title: Pensacola Registered Sex Offender Sentenced for Possession of Obscene Materials Depicting Minors

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Jordan T. Quinones, 30, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for one count of possession of obscene materials involving minors. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the vigilance of our state law enforcement partners in closely monitoring this sex offender, his continued criminal deviance was uncovered and now he will spend the next decade behind bars. Keeping our kids safe from sexual predators like this defendant remains one of my office’s top priorities, and we will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases.” Court documents revealed that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement conducted routine checks on Quinones as a registered sex offender in late 2025. When suspicious materials were associated with Quinones, law enforcement followed up with an interview of Quinones, which led to obtaining a search warrant of his cellular telephone. Law enforcement located images that depicted obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children. Quinones was maintaining them in an online Google Photos account. The images were cartoon or computer generated files, which depicted sexual abuse, sadomasochistic abuse, and bestiality involving minors. Quinones was sentenced to a term of three years of supervised release after his imprisonment. The case was jointly investigated by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Goldberg. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . 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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Ohio Woman Pleads Guilty to Child Neglect

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Devon Mae Witryk, 28, of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty in federal court to felony child neglect occurring on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I am proud of this successful prosecution in this heartbreaking case of severe child neglect, and deeply appreciate the excellent work of the Eglin AFB Security Forces Investigations to identify and put a stop to this abusive situation.” Court documents reveal that in June 2023, a welfare investigation was initiated for a child residing on Eglin Air Force Base. The defendant was the child’s mother and a military spouse. Due to the child not receiving appropriate care and supervision, the defendant’s home was inspected and investigators rescued the child. Witryk no longer has custody of or contact with the child. Witryk faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for September 17, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers. The case involved an investigation by Eglin Air Force Base Security Forces Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer. 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: Santa Clara Company To Pay Penalty And Boost DEA Compliance Program To Resolve Alleged Controlled Substances Act Violations

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Santa Clara-based Lin-Zhi International, Inc. (LZI) has agreed to pay a total of $180,835 to the United States and implement an enhanced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) compliance program to resolve allegations that LZI, a DEA-registered manufacturer of controlled substances, violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in connection with its manufacturing and distribution of certain controlled substances. LZI is registered with the DEA to manufacture controlled substances as bulk reagents for drug abuse testing. To the extent registrants like LZI seek to distribute these drug testing kits to facilities not registered with the DEA, the CSA requires them to apply to the DEA for an exemption letter, which DEA then evaluates to determine whether the registrant may receive an exemption. The United States alleges that LZI failed to obtain exemption letters for the sale of certain chemical preparations or mixtures containing controlled substances listed in any schedule in violation of the Act, as well as certain other violations of the Act, between April 1, 2021, and December 5, 2023. Under the settlement agreement, LZI will pay $180,835 to the United States. LZI will also maintain an enhanced DEA compliance plan for three years, under which it will (1) hire and retain a DEA Compliance Analyst or other employee of equivalent specialty to implement its enhanced compliance program and advise LZI regarding its DEA compliance obligations and related policies, procedures, and practices, and (2) engage an independent third party with experience in DEA compliance matters to conduct at least one audit annually of LZI’s DEA compliance program, policies, procedures, and practices. “Entities that fail to comply with the requirements of their DEA registration can expect heightened investigative scrutiny and significant civil penalties,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “This Office remains committed to working with the DEA to ensure that registrants who do not comply with the Controlled Substances Act are held accountable.” “DEA is committed to upholding our regulatory line of defense,” said Bob P. Beris, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, San Francisco Field Division. “When companies fail to secure required exempt chemical letters, they create dangerous vulnerabilities in the supply chain and compromise public health and safety.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Savith Iyengar handled this matter for the government. The investigation and settlement resulted from a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and DEA Diversion Investigators in San Francisco. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability .


title: Four Men Indicted in an East Alabama Drug-Trafficking Conspiracy Led by Former Federal Defendants

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An indictment charging four men in a drug-trafficking conspiracy based in Calhoun County has been unsealed, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. A 12-count indictment charges Theron Samuel Johnson, 43, Jeffrey Leon Battle, 56, and Toney Courtez Jenkins, 42—all three of Anniston, Alabama—and Samuel Lane, Jr, 49, of Oxford, Alabama, with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine base, cocaine, and marijuana between November 2023 and April 2026. They also are charged with several counts of distribution. Samuel Lane, Jr., and Toney Courtez Jenkins were also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment includes special grand jury findings regarding the amount of methamphetamine attributable to the defendants as part of the drug-trafficking conspiracy. The amount of controlled substances involved in the conspiracy attributable to all four defendants is alleged to be 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. The indictment also alleges enhanced penalties based on prior convictions for several of the defendants. Theron Samuel Johnson was previously convicted of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribute Cocaine Base, Cocaine, and Marijuana; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base and Marijuana; and Carrying a Firearm During and In Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime, all in a 2010 federal case in the Northern District of Alabama. Jeffrey Leon Battle was previously convicted of Conspiracy to Levy War Against the United States, in a 2002 federal case in the District of Oregon. According to publicly available information, this conviction stemmed from Battle’s efforts to join the Taliban in the wake of 9/11. Samuel Lane Jr. was previously convicted of two counts of Robbery 1 st Degree. This investigation was led by the Homeland Security Task Force, with assistance from the United States Postal Inspection Service, 7 th Judicial Circuit Major Crimes Unit, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Anniston Police Department, Oxford Police Department, and Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison J. Garnett is prosecuting the case. This operation 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. The Alabama HSTF comprises agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and the Internal Revenue Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama. An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Billings woman sentenced to over 15 years in prison for drug trafficking, money laundering

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: BILLINGS – A Billings woman who was part of running a multistate drug trafficking ring was sentenced today to prison, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. Christina Lavon Hill, 43, who pleaded guilty in December 2025, was sentenced to 15 years and three months followed by five years of supervised release on one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. She was also sentenced to 15 years and three months followed by three years of supervised release on one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Both sentences will run concurrently. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that Hill was helping bring methamphetamine and fentanyl from California into Wyoming and Billings. Law enforcement learned in June 2023 that Hill and Nathan Wilnau were selling illegal drugs in Billings. Hill was a leader in the operation and was sending money to a source in San Francisco, who then sent packages of illicit drugs to Billings and to Cody, Wyoming, which Wilnau would go and retrieve. On his last trip, Wilnau drove to Cody, picked up the package, and was headed back to Billings when he was pulled over by law enforcement. Searching the vehicle, agents found over 10 pounds of meth. They also learned that the source in Cody had previously received three to four packages of meth for Hill. Wilnau was sentenced to 11 years in prison on meth possession charges in June 2026 . As the investigation continued, agents found records on Hill’s phone that showed she had conducted 19 financial transactions with four other people totaling about $38,300 from July 2022 to April 2024. Many of the transactions corresponded directly with USPS shipments of packages to Hill and with text messages in which Hill placed orders for meth and fentanyl. A package for Hill sent on July 26, 2024, was intercepted by law enforcement in which they found 3 pounds of meth. Hill was later arrested on drug charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The DEA and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.


