beckley on October 13, 2024, when staff conducted a search of his person following a visitation. Staff found a quantity of tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, and cocaine on Saunders during the search. Saunders is scheduled to be sentenced on December 11, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons 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. 5:25-cr-148. ###


title: Robstown resident sentenced after fleeing from police in high-speed chase following drug transaction

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 50-year-old man has been ordered to prison for his role in the distribution of cocaine. Michael Casas pleaded guilty May 27. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Casas to serve 60 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release. The investigation revealed Casas was planning to sell two kilograms of cocaine March 17. On that date, law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop on his vehicle. Casas initially pulled over but accelerated as authorities approached, leading them in a high-speed pursuit on Highway 44 in Corpus Christi. At one point, Casas was traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour. During that time, authorities observed Casas throw a brick‑shaped package from the vehicle. He eventually stopped and surrendered. Law enforcement recovered the package and found it to contain two kilograms of cocaine. Casas was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with assistance from the Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Griffith prosecuted the case.


title: Florida man charged with assault of court security officer in Houston

body_text: HOUSTON – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against a 51-year-old man for assaulting a court security officer in a federal courthouse library. Victor Graham is currently in custody and expected to appear for his arraignment in the near future. On July 29, Graham allegedly entered the law library at the Bob Casey Federal Courthouse in Houston. The charges allege a court security officer determined Graham was not complying with courthouse rules and instructed him to leave. At that time, Graham allegedly assaulted the officer and caused him bodily injury before authorities took him into custody. If convicted, Graham faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. The Federal Protective Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez is prosecuting the case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Bronx Man Charged With Committing Sex Trafficking, Coercion, And Enticement Crimes Involving Three Minor Victims

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today the filing of an Indictment charging JIMMY ROSARIO with coercion and enticement of a 16-year-old victim (“Minor Victim-1”), coercion and enticement of a 12-year-old victim (“Minor Victim-2”), and sex trafficking of a 17-year-old victim (“Minor Victim-3”). ROSARIO is detained and the case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken. “This Office is dedicated to protecting our children and ridding our streets of sexual predators,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “As alleged, Jimmy Rosario preyed on multiple minor victims using online social messaging platforms. After meeting his victims online, Rosario allegedly lured these minors to meet in person by offering them alcohol, drugs, food, and cash, then engaged in unlawful sexual activity with them.” “Jimmy Rosario allegedly preyed on vulnerable minors through sex trafficking and coercion, a series of acts that are completely indefensible,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “The FBI/NYPD Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Task Force work relentlessly to ensure individuals like Rosario are removed from our communities and are held accountable for their heinous crimes.” According to the Indictment and other public filings, from at least July 2025 through June 2026, ROSARIO utilized his cellphone and the Internet, including social messaging platforms, to connect and communicate with minors, including Minor Victim-1, Minor Victim-2, and Minor Victim-3. ROSARIO used his cellphone and the Internet to arrange for in-person meet ups where he engaged in oral, vaginal, and anal sex with the minor victims. Specifically, ROSARIO enticed Minor Victim-1 and Minor Victim-2 to engage in unlawful sexual activity and solicited Minor Victim-3 to engage in sexual acts in exchange for money and other forms of payment. This prosecution 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices, 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc . If you have been victimized by ROSARIO in any way or have any additional information about his alleged illegal behavior, please call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. * * * ROSARIO, 42, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, each of which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; and one count of sex trafficking of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The statutory minimum and maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. McDonald thanked the FBI/New York City Police Department Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Task Force for its outstanding work in connection with this investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Cohen is in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Olivia Sebade. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Des Moines Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation and Child Pornography Charges

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – A Des Moines man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for three counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possession of child pornography. According to public court documents, Tyler Boyd Pavlick, 33, placed a mini video camera in the tank of a porta-potty at three Central Iowa events: co-ed middle school and high school cross-county meets, one held in State Center on September 23, 2025, and another held in Osceola on September 30, 2025; and an arts, craft, and harvest event held in Des Moines on October 4, 2025. Pavlick placed the cameras with the purpose of creating visual depictions of minors lasciviously exhibiting their anus, genitals, or pubic area. Law enforcement seized electronic devices during a search of Pavlick’s Des Moines residence on October 15, 2025, including mini cameras that were the same model as those seized by police from the porta-potties in State Center and Des Moines. One of the electronic devices seized from Pavlick’s residence contained video footage of minors using the porta-potty at the Osceola event, including footage of a minor under the age of 12. After completing his term of imprisonment, Pavlick will be required to serve a 10‑year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Pavlick will be required to register as a sex offender in his state of residence. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The FBI Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force, Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, Des Moines Police Department, and Iowa DCI Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Kerndt prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Illegal aliens sentenced for immigration violations

