title: Illegal Immigrant Caught with Guns and Drugs Sentenced to Prison

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Monday sentenced a man caught in an abandoned hospital with a machete and two firearms to 46 months in prison. Arlin Alexis Bustillo, 34, pleaded guilty in April in U.S. District Court to one count of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a false permanent resident card. He admitted being caught on July 31, 2025, by St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers in St. Alexius Hospital and arrested for trespassing. He had a large machete on the left side of his waistband and a stolen pistol on the right side. In a backpack, officers found a sawed-off .22-caliber rifle. He also had a fraudulent Social Security card and permanent resident card. Bustillo is a native of Honduras and will be deported when he completes his sentence. The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phillip Voss and Ricardo Dixon prosecuted the case. This case is 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.


title: Felon who Arranged Murder of St. Louis County Man Sentenced to Life in Prison

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Wednesday sentenced a felon to life in prison for arranging the 2011 murder of a St. Louis County man to get a share of an insurance payout. Judge Fleissig ordered the sentence to run consecutive to the 226-month federal prison sentence Michael Grady is already serving for aiding a large-scale, violent drug conspiracy by trying to determine who was cooperating with investigators and prosecutors. Grady, now 71, was convicted by a jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in March of one count each of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, aiding and abetting murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Evidence and testimony at the trial showed that Grady hatched the plot against Charles Harris III to aid Harris’ financially struggling fiancée, Victoria Rena Williams. In 2010, Grady prompted Williams to get a $250,000 accidental death policy on Harris, evidence and testimony showed. She did so without Harris’ knowledge, after confirming that it would pay out if he was killed during a robbery. Williams then arranged a meeting between Harris, who worked for an alarm company but sold suits out of his home on the side, and the shooter or shooters, who posed as suit customers. On Oct. 5, 2011, Harris was fatally shot in his home on Langford Drive in St. Louis County. After a dispute with the insurance company, Williams received $224,444 and then obtained a cashier’s check for $110,000 payable to Grady’s wife. Williams also received $175,762 from another insurance policy. The shooter or shooters have not been identified, according to trial testimony. “Charles Harris was a hardworking man. He was a good man,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Nino Przulj, one of the prosecutors who worked on the case, in court Wednesday. “Mr. Grady is the polar opposite.” Williams, 68, pleaded guilty to the same charges that Grady was convicted of and was sentenced in March to 225 months in prison. "This is not the first time the FBI has investigated Michael Grady. He is currently serving a 19-year federal prison sentence for providing long-term support to some of the St. Louis area's most prolific and violent drug traffickers," said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. "But a prison sentence was never going to shield him from accountability. When evidence of his involvement in this murder surfaced, the FBI and St. Louis County Police remained steadfast in our commitment to securing justice for the victim and ensuring Grady answered for this crime." The St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Finlen, Nino Przulj and Donald Boyce prosecuted the case.


title: Orleans Parish Woman Sentenced to Thirty (30) Months Imprisonment for Federal Bank Robbery

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – On July 21, 2026, Chief U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter sentenced JENTONIA WILLIAMS , (“WILLIAMS”) , age 40, of New Orleans, to thirty (30) months imprisonment. WILLIAMS previously pled guilty to bank robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113(a), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to court documents, on September 2, 2025, WILLIAMS robbed a Capital One Bank located on Canal Street, in New Orleans, of United States currency. The deposits of the Capital One Bank branch are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC”). U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Violent Crime Task Force in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Duane A. Evans of the General Crimes Unit is prosecuting the matter. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. * * *


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Possessing Over 1,200 Grams of Crack and 3 Loaded Guns

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – STEVE BANKS (“BANKS”) , age 50, of New Orleans, was sentenced on July 22, 2026, after previously pleading guilty to violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act and the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced BANKS to 181 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. According to court documents, law enforcement searched BANKS’s apartment on October 21, 2024, and seized over 1,200 grams of crack cocaine, items used to manufacture and weigh crack cocaine, over $12,000 in cash, 3 loaded guns, ammunition, and identifying information for BANKS. The guns included: (1) Zastava Model ZPAP85, 5.56 millimeter semi-automatic rifle, fully loaded with live ammunition in a 30 round magazine, (2) Glock Model 22, 40 millimeter, semi-automatic pistol, with a loaded extended magazine, which had been reported stolen, and (3) Glock Model 17Gen5, 9 millimeter semi-automatic pistol, loaded with a standard magazine. U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit is in charge of the prosecution. 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. 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. * * *


title: Convicted Drug-Trafficker Guilty of Distributing Fentanyl and Methamphetamine and Committing Federal Firearms Offenses

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SHERWIN WHITE, JR. (“WHITE”) , age 30, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on July 21, 2026, before Chief U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter to nine federal drug and gun offenses, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. Pursuant to his plea agreement with the government, WHITE has agreed to a sentence of 25 years in prison. WHITE pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846; distribution of a quantity of fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C); distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B); distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B); carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i); possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and a quantity of burenorphine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 841(b)(1)(E); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i). WHITE also admitted that he was subject to a sentencing enhancement because he has a prior conviction for distribution of heroin. According to court documents, over the course of five transactions between November 2024 and January 2025, WHITE , and his co-conspirators, sold fentanyl, methamphetamine, and firearms to individuals he believed to be legitimate purchasers. In total, WHITE and his co-conspirators sold over 110 grams of fentanyl, over 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine, and 13 firearms to individuals he believed to be legitimate purchasers. During one of the transactions, WHITE asked the individual he believed to be legitimate purchaser if they could press WHITE ’s fentanyl into pills. During another, WHITE told an individual he believed to be legitimate purchaser that he was trafficking large quantities of liquid methamphetamine into New Orleans. WHITE was arrested at his apartment on January 30, 2025. Law enforcement officers searched WHITE ’s apartment and recovered an additional 536 grams of fentanyl and 65 grams of methamphetamine that WHITE intended to sell, five digital scales, and three loaded firearms, including a Romarm/Cugir Model Micro Draco 7.62 caliber pistol loaded with 54 rounds of ammunition. As to each of his convictions for possession with intent to distribute 400 grams of fentanyl and conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, 400 grams of fentanyl and 500 grams of methamphetamine, WHITE faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to life in prison, up to a $20,000,000 fine, and at least 10 years of supervised release up to life. As to his convictions for distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, WHITE faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison up to life, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and at least eight years of supervised release up to life. As to his convictions for distributing a quantity of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana, WHITE faces up to 30 years in prison, up to a $2,000,000 fine, and mandatory minimum of six years of supervised release up to life. As to his each of convictions for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime, WHITE faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life imprisonment, which must run consecutively to each other and any other sentence, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. Each of the nine convictions also carries a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Pursuant to his plea agreement with the government, WHITE will serve 25 years in prison. The Court took WHITE ’s plea but deferred its decision on whether to accept or reject the negotiated plea until sentencing. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution. 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. ***


