title: Cuban National Pleads Guilty for His Role in an International Alien Smuggling and Money Laundering Conspiracy

body_text: A Cuban national pleaded guilty today to alien smuggling, asylum fraud, and money laundering. According to court documents, Yuniel Lima-Santos, 31, of Tampa, Florida, conspired with others to operate an alien smuggling organization (ASO) which encouraged or induced thousands of Cuban aliens to enter the United States through the southern border and used fraudulent Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and visa waivers. The defendants advertised their smuggling services and bogus visa services across multiple social media platforms to solicit Cuban nationals and other aliens to attempt to illegally enter the United States and fraudulently obtain lawful status in the United States. The ASO advertised services included assisting Cubans with false claims of European citizenship to enter the United States on a European tourist visa waiver or ESTA, and it filed hundreds of fraudulent ESTA applications with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) using fake addresses and fabricated documents. Cuban nationals are not eligible for the ESTA program, and the defendants falsely represented that the applicants had not been in Cuba since 2011. The defendants knew that Cubans are not eligible for the ESTA program, and that the applicants were actually in Cuba at the time the ESTA applications were submitted. Lima-Santos furthered the conspiracy by helping move aliens from their country of origin, including Cuba, into the United States, including by purchasing international and domestic flights to transport aliens into and throughout the United States. Lima-Santos, along with co-defendant Frandy Aragon Diaz, smuggled five aliens into the United States and admitted to aiding Aragon Diaz with bringing Cuban women illegally into the United States, where they worked in strip clubs to pay off their smuggling debt. In furtherance of the conspiracy’s money laundering crimes, Lima-Santos filed articles of incorporation in Florida for a shell company that had no employees, payroll, or reported income, but were used to move money obtained from alien smuggling and conceal the true source and nature of the ill-gotten funds. Aliens were charged between $1,500 and $40,000 for their smuggling services, and co-conspirators sometimes even chartered private planes to move groups of aliens. Lima-Santos and co-defendants conspired to regularly move funds to companies and other places outside of the United States, such as by purchasing international flights for aliens to travel into the United States. Between 2021 and 2024, Lima-Santos transmitted internationally over $600,000 from the United States to purchase flights for aliens to unlawfully enter the United States. Yuniel Lima-Santos pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling for financial gain, five counts of alien smuggling for financial gain, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, and one count of conspiracy to conceal money laundering instruments. Lima-Santos faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. As part of the conspiracy, 12 individuals were charged in a superseding indictment for their roles. Liannys Yaiselys Vega-Perez, 31; Miguel Alejandro Martinez Vasconcelos, 31; Layra Libertad Treto Santos, 30; Emanuel Martinez Gonzalez, 29; Walbis Pozo-Dutel, 31; and Luis Emmanuel Escalona-Marrero, 32, have all pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Erik Ventura-Castro, 24, pleaded guilty on May 7 and was sentenced in July to 30 months in prison. Lazaro Alain Cabrera-Rodriguez, 28, and Gisleivy Peralta Consuegra, 41, are awaiting trial scheduled to begin on Sept. 21. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Director Joseph Edlow of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) made the announcement. The investigation and superseding indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including HSI and CBP U.S. Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 477 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 431 U.S. convictions; and more than 370 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets. HSI Tampa, U.S. Border Patrol Miami Sector, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)’s Fraud Detection and National Security led U.S. investigative efforts, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force. Authorities in the Cayman Islands provided valuable assistance. Trial Attorney Amanda Brown of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Derry for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.


title: Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald Issues Memorandum on the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Enforcement Priorities

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division (the Fraud Division) today released a memorandum regarding the Division’s enforcement priorities. Read the full memo . The Fraud Division has a clear mission: to prosecute fraud in the United States, no matter its size or complexity. This mission is critical to restoring public confidence in the federal government’s ability to responsibly steward taxpayer dollars. The Government Accountability Office recently estimated that the federal government loses between $233 billion to $521 billion annually to fraud — with other models showing even higher annual losses. Accordingly, Fraud Division personnel will work tirelessly to bring to justice individuals and corporations who have defrauded the public fisc, and threaten the health, safety, security, and prosperity of Americans.


title: Venezuelan Sentenced To 18 Years for Robbing a Denver Jewelry Store at the Direction of Tren de Aragua

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jesus Lara del Toro, 22, of Venezuela, was sentenced to 216 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution after pleading guilty to one count of Hobbs Act Robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence in connection with the armed robbery of the Joyeria El Ruby Jewelry Store. Lara del Toro pleaded guilty without a plea agreement. According to the indictment and facts established at sentencing, Lara del Toro and others entered the Joyeria El Ruby Jewelry Store on West 38 th Avenue in Denver on the afternoon of June 24, 2024. During the robbery, employees and customers were held at gunpoint, several employees were beaten with firearms, and nearly $4 million worth of gold and jewelry were stolen. Multiple victims were injured in the attack. The suspects were later located in the El Paso, Texas area. The defendants in this case, including Lara del Toro, committed this crime acting under the directives of international Tren de Aragua (TdA) leadership. “The District of Colorado continues to pursue the total elimination of the Tren de Aragua gang in Colorado, and sentences like this send a strong message that we will not tolerate this violence in our communities,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “I hope the victims of this violent attack take some solace in justice being served as these criminals are sent to federal prison.” “The violent crime behind this case and HSI’s broader Denver-area investigation into Tren de Aragua marks the beginning of the end for this criminal group,” said HSI Denver Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen. “The professionalism of HSI Denver and El Paso agents, along with our FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office partners in Colorado and Texas, demonstrate the strength of a whole-of-government law enforcement approach.” “The video surveillance of the jewelry store robbery was shocking in its violence, prompting an immediate action from local and federal partners. The crew that planned and carried out the robbery knew people would be inside, and they fully intended to terrorize anyone present during the robbery's commission,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski. “The FBI Violent Criminal Enterprise Task Force in collaboration with our partners tracked them down and brought them back to face justice. This sentence reflects the decisions the defendant chose to make.” Two other defendants, Jean Torres-Roman, and Newman Castillo Delgado were previously sentenced. A fourth defendant will be sentenced later this year. United States District Judge Nina Y. Wang presided over the sentencing. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Denver, the Denver Police Department, the FBI Denver Field Division, FBI El Paso Field Division, Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector, Texas Department of Public Safety, El Paso Police Department, and West Texas Anti-Gang Center. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Leah Perczak. These cases are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of 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 Rocky Mountain HSTF comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Internal Revenue Service, Office of Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); United States Marshals Service (USMS); Diplomatic Security Service (DSS); United States Citizenship and Immigration Services; and Immigration and Customs Enforcement / Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE/ERO); and United States Customs and Border Patrol with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. Case Numbers: 24-CR-00247-NYW and 25-CR-00331-PAB