title: Woman Found Guilty by Federal Jury for Role in Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that a federal jury found Michaela Karon McKinney guilty on three counts for her role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy operating between the Twin Cities metropolitan area and Greater Minnesota. Following a two-day trial in Minneapolis before U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim starting on July 13, 2026, the jury returned a guilty verdict for McKinney on three counts including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. According to court documents, in 2023, investigators identified a Minneapolis-based fentanyl distributor known as “V,” later confirmed as La’Veal O. Allen, during an ongoing drug trafficking investigation from the Twin Cities to Greater Minnesota, specifically Bemidji. In late spring of 2023, police infiltrated Allen’s drug distribution network, and an undercover officer arranged fentanyl purchases from Allen. In June and July 2024, McKinney assisted Allen on multiple narcotics distribution trips, helping facilitate the sale of more than 180 grams of powder fentanyl, nearly 500 M-30 fentanyl pills, and approximately 30 grams of methamphetamine. On the initial run, she provided her vehicle to Allen to transport fentanyl to a downstream distributor. Later, she personally drove Allen from the Twin Cities to Little Falls for another drug sale. During that final undercover drug sale on July 1, 2024, McKinney drove Allen to the Little Falls Walmart parking lot, where Allen sold 82 grams of powder fentanyl, 491 M-30 fentanyl pills, and 29.5 grams of methamphetamine to the undercover officer. Officers arrested both Allen and McKinney immediately after the exchange. Undercover officer with fentanyl and methamphetamine that Allen sold in Little Falls, Minnesota on July 1, 2024 82 grams of powder fentanyl, 491 M-30 fentanyl pills, and 29.5 grams of methamphetamine sold to an undercover officer on July 1, 2024 A search of McKinney’s vehicle revealed her then-six-year-old son in the back seat and a loaded Glock pistol registered to McKinney in the center console. Forensic testing later identified both McKinney’s and Allen’s DNA on the firearm. McKinney now faces a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison. McKinney’s co-defendants, La’Veal O. Allen and Marquise J. Walker, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl on December 16, 2025, and April 3, 2026, respectively. All defendants are currently awaiting sentencing. “This case shows the continuing fentanyl and drug trafficking operations into Greater Minnesota. My office is committed to working with law enforcement partners across the state to dismantle the networks pushing these lethal substances up north, and to protect families and communities,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “This federal conviction demonstrates what can be accomplished through proactive investigations and strong partnerships between local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement. The Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force remains committed to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling the criminal organizations responsible for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl into northern Minnesota. Every successful prosecution represents another step toward protecting our communities and holding those who profit from addiction and violence accountable. I am extremely proud of the dedication, professionalism, and relentless work of our task force agents and our law enforcement partners who made this outcome possible,” said Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force Commander and Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant David Hart. This case was the result of an investigation by the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, FBI Headwaters Task Force, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, Bemidji Police Department, Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office, Morrison County Sheriff’s Office, Morrison County Attorney’s Office, Lakes Area Drug Investigative Division, and the Minnesota State Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Garrett S. Fields and Special Assistant United States Attorney Ebenezer K. Gyasi are prosecuting the case. Note: This press release was updated on July 28, 2026, to correct the dates in the photo captions, which incorrectly listed July 2026 instead of July 2024.


title: Man Sentenced to 120 Months’ Imprisonment for Role in Bribing a Juror During Feeding Our Future Trial

body_text: ST. PAUL – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, 37, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment for attempting to bribe a federal juror during his 2024 fraud trial. He was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud in St. Paul on July 22, 2026. Abdiaziz Farah was previously sentenced on August 6, 2025 , for his role in exploiting a federally funded child nutrition program as part of the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme. According to court documents, shortly after jury selection in Farah’s 2024 trial for his role in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, Farah and several of his associates, including Ladan Mohamed Ali, 33, Abdulkarim Shafii Farah, 25, Said Shafii Farah, 44, and Abdimajid Mohamed Nur 25, conspired to bribe one of the jurors in exchange for a not‑guilty verdict. Among other things, Farah and his co‑conspirators researched the juror online, surveilled her home, and tracked her movements. On June 2, 2024, Ladan Ali delivered a bag containing $120,000 in cash to the juror’s residence, with a promise of more money if the juror voted to acquit. The juror immediately reported the bribery attempt to law enforcement. The following morning, the Court ordered Farah to surrender his phone to law enforcement. Before doing so, however, Farah conducted a factory reset to delete evidence of his involvement in the bribery scheme. “Tampering with a juror is an assault on the integrity of the courts and the foundation of our democracy,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “This sentence sends an unmistakable message that justice is not for sale.” “Today’s sentencing highlights the seriousness of attempting to corrupt the justice system. Abdiaziz Farah was already serving a significant sentence for defrauding the Federal Child Nutrition Program, and this additional conviction shows that efforts to bribe a jury will be met with firm consequences,” said FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Benni Jonsson, who is in charge of the FBI Minneapolis Criminal Branch. “The FBI, along with federal prosecutors, will continue pursuing accountability for those charged in this case and anyone who attempts to undermine the integrity of our judicial process.” “Abdiaziz Farah had already been held accountable for stealing from a program meant to feed children, yet he still chose to recruit others to help corrupt the justice system by bribing a juror,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “When someone tries to buy a verdict, they are attacking the integrity of every courtroom and every citizen who depends on a fair trial. This sentence should leave no doubt that anyone who tries to manipulate our judicial process will be found, prosecuted, and held accountable.” “Today’s sentencing reflects the outstanding collaboration of law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota” said Bryan Musgrove, Inspector in Charge of the Denver Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service. “Postal Inspectors worked closely with our partners to hold Abdiaziz Farah accountable for his crimes. Despite the defendant’s efforts to abuse the legal process, justice prevailed.” “When Farah and his co-conspirators filled that bag with money, they were attempting not only to commit bribery, but to undermine the sanctity of our criminal justice system,” said Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans. “I am proud of our work alongside our criminal justice partners to identify these criminals and help bring them to justice.” This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI with assistance from IRS – Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline and Matthew C. Murphy prosecuted the case. Note: Press release on the indictment of the five defendants here . Related press releases on Ladan Mohamed Ali ( September 5, 2024 ) and Abdulkarim Shafii Farah ( April 2, 2025 ) are linked here.


