body_text: Eight Illegal Alien Tren de Aragua Members from Venezuela Charged with Kidnappings that Resulted in Death, Racketeering Involving Murder, and Other Violent Offenses in Texas and Illinois Following Homeland Security Task Force Investigations Note: A copy of the indictment in the Northern District of Texas can be found here . A copy of the complaint and affidavit in the Northern District of Illinois can be found here . During a press conference held on July 1, 2026, in Washington, D.C., the Department of Justice announced charges filed in the Northern Districts of Texas and Illinois against eight alleged members of designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA) for murders, kidnappings, and firearms offenses. All eight defendants charged in these Homeland Security Task Force operations are illegal aliens believed to be from Venezuela who illegally enter the United States between December 2021 and April 2024. One defendant charged in Northern Texas is now in custody in Colombia for unrelated charges. “Eight TdA members illegally entered the United States between 2021 and 2024 and are alleged to have committed horrific crimes, including murdering a father in front of his teenage daughter,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This should never have happened in the first place, but under the Biden administration, open-border policies left the doors wide open, and hundreds of suspected and convicted Tren de Aragua terrorists poured into this country. In the 18 months since President Trump stopped this madness, designating Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization, we have charged nearly 350 of its members and associates with egregious violent crimes – murders, sex trafficking, kidnapping – along with weapons and drug trafficking, robbery, and widespread financial crimes. This work requires an all government, all law enforcement approach, which is precisely what has happened under the leadership of President Trump.” TdA is a violent transnational criminal organization that originated as a prison gang in Venezuela in the mid-2000s. TdA has expanded its criminal network throughout the Western Hemisphere and established a presence in the United States. TdA’s criminal activities include a variety of violent and criminal offenses, including drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, commercial sex trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, theft, fraud, and extortion. TdA members also commit murder, assault, and other acts of violence to enforce and further the organization’s criminal activities. As alleged in court documents, in the United States, TdA is organized into subsets or cells based on geographic area of operation. Each regional cell typically has one or more leaders who are responsible for, among other things, managing the criminal enterprise’s activities in the territory, collecting money from other members and associates to finance gang activities and crimes, directing day-to-day management of the region, and planning and ordering acts of violence against rival gang members, associates, and other victims. The leaders of these subsets or cells report to, receive directives from, and distribute criminally-derived assets and proceeds to TdA leaders throughout the United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America. Since Jan. 20, 2025, the Department has federally charged over 300 members and associates of TdA across 28 districts. “On this 250th anniversary of the birth of our great nation, I am reminded of how lucky we are to enjoy the many freedoms that our country provides. Which is why, as U.S. Attorney, I am laser focused on ensuring that North Texans can enjoy freedom and safety in all our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould for the Northern District of Texas. “This indictment of TdA gang members is a significant step to ensure that this dangerous transnational gang does not oppress, intimidate or harm our fellow North Texans. Let this serve as a warning to all TdA members: you will not gain a stronghold in the Northern District of Texas.” “President Trump‘s historic leadership designating Tren de Aragua as a Foreign Terrorist Organization has given this FBI and our law-enforcement partners the tools we need to wipe out their operations,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Now, every single day across this country, we are decimating their presence in America - dismantling and disrupting over 2,700 violent gangs, a 365% increase, with a 500% increase in Tren de Aragua arrests since 2024. Today, thanks to tremendous work from FBI Chicago, FBI Dallas, and our partners as part of the FBI’s nationwide violent crime initiative Summer Heat 2.0, eight more alleged TdA members who entered the United States under the previous administration have been indicted or arrested and will face justice for their crimes.” “The complaint against these three TdA members should leave no doubt that the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office is going to aggressively pursue transnational criminal organizations and hold their members and associates accountable for their violent criminal acts,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois. “We will continue to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of TdA, which very deservedly has been designated by President Trump and his Administration as a terrorist organization. Our shared goal is crystal clear: to disrupt and dismantle TdA and not allow it to gain a foothold in the United States or Chicagoland. This Fourth of July weekend, as we celebrate the 250th birthday of the greatest nation on earth, many families in the Chicago area will celebrate with loved ones because the whole of federal government in Chicago is taking violent crime seriously and in a way that hasn’t been seen in years. The result is that the scourge of violence that has gripped Chicago for too long is beginning to see relief.” “Violent transnational gangs like Tren de Aragua pose a significant and ongoing threat to the safety of our communities,” said Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “This indictment is a testament to the dedication of our agents and the strength of our partnership through the Homeland Security Task Force. By working closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement, HSI continues to disrupt violent criminal organizations and protect communities across the United States.” Case summaries are below: Northern District of Texas On June 30, a grand jury in the Northern District of Texas returned charges against five alleged members of TdA. All five defendants are citizens and nationals of Venezuela. The defendants Hector Asdrubal Garcia Zuniga, also known as “Murry” and “Munra,” 36; Carlos Luis Zambrano Bolivar, 27; Jhonny Jesus Martinez Serrano, 31; Jhonatan Nahin Toro Gonzalez, 23; and Ehiker Alexander Morales Mendoza, also known as “El Ingeniero” and “El Negro,” 39, were indicted on racketeering charges involving murder, kidnapping, and other violent offenses. Each defendant is charged with racketeering conspiracy for allegedly conspiring and agreeing with one another, and with others, to conduct and participate directly and indirectly in the conduct of the affairs of the TdA enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity, which consisted of multiple acts involving murder, kidnapping, robbery, and bank fraud. Each defendant is charged with kidnapping in aid of racketeering for allegedly kidnapping three individuals on or about August 24, 2024, for the purpose of maintaining and increasing position in TdA. Garcia Zuniga, Zambrano Bolivar, and Martinez Serrano are also charged with murder in aid of racketeering for allegedly aiding and abetting each other in committing the murder of one of the individuals who was kidnapped on or about August 24, 2024. Additionally, Zambrano Bolivar is charged with using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and causing death through the use of a firearm. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould for the Northern District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the FBI Dallas Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard of HSI Dallas Field Office, and Chief of Police Kevin McCoy of the Farmers Branch, Texas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy Fugate and Caroline Poore for the Northern District of Texas and Joint Task Force Vulcan Trial Attorneys Jacob Operskalski, Kelly McGann, Stefani Hepford, and Josie Thomas are prosecuting this case. Northern District of Illinois On June 29, three alleged members of the transnational criminal organization, TdA, were charged in the Northern District of Illinois with participating in a conspiracy to kidnap and murder a man in Chicago. The criminal complaint charges Josue Pacheco Torres, 26, Julian Pachano, 19, and Kleiver Monasterio Briceno, also known as “Goofy,” 20, with kidnapping conspiracy and committing a kidnapping that resulted in death. The three defendants are believed to be Venezuelan nationals. Pachano was arrested late last night, while Torres was arrested early yesterday morning. Monasterio Briceno was already in law enforcement custody. According to the complaint, the defendants conspired to kidnap a man who was walking near Meyering Park on the South Side of Chicago on May 18. The victim was forced into a car and initially driven to a Chicago apartment. The defendants and other co-conspirators later transported the victim — while his wrists were bound together behind his back — to an abandoned building in Chicago, the complaint states. The following night, the victim’s mother contacted Chicago Police to request a wellness check at the abandoned building. The mother told police that she had been directed to the building by an individual with whom the mother had been communicating on the online messaging application WhatsApp. According to the complaint, Chicago Police entered the building and found the victim deceased inside the bathroom of an abandoned unit. The victim, who was discovered facedown with his wrists bound behind his back, had been shot multiple times and had also suffered blunt force injuries to his head, arms, neck, hands, and torso, the complaint states. According to the complaint, the conspiracy to kidnap and murder the victim was carried out in connection with the defendants’ involvement in TdA. Since 2024, law enforcement in Chicago has been investigating acts of violence, including murders and shootings, involving suspected members of TdA and its splinter faction, Anti-Tren. Additionally, at the time of the murder, Pacheco Torres was wearing an ankle monitoring bracelet as a condition of his pretrial release in a criminal prosecution pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. The charges and arrests were announced by U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois, Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta of the FBI Chicago Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino of HSI Chicago Field Office. The Chicago Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Chicago Field Office provided valuable assistance in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sushma Raju, Simar Khera, and Michael Spitulnik for the Northern District of Illinois and Joint Task Force Vulcan Trial Attorneys Jun Xiang, Katelan Doyle, and Andrew K. Chan are prosecuting this case. If convicted, the defendants in both the Northern District of Texas and the Northern District of Illinois and face up to life in prison. Pacheco Torres, Monasteria Briceno, Garcia Zuniga, Zambrano Bolivar, and Martinez Serrano also face the possibility of the death penalty. These cases are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of 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. HSTFs Chicago and Dallas comprise of agents and officers from the FBI, HSI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ATF, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), U.S. Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), HIDTA, and other federal, state, and local law enforcement, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern Districts of Illinois and Texas. These cases are also part of Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV). JTFV was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded at the direction of the Attorney General to target TdA. JTFV is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Western District of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; District of Nevada; and District of Arizona; as well as the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, and the Office of Judicial Attaché and DEA partners in Bogotá, Colombia. Additionally, the FBI, HSI, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV. A complaint and indictment are merely allegations of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Mexican National Charged with Illegal Drone Operation in Protected Airspace Before FIFA World Cup Match