title: Beebe Man Responsible for Fentanyl Pills that Killed Individual Sentenced to 27 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—The primary distributor in a fentanyl conspiracy responsible for the distribution of thousands of pills, including one that resulted in a death, will spend the next 27 years in federal prison. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr. Trent Porter, 38, of Beebe, was sentenced to 324 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after his conviction for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death. There is no parole in the federal system. A federal grand jury indicted Porter, along with co-defendants Lamont Kirk, 50, and Willie Johnson, 43, both of Little Rock, in the fentanyl conspiracy that resulted in the death of an individual identified in court documents as D.R. In addition to the conspiracy charge, Porter was charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. For their role in the conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl that resulted in death, on October 29, 2025, Kirk was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison and on November 7, 2025, Johnson received a sentence of more than 14 years. All three defendants pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge in separate hearings on June 25, 2025, following an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Little Rock Police Department (LRPD). On August 20, 2023, LRPD officers responded to a distress call at a residence in Little Rock. Officers found D.R. deceased from what a state medical examiner concluded was a lethal dose of fentanyl. It is believed that D.R. died after ingesting a single fentanyl pill. The investigation revealed that D.R. obtained the fentanyl that caused the death from Kirk, at Kirk’s residence, the day that D.R. died. On August 23, 2023, DEA and LRPD officers searched Kirk’s residence, locating a firearm and a small amount of narcotics. Through continued investigation, officers discovered that Kirk obtained the pills he sold to D.R. from Johnson two days prior. Then, officers surveilling Johnson conducted a traffic stop on Johnson’s vehicle. Officers located 99 pills in Johnson’s pocket that were confirmed to contain fentanyl. As the investigation continued that same day, officers learned that Johnson obtained the fentanyl pills he was selling to Kirk from Porter. After locating and conducting surveillance on Porter, officers made contact with Porter in his vehicle. Porter had 308 fentanyl pills in a bottle in his pocket. Officers then brought Porter back to his residence, where they located an additional 1,617 fentanyl pills throughout the house. Porter was on active parole and had several prior felony convictions, including for multiple counts of possession with intent to deliver controlled substances, maintaining a drug premises, aggravated assault, possession of firearms by certain persons, breaking and entering, fleeing, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Because Porter has at least two prior convictions for a violent felony or serious drug offense, he is classified as a career offender. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Little Rock Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chris Givens. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR


title: Northeast D.C. Man Arrested, Charged in July 4 Shooting Death of Roommate

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – George Bernard Shaw, 53, of the District of Columbia., was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed, for the killing of Adeyinka Aderemi in the early morning of July 4, 2026, in Northeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Shaw made his initial appearance today before Superior Court Magistrate Judge Renee Raymond. Judge Raymond found probable cause that Shaw committed the offense of first-degree murder while armed and ordered that Shaw be held without bond pending trial. According to court documents, Shaw and Aderemi lived for several months in the same apartment on the 1800 block Irving Street, NE. Prior to the homicide, Shaw had made threats to kill Aderemi. On the date of the homicide, Shaw approached the victim in a parking lot outside the apartment and shot him once in the back of the head. Aderemi was pronounced dead at the scene. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Shaw’s apartment and recovered a revolver from his bedroom. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rashmika Nedungadi. Shaw is scheduled to appear before Judge Raymond for a preliminary hearing on Aug.31, 2026. These charges are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Follow us on X , Instagram , and YouTube Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc


title: Antiques and Art Dealer Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge Stemming from $2.1 Theft Scheme

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that DAVID L. JOHNSON, 66, of Greenwich, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell in New Haven to an offense stemming from his embezzlement of more than $2 million from an elderly victim and his estate. According to court documents and statements made in court, Johnson operated an antiques business, Antique Treasures LLC, and an auction business, Greenwich Auction, both based in Stamford. In approximately October 2018, an individual (“the victim”) executed a power of attorney, will, and trust naming Johnson as the victim’s agent, executor, and successor trustee, respectively. Johnson was not a beneficiary of the victim’s estate or trust. The victim died at the age of 87 in August 2020. After the victim’s death, Johnson stole more than $436,000 from one of the victim’s federal tax refund checks. The investigation revealed that Johnson stole a total of $2,168,719.24 from the victim and his estate. To date, Johnson has paid approximately $1.1 million in restitution. Johnson pleaded guilty to money laundering, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 30. Johnson has been released on a $250,000 bond since his arrest on December 18, 2025. This matter is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.


title: Two Gang Members Found Guilty of Murdering Victim Outside His O.C. Home During Mexican Mafia-Ordered Attempted Armed Robbery

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: SANTA ANA, California – Two members of Southern California street gangs operating under the Orange County branch of the Mexican Mafia prison gang were found guilty by a jury today of murdering a man outside the victim’s Placentia home while trying to rob him at gunpoint. Ysrael Jacob Cordova, 41, a.k.a. “Trips,” and “Tripper,” of Placentia, and Ricardo Valenzuela, 44, a.k.a. “Solo,” of Buena Park, each were found guilty of one count of murder in aid of racketeering activity (VICAR murder). “We will never tolerate senseless acts of gang violence on the streets, especially those ordered by convicted felons behind bars,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “We will vigorously prosecute gang violence to keep our community safe and to provide justice for the victims.” “Gang members directing crimes from behind bars cannot be tolerated.” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This case charged both the shooters and the perpetrator who ordered the robbery. Acts of violence like these have no place in our communities, and the Criminal Division will continue to work to keep our citizens safe.” “These convictions help ensure that those engaging in harm as part of gang-related activity will be brought to justice,” said Acting Assistant Director John R. Dozier Jr. of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “The FBI, showcased today through our efforts on the Homeland Security Task Force, remains committed to pursuing and disrupting individuals bringing violence to our communities.” The Mexican Mafia, a.k.a. “La Eme,” is a U.S.-based prison gang that has immense control over Hispanic street gangs in Southern California, directing illegal activities from prisons and collecting a portion of the proceeds from drug trafficking, illegal gambling, and other crimes committed on the streets. According to evidence presented at a nine-day trial, on January 19, 2017, Gregory Muñoz, 38, a.k.a. “Lou,” “Louie,” “Snoopy,” and “Snoops,” of Placentia, an associate of the Orange County Mexican Mafia, ordered Cordova and Valenzuela to rob R.R. Muñoz ordered the armed robbery on behalf of Johnny Martinez, 50, a.k.a. “Crow,” of Placentia, a Mexican Mafia brother in charge of criminal activities in Orange County and within Orange County jail and prison facilities at the time of the murder. At the time, Martinez was incarcerated in Salinas Valley State Prison in Monterey County. Muñoz at the time was an inmate at Calipatria State Prison in Imperial County. Later that day, Cordova and Valenzuela were driven to the victim’s neighborhood in Placentia to rob the victim at gunpoint. During the robbery, Cordova and Valenzuela brandished long guns, and Cordova shot and killed R.R. They then fled the murder scene. United States District Judge Fred W. Slaughter scheduled an October 22 sentencing hearing, at which time Cordova and Valenzuela will face mandatory sentences of life in federal prison. They have been in federal custody since the spring of 2022. So far, federal prosecutors have secured 15 convictions in this criminal case targeting the O.C. Mexican Mafia. Martinez and six other defendants are scheduled to go to trial in August 2027. They face charges including racketeering conspiracy, VICAR, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses. Muñoz, who two months after R.R.’s murder fell afoul of Martinez, who ordered an assault that left Muñoz injured, is scheduled to go to trial in July 2027 on the same charges of which Cordova and Valenzuela were convicted. The FBI; the Santa Ana Police Department; the Anaheim Police Department; the Fullerton Police Department; the Placentia Police Department; the Orange County District Attorney’s Office; and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation investigated this matter. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. 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. Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Scally and Caitlin J. Campbell of the Orange County Office and Trial Attorney Dennis Robinson of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) are prosecuting this case, with significant assistance from Trial Attorney Grace Bowen of VCRS.