title: Member of Lummi Nation sentenced to five years in prison for vicious assault and strangulation of former intimate partner

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – 49-year-old Lummi Nation man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to five years in prison for his strangulation of his former intimate partner, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Marc Cagey Oreiro pleaded guilty in June to the 2025 assault of his former intimate partner on the Lummi Nation Indian Reservation. Oreiro has a tribal court conviction for assaulting the same victim. The victim in this case told law enforcement he had assaulted her some ten times previously, that were not reported to law enforcement. At today’s sentencing U.S. District Judge Lauren King told Oreiro, “Non-fatal strangulation is among the most dangerous of domestic assaults. This is about as serious as it gets… You continue to treat your intimate partners or former intimate partners as your property, as if you had the right to control them and use deadly force against them.” “Mr. Oreiro had his first domestic violence conviction in 1995 when he was just 18 years old. His incidents of domestic violence assault have worsened since then, but Mr. Oreiro has spent little time behind bars,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “This above-guidelines sentence, with three years of federal supervision to follow, is aimed at breaking the cycle of violence that has threatened those closest to this defendant.” According to records filed in the case, on May 23, 2025, Oreiro assaulted the victim in the master bedroom of their home on the Lummi Nation Indian Reservation Oreiro pushed the victim onto the bed and strangled her with his hands and forearm interfering with her ability to breathe. Oreiro punched her multiple times in the head, back, stomach, side, and ear. He struck her in the ribs with his knee and knelt on her chest and repeatedly threatened to kill her. She later disclosed that after the assault he had attempted to sexually assault her. Lummi Police officers arrived at the door after a housemate called police. During a search of the residence, police found Oreiro who physically fought with officers. The victim was found crying in the master bedroom closet where Oreiro had instructed her to hide. The victim was transported to a local hospital for medical care and treatment, including bruising to her face, ears, and neck. In seeking a five-year sentence prosecutors wrote to the court that “Oreiro’s conduct in this case presents serious concerns for the safety of the (victim). Those, like the (victim), who have been non-fatally strangled by an abusive partner are eight times more likely to become a subsequent victim of homicide at the hands of that same partner. Moreover, Oreiro has proven that he flouts conditions imposed by the courts, including post-conviction no-contact orders.” Oreiro was originally charged in tribal court. Following the initial FBI investigation, Oreiro was charged by criminal complaint, and on June 25, 2025, the grand jury returned an indictment. He pleaded guilty on June 6, 2026. He has been detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac since his federal arrest on June 4, 2025. Judge King also imposed a $50,000 fine. Restitution will be determined at a later date. At sentencing, Judge King also spoke directly to the victim in this case noting that she was “brave,” that no one deserves to be treated the way that she was, and that her actions “may have prevented other women from becoming victims in the future.” The judge noted that the victim did the right thing by reporting to law enforcement. “Based upon Mr. Oreiro’s history, it is unlikely this pattern of violence would have stopped without intervention from the justice system,” the judge said. The case was investigated jointly by the FBI Safe Trails Task Force and the Lummi Nation Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Celia Lee and Carolyn Forstein. Ms. Lee serves as a Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.


title: Drug Distributer Convicted for Selling Fentanyl that Caused Three Fatal Overdoses