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: A Mexican national was charged by criminal complaint for operating a drone without the proper authorization in violation of federal law, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Cristobal Torres Alvarez, 40, was charged by federal complaint on June 29, 2026, with operating as an airman without an airman’s certificate, in violation of 49 U.S.C. § 46306(b)(7). “The FIFA World Cup 2026 continues to be a success in North Texas. Fans from all over the world are getting a big Texas welcome. It is our duty to make sure that these fans as well as our great citizens of North Texas are protected from drone interference and potentially dangerous situations,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “If you operate a drone, you have a duty to know the law. And know that you cannot fly a drone over either Dallas Stadium or Fan Fest during the World Cup. If you disregard this warning, you should expect to be prosecuted in federal court.” “The FBI and our partners will continue to identify drone operators who violate Temporary Flight Restrictions. Our collective goal remains that FIFA World Cup 2026 events are safe for all participants and attendees,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “Before you fly a drone, I strongly encourage you to check for active flight restrictions using an FAA-approved B4UFLY service provider.” According to the complaint, Alvarez allegedly flew his unregistered drone, a DJI Mini 4 PRO, in the flight-restricted airspace around Dallas Stadium (also known as AT&T Stadium) while a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) was in effect. To legally operate his drone within the flight-restricted airspace, Alvarez must have obtained an Airman’s Certificate and must have been a Part 107-licensed pilot with a current certificate or have a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization, among other requirements. Interception of Alvarez’s drone operation was part of the FBI’s drone counter-surveillance efforts for the FIFA World Cup match at Dallas Stadium that same evening. So far, during the five FIFA World Cup 2026 games held in Arlington, over 70 drones have been seized. The FBI would like to once again state that there is a “no-fly zone” around the Dallas Stadium and Dallas Fan Fest for three hours prior to each match and three hours after each match. It is a federal crime to fly a drone into a “no-fly zone.” If convicted, Alvarez faces up to three years in federal prison. The defendant remains in custody pending further court proceedings. The Federal Bureau of Investigation – Dallas Field Division, Federal Air Marshal, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Arlington, Texas Police Department, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric B. Chen is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Illegal Alien Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Carjacking and Discharging a Firearm

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

body_text: A Peruvian national who committed an armed carjacking was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Omar Gayoso, 22, pled guilty in March 2026, to carjacking and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in connection with a July 2025 armed carjacking. On June 24, 2026, United States District Judge Ed Kinkeade sentenced Gayoso to 168 months in federal prison. The Court also ordered Gayoso to pay $26,000 in restitution. “This defendant not only entered our country illegally, but once he got here, he committed horrendous crimes, including carjacking, assault, and discharging a firearm while committing a violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Raybould. “It doesn’t end there. He led officers on a high-speed chase around the streets of Dallas, jeopardizing the safety of dozens of other North Texans as well as our great DPD officers. This 14-year sentence reflects the seriousness of his crimes, and once he is done serving all that time, he will be on a one-way flight back to Peru.” “This defendant committed serious crimes that put the community and police officers in danger. Violent acts like this cannot and will not be tolerated in North Texas. ATF will leverage its resources to ensure that people who commit acts like this end up exactly where they should end up . . . Federal Prison,” said Special Agent in Charge Brian Garner of the ATF Dallas Field Division. According to court documents, Gayoso discharged several shots into the air to intimidate the victims and forcibly took their car keys, vehicle, and other property. After driving off in the stolen vehicle, he proceeded to flee from DPD officers and initiated a high-speed chase—at one point reaching a speed of 123 miles per hour—that ended only after he struck another vehicle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Luis Suarez and Ashley Koos prosecuted the case.