title: Paramount Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Throwing Cinderblock at Border Patrol Agent During Violent Protest

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Paramount man has been sentenced to 10 months in federal prison for throwing chunks of cinderblock at Border Patrol agents and injuring one of them during a protest that turned violent, the Justice Department announced today. Jacob Daniel Terrazas, 31, of Paramount, was sentenced by United States District Judge Percy Anderson. The judge also imposed a $100 fine. “We were clear that if you attack federal agents you will be facing time in federal prison,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “This sentence delivers on that promise to hold those accountable who dare to interfere or attack federal agents. Don’t do it.” Terrazas pleaded guilty on January 20, 2026, to one misdemeanor count of simple assault on a federal officer, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1). According to his plea agreement, on June 7, 2025, a protest near a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) facility in Paramount turned violent. While Border Patrol agents worked to protect federal personnel and property, Terrazas and others threw chunks of a broken cinderblock at the agents. One of those chunks struck a Border Patrol Agent in the right shin, causing bruising and bleeding. HSI investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Eric Mackie of the Major Crimes Section prosecuted this case.


title: Tuba City Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Robbery

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Last week, Derick Lee Myron, 46, of Tuba City, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to life in prison, plus 40 years. On April 29, 2024, Myron, an enrolled member of the Hopi Tribe, shot and killed an unarmed victim and shot and seriously injured two others on the Navajo Nation. Myron then stole a truck, ran over the victim he had killed, and fled the crime scene. Over the next two days, Myron hid the firearm he used, and evaded arrest by hiding in the Moenkopi Wash. On February 6, 2026, a federal jury found Myron guilty of eleven charges, including Second-Degree Murder, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Robbery, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. “Justice cannot restore a life lost to senseless violence, but it is always worth pursuing. My thoughts are with the victims of this terrible crime and their families,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “I am thankful for the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners, whose tireless work led to the conviction and sentence in this case.” “A crime like this is heartbreaking for each victim and their families and there is no question that this sentence is just,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day. “The FBI takes its responsibility for investigating the most egregious crimes in Indian Country very seriously and we remain committed to aggressively pursuing justice for victims of these horrific crimes.” The FBI Phoenix Division’s Flagstaff office and the Navajo Police Department jointly conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Flagstaff Police Department, and Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Genevieve A. Ozark (Phoenix) and Dimitra H. Sampson (Flagstaff), District of Arizona, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-24-08050-PCT-MTL RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-124_Myron # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: HSTF Investigation Leads to Avondale Man Being Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Fentanyl Distribution

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Jose De Jesus Martinez, 25, of Avondale, was sentenced on July 13, by United States District Judge Sharad H. Desai to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Martinez previously pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl. On May 5, 2025, near Phoenix, Martinez was caught delivering approximately 150,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl. Martinez was arrested and agents seized the 13.3 kilograms of drugs. Fentanyl is a man-made opioid 50 times more potent than heroin. Just two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a potentially deadly dose. Counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, appearing nearly identical to other prescription pills, are often sold through social media or other illegitimate sources. Legitimate pharmaceutical pills cannot be bought through social media. The only safe medications are ones prescribed directly to you by a trusted medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist. For additional information and resources, including a Caregivers Fact Sheet, visit DEA.gov/onepill . 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 Phoenix comprises agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, United States Customs and Border Protection, United States Border Patrol, United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Secret Service, and the Bureau of Land Management, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona. The Glendale Police Department also provided significant assistance in this case. CASE NUMBER: 25-CR-00829-PHX-SHD RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-125_Martinez # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Repeat offender sentenced to 12 years for drug trafficking, money laundering crimes

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage woman was sentenced today to 12 and a half years in prison for trafficking drugs and laundering tens of thousands of dollars in illegal drug proceeds. According to court documents, Mao “Molly” Lee, 37, possessed methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and cocaine with the intent to distribute them into the community and laundered just under $100,000 in illegal drug proceeds, all as a repeat offender. In 2014, Lee was convicted of federal drug trafficking crimes and sentenced to just over three years in prison. Upon her release from prison, Lee absconded from court mandated supervision, committed nearly a dozen supervision violations and committed additional federal drug trafficking crimes. In February 2019, Lee was arrested at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on new federal drug trafficking charges after she attempted to smuggle over 300 grams of methamphetamine and 18 grams of heroin to Kodiak. Lee was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the second offense but was granted compassionate release in 2023 to serve the remainder of her sentence on supervised release. Within three months of her release, she absconded from supervision, resumed drug trafficking and began laundering money. During September to November 2024, Lee distributed drugs within Anchorage on multiple occasions. In total, Lee was responsible for trafficking over 75 grams of methamphetamine, over 25 grams of heroin, roughly six grams of fentanyl and under a gram of cocaine. Between July 2023 and November 2024, Lee conspired with others to launder over $90,400 in drug proceeds through Cash App and attempted to launder nearly an additional $32,000 in drug proceeds. On Aug. 21, 2025, Lee was indicted by a federal grand jury for the most recent offenses. On March 30, 2026, Lee pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute and one count of money laundering conspiracy. She also admitted to multiple supervised release violations from her previous federal conviction. Lee’s two previous federal drug trafficking convictions defined her as a career offender, which warranted a sentencing enhancement. During sentencing, the Court also ordered Lee to serve eight years on supervised release following her release from prison and pay a $25,000 fine. “Ms. Lee made a career out of drug trafficking, choosing a life of crime and dishonesty at every turn,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “We’ve seen the devastating effects drug trafficking has had on our communities and addressing this threat has been a priority for my office over the past year and a half. One by one, we will take down every drug trafficker that threatens the safety of our state.” “This sentence sends a clear message that repeat drug traffickers who continue to poison our communities will be held accountable,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division. “Every seizure and every prosecution disrupt the supply chain that fuels addiction and overdose deaths. Through DEA’s Fentanyl Free America, we are working alongside our law enforcement partners to reduce the availability of illicit fentanyl, dismantle the criminal organizations responsible for its distribution, and save American lives.” The DEA Seattle Field Division and Anchorage District Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Anchorage Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation Anchorage Field Office, U.S. Marshals Service and Anchorage Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ainsley McNerney and Chris Schroeder 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. UPDATE: This release has been updated to include additional law enforcement agencies. ###