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – A Memphis man, Darian Glover, 29 , has been convicted by a federal jury for distribution of a controlled substance causing death. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict today. An eyewitness told law enforcement that on June 20, 2024, he saw the male victim, M.P., purchase narcotics from Darian Glover. The eyewitness stated M.P. began making phone calls to Glover in order to buy what M.P. believed was cocaine. The eyewitness stated they got off work around 5:30 PM, and they met Glover at a gas station located on Bartlett Road in Bartlett, TN. Glover walked up to M.P.'s truck and got into the backseat. M.P. and Glover shook hands, which is when the drug transaction occurred. M.P. then drove Glover to a liquor store located on Summer Avenue in Memphis, TN. Glover went into the store and came back to the truck. M.P. then drove Glover to Glover's residence in Memphis, TN. On June 21, 2024 at 1:51 AM, the Collierville Police Department was dispatched to a residence located in Collierville, TN in reference to a report of a drug overdose. Upon arrival, officers observed the residents of the house performing CPR on two unconscious females on the back porch of the house. Officers also observed an unconscious male lying on the back porch as well. Officers and paramedics then took over CPR on all the unconscious individuals on the scene. Officers and paramedics administered multiple doses of Narcan to all three individuals. Subsequently, all three victims, M.P., L.P., and A.T., did not survive. On the scene, officers observed a white powdery substance on a dollar bill on the table where the three individuals were seated. The white powdery substance was collected from the scene and sent to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for testing and analysis. The results confirmed that the unknown white powdery substance tested positive for fentanyl. In addition to the fentanyl, the victims' cell phones were recovered from the scene of the overdose. Upon analyses of M.P.'s cellphone, law enforcement saw text message communication between M.P. and Glover's cell phone number. The communication displayed text messages about M.P. attempting to purchase "toot", which is the street term for cocaine. The conversation started on June 20, 2024 at 2:23 PM and continued until M.P.'s last text message to Glover on June 20, 2024 at 7:24 PM. The victim and Glover's cell phone location data corroborated the eyewitness' version of events. The eyewitness positively identified Glover in a photo lineup as the person who sold M.P. the narcotics. Per the medical examiner, the immediate cause of M.P.'s and A.T.'s death was fentanyl toxicity, and the manner of death was an accident. The immediate cause of L.P.'s death was fentanyl and alprazolam toxicity, and the manner of death was an accident. After a four-day jury trial, the jury rendered a verdict of guilty as to three counts of distribution of a controlled substance which resulted in death. Glover faces a sentence of not less than 20 years or more than life in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least three years. The case is set for sentencing on November 13, 2026 before United States District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Fentanyl distribution cases resulting in death are always heartbreaking, and especially when there are multiple victims. We commend the outstanding investigative work of our federal and local law enforcement partners, and we hope this conviction will achieve some measure of justice for the victims’ families.” “Drug dealers like Mr. Glover have no regard for human life; often driven by greed, they poison our communities and leave broken families in their wake,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Field Division. “Mr. Glover should expect to feel the full weight of our justice system for his actions that ultimately claimed the lives of three individuals.” “This conviction highlights the vital role of teamwork among our federal, state, and local partners. Together, we are committed to holding those who bring deadly drugs into our community accountable and protecting our residents from these tragic outcomes,” said Collierville Police Chief Dale Lane. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Collierville Police Department (CPD). Assistant United States Attorneys Wendy K. Caceres, Raven Icaza, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Patricia Sculco, of the United States Army Judge Advocates General's (JAG) Corps, prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. ### For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Pittsburgh Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 60 months of incarceration, to be followed by four years of supervised release, on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Brandon Watson, 20. According to information presented to the Court, on April 9, 2025, during a traffic stop, Watson was found to be in possession of approximately 45 grams of crack and small quantities of other narcotics consisting of heroin, fentanyl, and medetomidine, as well as a firearm and $1,100 in cash. Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Hardy stated that Watson’s crime was extremely dangerous and that the crack cocaine that Watson intended to distribute has the ability to wreck lives, families, and communities. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Watson.


title: Prior felon pleads guilty to cocaine and gun charges

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Adonis Wiggins, 49, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Meredith A. Vacca to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a $1,000,000 fine. Wiggins was arrested on October 24, 2025, on Ringle Street after Rochester Police officers stopped his vehicle for a suspended registration. Wiggins immediately exited the vehicle and was taken into custody. During a search of the vehicle, officers recovered eight small baggies of cocaine, $700.00 in cash, and a loaded semiautomatic pistol. Officers also recovered an additional quantity of cocaine, a quantity of marijuana, pills, and drug paraphernalia. Wiggins was previously of felony charges in 2002, 2004, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2023 and as a result is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition. 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. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, New York Field Division. Sentencing is scheduled for December 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Vacca. # # # #


title: Federal grand jury indicts Pittsford father and son on multiple fraud and ID theft charges in credit card scam

body_text: ROCHESTER, NY—U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a 19-count indictment charging Talib Hussain, 75, and Mirza Khan, 48, both of Pittsford, NY, with conspiracy to commit bank, wire fraud, and access device fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. According to the indictment, between approximately 2012 and July 23, 2024, Khan and Hussain, along with co-conspirators, operated what’s known as a synthetic identity fraud scheme. These schemes often target children, who tend to utilize and monitor their credit less frequently. Khan and Hussain, and their co-conspirators, illegally obtained valid social security numbers that belonged to real individuals (victims), and used the numbers to create synthetic identities, meaning without the knowledge or permission of the real owner. The defendants used the synthetic identities to submit approximately 1,072 online applications to financial institutions for credit and debit cards. The defendants rented apartments in the Western District of New York and used them as mailing addresses for the synthetic cards. After collecting the credit and debit cards, Khan, Hussain and the others used the cards to make purchases at retail stores, such as Apple, BJs, and Sam’s Club, as well as at their own businesses, including Lucky Beverage, Chili Express Mart, and Easy Food Market. They also used the cards to pay for the property taxes of three Rochester properties. They then used fraudulent checks to make payments towards the balances of the synthetic cards in order to temporarily increase the synthetic cards’ spending limits. Ultimately, the full balance owed on the cards was not paid, causing damage to the credit ratings of victims and losses to the financial institutions, including American Express, Bank of America, Barclays Bank Delaware, Capital One, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Citibank, Comenity Bank, Discover Bank, First National Bank of Omaha, Synchrony Bank, and US Bank. The total loss to the financial institutions is approximately $2,257,697. “Stealing the identity of any person is wrong and it’s a crime, but stealing the identity of a child is especially egregious,” stated U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “Let this case serve as a warning that those who commit identity theft will be prosecuted. But let it also serve as a warning to families of the importance of maintaining credit monitoring for your children.” The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire. The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation New York, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr., the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Boston Division, under the direction of Acting Inspector-in-Charge Justin Page, and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Amy Connelly, Boston New York Field Division. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Buffalo man going to prison on gun charge

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Antonio Rivera-Perez, 25, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. On January 22 and January 28, 2025, the DEA conducted controlled purchases of fentanyl from Rivera-Perez. On April 22, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Rivera-Perez’s Langfield Drive residence, seizing approximately 1,072 grams of powder cocaine, 198 grams of crack cocaine, 190 grams of fentanyl, a Glock 19 handgun, several firearm magazines, ammunition, approximately $3,500 in U.S. currency, and drug paraphernalia. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett Fitzsimmons and Katerina Powers. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division. # # # #