title: Fort Worth Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Drug Trafficking - Over 244 Kilograms of Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: A Fort Worth man was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for possessing with intent to distribute over 244 kilograms of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Evaristo Hidrogo, 31, was sentenced on June 26, 2026, by Chief United States District Judge Reed O’Connor for possessing with intent to distribute a controlled substance – over 244 kilograms of methamphetamine with a 100 percent purity level as well as other controlled substances and three firearms. “This lengthy prison sentence serves as a warning to anyone distributing narcotics in the Northern District of Texas,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute drug traffickers, as we remain committed to make the communities in which we live safer.” “This 480-month sentence of Mr. Hidrogo sends an unmistakable message to those who flood North Texas communities with methamphetamine, you will be held accountable,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Joseph B. Tucker. “The men and women of DEA and our law enforcement partners remain committed to identifying and dismantling the criminal organizations distributing this poison throughout the DFW Metroplex, and will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safety of our communities.” Court records reveal that on November 18, 2025, Hidrogo was involved in a high-speed chase with law enforcement. After crashing into another vehicle, he continued to flee from officers in his vehicle. Not long after, Hidrogo was apprehended. During his arrest, police found 56 grams of methamphetamine on his person. In his vehicle, they found another 823 grams of methamphetamine, 301 grams of heroin, 55 grams of cocaine, and two firearms. Further investigation led law enforcement to search two additional locations, resulting in the seizure of additional narcotics and a firearm that were attributed to Hidrogo. At a storage facility in Fort Worth, they found 244 kilograms of methamphetamine with a purity level of 100 percent. At a residence, they found approximately 10 kilograms of methamphetamine and two kilograms of heroin. The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Fort Worth District Office, with assistance from the Tarrant County Sherrif’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Garland prosecuted the case.


title: Federal, State, and Local Agencies Dismantle Abilene Drug Conspiracy and Seize Narcotics

body_text: Three men were arrested and charged by federal complaint in Abilene, Texas for their roles in a months-long narcotics operation, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Inez Jonathan Leal, 28, and Joseph Santos Carillo, 51, both from Abilene, Texas, and Luis Arturo Carrillo, Jr., 28, from California, were charged by federal complaint on June 24, 2026, with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. “This prosecution dismantled a drug trafficking conspiracy impacting Abilene and its surrounding areas. Three people, working in concert, to move poison through North Texas are now facing justice, and this office will continue to utilize every tool to disrupt drug networks that harm our communities and destroy families,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Cocaine, methamphetamine, codeine, and counterfeit pills flooding North Texas represent a direct threat to the safety of our communities, and DEA will not stand by while traffickers profit from that danger,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Joseph B. Tucker. “Alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, the DEA is committed to dismantling these networks and holding every individual involved fully accountable. This case reflects the strength of that partnership and our shared resolve to keep these poisons off our streets.” According to the criminal complaint, law enforcement agents and officers initiated a joint investigation into the narcotics trafficking of Leal, Joseph Carrillo, and Luis Carrillo. During a residential search warrant executed on June 24, agents seized: • Approximately 8 kilograms of cocaine (powder); • 30 kilograms of a methamphetamine; • Approximately 17,670 alprazolam pills – labeled as Farmapram, weighing approximately 4.5 kilograms; • 93 bottles of cough syrup containing codeine – labeled as Kodel, with a combined weight of 25,854 kilograms; • Approximately 75 pounds of marijuana and THC products; and • Multiple firearms. Photos of the narcotics seized are depicted below: If convicted, each defendant faces a statutory maximum penalty of up to life in federal prison. The defendants remain in custody pending further court proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Fort Worth District Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Abilene Police Department investigated the case. A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Venezuelan Citizen Sentenced for Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Yohandry Jose Molina-Camacho, age 19, a native and citizen of Venezuela illegally in the United States, was sentenced on June 1, 2026, to 8 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement. As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Molina-Camacho admitted that in August 2025, he sold another individual a Hi-Point CF380, .380-caliber pistol in exchange for $500. At the time he possessed the pistol, defendant knew he was an alien who had been illegally residing in the United States for approximately one year. Molina-Camacho also admitted that he knew he was not allowed to possess a firearm. “Thanks to the previous administrations failed border policies, criminal illegal aliens such as this defendant have been allowed to roam freely in our country,” said First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “Mr. Molina‑Camacho’s illegal possession of a firearm serves as a reminder of the risks posed when individuals engage in criminal activity while unlawfully present in this Country. Thanks to the work of the ATF, he will now be held accountable for his actions and will face deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence.” Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives said; “This sentence holds the defendant accountable for knowingly violating federal firearms laws by unlawfully possessing and selling a firearm despite knowing he was prohibited from doing so. When prohibited individuals possess and traffic firearms, they put communities at risk. Thanks to ATF NY Albany, HSI, Albany PD & USAO NDNY. We will continue working to reduce illegal firearm trafficking and protect our communities from gun violence.” ATF investigated this Project Safe Neighborhoods case with Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney A.J Vickey prosecuted this case. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Union Ex-President Pleads Guilty to Theft and Wire Fraud Charges

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kye Carbone, 69, of Athens, New York, pled guilty on June 22, to 3 counts of wire fraud and 3 counts of theft from a labor union. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Erica Weber, District Director, Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards, made the announcement. Between 2003 and 2023, Carbone served as the president of United Federation of College Teachers Local 1460, the union representing faculty members at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. Carbone pled guilty to stealing over $290,000 from the Local between 2011 and 2023, Carbone used the money for his personal expenses, restaurants, and travel. In 2023 Carbone was voted out of office. “Unions exist to protect and uplift their members, yet this defendant chose greed over duty, stealing from the very people he was entrusted to serve,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “I commend our investigative partners at DOL‑OIG and DOL‑OLMS, whose diligent work brought Mr. Carbone to justice. Let this serve as a warning: if you steal from hardworking Americans, the United States government will find you and hold you accountable.” “Carbone didn’t just steal money — he betrayed the union he served for nearly two decades, robbing the American taxpayer of hundreds of thousands of dollars. His actions represent a serious abuse of position and his blatant disregard for hardworking Americans. At the Office of Inspector General, we are unwavering in our mission to expose union fraud and ensure those who steal from American workers are held fully accountable. We will continue to work relentlessly with our law enforcement partners to crush these schemes, put fraudsters behind bars, and protect the integrity of our nation's labor unions,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. “The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards remains committed to safeguarding union financial integrity and combating fraud,” said New York District Director Erica Weber. “Alongside our partners in law enforcement, we will continue to identify criminal violations and pursue legal action when individuals unlawfully exploit their union positions without regard to the best interests of their members.” The wire fraud charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine per count, as well as up to 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release. The embezzlement charges carry a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000 per count, as well as up to 3 years of post-imprisonment supervised release. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Carbone’s guilty plea was accepted by the Honorable Anne M. Nardacci. Sentencing is set for October 20, 2026, in Albany, New York. The Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General, and the Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards, are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Walter is prosecuting the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ('Fraud Division'). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Broome County Man Indicted for Distribution and Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK – Thomas Murray, age 24, was arraigned on June 22 nd on an indictment charging him with Distribution of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James, made the announcement. Murray was arraigned on Monday, June 22 nd before United States Magistrate Judge Miroslav Lovric and was returned to state custody where he is currently being held on state charges. A trial on the indictment will be scheduled before United States District Court Judge Anthony J. Brindisi. According to the indictment, Murray distributed child pornography on a web-based messaging facility on two separate occasions in June 2024. The indictment also alleges that Murray possessed child pornography on two different electronic devices. The material found stemmed from a search warrant conducted on Murray’s residence on April 4, 2025, by the New York State Police, stemming from a cyber tip by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). “The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, together with our dedicated partners at the FBI and the New York State Police, have once again played a critical role in bringing an alleged predator into custody,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “The alleged reprehensible behavior displayed by this defendant serves as a powerful reminder that threats to our children are not abstract, they are real, persistent, and constantly evolving. I thank our partners for their tireless investigative efforts, which brought this defendant into custody so he can now face justice.” “As alleged, Mr. Murray perpetuated the abuse of children by both possessing and distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force leveraged the full weight of our partnership with New York State Police to ensure he was brought to justice for those disturbing actions. FBI Albany remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners at every level to hold accountable any predator looking to inflict harm on our children,” said Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge FBI – Albany. New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “Anyone engaged in acts that threaten the safety of children will be investigated for their illicit actions. The indictment is the result of great investigative synergy and clearly demonstrates that child pornography crimes will not be tolerated. With our partners in law enforcement, we will continue to investigate, develop, and implement effective response strategies to child sexual exploitation, cyber enticement, and internet crimes against children.” Murray faces a mandatory minimum term of 5 years in federal prison on the distribution charges, a maximum term of 20 years in federal prison for the distribution and possession offenses, a fine of up to $250,000, and a mandatory term of supervised release of between 5 years and life. Murray would also be required to register as a sex offender if convicted of the charged offenses. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. The charge in the indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the New York State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Cheung is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Leads to Machinegun Possession Indictment of Tallahassee Man