title: Two Street Gang Members Found Guilty of Murdering Victim Outside His Home During Mexican Mafia-Ordered Armed Robbery

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Two members of a Southern California street gang operating under a branch of the Mexican Mafia prison gang were found guilty by a jury today of murdering a man outside his home while trying to rob him. Ysrael Jacob Cordova, 41, also known as “Trips,” and “Tripper,” of Placentia, California, and Ricardo Valenzuela, 44, also known as “Solo,” of Buena Park, California, each were found guilty of one count of murder in aid of racketeering activity (VICAR murder). “Gang members directing crimes from behind bars cannot be tolerated.” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This case charged both the shooters and the perpetrator who ordered the robbery. Acts of violence like these have no place in our communities, and the Criminal Division will continue to work to keep our citizens safe.” “We will never tolerate senseless acts of gang violence on the streets, especially those ordered by convicted felons behind bars,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “We will vigorously prosecute gang violence to keep our community safe and to provide justice for the victims.” “These convictions help ensure that those engaging in harm as part of gang-related activity will be brought to justice,” said Acting Assistant Director John R. Dozier Jr. of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “The FBI, showcased today through our efforts on the Homeland Security Task Force, remains committed to pursuing and disrupting individuals bringing violence to our communities.” The Mexican Mafia, also known as “La Eme,” is a U.S.-based prison gang that has immense control over Hispanic street gangs in Southern California, directing illegal activities from prisons and collecting a portion of the proceeds from drug trafficking, illegal gambling, and other crimes committed on the streets. According to evidence presented at a weeklong trial, the robbery was ordered by a Mexican Mafia member in charge of criminal activities in Orange County (O.C.), who was imprisoned at the Orange County jail at the time of the murder. He communicated the order to rob the victim to a Mexican Mafia member incarcerated in a different California prison, who in turn communicated the order to Cordova and Valenzuela. That same day, Cordova and Valenzuela were driven to the victim’s neighborhood in Placentia to rob him. Both Cordova and Valenzuela brandished long guns. Cordova shot and killed the victim. The robbery and murder were captured on a surveillance video recording which was introduced by the government as evidence during the trial. Below are screenshots from that video: Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 22 at which time Cordova and Valenzuela will face mandatory penalties of life in prison. They have been in federal custody since the spring of 2022. Federal prosecutors have secured 15 convictions in this criminal investigation targeting the O.C. Mexican Mafia. Of the eight remaining defendants, one is scheduled to go to trial in July 2027 on VICAR and firearms charges and seven are scheduled for trial in August 2027 on charges that include racketeering conspiracy, VICAR, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses. The FBI, the Santa Ana Police Department, the Anaheim Police Department, the Fullerton Police Department, the Placentia Police Department, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation investigated this matter. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. 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. Trial Attorney Dennis Robinson of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) with significant assistance from VCRS Trial Attorney Grace Bowen, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Greg Scally and Caitlin J. Campbell for the Central District of California are prosecuting this case.


title: Northern Border Alien Smuggler Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Young Children in Transnational Human Smuggling and Money Laundering Scheme

body_text: Jesus Hernandez Ortiz, 38, of Puerto Rico, pleaded guilty today in the District of Vermont to one count of conspiracy to illegally bring aliens to the United States and one count of illegally bringing at least one alien to the United States for the purpose of private financial gain. Hernandez Ortiz and a co-defendant, Francisco Antonio Luna Rosado, were charged on Jan. 29. According to court documents, as early as September 2023, Hernandez Ortiz was added to an encrypted chat platform that coordinated drivers for long distance trips, including the pick-up of aliens illegally crossing into the United States from Canada. In mid-September 2023, Hernandez Ortiz agreed to such a trip. Hernandez Ortiz rented a commercial van in New Jersey and drove the van to the designated pick-up location in Holland, Vermont, at the assigned time. Hernandez Ortiz’s co-conspirators updated him on the exact location and time of the pick-up. Once there, Hernandez Ortiz picked up a group of twelve, including two young children, who had just entered the United States illegally. Hernandez Ortiz expected payment of $400 per alien ($4,800 total) upon arrival in New York City. Images of the rented Home Depot van, which Hernandez drove during a smuggling event, that law enforcement stopped. Text messages between Luna Rosado (left side in blue) and Hernandez (right side in green), with translations into English, discussing the alleged smuggling operation. “The defendant joined a sophisticated illegal alien smuggling network, which spanned at least three continents, and even smuggled young children,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Smuggling illegal aliens over our borders — whether southern or northern — puts both aliens and the American people at risk and violates the sanctity of our laws and our national security. The Department of Justice will continue to aggressively prosecute alien smugglers to enforce our criminal laws against illegal immigration and keep the American people safe.” “The northern border is incredibly dangerous and anyone encouraging or facilitating the smuggling of aliens, especially children, across the border in these remote locations is putting lives at risk,” said Acting Deputy Executive Associate Director Matthew Millhollin of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “Hernandez Ortiz has admitted to smuggling aliens for profit and now he’s facing real prison time. HSI and our law enforcement partners are using intelligence-focused investigations to secure our borders and stop alien smugglers in their tracks.” “Human smuggling, especially that of children, is a crime that preys on the most vulnerable populations,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Richard J. Fortunato of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Swanton Sector. “The incredible work of Swanton Sector’s Intelligence Unit, in collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations, was essential in preventing the smuggling and potential trafficking of these individuals and children. Border Patrol will continue to ensure these bad actors are apprehended and held accountable for their crimes.” The Swanton Sector Intelligence Unit assigned to the U.S. Border Patrol Newport Station and the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England Office led U.S. investigative efforts, with assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force. Trial Attorneys Jake Drucker and Emily Cohen of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, Trial Attorney Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia Cowles for the District of Vermont are prosecuting the case. The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section's (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations. MNF’s Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit investigates and prosecutes sophisticated money laundering schemes involving financial facilitators, gatekeepers, and other individuals and entities laundering criminal proceeds, and litigates complex civil forfeiture cases to recover assets on behalf of victims. The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/ HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 465 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 419 U.S. convictions; more than 363 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.