title: Snapchat User Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Distributing and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison today for distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including material depicting prepubescent children under 12 years of age, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Susan C. Rodriguez sentenced Terrell Shawn Anderson, 31, of Charlotte, to 15 years in prison followed by 30 years of supervised release. Judge Rodriguez also ordered Anderson to pay $3,000 in restitution, $5,000 in special assessments pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, and $15,000 in special assessments pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018. “Social media helps people stay connected, but it can also become a place where children are victimized,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “We will remain vigilant in prosecuting these cases, but we also hope this case serves as a cautionary tale for parents to monitor their children’s social media use.” According to court documents and the sentencing hearing, law enforcement received multiple cybertips that an individual, later identified as Anderson, was using at least 13 Snapchat accounts and other social media platforms to distribute videos and images depicting the sexual abuse of minors, including children under 12 years old. In October 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Anderson’s residence, seizing two cellphones and other evidence. During an interview with law enforcement, Anderson admitted that he possessed CSAM. He further admitted that the multiple Snapchat accounts belonged to him and that he was using them to obtain and distribute CSAM with others, including individuals he believed to be minors and adults. According to Anderson, he estimated talking with 45 minor females and getting some of them to create nude images of themselves. A forensic review of the seized cellphones revealed that Anderson had at least 697 videos and 2,183 images of CSAM, including 29 videos and 7 images depicting sadistic or masochistic conduct depicting children. In sentencing Anderson, Judge Rodriguez said, this is a “very serious crime,” it is “not a victimless crime,” and deterrence of others is an important factor in issuing this sentence. Anderson pleaded guilty to distribution of CSAM and possession and access with intent to view CSAM that involved a prepubescent minor and a minor who had not yet attained 12 years of age. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility. In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the FBI, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their work on this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Cervantes of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Illegal Alien from Mexico with Ties to the Sinaloa Cartel Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking more than 133,000 Counterfeit Pills Containing Fentanyl

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Omar Antonio Jaramillo-Meza, 24, an illegal alien from Mexico with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel, was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for trafficking more than 133,000 counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Following his prison sentence, Jaramillo-Meza will be deported. “As an affiliate of the Sinaloa Cartel, Jaramillo-Meza coordinated the trafficking of thousands of fentanyl pills and other deadly drugs across the border and into western North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “Transnational criminal organizations that fuel the devastation caused by fentanyl may operate beyond our borders, but their deadly consequences are felt in our communities. That is why we will not stop at the border to put an end to the fentanyl epidemic.” “This seizure of more than 100,000 fentanyl pills demonstrates what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies work together with a shared mission,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “We are disrupting the supply of illicit fentanyl and holding those responsible accountable. We will continue working tirelessly toward a Fentanyl Free America.” According to court documents and court proceedings, a DEA confidential source (CS) was introduced to “El Moro,” who was affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel and later identified as Jaramillo-Meza, and had access to large quantities of narcotics, including fentanyl. During the investigation, the CS used a messaging app to arrange multiple drug buys with Jaramillo-Meza. In April 2022, law enforcement seized 3,000 pills that Jaramillo-Meza had sent to the CS. The pills were marked with “M-30,” a marking used on prescription oxycodone pills. An analysis by the DEA laboratory confirmed the seized pills contained fentanyl. During a subsequent meeting between the CS and Jaramillo-Meza, the defendant discussed future fentanyl shipments to the CS and explained that he had drugs sent by plane from Colombia to Mexico. In February 2023, Jaramillo-Meza sent a message to the CS, letting him know that fentanyl pills were in a package on the way to Charlotte and provided a tracking number. Investigators intercepted the package and seized 80,000 blue “M-30” pills that contained fentanyl. In June 2023, law enforcement also intercepted another drug delivery arranged by Jaramillo-Meza, seizing approximately 20,000 fentanyl pills in Cleveland County. In addition, investigators determined that Jaramillo-Meza supervised a network of couriers that arranged drug deliveries throughout the United States, including a delivery of 30,000 fentanyl seized by law enforcement in New York City. Court documents show that Jaramillo-Meza was responsible for trafficking more than 15 kilograms of fentanyl pills during the investigation. In September 2024, Jaramillo-Meza pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly and intentionally distributing fentanyl and one count of knowingly and intentionally distributing fentanyl and cocaine. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility. In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the DEA for its work investigating the case. Erik Lindahl with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms, Including a Machinegun

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A previously convicted felon was sentenced to prison today for illegally possessing multiple firearms, including a machinegun, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Justin Lloyd Coleman, 44, of Huntersville, N.C., was ordered to serve 80 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. “Coleman knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms, yet he armed himself with multiple guns, including a machinegun,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “Keeping firearms out of the hands of those who should not have them in the first place is important for the safety of our communities, and we will prosecute them at the federal level.” According to court records, in December 2024, law enforcement learned that Coleman illegally possessed various firearms and suspected destructive devices. Court records show that Coleman had previously served time in prison for a state firearm conviction and was prohibited from possessing firearms. Law enforcement searched a residence associated with Coleman where they located four AR-style rifles that Coleman had hidden in the attic. Law enforcement arrested Coleman and searched his apartment, where they found multiple firearms, including a short-barreled rifle with a high-capacity magazine, machineguns, firearm components, ammunition, five destructive devices (improvised grenades), and components to build destructive devices. Coleman pleaded guilty to possession of a machinegun in November 2025. He is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility. In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Huntersville Police Department and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their work on this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimlani Ford of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.


title: Alexandria Resident Sentenced to Over 22 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm Offenses

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ALEXANDRIA – On August 4, 2026, United States District Judge Jerry Edwards, Jr., sentenced Dequavious Wagner , 32, of Alexandria, to 270 months in federal prison after he pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking. He also received five years of supervised release after his sentence is served. According to court records, in early May 2025, the Rapids Parish Sheriff’s Office (RPSO) was investigating Wagner for illegal drug trafficking. As part of that investigation, RPSO identified a white Ram 2500 as a vehicle being used by Wagner . On May 6, 2025, RPSO deputies conducted a traffic stop of Wagner in the Ram 2500. The stop led to a search of the vehicle, resulting in the discovery of an aftermarket compartment welded to the undercarriage of the truck. Inside the compartment were more than 100 pounds of methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl pills, and marijuana. RPSO deputies later executed a search warrant at Wagner’s residence in Alexandria. Inside his bedroom, deputies located approximately four pounds of fentanyl, one and one-half pounds of methamphetamine, and a loaded pistol. Laboratory testing confirmed the substances as fentanyl and methamphetamine. Wagner admitted he possessed the drugs with intent to distribute, and that he possessed the loaded firearm as part of his drug-trafficking activities. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and RPSO investigated this case. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Cassidy with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Emily Favrot. This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America (TBA), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s agencies, and coordinates efforts with state and local law enforcement and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF), ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities . Learn more about PSN at https://www.justice.gov/psn . You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 26-00165. ### CONTACT: Public Affairs USALAW-News@usdoj.gov United States Attorney’s Office www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Western District of Louisiana Twitter @USAO_WDLA


title: Louisville Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Distribution of Fentanyl and Firearm Offenses