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Omarion Laparis Rashad, 21, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for possession of a machinegun. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge. Rashad appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for August 24, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida. If convicted, Rashad faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Tallahassee Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. 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 comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Gainesville Felon Pleads Guilty to Armed Drug Trafficking Charges

body_text: Gainesville, Florida – Eddie Jerome Scott, 38, of Gainesville, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to distribution of methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl; carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Time’s up for the armed drug traffickers in the Northern District of Florida who think they can flood our streets with narcotics and violence without consequence. Through Operation Take Back America , the Department of Justice is devoting its full might toward removing these thugs from our streets to deliver the safe, drug-free communities our citizens deserve.” Court documents reflect that the defendant sold methamphetamine at his home on two occasions in August and September 2025. During the September 2025 execution of a search warrant at the home, law enforcement seized over 1,232 grams of methamphetamine, 18.5 grams of cocaine, .29 grams of fentanyl, marijuana, cash, drug paraphernalia, a money counter and a loaded .22-caliber pistol. The defendant has multiple prior felony drug convictions spanning from 2007 to 2018 which prohibit him from possessing firearms. The defendant faces at least five years’ imprisonment and a maximum potential sentence of life, which includes not less than five years’ imprisonment consecutive to the drug sentences for the possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. The case involved an investigation by the Gainesville Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie Utt. Sentencing is scheduled for September 1, 2026, at 2:00 pm, in the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor. 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. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to more than Ten Years in Prison for Illegal Firearm Possession

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon has been sentenced on multiple firearms charges, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. U.S. District Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Robert Garrett, 32, of Birmingham, Alabama, to 130 months in prison. In March, Garrett pleaded guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug- trafficking crime. According to court records, on April 12, 2023, officers with the Birmingham Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle Garrett was driving. Officers ran Garrett’s information through dispatch and discovered that Garrett had several active warrants. The officers removed Garrett from the vehicle and placed him under arrest for those warrants. Officers smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle while Garrett was getting out of it. During the search of the vehicle, officers recovered a Glock .45 caliber pistol with a 25-round magazine on the driver’s floorboard and a backpack that contained marijuana. On August 3, 2023, ATF agents went to a residence in Birmingham to follow up on a federal firearms violation involving Garrett. Garrett met the agents at the door. Agents smelled the odor of marijuana on Garrett and emitting from inside the house. On the same day, Agents obtained a search warrant for the residence. During the search of the residence agents recovered marijuana, digital scales, ammunition, a SCCY 9mm pistol and more than $5000. ATF investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darius C. Greene prosecuted the case.


title: Winston-Salem Gang Member Sentenced to 38 Years in Prison for  Conspiring to Distribute Narcotics

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: GREENSBORO, N.C. –Chrisshawn Lamont Mobley, age 32, of Winston-Salem, appeared yesterday before the Honorable William L. Osteen, Jr., United States District Court Judge, and was sentenced to 456 months of imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute narcotics. The sentence will be followed by 4 years of supervised release. Mobley, a high-ranking G-Shine Bloods gang member, was charged along with ten other individuals for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine hydrochloride. According to evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, Mobley conspired to distribute over two kilograms of fentanyl and over thirty kilograms of methamphetamine, in addition to smaller amounts of other narcotics. Mobley and other coconspirators were responsible for shipping illegal narcotics into the Middle District of North Carolina and distributing them around Winston-Salem and the surrounding areas. All but one of Mobley’s codefendants have been found guilty and sentenced and are currently serving terms of imprisonment in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The codefendants and their sentences are as follows: Daquan Deonte Moses, age 29, of Winston-Salem– 126 months Malik Patience Smith, age 25, of Winston-Salem – 228 months Michael Jerel Hayes, age 38, of Winston-Salem – 180 months Kenan Orlando Balderas, age 28, of Winston-Salem – 120 months Christian Gregory Horn, age 26, of Walkertown - 96 months Kedrick Tyrone Burns, age 33, of Winston-Salem – 227 months Rashad Hubert Blue, age 30, of Winston-Salem – 168 months Robert Levon Jones, age 35, of Winston-Salem – 204 months Marlow Edward Rousseau, Jr., age 32, of Winston-Salem – 210 months The case against the remaining defendant, Eli Oliver Phelps, Jr., is ongoing. Dan Bishop, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, made the announcement and thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Winston Salem Police Department, and partner agencies including the Drug Enforcement Agency, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, and Stokes County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Martin, and Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle Pousson and Terry Meinecke. ###


title: FEDERAL JURY CONVICTS DENHAM SPRINGS MAN OF DRUG TRAFFICKING CONSPIRACY AND POSSESSION OF FIREARMS BY A CONVICTED FELON

body_text: After a two-day trial before U.S. District Court Judge John W. deGravelles, a federal jury unanimously convicted John I. Davis, age 47, of Denham Springs, Louisiana, of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and possession of firearms by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall. As the evidence at trial demonstrated, between March 1, 2021, and continuing until on or about April 23, 2021, Davis and his girlfriend, Madelyn Payne, repeatedly distributed large amounts of heroin to their customers in busy parking lots at shopping centers and fast-food restaurants in East Baton Rouge and Livingston parishes. Deputies also seized over 300 grams of heroin and over $40,000 hidden in a wall at the residence they shared. Deputies were also able to recover and seize multiple firearms from Davis during their investigation. Davis was previously convicted on September 10, 2009, in the Middle District of Louisiana for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. As a result of his convictions, Davis now faces a sentence in federal prison of no less than ten years and up to life imprisonment, as well as significant fines, restitution, and supervised release. U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, assisted by the Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Task Force, and the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. Criminal Chief Will Morris and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth White led the prosecution.