title: Harrisburg Man Sentenced to 33 Months In Prison for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Troy Darnell McFall, age 54, of Harrisburg, PA, was sentenced to 33 months in prison and five years of supervised release by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for failure to register as a sex offender. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, McFall was convicted of Aggravated Indecent Assault, Unlawful Contact with a Minor, Indecent Assault, and Corruption of Minors in Pennsylvania state court in 2005. As a result, he was required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). From December through July 2025, McFall traveled in interstate commerce without updating his sex-offender registration. The United States Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. # # #


title: Harrisburg Man Sentenced to 15 Months In Prison for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Robert Hiler, age 54, of Harrisburg, PA, was sentenced to 15 months in prison and seven years of supervised release by United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick for failure to register as a sex offender. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Hiler was convicted of indecent assault, indecent exposure, and corruption of minors in 1995. As a result, he was required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). From at least June of 2019 until January of 2025, Hiler failed to register after traveling in interstate commerce, moving from Pennsylvania to California. The United States Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . # # #


title: Dauphin County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Reginald Hopkins, age 49, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson to 20 years in prison and five years of supervised release following his conviction after a trial by jury for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition as an armed career criminal. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the case involved the execution of a search warrant on February 19, 2021, at Hopkins’ apartment, resulting in the seizure of three firearms (an Astra Constable 9mm handgun, a Hi-Point CF380 .380 handgun, and a S&W M&P 9 Shield 9mm handgun), several magazines, and 9mm and .380 ammunition. One of the magazines was a high-capacity drum magazine that was loaded with 39 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Hopkins was home alone when law enforcement executed the search warrant, and the firearms were sitting in plain sight next to his bed and near a chair in the living area. The Harrisburg Police Bureau’s Street Crimes Unit and the Community Policing Unit, along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the matter. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera and Deputy Criminal Chief Michael Consiglio prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Prominent Attorney Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion and Mortgage Fraud

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal judge sentenced a prominent appellate attorney, who argued more than 40 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, and co-founded the widely read legal website SCOTUSblog, today, in connection with a tax-evasion and mortgage-fraud scheme. U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby sentenced Thomas C. Goldstein, 56, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, to six years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for tax evasion; assisting with preparing false tax returns; willfully failing to timely pay taxes; and making false statements to mortgage lenders. Additionally, Judge Griggsby ordered Goldstein to pay $3,103,427 in restitution, and an indeterminate forfeiture amount. The Court also revoked Goldstein’s bond and remanded him into custody. A federal jury convicted Goldstein of the charges in February 2026. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald, DOJ National Fraud Enforcement Division; Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Tyler, FBI Washington Field Office – Criminal Division. “Thomas Goldstein built a distinguished legal career arguing that the rule of law matters. Yet, as the evidence at trial showed, he repeatedly chose to violate that very principle for his own financial benefit,” Hayes said. “Every taxpayer is expected to play by the same rules, and this sentence shows that those who deliberately cheat the system and lie for financial gain will be held accountable. We thank our law enforcement partners for their work on this case, and their unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of our tax and financial systems.” “This sentence holds Thomas Goldstein accountable for cheating the tax system and lying to mortgage lenders,” McDonald said. “Mr. Goldstein concealed millions of dollars in income, disguised income with foreign bank accounts, and manipulated his law firm’s books– all to fund his gambling and lifestyle. He then repeatedly chose not to pay taxes the taxes owed. There is no tax case too big, no scheme too complex, and no hiding place too remote for the Fraud Division.” “Today’s sentencing is a significant step towards holding the defendant accountable for his role in abusing our tax system,” Carter said. “IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents and our law enforcement partners will vigorously pursue those who attempt to defraud our tax system and financial institutions." “Public prominence doesn't entitle anyone to break financial rules or secure an unfair advantage over those who follow them,” Tyler said. “The mortgage industry exists to serve hardworking, honest Americans, and the FBI will bring anyone who tries to exploit the system for personal gain to justice regardless of their social status.” According to evidence presented at trial, between 2016 and 2023, Goldstein served as sole owner of Goldstein & Russell, P.C., a boutique law firm specializing in appellate litigation, including litigation before the United States Supreme Court. Goldstein was also a high-stakes poker player, frequently playing in games involving tens of millions of dollars. During that timeframe, Goldstein stopped paying taxes on time, as required by law, and engaged in a scheme to evade paying his taxes for 2016. Goldstein took various steps to carry out the scheme, including concealing millions of dollars in poker wins and losses from the government. He also diverted legal fees, payable to his law firm, to his personal bank account to satisfy poker-related debts; directed people to pay his creditors instead of sending payments directly to him; and used the law firm’s assets to satisfy his poker debts. Then he caused those payments to be falsely classified as “legal-fee” expenses on the firm’s books and records. As a result, Goldstein underreported his income and did not pay all the taxes that he owed. Instead of paying his taxes, he spent millions on personal expenses such as poker, travel, and luxury goods. In 2021, Goldstein submitted false mortgage applications to two separate mortgage lending companies, seeking financing to purchase a $2.6-million home in Washington, D.C. On those mortgage applications — which required Goldstein to list all his liabilities and debts — he omitted millions of dollars of liabilities, including more than $14 million he owed at the time on two promissory notes, as well as taxes he owed the IRS. His false statements to one of the mortgage lenders enabled him to obtain a $1.98-million loan. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the IRS-CI and FBI for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adeyemi Adenrele, along with Senior Litigation Counsel Sean Beaty and Trial Attorneys Emerson Gordon-Marvin and Hayter L. Whitman, DOJ Criminal Division Tax Section, who are prosecuting this federal 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. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: Maryland Man Sentenced for Role in Drug-Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: Greenbelt, Maryland – A Maryland man learned his fate in federal court, today, in connection with a drug-trafficking conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Norville Clarke, 56, of Clarksburg, Maryland, to 40 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Clarke’s co-conspirator, Daniel Cruz, 39, of Los Angeles, California, is still awaiting sentencing. In March 2026, both men pled guilty to drug-trafficking charges in connection with the conspiracy. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Washington Division; Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Secretary of State Police, Maryland State Police (MSP); Chief Marc R. Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD); and Chief George Nader, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD). According to court documents, in 2023, multiple federal agencies partnered to investigate a drug-trafficking organization (DTO) transporting and distributing large quantities of cocaine from California to Maryland. The investigation began in March 2023, when MSP seized a parcel that contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine. The parcel was mailed from the Los Angeles area and was destined for Clarke’s auto-repair shop in District Heights, Maryland. Through investigating the source of the parcel, postal inspectors and other law enforcement investigators linked Cruz to the narcotics contained within the parcel. In January 2024, postal inspectors and other investigators identified a freight-shipment container shipped from Los Angeles, destined for Clarke’s auto-repair shop in District Heights, Maryland. Law enforcement identified Cruz on surveillance footage dropping off the freight shipment at the shipping company in California. The authorities further observed Cruz traveling to Maryland to follow the shipment for delivery. Postal inspectors and other law enforcement investigators observed Cruz and Clarke meeting at Clarke’s auto-repair shop several days after the freight shipment was sent from California. Investigators then located the freight shipment in Dulles, Viriginia, where a law enforcement K-9 officer scanned it. After the K-9 officer indicated the presence of narcotics in the shipment, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the freight container. Then postal inspectors and law-enforcement investigators located two automobile transmissions inside. Law enforcement found 20, one-kilogram bricks secreted in the oil pans of both transmissions that laboratory forensic tests later confirmed were more than 16 kilograms of cocaine. Postal inspectors, DEA agents, MSP officers and other members of law enforcement then executed search warrants at Clarke’s District Heights auto-repair shop, Clarke’s Clarksburg residence, and Cruz’s hotel room in Capitol Heights, Maryland. At the auto-repair shop, law enforcement located an additional 502.4 grams of cocaine and then found two-kilogram bricks of cocaine and $45,730 in U.S. Currency at Clarke’s residence. Investigators later identified an additional nine historical freight shipments that mirrored the original shipment that contained cocaine that Cruz sent to Clarke’s auto-repair shop utilizing the same freight shipping company. In their plea agreements, Clarke and Cruz both agreed that they were involved in possessing almost 22 kilograms of cocaine in furtherance of this drug trafficking conspiracy. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities . U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USPIS, DEA, MSP, MCPD, and PGPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Rigney and Michael Jaskiw who prosecuted this federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Honduran Illegal Alien Sentenced for Attempted Murder for Hire