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A Louisville man was sentenced on August 7, 2026, to 16 years in prison for distribution of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. U.S. Attorney Kyle Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement. Calvin Allen, 37, of Louisville, Kentucky, was sentenced to 16 years in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On 9 different occasions between May and November 2025, Allen sold fentanyl powder to a confidential informant. The total amount of fentanyl from all of the controlled purchases was 712.84 grams. During a June 2025 drug transaction, Allen possessed a Glock GmbH, Model 29, 10-millimeter pistol in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime. On November 24, 2025, a search warrant was executed at Allen’s residence. 60.26 grams of fentanyl powder, 13.32 grams of heroin and a Glock GmbH, Model 29, 10-millimeter pistol, and ammunition were seized. U.S. currency in the amount of $31,476.00 was seized as proceeds of drug trafficking during the execution of the search warrant. United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “Allen’s lengthy sentence is commensurate with the danger posed by the fentanyl he trafficked into the Western District of Kentucky. Too many families have lost loved ones to fentanyl or otherwise watched as a loved one suffered from deep drug addiction. Allen’s substantial sentence should give pause to others inclined to peddle fentanyl in Kentucky. Rest assured, our Office will not stop until the fentanyl is eradicated from our communities.” “Many families have suffered enduring pain due to the drug epidemic across our country,” said Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the Louisville Division. “ATF is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to pursue drug dealers who use guns and violence to exploit the vulnerabilities that addiction creates. Drug dealers with guns are violent criminals who pose an increased threat to the safety of our communities.” “Fentanyl trafficking combined with firearms is a lethal combination that ruins lives and destroys families,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Field Division. “I’m proud of the work done by DEA and our law enforcement partners to bring Mr. Allen to justice and prevent further harm to our community.” "Fentanyl and illegal firearms are a dangerous combination that puts lives across Louisville at risk," said Louisville Metro Police Chief Paul Humphrey. "This sentence reflects the serious consequences for those who profit from distributing deadly drugs while armed. I’m grateful for the persistent work of our LMPD investigators and our federal partners at ATF, DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. By working together, we are holding those who fuel violence and addiction accountable and making Louisville a safer place.” There is no parole in the federal system. The case was investigated by the ATF Louisville Field Division, the Louisville Metro Police Department, and the DEA Louisville Field Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erwin Roberts prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Utah Man Indicted on Hate Crime Charge for Stabbing at West Valley Mall

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY , Utah – Peter Larsen, 48, of Orem, Utah, was indicted by a federal grand jury today for the federal hate crime of willfully causing bodily injury to a victim because of his actual or perceived religion, in relation to a July 13, stabbing at the West Valley Mall in West Valley City, Utah. The defendant has been detained in state custody since his arrest on July 13. According to court documents, on July 13, police responded to the West Valley Mall for reports of a stabbing. The victim was located inside the mall suffering from multiple stab wounds, including to his neck. An investigation determined that the defendant harbored anti-Muslim views and went to the West Valley Mall specifically for the purpose of attacking Muslims. The defendant purchased a knife from a store inside the mall and went around asking mall employees if they were Muslim. When the victim responded that he was, the defendant began stabbing him. The attack was only stopped through the intervention of bystanders, who detained the defendant until police arrived. “This administration prioritizes protecting the civil rights of all Americans, and we will not tolerate violence motivated by religious hatred,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We thank our law-enforcement partners and those who heroically intervened to stop this attack, and we especially pledge our support to the victim in his recovery.” “Our thoughts are with the victim and the victim’s family, and we wish him a full and speedy recovery,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak for the District of Utah. “This administration, my office, and our law enforcement partners have zero tolerance for hate fueled violence, particularly this heinous attempted murder. Anti Muslim violence is a crime, and it will be met with the full force of federal law to ensure justice for the victim and the broader Muslim community.” “We are deeply mindful of the impact this attack has had on the victim and their family. No one should be targeted with violence because of their religion or faith,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. “Hate-fueled violence harms more than one individual; it sends fear throughout an entire community. The FBI will work closely with our partners to support the victim and ensure this case is thoroughly investigated and ensure accountability.” If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Larsen’s initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for August 13, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Court Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. This case was investigated by the West Valley Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlos A. Esqueda and Trial Attorney Milos Jovanovic of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Attachments: peter_michael_larsen.indictment.pdf peter_michael_larsen.position_regarding_detention.pdf


title: Illegal Alien from Mexico Indicted after Utah Agents Seize Narcotics, Including Methamphetamine from Alleged Drug Trafficker