title: Palmetto Man Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – Terry Brunning has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charlene E. Honeywell to 24 months in federal prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release for tax evasion. The Court also ordered Brunning to pay $2,467,523.44 in restitution to the United States Department of the Treasury associated with tax evasion for tax years 1999, 2000, and 2001. Brunning pled guilty on April 2, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, Brunning’s acts of evading taxes included the purchase of real property, vehicles, and the procurement of various cashier’s checks in the name of a business which served to conceal the property’s beneficial ownership and source, in order to avoid enforcement of a tax judgment against his personal assets. The defendant conducted these transactions through this business entity in a willful attempt to evade or defeat the payment of taxes due and owing for tax years 1999 and including 2001. As a result of the defendant’s actions, a tax loss, inclusive of penalties and interest, is due and owing to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $2,467,523.44. This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Whitney Mackay. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Lakeland Man Who Fired Bullets That Killed 70-Year-Old-Grandmother and Injured Three Others Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: Tampa, Florida – Taqiy Lewis (29, Lakeland) has been sentenced by United States District Judge Kathryn Mizelle to 30 years in federal prison. On March 2, 2026, Lewis pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon in connection with a shooting. United States Attorney Gregory Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, on December 24, 2020, 70-year-old M.C. was outside her Lakeland home with her family, including young children. At approximately 5:30 p.m., Lewis and others engaged in a shootout outside of M.C.’s residence. M.C. was struck twice and killed. Three others, including a 13-year-old, were also shot and wounded outside the residence. Two years later, on February 9, 2023, during an unrelated investigation, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and officers from the Lakeland Police Department recovered a Kahr CM9 9mm pistol while executing a search warrant in Lakeland. Forensic testing using the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (“NIBIN”) confirmed that this firearm was the one used to kill M.C. Further investigation revealed that six casings collected from the crime scene, two spent projectiles recovered from the residence, and a bullet recovered from M.C.’s body were all fired by Lewis and the Kahr CM9 pistol he had possessed. At the time of the shooting, Lewis was a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Subsequent evidence revealed that after the shooting, Lewis obtained a fake alibi and had the jacket and sandals he used during the commission of the shooting burned in a barrel. Lewis remains under investigation by state law enforcement for causing M.C.’s death. This case was investigated by both the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lakeland Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes.


title: Jacksonville Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Producing and Attempting to Produce Child Sexual Abuse Materials

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Carlos Alvaro Canjura Ventura (44, Jacksonville) has been indicted by a federal grand jury for producing and attempting to produce child sexual abuse materials. Ventura faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervised release. He was arrested on December 18, 2025, in connection with a related state case. Ventura has been detained in this federal case, and his trial is set for September 8, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to the indictment, from August 2024 through December 18, 2025, Canjura Ventura did employ or use and attempt to employ or use a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of that conduct. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force, which includes Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: Georgia Man and Florida Man Indicted for Trafficking Heroin on the Darknet

body_text: Tampa, FL – Eric Turner (30, Georgia) and Jose Smith (29, Valrico) have been charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin. If convicted, Turner and Smith each face a minimum of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, Eric Turner and Jose Smith have been operating a drug-trafficking organization since at least 2024, starting with distributing illicit pills to eventually trafficking kilogram-quantities of heroin through the Darknet. Digital evidence, postal records, surveillance, drug seizures, and an undercover operation, established that Turner (based in Lizella, Georgia) sourced kilogram-bricks of heroin and shipped them to Smith at his residence in Valrico, Florida, where Smith would break them down into smaller quantities to ship to their Darknet customers. As of April 2026, their Darknet vendor account showed more than 2,500 fulfilled heroin orders, as well as thousands of reviews from customers praising the quality of the heroin. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Georgia State Patrol. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Callaos.


title: Former Jacksonville Bank Employee Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Lexus Inez Lewis (30, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Lewis faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud offense, and a consecutive mandatory minimum penalty of two years for the aggravated identity theft. No sentencing date has been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to the plea agreement, in 2022, Lewis obtained employment at Citibank in its fraud department by using another person’s identity. From approximately November 2022 through April 2023, Lewis used her position to obtain customers’ credit card numbers, which she would then fraudulently use to purchase items such as jewelry or furniture, pay for her own living expenses or travel, or pay other individuals’ rent in exchange for a cash payment. When ultimately confronted by law enforcement, Lewis admitted to her conduct. Lewis agreed to forfeit $463,619, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian and Kevin C. Frein. The forfeiture is being handled by Suzanne Nebesky.


title: Pittsfield Man Indicted for Health Care Fraud, False Statements, and Aggravated Identity Theft

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Pittsfield man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with his alleged false impersonation of a United States Army veteran for over 30 years to obtain medical care at Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers and other benefits. James D. Sommers, whose age is unknown, was indicted with one count each of health care fraud, false statements and aggravated identity theft. Sommers was previously charged by criminal complaint and arrested in March 2026 at Soldier On, a facility that provides transitional housing to United States military veterans in Pittsfield, Mass., where he was staying under the guise of the victim’s identity. He remains detained in federal custody. According to the charging documents, beginning as early as 1994, Sommers has falsely impersonated a United States Army veteran who served honorably from 1979 to 1982. It is alleged that Sommers used the victim’s stolen identity to obtain thousands of dollars in Social Security benefits and nearly $30,000 in medical care and medications from VA medical centers. Most recently, Sommers falsely impersonated the victim on Feb. 20, 2026, to obtain medical care at the VA Medical Center in Northampton, Mass. It is further alleged that Sommers has numerous prior convictions in New York State in 1994, 1997, 2001 and 2011 all under the victim’s name, for offenses including: criminal possession of stolen property; intent to obtain transportation without paying; sale of a controlled substance; possession of a forged instrument; attempted grand larceny; grand larceny; and forgery. The charge of health care fraud provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of false statements provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Christopher Algieri Special Agent in Charge of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Gardner Man Agrees to Plead Guilty to Tampering with Oxycodone