body_text: Greenbelt, Maryland – A Honduran illegal alien will spend more than a decade in federal prison for crimes including an attempted murder for hire. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Frelin Hernandez Guardado, 30, to 12 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and murder for hire. Authorities previously removed Hernandez Guardado from the United States twice. This prosecution is part of the Trump Administration’s Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Special Agent in Charge Christopher C. Goumenis, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office; and Chief George Nader, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD). According to court documents, in October 2021, on two occasions, Hernandez Guardado sold firearms to confidential sources. Federal law prohibits illegal aliens from possessing firearms. Then, in December 2021, law enforcement executed search warrants and arrests targeting a local drug trafficking network. After the arrests, Hernandez Guardado told two confidential sources that he intended to kill an individual that he believed cooperated with law enforcement which spurred the arrests. Hernandez Guardado offered to sell one of the confidential sources discounted cocaine in exchange for help committing the murder. On January 12, 2022, Hernandez Guardado and a confidential source departed from his Virginia residence. Hernandez Guardado brought more than 900 grams of cocaine that he intended to sell, at a discount, to another confidential source to secure assistance with carrying out the murder. But before that plan could progress further, law enforcement stopped and arrested Hernandez Guardado in Maryland. This prosecution is part of the 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 Baltimore is comprised of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the District of Maryland; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); the United States Marshals Service (USMS); the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA (W/B HIDTA); the Maryland State Police (MSP); the Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, ATF, and DEA for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Jaskiw and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth S. Clark who prosecuted the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md . # # #


title: Three Topekans going to prison for inside job robbery

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: TOPEKA, KAN. – Three defendants received prison sentences in connection with an armed robbery at a Kansas business that an employee helped to orchestrate. According to court documents, in October 2023, Aaron Elizabeth Fish, 35, Katelyn Nichole North, 34, and Mejia Jawon Pattillo, 50, all of Topeka planned a robbery of a cash advance business in Topeka. Fish worked at the business on Southwest 10th Avenue and provided details to her co-conspirators about the building layout and security. Fish also placed cash deposit requests to increase the amount of cash that would be on site at the time of the planned robbery. On the morning of October 16, 2023, Pattillo approached an employee who was unlocking the door, placed a weapon that appeared to be a handgun at the back of the victim’s head, and ordered the victim to go inside. Pattillo forced the victim to disable the alarm and take him to the safe where Pattillo stole cash. After Pattillo fled the scene, North helped Pattillo to hide the stolen currency and the vehicle used during the crime. Pattillo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery and was sentenced to 140 months in prison. Fish pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robbery and was sentenced to 78 months of imprisonment. North pleaded guilty to one count of accessory after the fact to a Hobbs Act Robbery and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. “Aaron Elizabeth Fish and her co-defendants deliberately planned a robbery at her place of employment during a time she wouldn’t be at work. She had the gall to put her coworker in fear for their life but didn’t want to be there to witness their terror,” said U.S Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Our office will use applicable federal statutes and every tool at our disposal to hold violent criminals accountable.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Topeka Police Department investigated the case. ###


title: National of Bosnia and Herzegovina Charged with Attempting to Fraudulently Obtain U.S. Citizenship by Failing to Disclose Role in Abuse of Prisoners

body_text: A federal grand jury in the District of Idaho returned an indictment last week charging Miran Kostic, 66, of Boise, Idaho, a national of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with lying while attempting to obtain U.S. citizenship. According to court documents, Kostic was a high-level official in the so-called Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia (APZB). In that role, he pistol-whipped prisoners, beat them with wooden clubs, stakes, and his fists, and kicked them, causing them to lose consciousness. He forced prisoners to beat each other, and he also ordered other members of the APZB to beat prisoners. In his applications to become a U.S. citizen and in interviews with the FBI and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), he repeatedly lied about the abuse he participated in and ordered, and failed to disclose charges filed against him in Bosnia and Herzegovina for war crimes, among other lies. Kostic is charged with attempted naturalization fraud and making material false statements to law enforcement agents. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each charge of attempted naturalization fraud, and five years in prison for the false statements charge. “Miran Kostic benefited from U.S. residency for decades and ultimately attempted to become a naturalized citizen, all while concealing the human rights abuses he committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Individuals who commit atrocities abroad and lie to immigration authorities to seek safe haven in the United States will be investigated and prosecuted. The integrity of our naturalization process and the enforcement of our immigration laws are paramount concerns.” “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud to work with our partners to ensure federal immigration laws are followed and are properly enforced,” said U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis for the District of Idaho. “Citizenship is a privilege that must be earned with honesty and integrity,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle. “HSI will not allow the naturalization process to be undermined by fraud. We remain steadfast in our commitment to investigate and prosecute those who conceal their criminal backgrounds to illegally obtain status.” “Kostic’s attempt to conceal his violent history in order to obtain U.S. citizenship will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to investigate fraud and hold individuals accountable for violating our nation’s laws.” HSI and FBI are investigating the case, with coordination provided by the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Office of Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS), along with the FBI’s International Human Rights Unit. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provided significant assistance by securing the evidence for prosecution of Kostic. The Justice Department thanks the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, which were instrumental in furthering the investigation. Trial Attorney Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Horwitz for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case. Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) or through the FBI’s online tip form at tips.fbi.gov/ , or Homeland Security Investigations at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or through ICE’s online tip form at www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Former Kauai Resident Indicted for Trafficking Fentanyl