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: SAVANNAH, Georgia: Multiple defendants illegally inside the United States were sentenced in federal court, two receiving prison time, and others to be transferred to immigration authorities for immediate deportation. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood, and announced by Margaret E. ‘Meg’ Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. They include: Facundo Gregorio-Gonzalez, 50, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 14 months in prison followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Gregorio-Gonzalez was identified as an illegal alien in October 2025 in Glynn County and upon completion of his prison term, will be transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for removal. Gamaliel Cordova-Ortiz, 30 , a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to 14 months in prison followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Cordova-Ortiz was identified as an illegal alien in June 2025 during a traffic stop in Glynn County and upon completion of his prison term, will be transferred to ICE custody for removal. Francisco Mendez-Villa, 32, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Mendez-Villa was identified as an illegal alien in June 2026 during a traffic stop in Camden County and will be transferred to ICE custody for removal. Lucas Artemio Montejo-Miguel, 48, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Montejo-Miguel was identified as an illegal alien in May 2026 during a traffic stop in Camden County and will be transferred to ICE custody for removal. Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation is a charge applied to an illegal alien present in the United States after at least one prior removal. “Federal immigration laws exist to protect the integrity of our nation’s borders,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Working closely with our law enforcement partners, those who repeatedly undermine those laws will be held accountable, removed and returned to their country of citizenship.” These cases were investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, and local law enforcement agencies and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson, Timothy P. Dean, Darron J. Hubbard, and Matthew A. Breedon.


title: Homeland Security Task Force: Five Plead Guilty to Importing Thousands of Kilograms of Cocaine into South Florida

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Five defendants pleaded guilty to conspiring to import thousands of kilograms of cocaine into South Florida aboard sport fishing vessels from the Dominican Republic. According to court records, Andy Gabriel Mercedes-Hernandez, 32; Jesus Alberto Salcedo-Perez, 32; Keisy Estibet Peguero, 38; Enmanuel Amauris Rivera-Cabrera, 32; and Mario Joel Rijo-Jimenez, 46, participated in a drug trafficking organization that used U.S.-registered sport fishing vessels to transport multi-hundred-kilogram shipments of cocaine into South Florida. “These were not fishing trips. They were industrial-scale cocaine runs into South Florida,” said U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This organization used sport fishing vessels and hidden compartments to move thousands of kilograms of cocaine from offshore waters to stash houses and distributors in our communities. Through the Homeland Security Task Force, we will continue attacking these trafficking networks at every point in the pipeline, from sea to shore to street.” The organization, led by Mercedes-Hernandez, was responsible for importing over 3,500 kilograms of cocaine aboard vessels equipped with concealed compartments used to store the drugs. The cocaine was picked up off the coast of the Bahamas and transported to South Florida. Mercedes-Hernandez financed the purchase of vessels and other expenses associated with transporting the cocaine. He also supervised the unloading of the drugs, their transportation to a stash house, and their subsequent delivery to distributors. The other defendants performed various roles in the organization. Salcedo-Perez served in multiple capacities, including as the registered owner of the vessels used by the organization. Peguero assisted in transporting the cocaine and guarded drug shipments while they were in transit. Rivera-Cabrera and Rijo-Jimenez served as captains of vessels used to transport cocaine into South Florida. Drug shipments attributed to the conspiracy include: Approximately 1,600 kilograms of cocaine transported into South Florida aboard the M/V Mysterry in mid-2023; Approximately 900 kilograms of cocaine transported aboard the M/V Maple Leaf in December 2024; and Approximately 1,000 kilograms of cocaine transported aboard the M/V Daviniki in July and August 2025. In total, the organization imported thousands of kilograms of cocaine with an estimated value exceeding $31 million. Each defendant pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to import more than five kilograms of cocaine. Each faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, made the announcement. DEA Miami Field Division is investigating the case, with assistance from the Sunny Isles Beach Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Kirkpatrick is prosecuting the case. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises of agents and officers from DEA, the Sunny Isles Beach Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida. 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 26-cr-20092. ###


title: Justice Department and FBI Seize Platforms Operated and Used by China State-Sponsored Hackers to Target U.S. Critical Infrastructure