body_text: BOSTON – A Gardner man has agreed to plead guilty to tampering with opioids intended to be dispensed to patients in hospice and memory care in a healthcare facility in Fitchburg, Mass. Andrew Milgrim, 37, agreed to plead guilty to one count of tampering with a consumer product. He will make his initial appearance, waive indictment and plead to the Information at a date to be set by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman. According to court filings, beginning in or about September 2024 and continuing through in or about February 2025, Milgrim allegedly diverted Oxycodone from patients in the skilled nursing and dementia care units of the Fitchburg healthcare facility. It is alleged that he began by taking Oxycodone pills that were prescribed to be dispensed to certain patients “as needed.” Rather than provide the “as needed” doses to patients, Milgrim would allegedly consume the pills himself. Milgrim began taking 5 mg Oxycodone pills from various patients and replacing the diverted pills with Loratadine, an allergy medication, whose appearance resembled the appearance of the 5 mg Oxycodone pills. In or around January 2025, Milgrim also allegedly diverted 10 mg Oxycodone pills from an elderly patient in the locked unit, and replaced those pills with Levothyroxine, a thyroid medication. The charge of tampering with a consumer product provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General; Michael Ahearn, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; and Robert H. Goldstein, MD, PhD, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin Brown is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Former Boston Housing Secretary Sentenced for Falsifying Overtime Forms

body_text: BOSTON – A former executive secretary at the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) was sentenced on July 1, 2026 in federal court in Boston for falsifying overtime forms. The defendant lied about working overtime and forged her supervisor’s signature on the overtime forms. Helen Murray, 42, of Malden, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to two years’ probation. Murray was also ordered to pay $72,131 in restitution. In March 2026 , Murray pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. From 2017 to 2024, Murray worked as an executive secretary at BHA. As an executive secretary, Murray was responsible for collecting weekly BHA timesheets, as well as overtime forms from other BHA employees. Murray was also eligible to work overtime and receive overtime pay. Murray’s overtime work had to be pre-approved by her senior management. Specifically, Murray would have to perform the overtime work, accurately and truthfully fill out an overtime form and submit it to her immediate supervisor via email to be approved electronically. However, in January 2023, Murray began submitting false overtime forms to BHA payroll. Instead of submitting the forms to her supervisor for approval, Murray entered overtime hours that Murray had not worked and then falsified her supervisor’s signature on the form, without her supervisor’s knowledge nor permission. Murray would then submit the falsified overtime forms directly to BHA Payroll via email, after which BHA payroll would include Murray’s fraudulent overtime pay in her weekly paycheck. In total, Murray submitted over 100 falsified overtime forms between January 2023 to August 2024 – ultimately collecting approximately $72,131 in fraudulent overtime pay. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. The Boston Housing Authority provided valuable assistance during the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao, Chief of the Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit, prosecuted the case.


title: Illegal aliens indicted for having fake green cards

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned indictments charging three foreign nationals with having fake green cards. According to court documents, on May 28, 2026, federal agents arrested a group of illegal aliens while executing a search warrant in Kansas City, Kansas. Three of the individuals were allegedly in possession of counterfeit immigration documentation in the form of forged permanent resident cards. Mariano Jeronimo-Pacheco, 33, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents. Yolanda Mendoza-Emiliano, 33, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents. Santos Ramirez-Ramirez, 38, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was indicted on one count of fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents. During these arrests, law enforcement took four other defendants into custody who have since been indicted on immigration charges. They include: • Zenon Garcia Basurto, 36, and Pedro Antonio-Perez, 30, illegal aliens from Mexico, were indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. • Gustavo Adolfo Guardado-Menjivar, 39, an illegal alien from El Salvador, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. • Mario Perez-Morales, 48, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating all of the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case against Jeronimo-Pacheco. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting the case against Mendoza-Emiliano. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle McFarlane is prosecuting the case against Ramirez-Ramirez. OTHER INDICTMENTS Arisdel Adame-Molina, 33, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Francisco Becerra-Silva, 30, was indicted on one count of reentry of a previously removed alien and one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case. Nefalty Sergio Chubaja-Chubaja, 26, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of reentry of a previously removed alien. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case. Deandre T. Irvin, 32, of Kansas City, Kansas, was indicted on one count of possession of machine guns. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case. Yoni Ernesto Larios-Garcia, 36, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was indicted on one count of reentry of a previously removed alien. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Elder Gonzalo Lopez-Maderos, 35, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of reentry of a previously removed alien and one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case. Julio Martin-Ramirez, 44, an illegal alien from Guatemala, was indicted on one count of unlawful entry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting the case. Omar Pastor Mayorga-Munoz, 34, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of reentry of a previously removed alien. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case. Magdiel Villa-Martinez, 20, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count of reentry of a previously removed alien. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case. Miguel Angel Rocha-Sanchez, 30, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted on one count to failure to register as a sex offender and one count of reentry of a previously removed alien. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Defendants plead guilty to posting threats to social media in separate cases

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – Two men from Wichita are now convicted felons after pleading guilty in separate cases involving posting threats on social media to murder federal officials. According to court documents, Adam Lee Osborn, 60, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate communications with a threat to injure. In January 2026, Wichita police officers learned Osborn had posted threats on his social media page saying he wanted to murder Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He wrote, “I’m going to kill Ilhan Omar!”. He also posted a photo of himself holding an AR-15 style rifle in one hand and a 30-round magazine with live ammunition in the other hand. When officers went to Osborn’s residence to question him, he confirmed writing the posts. He said while he had no intention of personally harming anyone, he made the statements to “maybe provoke someone to handle business.” He advised officers that by “handle business” he meant to “take ‘em out”. He stated that by “take ‘em out” he meant “kill them”. In a separate case, according to court documents, Joaquin Hernandez, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate communications with a threat to injure. In January 2026, Hernandez posted a social media video where he threatened to shoot Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents point blank if he saw them in Wichita. Hernandez admits to making the statements knowing that his threat against ICE wasn’t mere political argument or in a joking manner. “Our country prides itself on being one where people can express their political views, but they must do so in a responsible manner. These two defendants crossed the line into criminality by making threats of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Threats of political violence are illegal and won’t be tolerated.” “The First Amendment protects every individual’s right to free speech. However, it is not a shield for enticing violence or criminal activity. Anyone who advocates violence or communicates a credible threat against public officials, law enforcement, or any individual should expect swift and thorough response from the FBI. We will investigate these matters aggressively with assistance from our law enforcement partners and United States Attorney’s Office by pursuing every available legal avenue to hold offenders accountable," said Chris Ormerod, FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge. The Wichita Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating both cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster is prosecuting the case against Osborn. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case against Hernandez. ###


title: Green Bay Man Charged with Production of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on July 2, 2026, an indictment was unsealed charging Ian C. Froelich (age 21) of Green Bay, Wisconsin, with Production of Child Pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251(a). According to the indictment, on or about December 31, 2025, Froelich caused a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct. If convicted of the charge, Froelich would face a mandatory 15 years’ imprisonment and up to a maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment. The charge also carries up to a $250,000 fine and from 5 years to a lifetime on supervised release. He also would be required to register as a sexual offender under state and federal law. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Green Bay and Atlanta. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ 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.projectsafechildhood.gov. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: Eastern District of Texas prosecutes five defendants as part of Homeland Security Task Force investigations in June 2026