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Dakota Ianniello, 55, formerly of Hanapepe, Kauai, was indicted on July 23, 2026, after being arrested in the Western District of Wisconsin on July 21, 2026, for possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl. On May 23, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Ianniello’s vehicle and seized approximately 81.5 grams of fentanyl. After her arrest on July 21, 2026, Ianniello provided a statement to agents admitting the fentanyl seized in May 2025 was hers, she knew the substance to be fentanyl, and she distributed fentanyl to others. If convicted, Ianniello faces at least 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000,000, plus a term of supervised release of at least 4 years. The charge in the indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. The Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Kauai Police Department, are investigating the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heidi Turner is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Filipino National Charged with Unlawfully Voting as an Alien

body_text: HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Bernadette Acaso, 19, a Filipino national residing in Honolulu, Oahu and Kahului, Maui, was charged by criminal complaint on July 22, 2026, with unlawfully voting as an alien. According to court records, Acaso was born in the Philippines and came to the United States in or around 2018 on an immigrant visa and became a Lawful Permanent Resident. Acaso cast a mail-in ballot in the 2024 general election. Acaso admitted in a statement to law enforcement that she understood she was not a United States citizen at the time she voted. If convicted, Acaso faces up to one year in prison, plus a term of supervised release. Acaso also faces a fine of up to $100,000. The charge in the criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heidi Turner is prosecuting the case.


title: Third Nigerian Man Sentenced to Prison for Money Laundering Conspiracy, Wire Fraud Related to the Sexual Extortion and Death of a Local Young Man

component: Criminal - Office of International Affairs

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Afeez Olatunji Adewale, 27, of Nigeria was sentenced today by United States District Judge Joel H. Slomsky to 60 months in prison and three years of supervised release for money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud related to the sexual extortion and death of a young man in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “All three defendants have finally been brought to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “I hope that their arrests, extradition, and prosecution make clear that the DOJ will go after those terrorizing our young people — no matter where the scammers and sextortionists may be. Though this case is now closed, our thoughts will remain with a family and community forever changed.” The defendant was extradited from Nigeria to the United States in February of this year and pleaded guilty in April. Adewale was arrested in Nigeria on August 17, 2023, as part of a wider operation with the FBI to apprehend sexual extortionists targeting victims in the United States. He was extradited to the United States on Friday, February 13, 2026, with the assistance of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI Legal Attaché in Abuja, and the FBI, who took him into custody. The support and assistance of Nigerian security authorities was essential to this effort, notably that of Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Justice’s International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. “Today’s sentencing illustrates criminals cannot evade justice, even outside of our borders,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “This final sentencing is the result of diligent investigative work and close coordination with our domestic and international law enforcement partners. This case is a testament to the FBI’s unwavering commitment to pursuing those who exploit others online, regardless of where they operate. Most importantly, today’s sentence represents our continued commitment to seeking justice for victims and their loved ones. Let today’s sentencing send a clear message: alongside our partners here and abroad, the FBI remains committed to identifying, locating, and bringing to justice those who prey on our communities.” “The capabilities of local police departments to expand an investigation beyond the borders of the U.S. is extremely limited. We must rely on the expertise of the FBI and other federal law enforcement partners, which is exactly what occurred in this case,” said Chief Patrick Molloy of the Abington Township Police Department. “We are grateful for the federal agents and prosecutors who worked so hard to bring those responsible for this heinous crime to justice. This could have been anyone’s child, and while this prosecution may provide some measure of relief, the pain and suffering for this family will never go away.” Adewale’s co-defendants, Imoleayo Samuel Aina, aka “Alice Dave,” 27, and Samuel Olasunkanmi Abiodun, 26, were extradited to the U.S. in August 2024. Abiodun pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud and was sentenced by Judge Slomsky in June 2025 to five years in prison. Aina later pleaded guilty to cyberstalking, interstate threat to injure reputation, receiving proceeds of extortion, money laundering conspiracy, and wire fraud, and was sentenced by Judge Slomsky in October 2025 to six years in prison. This case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia’s Fort Washington Resident Agency and the Abington Township Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Brown.


title: Philadelphia Man Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Two Area Non-Profits Out of More Than $320,000

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Seth S. Jones, 46, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Gerald J. Pappert to two counts of wire fraud, arising from a scheme in which he defrauded two Philadelphia-area non-profit companies out of $322,798. The defendant was charged by information last month; with today’s plea, he has waived prosecution by indictment. As detailed in court filings and statements, from at least 2017 to September 2025, Jones worked in the finance department of Non-Profit Company #1, which was a parent company to Non-Profit Company #2. The defendant defrauded the non-profit companies by using a company credit card to pay for approximately $291,023 in personal expenses and diverting approximately $31,775 in funds from a bank account associated with Non-Profit Company #2 to bank accounts controlled by him. In order to carry out and conceal the fraud scheme, Jones falsified expense reports, failed to submit expense reports, and created fake invoices. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on November 5 and faces a maximum possible term of 40 years’ imprisonment. This case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Francis A. Weber and John G. Iannacone.


title: Grosse Ile Man Charged with Child Pornography Offenses

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – Michael Wendt, 38, of Grosse Ile, Michigan was arrested on July 21, 2026, and charged with child pornography offenses, announced Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Wendt was detained after a detention hearing, July 24, 2026, in federal court in Detroit. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division. According to the criminal complaint, it is alleged that in June 2026, Wendt uploaded child sexually abusive material (CSAM) to his Google Drive account. Following the execution of a search warrant, agents seized Wendt’s cell phone and during a manual review found several hundred images of CSAM, including images that depicted sexual assaults of young children, infants, and toddlers. Agents also found open websites on the phone depicting CSAM. The FBI is aware that Wendt worked as a physician’s assistant at urgent care offices in the Detroit area. Currently, the FBI has no information suggesting that any patients were victimized. In response to numerous public inquiries, the FBI has established a website seeking relevant information from the public for the ongoing criminal investigation. If you and/or your minor dependent(s) have information relevant to this investigation, please fill out this short form. If you or your minor dependent is identified as a victim in this case, all identities of victims will be kept confidential. A criminal complaint is only a charging document and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is being investigated by agents of the FBI with the assistance of the Grosse Ile Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean King and Tara Hindelang.