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO — The Justice Department and FBI announced court-authorized domain seizures today to deny malicious cyber actors access to two complementary hacking platforms known as “QScan” and “QTRouter,” used to target U.S. critical infrastructure and other sensitive networks. As described in court documents unsealed in the Southern District of California, a People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored group known as “QTFY,” employed by China-based Nanjing Xinjiuwei Network Technology Company (南京鑫玖维网络科技有限公司), created and operated QScan and QTRouter. Among the targets of QTFY are the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Federal Reserve, Department of Energy, Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Senate. “State-sponsored malicious hackers preying on America’s critical infrastructure will be stopped and prosecuted. We are here to ensure security for the American people and will use every tool we have to keep that promise,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Federal law enforcement investigated and disabled the PRC’s malicious software, the latest in a series of technical operations to dismantle indiscriminate hacking activities sponsored by the People’s Republic of China.” “Today we announced the disruption of a global botnet and hacking platform used by Chinese state-sponsored hackers to target U.S. critical infrastructure,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “These tools were used by PRC cyber actors to hide the origin of their attacks. Thanks to the work of FBI San Diego, FBI Cyber Division, and DOJ partners, we seized adversary infrastructure and shut these platforms down. Today’s action is just the latest technical operation against PRC-sponsored hacking - and in support of President Trump’s Cyber Strategy for America, the FBI is surging efforts to shape adversary behavior and defend the homeland in cyberspace.” “Today’s announcement demonstrates the Justice Department’s steadfast commitment to going on the offensive against cyber threats to the national security,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “These court-authorized seizures deny PRC-linked hackers access to tools they use to mount online attacks against our Nation’s critical infrastructure. ” “We’re taking the fight to PRC-sponsored cybercriminals to protect the critical services Americans rely on every day,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California. “The FBI remains relentless in our efforts to counter nation state cyber actors, taking decisive action against those threatening the United States and our critical infrastructure,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “Through complex investigations, aggressive technical operations, and strong partnerships, FBI San Diego will continue to identify, disrupt, and impose costs on our cyber adversaries. We are committed to dismantling the tools behind these state-sponsored crimes and protecting the American people from malicious cyber activity.” According to court documents, QTFY offers computer hacking services to its paying customers, including the PRC’s Ministry of State Security and the People’s Liberation Army. These computer hacking services include QScan and QTRouter, which work in conjunction. QScan scans and automatically infects thousands of “internet-of-things” (IoT) devices worldwide, which are then added to the QTRouter network of QTFY-controlled devices. QTRouter consists of these compromised IoT devices, as well as commercial proxy service devices and leased virtual private servers. QTRouter then serves as an “obfuscation network” – meaning it allows QTFY and other malicious cyber actors to conceal the PRC-origin of their computer intrusion activities because the malicious communications appear to originate from computers (such as those compromised by QScan) that are outside of the PRC and may even be local to the targeted networks. Because the seized domains were hard-coded into both the QScan and QTRouter malware and used for essential tasks such as communication and authentication, the court-authorized seizures made QScan and QTRouter inoperable. This disruption announced today is among a series of court-authorized technical operations against indiscriminate hacking activities by the PRC. In 2025, the FBI removed PlugX surveillance malware from over 4,000 U.S. computers after they had been infected by the PRC-sponsored hacker group Mustang Panda. In 2024, the FBI disabled a botnet consisting of hundreds of thousands of infected internet-of-things devices, which the PRC-sponsored hacking group Flax Typhoon was providing to customers in the Chinese government. In 2023, the FBI disrupted a different botnet used by the PRC-sponsored hacking group Volt Typhoon to conceal their exploitation of U.S. and foreign critical infrastructure. Also today, the FBI and National Security Agency published a cybersecurity advisory providing indicators-of-compromise by QTFY based on their analysis of QTFY malicious cyber activity dating back to at least 2018. In addition, Lumen Technologies’ threat intelligence group, Black Lotus Labs, published a description of QTFY’s tactics, techniques, and procedures. The FBI’s San Diego Field Office and Cyber Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, and the National Security Cyber Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division investigated this hacking activity and led this disruption effort. Note: View the affidavit here . *Edits have been made to ensure this press release accurately reflects the government’s allegations in the affidavit in support of the domain seizures.