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment today charging an illegal alien from Mexico with a drug crime after he sold cocaine during an undercover operation, and after agents seized methamphetamine from the defendant’s residence. Cristian Cardenas Aguilar, 19, residing illegally in West Valley City, Utah, was charged by complaint on July 31, 2026. According to court documents, on July 20, 2026, agents with the Davis Metro Narcotics Strike Force and the FBI conducted a controlled purchase of narcotics from Cardenas Aguilar. After the controlled purchase, Cardenas Aguilar left the controlled purchase location in a vehicle and was observed by agents entering a residence in West Valley City. The narcotics evidence purchased during the controlled buy was transported to the Davis County Crime Lab where it tested positive for cocaine and weighed 121.14 grams. On July 29, 2026, agents executed two search warrants on Cardenas Aguilar’s vehicle and residence in West Valley City. During the search of the residence, agents located and seized 3,623 grams of field-tested-positive methamphetamine. Cardenas Aguilar is charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for August 17, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Court Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force (WMDTF). Assistant United States Attorney Todd C. Bouton for the District of Utah 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. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: California Alleged Drug Trafficker Indicted in the District of Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment today charging an alleged drug trafficker from California with multiple drug crimes after an interstate stop led to the seizure of fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder, and cocaine in the District of Utah. Daniel Luke Adams, 30, of Lodi, California, was charged by complaint on August 3, 2026. According to court documents, beginning in May 2026, agents began investigating a group known to be facilitating the distribution of controlled substances into Utah. On July 31, 2026, agents with the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force followed a vehicle that was traveling from Stockton, California to Utah. Law enforcement stopped Adams for a traffic violation on I-80 in Tooele, County, Utah. Detectives learned that Adams was traveling with another vehicle allegedly loaded with suspected controlled substances (a load car). A search of the load car revealed 2,272 grams of fentanyl powder, 1,168 grams fentanyl pills, and 916 grams of cocaine. Additionally, detectives obtained video surveillance of Adams retrieving a bag from his car, a Chevy Equinox, and loading it into the load car, a Ford Escape, at a residence in Stockton. The bag appears to be one of the bags found in the load car during the traffic stop in Utah. Adams is charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for August 13, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Court Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force (UCMC), and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (DHS). Valuable assistance was provided by the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Special Assistant United States Attorney Peter Reichman for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. 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. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Scammer pharmacist guilty in $20 million healthcare kickback scheme

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON - A 54-year-old Spring resident has been convicted of conspiracy to pay health care kickbacks. The jury deliberated for more than a day before returning the guilty verdict against Tronown Thomas following a five-day trial July 11. Thomas, a licensed pharmacist, owned and operated Rayford ACP Pharmacy in Spring. At trial, the jury heard Thomas paid over $2 million in kickbacks to the owner of a Houston clinic in exchange for referrals of patients insured through the Department of Labor’s Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (DOL-OWCP) who had been prescribed high-reimbursement compounded medications. Thomas subsequently billed the DOL-OWCP for those compounded medications, which were prescribed as part of the illegal kickbacks scheme. From November 2015 through September 2017, Thomas and Rayford ACP Pharmacy received more than $20 million in reimbursements from DOL-OWCP. The defense attempted to convince the jury that Thomas was paying for legitimate marketing services. The jury rejected these arguments and found Thomas guilty. U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett presided over the trial and set sentencing for Nov. 12. At that time, Thomas faces up to five years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Thomas was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing. The Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Department of War Defense Criminal Investigative Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Olson and Alexander Alum prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division , which is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs.


title: 11 Defendants Charged In Dismantling Of Decade-Long Nationwide Marriage Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, Attorney General for the United States, Todd Blanche, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Pete Gizas, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Joseph B. Edlow, and Westchester County District Attorney, Susan Cacace, announced today the unsealing of a two-count Indictment charging AMY CHENG, a/k/a “Amy Zhou,” XIAO MEI CHAN, a/k/a “Carmen,” CHRISTINE LU, a/k/a “Lily,” JING YAN YE, a/k/a “Serene,” XIAO YAN CHEN, a/k/a “Anna,” GANG ZHENG, a/k/a “Michael,” a/k/a “Mike,” ANTHONY CHENG, MICHELLE DUENAS, ANGELA DUENAS, SIGRID CETINO, and ERIKA JOHNSON, with conspiring, over the course of more than a decade, to orchestrate more than 1,000 sham marriages to fraudulently obtain immigration status for foreign nationals, primarily citizens of the People’s Republic of China. 10 of the defendants were arrested this morning and are expected to be arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains federal court. “The defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly operated a nationwide and international, multimillion-dollar marriage fraud scheme, using participants to abuse United States immigration laws for their own profit,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “Today’s arrests have dismantled a central component of one of the largest marriage fraud schemes charged in United States history. As this prosecution shows, we and our law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue those seeking to corrupt and exploit our nation’s lawful immigration system.” “This Department of Justice is rooting out fraud everywhere—including in our immigration system,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The individuals who were arrested today allegedly orchestrated elaborate schemes to illegally obtain citizenship for foreign nationals through sham marriages. Schemes like this are a deliberate affront to the United States and our laws and will not be tolerated under the Trump Administration.” “For over a decade, this alleged criminal network treated our immigration system like a business opportunity—charging foreign nationals exorbitant fees, recruiting U.S. citizens into sham marriages, and manufacturing false evidence to deceive the federal government,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas. “Their alleged conduct struck at the heart of a lawful process, placing personal profit above fairness, accountability, and the public’s trust. When fraudsters game the system, they don’t just break the law—they cheat every person who plays by the rules and waits their turn, and they erode the confidence that legitimate institutions depend on to serve the public. HSI New York, as a co-leader of the Homeland Security Task Force, is resolute in its mission to dismantle these fraud networks, protect the integrity of our institutions, and safeguard New Yorkers’ neighborhoods, communities, and livelihoods.” “Anyone willing to lie, cheat or steal their way to legal immigration status is a direct threat to America's national security,” said USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow. “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is aggressively pursuing marriage fraud schemes and the criminal organizations and ringleaders who profit from them. USCIS will continue to expose fraud, defend the rule of law, and ensure immigration status is reserved for those who truly qualify.” “Those who deliberately arrange sham marriages to circumvent our nation’s immigration laws are not only undermining the sanctity of this institution, but they are also committing a crime,” said Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace. “This complex investigation, which our office proudly helped uncover, was worked in partnership with HSI, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. This case demonstrates the power and importance of strong cooperation between all law enforcement agencies.” According to the Indictment:(1) From at least 2016 through July 2026, the defendants operated a nationwide and international marriage fraud network that arranged sham marriages between foreign nationals—primarily citizens of the People’s Republic of China—and United States citizens. Although based principally in New York City, the network allegedly arranged sham marriages throughout the United States and overseas, including in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Vanuatu, and China. The network included facilitators who oversaw the scheme and identified foreign-national customers; recruiters who found willing United States citizens and helped ensure their continued participation; and assistants who prepared immigration paperwork and coordinated the submission of fraudulent lawful permanent residency (“Green Card”) applications to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”). The scheme also relied on marriage officiants, attorneys, tax preparers, insurance providers, and other service providers. Foreign nationals paid facilitators as much as approximately $100,000 for a sham marriage and assistance obtaining lawful permanent resident status. Facilitators, in turn, allegedly paid participating United States citizens as much as approximately $30,000—generally in installments tied to milestones in the Green Card application process—and paid recruiters commissions of as much as approximately $5,000 for each citizen recruited. In total, the defendants and their co-conspirators recruited hundreds of United States citizens to enter into sham marriages: The defendants executed the fraud by pairing foreign nationals with United States citizens—who often met for the first time immediately before obtaining a marriage license, arranging sham wedding ceremonies, and staging photographs designed to make those marriages appear legitimate. Some examples are below, including a photograph of a sham marriage that took place in China: After the ceremonies, scheme participants manufactured evidence to make the marriages appear genuine, including by staging additional photographs, opening joint financial and utility accounts, filing joint tax returns, and obtaining insurance policies. The defendants and their co-conspirators then prepared and submitted Green Card applications containing materially false statements and, when interviews with USCIS were required, coached the marriage participants on how to conceal the true nature of their relationships and provide false answers to immigration officers. The defendants caused at least hundreds of fraudulent Green Card applications and supporting documents to be submitted to USCIS. Based on the scale and duration of the scheme, the defendants’ network is believed to have collected tens of millions of dollars from foreign nationals seeking lawful permanent resident status. At the time the defendants were arrested, law enforcement executed premises search warrants at locations in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, Flushing, Queens, and Staten Island. * * * AMY CHENG, 72, of Brooklyn, New York, XIAO MEI CHAN, 64, of Queens, New York, CHRISTINE LU, 52, of Queens, New York, JING YAN YE, 43, of Staten Island, New York, XIAO YAN CHEN, 48, of Brooklyn, New York, GANG ZHENG, 61, of Queens, New York, ANTHONY CHENG, 47, of Staten Island, New York, MICHELLE DUENAS, 35, of Staten Island, New York, ANGELA DUENAS, 26, of Staten Island, New York, SIGRID CETINO, 32, of Peekskill, New York, and ERIKA JOHNSON, 43, of Ossining, New York, have each been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to encourage the unlawful residence of aliens in the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. Mr. McDonald thanked HSI, Hudson Valley; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Safe Streets Task Force; the USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate; the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division; the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office; the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida; and Homeland Security Investigations, Jacksonville for their outstanding investigative work. This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jake Sidransky and Reyhan Watson are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ^ As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.