title: New Orleans Man Indicted For Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that on July 24, 2026, a federal grand jury indicted TINO PIERRE , (“PIERRE”) , age 25, of New Orleans, for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). According to the indictment, on or about April 8, 2026, in the Eastern District of Louisiana, PIERRE , knowing that he had been previously convicted of crimes punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, was found in possession of a firearm. PIERRE faces a maximum fifteen (15) year term of imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, three (3) years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment cost. U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Duane A. Evans of the General Crimes Unit is prosecuting the matter. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. * * *


title: New Orleans Felon Pleads Guilty To Federal Drug-Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MICHAEL BROOKS (“BROOKS”) , age 30, pleaded guilty on July 23, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Brandon S. Long to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and tapentadol, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), 841(b)(1)(D), and 846; possession with intent to distribute those same substances in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D); conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(o); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i); and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to court documents, on August 13, 2025, BROOKS and his co-defendant were pulled over by the Louisiana State Police. Inside the car, troopers recovered over 2.5 pounds of marijuana, tapentadol pills, a digital scale, a Glock handgun equipped with a machinegun conversion device and an extended magazine, and a Romarm/CugirMini Draco, 7.62x39mm semi-automatic pistol equipped with a loaded extended magazine. BROOKS is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions for first-degree robbery and aggravated battery. As to his drug-trafficking convictions, BROOKS faces up to 20 years in prison, a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release up to life. As to his conviction for conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, BROOKS faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. As to his conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, BROOKS faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and up to life in prison, which must run consecutively to each other and any other sentence, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. As to his conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, BROOKS faces up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Louisiana State Police. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. ***


title: Harvey Man Sentenced for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – LANCE ROTOLO, JR. (ROTOLO, JR.) , 20, from Harvey, Louisiana, was sentenced on July 23, 2026, to 124 months imprisonment, 10 years supervised release, and a $100 special assessment fee by U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, after pleading guilty to a one count superseding bill of information which charged him with coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to court documents, beginning at a time unknown, but not later than in or around January 2025, and continuing at least until on or about February 1, 2025, in the Eastern District of Louisiana and elsewhere, ROTOLO, JR. , did use a facility and means of interstate and foreign commerce and knowingly persuade, induce, entice, and coerce any individual who had not attained the age of 18 years, to engage in sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense, such as pornography involving juveniles. U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit. 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 United States Attorney’s 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 www.projectsafechildhood.govlegitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. * * *


title: Vallejo Man Indicted for Being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment Thursday against Nichiatari Palmer, 35, of Vallejo, charging him with being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, on June 26, 2026, law enforcement deputies encountered Palmer while he was sitting in the driver’s seat of a parked car with the door open. When the deputies approached, they noticed a black AR-15-style rifle with an extended magazine in the driver’s footwell. The firearm had a live round in the chamber and 37 rounds of ammunition in the extended magazine. A search of the car found two more magazines containing 56 additional rounds. Palmer is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of prior felony convictions including vehicle theft, burglary, and second degree robbery. The Solano County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Campbell is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Palmer faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.


title: Fresno County Man Pleads Guilty to Gun and Drug Crimes Days Before Trial Set to Begin

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — David Joseph Yama, 42, of Reedley, pleaded guilty today to possession of fentanyl and alprazolam (commonly known as Xanax) with intent to distribute, three counts of being a felon in possession of ammunition, and one count of carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, on Sept. 1, 2020, officers responded to a gas station in Clovis after a report of suspicious activity and contacted Yama and two associates. A search of the vehicle Yama had been driving uncovered a large amount of cash, ammunition, plastic baggies, vials containing fentanyl, more than 200 fentanyl pills, and more than 100 alprazolam pills. A search of Yama’s residence the same day revealed additional controlled substances and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition. In January 2021, officers stopped Yama driving the same car. Officers recovered more alprazolam pills, ammunition, a loaded ghost gun, and a silencer. Yama has five prior felony drug trafficking and firearms convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms. In May 2019, law enforcement discovered a clandestine drug lab in Yama’s trailer at a storage facility. Officers seized pill‑making equipment, including a pill press. Residue on the equipment tested positive for fentanyl and other controlled substances. Yama had been scheduled to begin trial on July 27, 2026. The Court vacated the trial after accepting Yama’s guilty plea. This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fentanyl Overdose Resolution Team, a multi-agency group composed of the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, the California Department of Justice, and the Clovis, Reedley, and Fresno Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cody S. Chapple, Joshua B. Banister, and Justin J. Gilio are prosecuting the case. Yama is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley on Oct. 19, 2026. Yama faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and alprazolam; up to 15 years in prison and $250,000 for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; and up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for possession with intent to distribute alprazolam. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.


title: Four Sacramento Men Indicted for Distributing Cocaine, Fentanyl, and Methamphetamine

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment Thursday against four Sacramento residents charging them with multiple counts of distributing controlled substances, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. Balentin Quintero, 27, was charged with one count of distribution of cocaine and four counts of distribution of fentanyl. Francisco Chavez, 39, was charged with one count of distribution of cocaine, two counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and three counts of distribution of fentanyl. Steven Ortega, 44, was charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. Tavarius Montgomery, 41, was charged with two counts of distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents, between January and June 2026, Quintero, Chavez, Ortega, and Montgomery sold controlled substances to a confidential source and an undercover agent eight times. On May 1, 2026, Chavez agreed to sell the undercover agent 1 ounce of fentanyl. After stating that they needed to meet a source to obtain the fentanyl, Chavez and the undercover agent met with Ortega, who provided the fentanyl. Chavez then sold the fentanyl to the undercover agent for $900. On June 8, 2026, Quintero agreed to sell 3 ounces of fentanyl to a confidential source. When the source arrived, Chavez obtained fentanyl from Montgomery, delivered it to Quintero, and Quintero sold it to the confidential source for $3,300. On July 14, 2026, Ortega was found to be in possession of multiple firearms. Ortega is prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions in Sacramento County including convictions for distribution of controlled substances, being a felon in possession of a firearm, battery with serious bodily injury, and assault with a deadly weapon. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole M. Vanek is prosecuting the case. If convicted of distribution of methamphetamine, Chavez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and a fine up to $10 million. If convicted of distribution of fentanyl, Quintero, Chavez, and Montgomery face a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $5 million. If convicted of distribution of fentanyl, Ortega faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. If convicted of being a felon in possession of firearms, Ortega faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which account for numerous variables. The charges are only allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Former University Professor Sentenced for Child Sexual Exploitation Offenses