title: Medical Supply Company Owner Convicted of $30M Medicare Fraud Scheme

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: A federal jury in the Middle District of Florida convicted an Oklahoma business owner and chiropractor yesterday for his role in a yearslong scheme that attempted to bilk Medicare, TRICARE, and the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) out of over $30 million by purchasing patient information, medical practitioners’ signatures, and doctors’ orders for orthotic braces and glucose monitors that patients did not want or need. “The defendant turned private medical data into a pipeline for personal profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Every fake doctor’s order generated was a direct attack on systems built to care for some of our nation’s most vulnerable. Yesterday’s verdict makes clear that if you exploit our seniors and military families to fill your own pockets, you will answer for every dollar stolen.” “The defendant bought patient data and used it to generate sham medical orders, targeting seniors and people with disabilities for exploitation. This scheme sought to drain millions from federal health care programs meant to support Americans in need,” said Miranda L. Bennett, Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations at the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “This verdict makes clear that HHS OIG and our law enforcement partners will hold accountable anyone who tries to defraud these programs or prey on the people they serve.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Mark Loftis, 39, of Cushing, Oklahoma, paid over a million dollars to marketers who worked with call centers to persuade elderly and disabled Americans to provide their personal information, including their health insurance information. Loftis and his co-conspirators then used that information to obtain signed orders for orthotic braces and continuous glucose monitors that were generated by telemedicine doctors and nurse practitioners who never examined, and often never spoke to the patients. Loftis and his co-conspirators used these doctors’ orders to bill federal health care programs. Loftis also concealed a conspirator’s management role in his company and his billing of claims generated by other unenrolled medical suppliers. In total, Loftis obtained over $8 million from the false and fraudulent claims. Loftis continued the scheme for three years despite receiving a steady stream of complaints from beneficiaries and family members of beneficiaries who reported that their elderly parents suffered from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, making them especially vulnerable to the sales tactics of Loftis’s conspirators. Office of Back Pain Home Supplies, one of Loftis’s medical supply companies in Drumright, Oklahoma The jury convicted Loftis of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 7, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. HHS-OIG, FBI, DCIS, and VA-OIG investigated the case. Acting Assistant Chief Catherine Wagner and Trial Attorney Raymond Beckering III of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the 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. The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Massachusetts Man Sentenced for Role in Cockfighting Operation

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: A Massachusetts man was sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for his role in a 2022 cockfighting operation in which he brought roosters from Massachusetts to Rhode Island for animal fighting. Luis Castillo, 38, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. Dubose for the District of Rhode Island to two years of probation. Castillo previously pleaded guilty on Jan. 21 to violating the Animal Welfare Act in connection with his role in a 2022 cockfighting operation. As part of his plea, Castillo admitted that he travelled from Massachusetts to Rhode Island with roosters to participate in cockfighting for, sport, wagering, and entertainment. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles C. Calenda for the District of Rhode Island made the announcement. This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigation, and Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Rhode Island State Police, Massachusetts State Police, Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Law Enforcement Division, Providence, Woonsocket, and Attleboro Police Departments. The matter was prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Gary Donner and Assistant Chief Stephen Da Ponte of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney John McAdams for the District of Rhode Island.


title: Justice Department Files Complaint Against Manufacturer and  Retailer of Allegedly Imminently Hazardous Immersion Water Heaters

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department, together with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), announced today the filing of a complaint against Cixi Miaojie Electrical Appliance Co. Ltd., and Changsha Jiayi Tianzhuo Trading Co. Ltd. of China, seeking mandatory recall relief for consumers under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) for Defendants’ manufacture and sale of allegedly imminently hazardous immersion water heaters. “The Department of Justice will not allow dangerous products manufactured in China or elsewhere to flow to American consumers and expose unwitting families to the risk of serious injury or death,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This complaint seeks the urgent recall of these products in order to protect American consumers from imminent danger.” “The Justice Department is committed to protecting Americans from hazardous products, including deadly products made in China and imported into the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Working with the CPSC, we will hold accountable those who put hazardous products in the hands of American consumers.” “When dangerous products threaten American families, the Commission will not hesitate to use every authority Congress has entrusted to us,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Peter Feldman. “Today’s action is the Commission’s first use of its Section 12 imminent hazard authority since 1987, underscoring our commitment to making full use of the tools Congress provided to protect consumers. I want to thank the Department of Justice for its outstanding partnership in this effort. Our collaboration has never been stronger, and together we are ensuring that those who place imminently hazardous products into the U.S. marketplace are held accountable.” The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges that Defendants manufactured and sold immersion water heaters to consumers in the United States under the label “Lakkzoom” and that Defendants’ immersion water heaters are imminently hazardous consumer products because the immersion heaters can overheat and catch fire within minutes when energized and either completely or partially out of water. The complaint further alleges that the CPSC received 235 fire-related reports, investigated several of those incidents involving Defendants’ immersion water heaters and that the CPSC’s testing of the heaters showed that they could catch fire within minutes in certain circumstances. The CPSA authorizes lawsuits to be brought against manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers to require a recall of consumer products that present an imminent and unreasonable risk of death, serious illness, or severe personal injury. The United States is represented in this action by Senior Trial Attorney James T. Nelson and Trial Attorney Jordan A. Ryan Rinear from the Enforcement Section of the Civil Division’s Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean M. Tepe for the District of Columbia, with the assistance of Michael Rogal, Joseph Kessler, Renee McCune and Alex Dennis of the CPSC. For more information about the Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch and its enforcement efforts visit www.justice.gov/civil/enforcement-affirmative-litigation-branch . The claims made in the complaint are allegations that, if the case were to proceed to trial, the government would be required to prove by a preponderance of the evidence.