title: Leake County Man Found Guilty of Attempted Coercion of Minor

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Jackson, MS – A Leake County man was found guilty on three federal charges at the conclusion of a seven-day jury trial that concluded on August 11, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Jackson, announced U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson Office. According to court documents, Edison Jefferson, 41, of the Red Water Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation used the internet and a cellular phone to contact a person in Texas that he believed to be a 15-year-old minor. Testimony during the trial established that the person he was actually communicating with was an undercover police officer posing as a 15-year-old minor. Testimony further established that he sent sexually explicit messages, requested nude images, and attempted to coerce the person he believed to be a minor to travel to Mississippi from Texas for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. In January of 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Jefferson on the charges of Attempted Coercion and Enticement, Attempted Coercion and Enticement to Travel to Engage in Sexual Activity, and Attempted Production of Child Pornography. Honorable Henry T. Wingate, United States District Judge, presided over the trial and scheduled Jefferson’s sentencing for November 9, 2026. Jefferson faces a minimum penalty of not less than 15 years, and a maximum penalty up to life. He is currently being held in federal custody. United States Attorney Kruger commended the work of the Taylor County Sheriff’s Department in Abeline, Texas, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Trails Task Force, who investigated the case. The Safe Trails Task Force is comprised of officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Choctaw Police Department, Leake County Sheriff’s Department, Carthage Police Department, and various state and local law enforcement agencies. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kalleigh McCoy.


title: Former Financial Cooperative Branch Manager Sentenced to Federal Prison for Ripping Off Elderly and Incapacitated Customers

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Teresa Palmer, 55, of Columbus, Indiana has been sentenced to three years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of bank fraud. Palmer was also ordered to pay $381,400.05 in restitution. According to court documents, from 2014 through December 2022, Teresa Palmer worked as the branch manager of a financial cooperative in Columbus, Indiana. In her role, Palmer had access to customer accounts and was authorized to withdraw funds or issue cashier’s checks when a customer approved a transaction. In 2022, the financial cooperative terminated Palmer after discovering she had forged customer signatures on banking documents. Shortly after her termination, a client notified the institution of unauthorized transactions in her father’s account. An internal investigation confirmed that Palmer had not only forged signatures but also withdrawn funds from the client’s account without permission. Further review revealed additional victims: Palmer had stolen from four customer accounts over a two‑year period. Investigators determined that between January 2021 and December 2022, Palmer targeted accounts belonging to elderly customers or individuals unable to regularly monitor their finances. Using her work computer and banking software, Palmer executed unauthorized cash withdrawals and diverted the funds for personal expenses, including gambling. Palmer also fraudulently issued cashier’s checks from customer accounts, making them payable to third parties. She forged the payee’s endorsement, printed the checks, and stamped “for deposit only” or forged a customer’s signature before presenting the checks to a teller, falsely claiming customer approval. Once the checks were converted into cash, Palmer kept the money for herself. In total, Palmer conducted hundreds of unauthorized transactions, stealing $381,400.05 from several elderly victims, including one individual with dementia. The FBI Indianapolis investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker. “Palmer’s crimes threw these victims’ lives into turmoil, leaving them confused and unaware of why their hard‑earned savings were disappearing,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Elder fraud is a profoundly evil and calculated crime, driven by greed at the expense of those least able to defend themselves. This office will continue to pursue justice for victims who are targeted because of their age, incapacity, or dependence on others.” “Financial institutions and their customers place tremendous trust in employees who have access to their hard-earned savings, and exploiting that trust for personal gain is unacceptable,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “This defendant deliberately abused her position of authority to target elderly and vulnerable customers - individuals she believed were less likely to regularly monitor their accounts or discover the theft. She forged signatures, manipulated banking records, and stole money entrusted to her care for her own benefit. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify those who prey upon vulnerable members of our communities and hold them accountable. This sentence should serve as a reminder that positions of trust are not shields from accountability.” U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Eakman, who prosecuted this case. Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcements’ efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is aged 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available from the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. [ET]. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website. ###