body_text: PLANO, Texas – The Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative was 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. In the Eastern District of Texas, five defendants were sentenced to a total of 903 months in federal prison during the month of June as part of the Homeland Security Task Force, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Those cases include: On June 9, 2026, David Ortiz-Moreno , 55, a Mexican national illegally living in Fate, Texas, was sentenced to 170 months in federal prison for being involved in a conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine. Ortiz-Moreno was responsible for the distribution of at least 50 grams of methamphetamine. On June 10, 2026, Abrahan Solano-Zarate , 42, a Mexican national illegally living in Dallas, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for being involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Solano-Zarate distributed at least five kilograms of cocaine. On June 10, 2026, Corrigan man, Jose Pedro Guzman, Jr. , 35, was the final defendant sentenced in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas. Guzman was sentenced to 130 months in federal prison for drug trafficking violations. In all, 17 individuals were convicted and sentenced in this investigation to a total of 2,213 months, or more than 184 years, in federal prison. On June 15, 2026, a Mexican national illegally living in Dallas was sentenced to 270 months in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas. Juan Lopez-Carmona , 32, was responsible for moving large amounts of illegal narcotics from Mexico to the United States for redistribution. On June 15, 2026, Dulio Ariel De-La-O , 25, of Irving, was sentenced to 165 months in federal prison for trafficking over “k-packs” or 1,000 pill quantities of fentanyl-laced pills. A search of De-La-O’s residence resulted in the seizure of over 3,000 counterfeit Xanax pills laced with fentanyl and $91,799 in cash. HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx .


title: Atlanta Man Sentenced To 14 Years For Conspiracy To Commit Mail And Wire Fraud

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On June 25, 2026, Joshua Aaron Holmes, 44, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 168 months imprisonment by the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville after a federal jury convicted him of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1349, mail fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1341, and wire fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1343. Following his imprisonment, Holmes will be on supervised release for three years and he was ordered to repay $936,215.00 in restitution to the victims. The evidence presented at trial showed that Holmes and others worked to steal money from elderly victims who intended to invest their money. Holmes and others posed as federal agents who promised to help the victims recover money lost through investments; victims were induced to pay fake fees, taxes, and court costs, yet did not receive the return of any lost money—the victims only lost more. United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee, Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the Nashville Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Securities and Exchange Commission Inspector General Kevin Muhlendorf made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Securities and Exchange Commission Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael S. Deel, David P. Lewen, Jr., and William A. Roach, Jr. represented the United States in this case. ###


title: Five Defendants Plead Guilty to Gun Trafficking Charges

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court, in Brooklyn, Rohnique Posey, also known as “Pioneer,” pleaded guilty to firearms trafficking conspiracy and distribution of cocaine base before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo. Posey’s four co-defendants, Karsem Allen, also known as “Short,” Carolyn Hicks-Torres, Henry McCummings, and Dominic Smith, all previously pleaded guilty to engaging in a firearms trafficking conspiracy. In addition, Allen and Hicks-Torres pleaded guilty to possession of machine guns and McCummings pleaded guilty to possession of a defaced firearm. When sentenced, all five defendants face a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment for the firearms trafficking conspiracy charge. Posey also faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment for distribution of cocaine base; Allen and Hicks-Torres face a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment for possession of machineguns; and McCummings faces a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment for possession of a defaced firearm. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New York Division (ATF), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the guilty pleas. “Illegal gun traffickers fuel violence, endanger innocent lives, and threaten the safety of our communities,” stated United States Attorney Joseph Nocella. “These guilty pleas hold accountable these defendants. who sought to flood Queens neighborhoods with illegal weapons, including semi-automatic and defaced firearms, and ghost guns. Every illegal firearm taken off our streets is a step towards safer communities, and our Office, alongside our federal and local law enforcement partners, will continue to stop the flow of illegal guns, combat gun violence, and protect the people of New York City. I commend the brave members of law enforcement who took these deadly weapons off the streets and out of the hands of violent criminals. We are all safer thanks to their exceptional work.” “These guilty pleas are the result of focused investigative work and the strong partnership between ATF New York’s Crime Gun Enforcement Team and the NYPD Ghost Gun Unit. Together, we identified and disrupted a firearms trafficking network responsible for moving dozens of illegal firearms and machine gun conversion devices into Queens. Our commitment to reducing violent gun crime and protecting the communities we serve remains unwavering. We are grateful to the staff at U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for its continued partnership,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge DiGirolamo. “This case demonstrates once again that there will be consequences for those who attempt to bring illegal firearms into our city,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “That is the work behind the NYPD delivering record lows in murders, shooting incidents, and shooting victims for the first half of 2026: comprehensive investigations that remove illegal guns, dismantle trafficking pipelines, and hold the drivers of violence accountable. I thank our NYPD investigators, the ATF, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for their commitment to keeping New Yorkers safe.” As set forth in court filings, between December 2024 and June 2025, Allen, Hicks-Torres, McCummings, Posey, and Smith made multiple illegal firearms sales totaling at least 29 firearms, including semi-automatic and defaced weapons, inside apartment complexes in the Rockaways. On the day Allen and Hicks-Torres were arrested, July 1, 2025, they sold an additional 11 firearms. Allen and Hicks-Torres illegally obtained these firearms in North Carolina from straw purchasers and then transported the weapons to New York City to be sold through Posey. On one occasion, Allen and Hicks-Torres sold four machine gun conversion devices, which are designed for converting semi-automatic pistols into machine guns. McCummings and Smith primarily sold “ghost guns” which typically do not have serial numbers and therefore are untraceable. Posey also sold crack cocaine on four occasions. Several firearms and machine gun conversion devices trafficked by the defendants are depicted below. EDNY EDNY EDNY The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel Marcus and Brachah Goykadosh are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendants : KARSEM ALLEN (also known as “Short”) Age: 50 Henderson, North Carolina CAROLYN HICKS-TORRES Age: 54 Henderson, North Carolina HENRY MCCUMMINGS Age: 44 Arverne, New York ROHNIQUE POSEY (also known as “Pioneer”) Age: 48 Arverne, New York DOMINIC SMITH Age: 35 Teaneck, New Jersey E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-216 (BMC)


title: Northeast Missouri Felon Caught with a Firearm and Methamphetamine Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig on Monday sentenced a felon from Palmyra, Missouri who was caught with a firearm, methamphetamine and other drugs to 11 years in prison. On Oct. 4, 2022, the Northeast Missouri Drug Task Force (NEMO) learned that John R. Breault would be traveling to a home in La Belle, Missouri to sell meth. NEMO and Lewis County Sheriff’s deputies watched Breault as he spent time at the house and then went to a bank. They also watched as a known drug user withdrew money from an ATM and then got back into Breault’s vehicle. Investigators stopped the vehicle after it dropped off the drug user at his home. Breault unsuccessfully tried to get his driver to flee, attacking and kicking a NEMO special agent and then resisting arrest after he was removed from the vehicle. Investigators found meth, 282 morphine tablets and marijuana on Breault. They found a 9mm handgun, $746 in cash, drug paraphernalia, and a grocery bag containing about 381 grams of meth in the vehicle. Breault, now 40, pleaded guilty in April to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The Northeast Missouri Drug Task Force, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Lane prosecuted the case.