title: DermTech Inc. to Pay Up to $5M to Resolve Allegations It Submitted False Claims to Medicare for Unreliable Skin Cancer Tests

body_text: SAN DIEGO — A skin cancer testing company formerly known as DermTech Inc., which was headquartered in San Diego, has agreed to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting false claims for unreliable skin cancer tests to the Medicare program. DermTech is now liquidating as DTech Liquidating Inc. after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the District of Delaware in June 2024. As part of the resolution announced today, the United States received an Allowed Class Three General Unsecured Claim of $5,038,011 in the bankruptcy proceeding. The settlement resolves allegations that DermTech submitted claims to Medicare for skin cancer tests despite knowing the tests had quality control issues. First, from October 2022 to March 2023, DermTech billed Medicare for skin cancer tests that it conducted after switching to an unvalidated positive control range for one of the test’s two key melanoma markers. Without a validated positive control range, it is impossible to confirm that the positive control is working and thus impossible to verify whether the test results are accurate. Second, from January 2020 to February 2022, DermTech billed Medicare for skin cancer tests that did not contain enough patient RNA to be tested but still generated positive or negative test results. For both categories of tests, DermTech reported results to patients. When concerns were raised about these tests, DermTech neither retracted the test results nor adequately refunded Medicare. “The Justice Department is committed to protecting Medicare patients, especially in an area as serious as skin cancer testing,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will hold accountable health care providers who put patients at risk by billing Medicare for grossly substandard services.” “This company billed Medicare for unreliable tests that may have misled patients and their doctors,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon for the Southern District of California. “This settlement is a perfect example of why the Department’s focus on fraud against the taxpayer directly leads to improved health and safety for Medicare patients.” “Patients must be able to rely on the accuracy and integrity of diagnostic testing when making critical healthcare decisions,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Miranda L. Bennett of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Submitting claims to Medicare for tests that fail to meet established clinical standards undermines patient safety and public trust. HHS-OIG remains committed to ensuring that healthcare providers deliver services that meet federal requirements and to pursuing accountability for alleged misconduct.” “DermTech Inc. allegedly administered inadequate skin cancer tests that led to the fraudulent billing of Medicare, raising serious concerns about the company’s practices,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “FBI San Diego, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to investigating any company whose illicit actions may undermine the integrity of our healthcare system and ensure they are held accountable.” The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by a former DermTech employee. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Luong v. DermTech, Inc. et al. , No. 3:23-cv-01404 (S.D. Cal.). Ms. Luong will receive 20% of the recovery received from the bankruptcy court in connection with the settlement. The claims resolved by the settlement pertain to DermTech Inc., a company that is now bankrupt. These claims do not pertain to DermTech LLC, a company that purchased DermTech Inc.’s assets in 2024 as part of the bankruptcy proceedings. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General. This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division. This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen H. Wong for the Southern District of California and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Clare Elizondo. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Sturgis Man Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Federal Prison  for Child Pornography Charges

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Sturgis, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on August 17, 2026. Carl Wahl, 55, was sentenced to six years and three months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each charge. Wahl was also ordered to pay $30,285 in restitution and forfeiture was ordered. Wahl was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 1, 2026. Between May and August of 2023, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received CyberTips for investigation. A search warrant for Wahl’s residence and electronic devices was obtained. Several of Wahl’s electronic devices, including his HP laptop and his two cellphones, were examined and all three devices contained visual depictions of child sexual abuse material that Wahl knowingly and intentionally viewed, possessed, and received using the internet. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox and Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Larson prosecuted the case. Wahl was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Over 13 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and  Possessing a Firearm as a Felon

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on August 24, 2026. Lorenzo Rene Portillo, 37, was sentenced to 13 years and 5 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Portillo was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025. He pleaded guilty on May 5, 2026. Portillo was a member of a conspiracy distributing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine in Sioux Falls between September 2024 and February 2025. He also obtained methamphetamine from co-conspirators to distribute to others who would then sell it. He was arrested on February 10, 2025, when law enforcement officers conducted a search of a residence where he was temporarily staying and discovered a handgun. Portillo is prohibited from possessing firearms based upon his multiple felony convictions. “Collaborating with all levels of law enforcement, our dedicated federal prosecutors and their teams are working overtime to do everything possible to protect our communities from the deadly combination of career criminals, drugs, and guns,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “The conviction of this repeat felon and the long prison sentence he will serve represent another step forward toward accomplishing that mission. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you came from; if you are selling illegal drugs in South Dakota, we are coming for you and this is your fate.” 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 U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case. Portillo was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced to Over 2 Years in Federal Prison  for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on August 24, 2026. Garrett Yellow Hair, 44, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Yellow Hair was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2026. He pleaded guilty on April 20, 2026. Yellow Hair was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child in August 2007, in federal court in South Dakota. The victim was a 4-year-old girl. Yellow Hair was sentenced to just over 10 years in federal prison. Based upon the conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life under the provisions of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). In November 2023, Yellow Hair was convicted of the federal charge of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. On September 8, 2025, he was released from the Pennington County Jail after completing his sentence on a supervised release violation. Yellow Hair updated his address, but then did not actually reside at that address between September and October 2025. Yellow Hair knew he was in violation of the provisions of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case. Yellow Hair was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison  for Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition as a Felon