title: Former Gymnastics Coach and Social Media Content Creator Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of Children

body_text: Theresa Mitchell, 44, formerly of Navarre, Florida, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to one count of conspiracy to produce and distribute child pornography, two counts of production of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to court documents, between 2023 and 2025, Theresa Mitchell conspired with Christopher Buckeridge to produce and sell images of minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Mitchell sold and distributed those images and videos to customers on social media platforms, messaging applications, and subscription-based websites. Buckeridge also sent Mitchell hundreds of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of minors, including material that depicted the sadistic sexual abuse of prepubescent children. Ultimately, Mitchell received hundreds of thousands of dollars from selling images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. On March 17, a federal magistrate judge issued a warrant for the arrest of Mitchell and Buckeridge. Mitchell was arrested by federal agents in central Pennsylvania on March 19 and remains in custody. Mitchell faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison on the child pornography production and conspiracy counts. Mitchell also faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the child pornography receipt and possession counts, as well as the money laundering conspiracy count. If convicted, Mitchell will be required to pay restitution to her victims and to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). A U.S. district judge will determine Mitchell’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney John “Jack” P. Heekin for the Northern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley of the FBI Jacksonville Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingengo of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement. The case is being jointly investigated by HSI, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the FBI. Trial Attorney Eduardo Palomo of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney David L. Goldberg for the Northern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Florida Pharmacist Convicted of Massive Oxycodone Distribution Conspiracy

body_text: A federal jury in the Southern District of Florida convicted a Florida licensed pharmacist and pharmacy owner yesterday for her role in dispensing over 300,000 oxycodone 30mg pills to pharmacy patrons who had no medical need for the drug. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Olushola Yusuf, 60, of Tampa, dispensed oxycodone to nearly all her pharmacy customers. Yusuf charged customers approximately 10 times the typical cost of the drug and required payment from them in cash. In total, Yusuf dispensed at least 335,351 pills of oxycodone 30mg during the conspiracy. Oxycodone 30mg is the maximum strength available of the drug and is both sought after and potentially dangerous due to its potency. It is typically prescribed to seriously ill patients, such as those suffering from chronic cancer pain or traumatic injuries. “The defendant abused the public trust by using her pharmacies to unlawfully distribute deadly opioids,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “This conviction sends an unmistakable message: whether you deal drugs on a street corner or from behind a pharmacy counter, the Fraud Division will hold you fully accountable under the law.” “Olushola Yusuf did not simply ignore red flags. She built her business around them,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “She knowingly flooded South Florida communities with more than 335,000 high-dose oxycodone pills, even after her employees and the DEA warned her about the dangers of her conduct. Yusuf charged extraordinary cash prices, served drug dealers and customers who traveled long distances, and put profit ahead of patients, public safety, and her responsibilities as a pharmacist. Yesterday, a federal jury held her accountable.” “Pharmacists occupy a position of public trust and serve as a critical safeguard against the diversion of controlled substances,” said DEA Chief of Operations Matthew W. Allen. “By dispensing hundreds of thousands of oxycodone pills to virtually anyone willing to pay inflated cash prices, the defendant abandoned that responsibility, exploited addiction, and endangered lives for personal profit. This conviction reinforces DEA’s commitment to the American people: no one is above the law when they violate the public’s trust and contribute to the unlawful distribution of dangerous drugs.” “By distributing dangerous and highly addictive narcotics, the defendant demonstrated a clear disregard for their community and endangered countless residents who should have been able to trust their pharmacist,” said FBI Co-Deputy Director Christopher Raia. “The opioid epidemic continues to plague our nation, which is why the FBI, along with our partners, will continue to hold the criminals poisoning our communities with these drugs accountable.” Yusuf owned and operated two pharmacies, Boots LLC d/b/a Striderite (Boots) in Margate, Florida, and Chans Pharmacy Plus, Inc. (Chans) in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Yusuf distributed oxycodone 30mg pills through these pharmacies. Customers drove long distances across the state of Florida to have Yusuf fill prescriptions that they could not get filled at any other pharmacy. Some customers paid as much as $1,000 a month in cash to Yusuf for the drugs. And some customers were drug dealers, who picked up oxycodone pills purportedly on behalf of dozens of patients at a time who were not present. According to witnesses at trial, Yusuf kept the doors to her pharmacies locked during business hours, directing employees only to open the door for certain identified customers. Yusuf continued to dispense the oxycodone in this way even after repeated warnings from her employees and the DEA about the dangers of her pharmacy operations. Boots Pharmacy in Margate, FL. Chans Pharmacy in Pembroke Pines, FL. Cash paid to Yusuf for oxycodone 30mg The jury convicted Yusuf of conspiracy to illegally distribute drugs and five counts of illegal drug distribution. Yusuf’s co-defendant, Saman Gimenez, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to illegally distribute drugs and is scheduled to be sentenced in October of this year. Yusuf faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count. A sentencing hearing will occur on October 14, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. HHS-OIG, FBI, and DEA are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Angela Benoit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline DerOvanesian for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the 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. The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Chinese National Indicted for Role in Gift Card Fraud Conspiracy in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation

body_text: A federal grand jury in the District of New Hampshire returned an indictment yesterday charging a Chinese national and resident of Lynnfield, Massachusetts, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in an international gift card fraud conspiracy. According to the indictment, Jinbin Ren, 38, and co-conspirators, acquired gift cards stolen from victims through romance fraud, elder fraud, hacking, theft, and other scams. The conspirators then used the gift cards to purchase and ship high-value electronics to Ren’s warehouse in Salem, New Hampshire. These electronics were then consolidated and reshipped to China. The conspirators used WeChat, a Chinese messaging application, to coordinate purchases, sales, shipments, and payments through cryptocurrency. Electronics found in Ren’s warehouse were traced to fraudulently obtained gift cards from American victims across multiple states. The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan for the District of New Hampshire, Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Acting Inspector in Charge Jason Buckley of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division. The case is being investigated by HSI New England, IRS Criminal Investigations Boston, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Boston, and the Concord, NH Police Department. Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen and Madison Albrecht of the Justice Department’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Chen for the District of New Hampshire are prosecuting the case. The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations. MNF’s Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit investigates and prosecutes sophisticated money laundering schemes involving financial facilitators, gatekeepers, and other individuals and entities laundering criminal proceeds, and litigates complex civil forfeiture cases to recover assets on behalf of victims. This prosecution is also 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 U.S. 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. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Barrio Azteca Member Pleads Guilty to Racketeering and Drug Conspiracy Charges Related to 2010 U.S. Consulate Murders in Juarez