title: Alabama Man Admits Aiding Southeast Missouri Pharmacy Burglary that Netted 16,800 Pills

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – An Alabama man on Thursday admitted involvement in the burglary of a Kennett, Missouri pharmacy last year and the theft of 16,800 pills. Cornelius Cardez Bray, 31, of Birmingham, pleaded guilty to one count of intent to steal a controlled substance and one count of possession with intent to distribute hydrocodone. He admitted acting as the driver for David Jerome Evans, who broke into a pharmacy on March 13, 2025. A police officer responding to an alarm spotted a car with Tennessee license plates heading out of town and recalled that a few days earlier someone in a passenger car with Tennessee plates had been seen taking pictures of another pharmacy in town. The officer attempted to stop Bray but he sped away, eventually crashing the vehicle. Evans was arrested. Bray fled but was arrested later. Officers found numerous pill bottles in the wreckage, as well as a large blue crowbar, a black face mask and Bray’s wallet and cell phone. The men stole 16,800 pills, including 7,500 hydrocodone pills and 7,500 pills containing benzodiazepine drugs. Evans, now 31, of Birmingham, pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced to 78 months in prison. Bray is scheduled to be sentenced on October 1. The Kennett Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis is prosecuting the case.


title: District of Arizona Charged 325 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct Last Week

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from June 27 through July 2, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 325 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 101 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 196 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 20 cases against 26 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. Protecting law enforcement officers is a key part of border vigilance, and federal prosecutors also charged two defendants for assaulting Border Patrol agents. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Recent matters of interest include: United States v. Davis Cabanillas-Flores . On June 29, 2026, Davis Cabanillas-Flores, was charged by criminal complaint with Reentry of a Removed Alien. Cabanillas-Flores had been previously removed from the United States in 2021. In June 2019, he was convicted of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Five Kilograms or More of Cocaine while on Board a Vessel Subject to the Jurisdiction of the United States, in the Middle District of Florida. In that case, Cabanillas-Flores was sentenced to 46 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. [26-MJ-08245] United States v. Humberto Roman-Tapia . On June 30, 2026, Humberto Roman-Tapia was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On June 28, 2026, Border Patrol agents initiated a traffic stop on a Honda Accord traveling westbound on I-40. Agents determined that the driver, Humberto Roman-Tapia, was a citizen of Mexico with an employment authorization card. The three passengers in the car were citizens of Mexico with no legal documentation to be present in the United States. [26-MJ-01551] The cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-117_July 3, 2026 Immigration Enforcement # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: California Man Who Assaulted Border Patrol Agents Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Joe Martin Cruz, Jr., 20, of San Pedro, CA, was sentenced on June 23, by United States District Judge Angela M. Martinez to 60 months in prison. Cruz previously pleaded guilty to two counts of Assault on a Federal Officer and one count of Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit. On January 14, 2025, Cruz transported four illegal aliens near Arivaca, AZ. When Border Patrol began following Cruz, he stopped his vehicle and the aliens bailed out. Cruz then sped off at a high rate of speed. During his flight from law enforcement, Cruz intentionally crashed his vehicle into a Border Patrol vehicle occupied by two agents who were traveling in the opposing lane of travel. Vehicle crash data and scene evidence showed that at the time of the collision, Cruz had the accelerator pedal pushed to 100%. Immediately before the collision, he turned his wheel to the left, crossing the lane divider and colliding with the victim agents’ vehicle. Despite the agents’ efforts to avoid the collision, their vehicle was violently struck by Cruz. The force caused the rear axle to be sheared off and spun the agents’ vehicle off the road and into the brush. The agents sustained several injuries during the collision. Cruz then fled on foot through the desert but was eventually caught by law enforcement. Special agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted the investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Border Patrol and Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Amlee, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: 25-CR-00980-TUC-AMM RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-118_Cruz # # # 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: Justice Department Reaches Proposed Settlement with Willow Bridge, One of America’s Largest Landlords, to Resolve Information Sharing and Algorithmic Coordination Claims

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division filed a proposed settlement today to resolve the United States’ claims against Willow Bridge Property Company LLC, as part of its ongoing enforcement action in the Middle District of North Carolina against algorithmic coordination, the use of competitors’ competitively sensitive data, and other anticompetitive practices in rental markets across the country. Today’s proposed settlement builds on the Justice Department’s success in obtaining proposed settlements in the same enforcement action against RealPage Inc. and three other large landlords, Cortland Management LLC, Greystar Management Services LLC, and LivCor LLC. As alleged in Plaintiffs’ Jan. 7, 2025 complaint, Willow Bridge, alongside five other landlord co-defendants, actively engaged in a scheme to set their rents using each other’s competitively sensitive information through pricing algorithms. Willow Bridge and these other landlords shared competitively sensitive data to generate pricing recommendations using RealPage’s algorithms, which also included anticompetitive rules that aligned pricing. Moreover, Willow Bridge and the other landlords spoke with one another on competitively sensitive topics, including pricing strategies, rents, and parameters for RealPage’s software. “Affordability for American consumers is only achieved when competition thrives, which requires companies to make independent pricing decisions,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “Companies cannot share sensitive data and manipulate AI tools or algorithms to produce market aligned pricing. That is not only illegal, but exploitative of Americans’ everyday housing needs. This Department will not stand for it.” “Corporate landlords have been destabilizing the rental housing market for too long,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole Sarrine of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division will remain proactive in taking affirmative measures to stop pricing algorithms from harming renters.” If approved by the court, the proposed consent decree would require Willow Bridge to: Refrain from using any anticompetitive algorithm that generates pricing recommendations using its competitors’ competitively sensitive data or that incorporates certain anticompetitive features; Refrain from sharing competitively sensitive information with competitors; Accept a court-appointed monitor if it uses a third-party pricing algorithm that is not certified pursuant to the terms of the consent decree; Refrain from attending or participating in RealPage-hosted meetings of competing landlords; and Cooperate with the United States’ claims against other defendants. As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any interested person should submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days following the publication to Danielle Hauck, Acting Chief, Technology and Digital Platforms Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 7050, Washington, DC 20530. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest. Willow Bridge is a residential property manager headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Note : See the Proposed Final Judgment here , the Stipulation and Order here , and the Competitive Impact Statement here .