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Rodger Githens, 48, of West Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jill A. Otake to 18 years and six months in prison, for attempted enticement of a minor and receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. Githens was also sentenced to 10 years of supervised release, during which time, his access to the internet, computers, and minors will be restricted. Githens will also be required to register as a sex offender and pay $75,000 in fines. Githens was found guilty on May 1, 2026, following a bench trial before visiting Judge Otake. According to court documents, Githens had been employed as a professor at a local university and had worked as a consultant for other colleges and universities. In March 2023, Githens, using the profile “Tall laid back,” initiated contact with a Grindr account controlled by an undercover agent. Githens quickly encouraged the undercover agent to establish a Telegram account, which he considered more secure. Githens stated that he “would love to have a dad or uncle invite me” and then described in graphic detail what he would like to do with the undercover agent and the agent’s fictional 7-year-old niece. Several times Githens discussed traveling to Fresno to meet the agent and the fictional niece, but on April 19, 2023, law enforcement served a search warrant at Githens’s residence and seized multiple electronic devices. Agents discovered numerous Telegram chats on Githens’s phone including several in which he was exchanging and commenting on videos of the sexual abuse of young children. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the West Sacramento Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa and McKenzie Hightower of the Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by 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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.


title: Prior Felon Sentenced to 96 Months for Shooting Over Money Dispute

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Derrick Gladden, 55, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 96 months in prison today in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for shooting Christopher Seward during a dispute in April 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Gladden was found guilty by a jury on March 11, 2026, of one count each of aggravated assault while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. In addition to the 96-month sentence, Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt ordered Gladden to serve five years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, on April 15, 2024, at approximately 2:15 p.m., the victim was standing on the first-floor patio of his friend’s apartment in the 2300 block of Marion Barry Avenue SE. Gladden, who lived in the apartment next door, saw the victim and confronted him about an ongoing dispute over money. He then pulled out a firearm and shot the victim once in the chest. The victim suffered a serious injury and almost died, however, thanks to the Whole Blood Program, which had been launched earlier that month, the victim received a blood transfusion in the ambulance and survived. In April 2025, before having a chance to testify, Seward died of cancer. After learning the identity of the shooter from the victim, police obtained an emergency search warrant for the defendant’s residence and located ammunition that matched a casing found near the location of the shooting, along with firearms accessories and a holster. Additionally, a neighbor provided Ring camera footage showing the defendant fleeing from the front door of his apartment after the shooting. Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Eliot Folsom and Natalie Anderson, who prosecuted the case. 2024 CF3 006550


title: D.C. Man Sentenced to 9 Years for Armed Robberies and Assault

body_text: WASHINGTON – Rodney Bennett, 20, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia for two robberies in 2024 and one assault with a dangerous weapon while confined in a D.C. Correctional Facility in 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Bennett pleaded guilty on March 23, 2026, to one count of armed robbery, one count of robbery, and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan sentenced Bennett to 9 years in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, on August 28, 2024, at approximately 11:10 p.m., Bennett approached a man who was returning a rental scooter at 5th and Neal Place NE, Washington, D.C. Bennett pointed a firearm at him and demanded his cellphone and wallet. The man handed over both items but later grabbed his phone back and fled to a nearby bar, where he called the police. Bennett fled the scene with the wallet. Bennett was wearing a GPS monitor, and his coordinates placed him at the scene at the time of the robbery. Just over an hour later, on August 29, 2024, at approximately 12:24 p.m., Bennett followed two individuals walking to 1924 8th Street NW, Washington, D.C., into an underground parking garage. When Bennett exited his vehicle and approached, both individuals ran. Bennett chased one of them, stopping him at the entrance to the elevator. Bennett pointed a firearm at him and demanded his watch and cash and then fled with the stolen items. His GPS monitor again placed him at the scene during the offense. Bennett was arrest on October 9, 2024, by the Metropolitan Police Department and has remained in custody since that time. While incarcerated, on November 10, 2025, at approximately 9:50 p.m., inside the Northwest Three Housing Unit of the Department of Corrections’ Central Detention Facility, Bennett became involved in a verbal altercation with another inmate. During the dispute, Bennett produced a sharp metal object and stabbed the inmate, causing lacerations to the face and head. Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hanley. 2024 CF3 010193, 2025 CF3 015306


title: D.C. Man Found Guilty of Sexually Assaulting Minor

body_text: WASHINGTON – Luis Figueroa, 67, of Washington, D.C., was convicted on charges of First- and Second-Degree Child Sexual Abuse with Aggravating Circumstances, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Figueroa was found guilty of First- and Second-Degree Child Sexual Abuse with Aggravating Circumstances on July 23, 2026. Sentencing is scheduled for September 25, 2026, before Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt. Due to the aggravating circumstances for which the defendant was convicted, the defendant is eligible for a sentence of over 30 years imprisonment up to life imprisonment without possibility of release. According to court documents, in 2017, the victim, six-years-old at the time, and her family were living in a basement apartment in the defendant’s home. The defendant maintained a friendly relationship with the victim, instructing her to call him “the Cookie Monster.” One day, the defendant entered the apartment to fix a broken shower and called the victim into the bathroom to help him. Upon entering the bathroom, the defendant instructed the victim to shut the door behind her. The defendant then proceeded to sexually assault the victim. Afterwards the victim was disgusted and confused which led her to keep the abuse to herself until coming forward in 2021. The victim was inspired to come forward and tell her mother about the abuse that occurred after seeing other individuals share their stories online. The victim’s mother then alerted a social worker. The case was indicted and Figueroa was arrested pursuant to a bench warrant on April 3, 2024. Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kate Ballou and Lindsey Miller.