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on August 17, 2026. Wakiyan Dreamer, 28, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture was also ordered. Dreamer was indicted for Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in June 2025 and indicted by superseding indictment for Possession of Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person in July 2025. He pleaded guilty on January 23, 2026. On May 13, 2025, in Rapid City, the Rapid City Police Department responded to a shots-fired report at a gas station. Law enforcement recovered a Norma brand 9mm Luger shell casing nearby in the middle of the street. Law enforcement reviewed video surveillance footage from outside the gas station. It showed Dreamer shooting a pistol in the middle of a street toward a group of people, where the 9mm shell casing was found by law enforcement shortly after the shooting. Dreamer had been convicted of a crime punishable beyond a year in prison and therefore he is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Dreamer procured this pistol by arranging for his significant other, Madeline Bloemendaal, to buy the firearm for him from a Federal Firearms Licensee (“FFL”). She gave a false statement to the FFL representing she was buying the firearm for herself, when in reality she was buying it for Dreamer. Bloemendaal has since been convicted and sentenced. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities . This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case. Dreamer was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Luverne, Minnesota Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Luverne, Minnesota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on August 24, 2026. Shaun Mitchell, 38, was sentenced to 13 years and four months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Mitchell was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in January 2024. Investigators discovered that Mitchell worked with a co-conspirator to obtain large quantities of fentanyl pills from Denver and then sell them around the Sioux Falls area. The two men shared a phone and customers. Investigators utilized an informant to make two controlled purchases of fentanyl pills from Mitchell’s co-conspirator and also to conduct a controlled purchase of 48 fentanyl pills from Mitchell. Eventually, investigators learned Mitchell had a storage unit in Sioux Falls, obtained a warrant for the unit, and ultimately discovered approximately 11,777 fentanyl pills inside the storage unit. In total, investigators believe Mitchell and his co-conspirator were responsible for trafficking approximately 40,000 fentanyl pills. “This was a whole lot of fentanyl taken off the streets by these agents and officers, which means that lives were saved,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “I’m grateful for our federal prosecutors and their teams, who have been working so hard to put drug dealers like this out of business and behind bars. Stayed tuned—there’s a lot more to come.” This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (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. Mitchell was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Columbia Bookkeeper Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing $250K from Local Business

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Isha Yumakia Warr, 53, of Columbia, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for wire fraud. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Warr worked as a bookkeeper for a small business in Lexington County from June 2023 to July 2024. Shortly after starting work, Warr convinced the business to change their accounting software to a new system. The new software enabled Warr to pay money directly to herself, rather than paying company invoices. The business later discovered a series of unauthorized payments and unpaid invoices during a routine financial review. With the assistance of a forensic accountant, the business discovered a total of $253,855.48 in unauthorized transfers were made from the business account into Warr’s personal account. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Warr to 37 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Ms. Warr was ordered to pay $253,855.48 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews prosecuted the case. ###