body_text: A Bario Azteca gang member pleaded guilty today in federal court in El Paso, Texas, for being part of a racketeering and drug trafficking conspiracy which included acting as the lookout in the murders by Barrio Azteca members of a U.S. Consulate Juarez employee, her husband, and the husband of another U.S. consulate employee. Enrique Guajardo Lopez, also known as “Kiki,” 59, of Juarez, Mexico, pleaded guilty today to racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute and import drugs. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Lopez faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. According to court documents and information presented in court, Lopez is one of 35 Barrio Azteca members and associates based in the United States and Mexico who were charged in the third superseding indictment in 2011 for allegedly committing various criminal acts, including racketeering, narcotics distribution and importation, retaliation against persons providing information to U.S. law enforcement, extortion, money laundering, obstruction of justice, and murder. Of the 35 defendants, 10 Mexican nationals were charged for their role in the March 13, 2010 murders of U.S. Consulate employee Leslie Ann Enriquez Catton; her husband Arthur Redelfs; and Jorge Alberto Salcido Ceniceros, the husband of a U.S. Consulate employee. All the defendants have been apprehended, and 30 have pleaded guilty. Three defendants have been convicted at trial and one committed suicide before the conclusion of his trial. One defendant remains pending trial. The Barrio Azteca (BA) is a violent street and prison gang that began in the late 1980s and expanded into a transnational criminal organization. In the 2000s, the BA formed an alliance in Mexico with “La Linea,” which is part of the Juarez Drug Cartel (also known as the Vincente Carrillo Fuentes Drug Cartel or VCF). The purpose of the BA-La Linea alliance was to battle the Chapo Guzman Cartel and its allies for control of the drug trafficking routes through Juarez and Chihuahua. The drug routes through Juarez, known as the Juarez Plaza, are important to drug trafficking organizations because they are a principal illicit drug trafficking conduit into the United States. The gang has a militaristic command structure and includes captains, lieutenants, sergeants, and soldiers — all with the purpose of maintaining power and enriching its members and associates through drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion, intimidation, violence, threats of violence, and murder. The BAs were directly involved in drug trafficking, and BA members would also conduct enforcement operations for VCF, including acting as hit men to commit murders and assaults. On the day of the Consulate murders, Lopez acted as a lookout for other BA members who targeted and murdered the victims. Enriquez was four months pregnant, and her fetus was also killed. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas, Acting Special Agent in Charge Conal Whetten of the FBI El Paso Field Office, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Mark Putnam of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) El Paso Field Division made the announcement. This case is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Jay Bauer of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, Trial Attorney Amy Schwartz of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Spitzer of the Western District of Texas. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico and the Criminal Division’s Offices of International Affairs and Enforcement Operations provided significant assistance in this case. The case was investigated by the FBI El Paso Field Office, Albuquerque Field Office (Las Cruces Resident Agency); DEA Juarez; and DEA El Paso. Special assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Federal Bureau of Prisons; U.S. Diplomatic Security Service; the Texas Department of Public Safety; the Texas Department of Criminal Justice; El Paso Police Department; El Paso County Sheriff’s Office; El Paso Independent School District Police Department; Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission; New Mexico State Police; Dona Ana County, New Mexico Sheriff’s Office; Las Cruces, New Mexico Police Department; Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility and Otero County Prison Facility New Mexico.


title: Austin Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: AUSTIN, Texas – An Austin man was sentenced in a federal court in Austin to 220 months in prison for trafficking fentanyl while in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. According to court documents, on March 24, 2023, Daltha Ray Terrell, aka Goo Ray, 31, presented himself to a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his arm claiming that someone had shot him. Officers secured his car and obtained a search warrant. Located within the car were approximately 636 blue pills with “M-30” markings. Officers also discovered two firearms. Further investigation revealed that Terrell was not shot by another individual but had shot himself when attempting to pull his firearm from his jacket. Additionally, the pills found in his vehicle tested positive for fentanyl. Months later, on Dec. 1, 2023, officers responded to an overdose on an Austin Capital Metro bus. The victim was declared deceased after efforts to revive him failed, and officers located a small amount of crushed blue powder that field tested for fentanyl. Video surveillance reflected that the deceased victim had boarded the bus near Terrell’s residence. Evidence from the victim’s phone and CashApp revealed that Terrell was the victim’s dealer. Autopsy results opined that “fentanyl toxicity” was the sole cause of the victim’s death. A state search warrant at Terrell’s residence resulted in the discovery of approximately 2,000 blue ''M-30" pills suspected to contain fentanyl, two handguns—one of which was equipped with a machinegun conversion device—and a shotgun that was later discovered to be stolen in a home invasion robbery one month prior to the execution of the search warrant. The investigation revealed that from June 6, 2023, until the date of Terrell’s arrest on May 22, 2024, Terrell engaged in the unbroken distribution of fentanyl in excess of 400 grams. Terrell pleaded guilty on Jan. 21, 2026, to one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm in a drug trafficking crime. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Austin Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Doug Gardner prosecuted the case. ###


title: Twelve Indicted in National Cargo Theft Conspiracy Targeting Nike in West Tennessee

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – Twelve people have been indicted in the Western District of Tennessee and are facing federal charges for their involvement in an organized cargo theft conspiracy targeting Nike’s North American Logistics Center in Memphis, Tennessee, according to recently unsealed indictments. The charges are the culmination of a multi-year investigation by FBI’s Cargo Theft Task Force. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the unsealing of the indictments today. As alleged in the indictment and documents submitted to the District Court: Between July 2021 and continuing to on or about June 19, 2024, the defendants worked together and with others to transport stolen Nike retail product throughout the United States. The investigation revealed the co-defendants stole at least $2 million in Nike product during this timeframe. In a typical theft, the defendants would identify product that they wanted to resell, locate it in the Nike warehouse, and place shipping labels to predetermined locations throughout the United States where they would retrieve and resell the stolen product. The individuals named in the indictment are: Roy Harvey, Jr., 39, of Los Angeles, CA Bereket Abraham, 39, of Los Angeles, CA Jorge Cuellar, 30, of Los Angeles, CA Keith Cannon, 40, of Memphis, TN Cadarian Mack, 35, of Memphis, TN Julian Baker, 36, of Memphis, TN Cortez Spencer, 39, of Memphis, TN Roderico McClellan, 33, of Memphis, TN Damon Johnson, 30, of Memphis, TN Joel Deluna, 42, of Chicago, IL Michael Perkins, 40, of Olive Branch, MS Marquesio Robinson, 47, of Charlestown, IN On May 21, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging all twelve individuals with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, and one defendant with interstate transportation of stolen property. The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Memphis is proudly known as ‘America’s Distribution Center’, and organized cargo theft conspiracies disrupt and harm crucial interstate commerce and businesses here in West Tennessee and across America. In order to protect the critical economic and logistics infrastructure of Memphis, we will always aggressively prosecute those who threaten it." “As alleged, these twelve defendants stole millions of dollars’ worth of merchandise and sold those stolen goods at the direct expense of sellers, shippers, and buyers,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “Organized cargo theft doesn’t just steal products – it steals time, trust, and profitability across the entire supply chain. Those who conspire to disrupt commerce and harm consumers will be met with a coordinated law enforcement response. The FBI’s Cargo Theft Task Force is committed to ridding our supply chains of organized crime and will relentlessly pursue those who seek to exploit or disrupt it.” This case was investigated by the FBI Nashville Field Office with assistance from the FBI Chicago Field Office and the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Lynn Crum and Special Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas Cohenmeyer, of the United States Navy Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law. ### For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates


title: Memphis Man Sentenced to Over 24 Years in Prison for Distributing Heroin and Carfentanil, Resulting in Fatal Overdose

body_text: Memphis, TN – A federal Judge has sentenced Steven McCurdy, 46, (aka "Stephen McCurdy", aka "Kroger Man", aka "Plug Tunchii") to over 24 years in prison for distributing heroin and carfentanil that resulted in death. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. On May 11, 2020, victim W.B. and a witness purchased what they believed to be heroin from the defendant, McCurdy, who the witness knew as "Kroger Man". The victim and witness then went to the witness’s home in Byhalia, Mississippi, where they took the drugs recently sold to them by McCurdy. Later that night, the witness awoke and found W.B. unresponsive. The witness called 911. First responders arrived within minutes, where W.B. was pronounced deceased on the scene. An autopsy was conducted by the Mississippi Medical Examiner’s Office. The cause of death for the victim was determined to be a combination of heroin and carfentanil toxicity. Another witness called by the Government during trial identified McCurdy as the person they knew as "Kroger Man", aka "Plug Tunchii", an individual who had sold the witness narcotics around the time of May 2020. In his statement to FBI agents upon his arrest, McCurdy admitted to selling marijuana and narcotics but claimed no one had overdosed on his products. On April 2, 2026, after a three-day jury trial, the jury rendered a verdict of guilty. On July 17, 2026, after hearing proof and arguments from the parties, Chief U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced McCurdy to a period of 292 months' incarceration, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Distribution of illegal narcotics is NOT a victimless crime and poses an immense threat to public safety. The drug seller, at every level of distribution, is at the root of the pervasive cycle of drug abuse. In order to prevent needless addiction, injury, violence, and death in our communities, we must act with urgency to stop and punish drug dealers that deliver death to our fellow citizens.” “Steven McCurdy fueled the distribution of dangerous drugs and narcotics, including heroin and carfentanil,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that individuals who profit from poisoning our communities will be held accountable. The FBI and our partners remain steadfast in our mission to protect our communities and will continue to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who distribute deadly drugs.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Byhalia Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Bryce H. Phillips and Wendy K. Caceres, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Erica Ronquillo, of the United States Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. ### For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Federal Jury Finds Cherry Tree Resident Guilty of Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in Death

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – After deliberating for one hour, a federal jury on July 20, 2026, found Mandi Litzinger, 44, of Cherry Tree, Pennsylvania, guilty on charges of distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury and death and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Litzinger was tried before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The evidence presented during the week-long trial established that, on or about February 12, 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Litzinger distributed a quantity of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl, which the jury also determined resulted in the serious bodily injury and death of another individual. Further, in and around February 2021, Litzinger conspired to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl. Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for November 19, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 20 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorneys Maureen Sheehan-Balchon and Hillary M. Weaver prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Litzinger.


title: Buffalo man pleads guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Giovanni Rosa, 32, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty to narcotics conspiracy before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a fine of $5,000,000. Between January and February 2025, Rosa conspired with others to sell fentanyl in the Buffalo area. Investigators conducted three controlled purchases of fentanyl from Rosa between January 30 and February 27, 2025. For each of the controlled purchases, Rosa would acquire approximately an ounce of fentanyl from his source of supply. This case 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 Buffalo/Rochester comprises agents and officers from HSI, the FBI, DEA, ATF, and IRS-CI, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett Fitzsimmons. The plea is the culmination of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division. Sentencing is scheduled for November 16, 2026, before Judge Sinatra. # # # #


title: Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced to 12 ½ Years in Prison

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Terry Detroit Page, 54, of Pineville, N.C., was sentenced today to 151 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for distributing methamphetamine, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. According to filed court documents and the sentencing hearing, law enforcement initiated an investigation into Page for drug trafficking in and around Charlotte. Using a confidential informant, law enforcement conducted multiple drug buys with Page of methamphetamine and fentanyl. In January 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Page’s residence. During search of the residence, law enforcement seized narcotics, drug paraphernalia, and two firearms, including a rifle. Page has a prior criminal conviction, and he is prohibited from possessing firearms. Page is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte 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.


title: Convicted Felon on State Probation Sentenced to 10 Years on Drug and Gun Charges

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Kuron Christopher Grant, 23, of Asheville, was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for distributing methamphetamine and illegally possessing a firearm in Asheville, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Grant’s 10-year sentence will run at the expiration of his North Carolina sentence for violating his state probation. “I have no patience for those that are given a second chance and return to a life of crime,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “We cannot give people unlimited chances when it comes to selling drugs and guns—a dangerous combination. Mr. Grant will have another decade in federal prison to think about that.” According to filed documents and court proceedings, while Grant was on probation for 2024 state convictions of carrying a concealed gun, common law robbery, and assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, law enforcement initiated an investigation into Grant for suspected drug trafficking in Buncombe County. Court records show that, between August and September 2025, on six occasions, Grant sold fentanyl and methamphetamine to law enforcement, as well as firearms, including a stolen AR rifle. On November 4, 2025, law enforcement arrested Grant and found in his backpack a short, barreled rifle fitted with an extended magazine. In total, according to court records, Grant was responsible for distributing more than 119 grams of pure methamphetamine and more than 181 grams of fentanyl and had illegally possessed three firearms. Grant is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Asheville Police Department, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville 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.


title: Convicted Drug Trafficker on Probation Sentenced to 15 Years for Distributing Methamphetamine

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A convicted drug trafficker on probation was sentenced today to 180 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Robert James Salyards, 52, of Claremont, N.C., was ordered to serve five years of supervised release after he completes the prison term. “Career criminals like Salyards are fueling addiction and ruining communities,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “By removing him from the streets, we have, as he admitted, put an end to at least 50 drugs sales every week.” According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, Salyards was on state parole for a drug conviction. On February 25, 2025, officers with the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office stopped Salyards’ vehicle for driving at excessive speed. During the stop, the officers observed a glass meth pipe at the front console. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, the officers found in the center console a clear plastic bag containing 111 grams of methamphetamine. They also located an eye glass case containing a plastic bag with 3.7 grams of methamphetamine. On the driver’s seat of the vehicle there was a bag containing another clear plastic bag with 26 grams of methamphetamine. During the investigation, Salyards admitted to selling methamphetamine, and that he made approximately 50 drug sales per week. Due to Salyards’ multiple prior convictions, including Possession With Intent to Manufacture, Sell, or Distribute Methamphetamine, he was sentenced as a career criminal. Salyards is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Hickory Police Department for their investigation of the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte 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.