title: Robbery Accomplice Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that REBECCA BARBERA, 44, of Guilford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 24 months of imprisonment and two years of supervised release for assisting the commission of numerous violent robberies across Connecticut in September and October 2022. According to court documents and statements made in court, between September 5 and October 13, 2022, Barbera’s associate, Lonny Cross, committed 37 robberies and attempted robberies of gas station convenience stores, mini-markets, and liquor stores in North Branford, Waterbury, Wolcott, Plymouth, New Haven, North Haven, Orange, West Haven, Wethersfield, Bristol, Southington, Naugatuck, Watertown, Franklin, Norwich, Waterford, Groton City, Stonington, Ledyard, Darien, Norwalk, Stratford, and Seymour, Connecticut, and Port Chester, New York. In total, Cross stole more than $58,000 in cash. Several of the robberies occurred on the same day, only minutes apart. For at least 24 of the robberies, Cross traveled to the store with Barbera, who would sometimes enter the store to determine the number of employees and customers in the store, exit the store, and then report that information to Cross. Cross then entered the store, displayed a knife or facsimile firearm while threatening employees with statements including “I know where you work” and “if you call the police I’ll come back and blow your head off,” and stole cash and other items. Cross grabbed some victims and held a knife to them. During a robbery in Wethersfield on September 24, 2022, Cross threatened the 12-year-old son of the store owner with a knife and robbed the register. The boy was alone behind the counter while his father was in a back office when Cross entered the store. On October 14, 2022, investigators conducted court-authorized searches of Cross’s residence and a black 2014 Chevrolet Impala that Cross was known to drive. The search of the residence revealed clothing consistent with clothing worn by Cross in several of the robberies, as well as quantities of heroin, crack cocaine, and narcotics paraphernalia. A search of the car revealed 120 bags heroin, approximately 14 grams of crack, and a knit hat matching the description of one worn by Cross during a robbery the day before. Cross, who was on state parole for prior robbery convictions, was arrested on state charges on that date. The morning after his arrest, from jail, Cross directed Barbera and others to go to a storage unit and dispose of a weapon he had used in the robberies. Barbera was arrested on October 28, 2022. On May 24, 2024, she pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence. Barbera, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on September 4. Cross pleaded guilty to robbery offenses and, on March 5, 2025, was sentenced to 188 months of imprisonment. This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Connecticut State Police, Orange Police Department, Port Chester (N.Y.) Police Department, and numerous other police departments from the municipalities where the robberies occurred, with the assistance of Connecticut State Parole. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Robert S. Ruff.


title: Ansonia Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl and Cocaine

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSUE MUNIZ, 35, of Ansonia, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for distributing fentanyl and cocaine. According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Stamford Police Department learned that an individual, subsequently identified as Muniz, was trafficking fentanyl and cocaine in the Naugatuck Valley, and that a 32-year-old woman had died from an overdose after using drugs obtained from Muniz. Investigators conducted multiple undercover purchases of narcotics from Muniz in November and December 2024. On December 20, 2024, after investigators coordinated a purchase of narcotics, Muniz was arrested at a car dealership in Milford where he was employed. Muniz possessed approximately 58 grams of fentanyl at time of his arrest, and related searches of his vehicle and Ansonia residence revealed quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine. Muniz, whose criminal history includes state felony convictions for narcotics offenses, has been detained since his arrest. On April 9, 2026, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine. This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Stamford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Lembo with the assistance of Law Student Intern Isabelle Kennedy. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Minnesota Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Abusing Subordinate During Training at Inland Empire Army Base

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A former member of the Minnesota National Guard was sentenced today to 24 months in federal prison for sexually abusing a subordinate during a training mission at Fort Irwin United States Army base in San Bernardino County. Kelly Boylan, 56, of Minneapolis, was sentenced by United States District Judge Wesley L. Hsu. At the conclusion of a four-day trial, a jury on April 9 found Boylan guilty of one count of abusive sexual contact. He has been in federal custody since that day. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in July 2020, Boylan was a member of the Minnesota National Guard and, during a training mission at Fort Irwin, sexually abused a direct subordinate, who then was a 23-year-old woman. Both Boylan and the victim had been deployed to Fort Irwin for one month of training. Boylan was a staff sergeant, which is a non-commissioned officer, and outranked the victim, who was a specialist, which is a junior soldier. In the Army, non-commissioned officers are prohibited from engaging in sexual relationships with junior soldiers because of the military authority they exert over them. The victim reported the attack to the Army’s law enforcement division, which began an investigation that led to Boylan’s arrest and prosecution. “Military leaders are entrusted with extraordinary responsibility, and with that responsibility comes a heightened obligation to safeguard those under their command,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “Rather than fulfilling that obligation, [Boylan] violated it in one of the most fundamental ways possible.” The FBI investigated this matter. The United States Army Criminal Investigation Division provided assistance. Assistant United States Attorneys Neil P. Thakor of the Major Crimes Section and Erin C. Kiss of the Orange County Office prosecuted this case.


title: Chinese National Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Group that Attempted to Ship Over a Metric Ton of Meth to Australia

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A San Gabriel Valley man was sentenced today to 87 months in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking organization that attempted to export more than one metric ton (2,204.6 pounds) of methamphetamine concealed inside shipment containers and destined for Australia. Jing Tang Li, 34, of China, was sentenced by United States District Judge Wesley L. Hsu. Li pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, from February 2023 to December 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers inspected seven shipments of different purported commodities destined for Australia. The purported commodities were falsely listed as carpets and textiles, furniture, wheel hub testing equipment, and a casting machine. The listed companies that were shipping the “products” were fake businesses. Embedded in the products was methamphetamine. For example, in February 2023, Li attempted to ship a package labeled “other carpets & other textile floor coverings” from Los Angeles to Australia. Law enforcement intercepted the package and determined it contained two pallets holding 23 cardboard boxes the had black rubber mats inside that contained approximately 855.5 kilograms (1,886.1 pounds) of methamphetamine. Later that month, Li attempted to ship a package labeled “furniture leg set” from Los Angeles to Australia. The package contained four cardboard boxes with white metal tubes inside that contained approximately 32.5 kilograms (71.6 pounds) of methamphetamine. In June 2023, Li attempted to ship a package labeled “casting machine” from Los Angeles to Australia. Law enforcement examined the package and determined it contained numerous packages, later confirming the packages contained methamphetamine, with a net weight of approximately 202.5 kilograms (446.3 pounds). Twice in August 2023, Li conspired with others to ship two packages labeled “tooling of wheel hub testing equipment” from Los Angeles to Australia. Law enforcement determined each package contained methamphetamine with a net weight of approximately 102.8 kilograms (226.7 pounds). Law enforcement arrested Li in August 2024 outside of a warehouse that served as a hub for the drug trafficking conspiracy and contained machinery consistent with those seen in packages shipped by it. Inside of Li’s car, he knowingly possessed multiple bags containing approximately 957.7 grams (2.1 pounds) of methamphetamine. In total, law enforcement seized more than 1,000 kilograms (2,204.6 pounds) of methamphetamine hidden in these containers. Homeland Security Investigations, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the Australian Federal Police investigated this matter. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department provided assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Brenda N. Galván of the Transnational Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.