title: Convictions through Guilty Pleas and Sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (August 17 through August 21, 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 August 17 through August 21, 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 August 17, 2026, Carlos Manuel Cotto-Cruz (1) and Pablo De la Cruz-Arias (21) pleaded guilty to Count One in CR Case 22-213 (ADC). According to the indictment, the defendants were charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances within one thousand (1,000) feet of the Vista Hermosa Public Housing Project (PHP), the Villa España PHP, the Luis Lloréns Torres PHP, and other areas nearby. Both defendants were arrested on May 25, 2022. The Court set defendant Carlos Manuel Cotto-Cruz’s sentencing date for December 14, 2026, and defendant Pablo De la Cruz-Arias’ for November 5, 2026. AUSA Corinne Cordero-Romo is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 18, 2026, Carlos Ramón Santiago Velázquez pleaded guilty to Count Three of the Superseding Indictment in Criminal Case 25-059-11 (FAB) as amended, namely conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine. Defendant was arrested on October 2, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for November 30, 2026. AUSA Luis A. Valentín is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 20, 2026, Harry Acevedo Méndez pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case No. 24-456 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with drug trafficking inside state prison facilities. Defendant was arrested on December 17, 2024. AUSA Myriam Y. Fernández-González in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 21, 2026, Jonathan Cabassa-Cintrón pleaded guilty to violating Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(ii), and 846, in Criminal Case 25-441 (GMM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Defendant was arrested on October 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for November 30, 2026. SAUSA Cody A. McKinney is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 21, 2026, Karla Paola Gómez Pereira pleaded guilty via straight plea to Count One of Indictment in case number 26-010 (ADC). According to the indictment on December 22, 2025, the defendant was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine in excess of 5 kilograms. Defendant was arrested on December 22, 2025. The defendant’s sentencing date is to be set by the Court. AUSA Luis A. Valentín is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 21, 2026, Juan Carlos Montero Florian pleaded guilty to all drug related charges in Indictment in case number 24-429-03 (SCC). According to the indictment on October 13, 2024, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine in excess of 5 kilos aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, possession with intent to distribute cocaine in excess of 5 kilos aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and jettisoning bales of cocaine. Defendant was arrested on October 13, 2024. The defendant’s sentencing date is to be set by the Court. AUSA Luis A. Valentín is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 21, 2026, Alejandro Saenz-Escobar pleaded guilty to possession of Suboxone in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo in Criminal Case 25-475 (CVR). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with possessing Suboxone in MDC with the intent to distribute that Suboxone to others. Defendant was in MDC due to his involvement in a drug trafficking organization that operated in Manatí, Puerto Rico (principally the Enrique Zorilla Public Housing Project) and areas nearby. Defendant was charged with possession of the Suboxone on November 12, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for November 6, 2026. SAUSA Daphne Cordero and AUSA Joseph Russell in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 21, 2026, Carlos Alexis Serrano-Vega pleaded guilty to Count One and Six in Criminal Case 22-327 (PAD). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances in the Pedro Rosario Nieves Public Housing Project and other areas in and around Fajardo, Puerto Rico, while also carrying firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Defendant was arrested on July 27, 2022. The Court set defendant’s sentencing date for November 30, 2026. AUSA Corinne Cordero-Romo is in charge of the prosecution of the case. Sentencings: On August 18, 2026, Marino Johnson-Devers was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Camille Vélez-Rivé to a term of 120 months of imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on June 3, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-254 (CVR) and pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026. AUSA Antonio J. López-Rivera is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 18, 2026, Bienvenido Pelliecier Negrón was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge Francisco A. Besosa to 70 months of imprisonment and supervised release term of five years for conspiring to import into the United States 234 kilograms of cocaine. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on March 20, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-145 (FAB), and pleaded guilty on August 26, 2025. AUSA Camille García Jiménez was in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 18, 2026, Welkin A. González Pérez was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach to time served while detained pending trial and a one-year supervised release term for re-entry of removed alien. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on June 11,2026, in Criminal Case 26-253, and pleaded guilty on August 18, 2026. SAUSA Cody A. McKinney is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 19, 2026, Héctor L. Derkes was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado to 192 months (16 years) in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release for coordinating the importation of large quantities of drugs from South America into Puerto Rico and the continental United States, as well as conspiring to launder the drug trafficking proceeds. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on November 3, 2021, in Criminal Case 21-359, and pleaded guilty on June 9, 2026. AUSA Ricardo Imbert Fernández is in charge of the prosecution of the case. The case was previously handled by former AUSA Ryan McCabe. On August 20, 2026, Joshua Rivera-Cruz was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Antongiorgi-Jordán to nine (9) years of incarceration for his armed participation in a drug trafficking organization that worked out of various Public Housing Projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, principally the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ), and pleaded guilty on May 13, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 20, 2026, Michael J. Rodríguez Cruz was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Silvia Carreño Coll to 48 months of imprisonment, to be served consecutively to a term of 96 months of imprisonment, and 6 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on June 11, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-272 (SCC) and pleaded guilty on April 28, 2026. Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr 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. ###