title: Quad Cities Man Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Escape Charge

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Quad Cities man was sentenced on August 12, 2026, to three years in federal prison for escaping from custody. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Cedric Cornelius Shivers, 31, knowingly left a Davenport residential reentry center without authorization in October 2025. Shivers was required to reside at the residential reentry center because of his 2021 conviction for possessing a firearm as a felon. There is no parole in the federal system. Shivers was located and arrested on March 15, 2026, in Illinois by East Moline law enforcement. Shivers resisted arrest and caused serious bodily injury to one of the officers. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of made the announcement. The United States Marshals Service investigated the case.


title: Illinois Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Gun Charges

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – Four Illinois men were sentenced to federal prison for methamphetamine and firearms-related offenses. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, between 2023 and 2024, four men engaged in distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl across the Quad Cities area. In total, more than 15 pounds of methamphetamine and two ounces of heroin containing fentanyl were attributed to the drug trafficking organization. On February 10, 2026, Darius Dupree Brown, 22, also known as “Splat” and “Ghost,” of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced to a five-year prison term, followed by a four-year term of supervised release. Brown pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of a mixture and substance containing heroin. On April 6, 2026, Gregory Lionel Carter Jr., 35, also known as “Pooh” and “Junior,” of the Quad Cities, was sentenced to an eight-year prison term, followed by a five-year term of supervised release. Carter pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On April 30, 2026, Terrance Donnell Harris, 33, also known as “Rel” and “Grump,” of the Quad Cities, was sentenced to a 27-year prison term, followed by a five-year term of supervised release. Harris pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On August 11, 2026, Matayo Antwone Harland Young, 25, of Oak Lawn, Illinois, was sentenced to a 10-year prison term, followed by an eight-year term of supervised release. Young pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and illegal possession of a machinegun. At the time of the offense, Young was serving a term of supervised release in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana for a 2021 conviction for bank robbery by force or violence. Young’s term of supervised release was revoked and sentenced to a one-year prison term to run consecutive to his ten-year prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Davenport Police Department investigated the case.


title: Davenport Man Sent Back to Federal Prison for 46 Months for Firearm Charge

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced on August 12, 2026, to 46 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon and 18 months in federal prison for revocation of his supervised release. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Terry Markey Miller, 44, possessed a firearm and ammunition at his Davenport residence, which were located during a search in January 2025. Miller is prohibited from possessing firearms because he is a felon. Miller was on federal supervised release and had been released from prison 10 days prior to his arrest. At sentencing, the Court also revoked Miller’s supervised release. In 2010, Miller was sentenced to a 30-year prison term for conspiracy to distribute cocaine base in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. His sentence was commuted and he was released from prison in January 2025. After completing his term of imprisonment, Miller will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Davenport Police Department investigated the case. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.


title: Clinton Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm Charges

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Clinton man was sentenced on August 12, 2026, to 15 years in federal prison for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Willie Devon Brown, 43, possessed nine pounds of methamphetamine packed for distribution, $8,000, and a pistol in a duffel bag. After completing his term of imprisonment, Brown will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Clinton Police Department investigated the case.


title: Jury Convicted Two in Sinaloa Cartel-Directed South Florida Drug Robbery Plot

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A federal jury has convicted two Orlando men for their roles in a Sinaloa Cartel-directed plot to steal 45 kilograms of methamphetamine, 30 kilograms of fentanyl, and drug proceeds from what they believed was a South Florida drug trafficker. Kevin Albornos-Martinez, 29, and Johan Landazury-Albornos, 24, both of Orlando, were convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, and conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, following a 12-day trial. “This case shows exactly how transnational criminal organizations operate, and exactly how we intend to dismantle them through proactive law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “At the direction of an alleged Sinaloa Cartel member in Mexico, these defendants assembled an armed crew, including members of Tren de Aragua, and came to South Florida prepared to steal 45 kilograms of methamphetamine, 30 kilograms of fentanyl, and drug proceeds. Instead, they walked into a law enforcement operation and now stand convicted by a federal jury. We will continue working with our federal, state, and local partners to identify, disrupt, and prosecute the violent criminal networks that threaten our communities.” According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Santiago Carillo-Piz, an alleged member of the Sinaloa Cartel who remains a fugitive in Mexico, directed Albornos-Martinez and Landazury-Albornos to assemble a crew to carry out the armed robbery. The defendants recruited individuals from across the country, including multiple members of Tren de Aragua, to steal 45 kilograms of methamphetamine, 30 kilograms of fentanyl, and drug proceeds from the purported drug trafficker. The intended target, however, was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. Authorities arrested the defendants as they tested their firearms and made final preparations to carry out the robbery. Albornos-Martinez and Landazury-Albornos are the eighth and ninth defendants convicted in connection with the investigation. Carillo-Piz is the only remaining defendant and remains a fugitive in Mexico. Albornos-Martinez and Landazury-Albornos each face up to 40 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones; Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division; Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami; and Sheriff Dr. Gregory Tony of the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO), made the announcement. ATF, HSI, and BSO are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John McMillan and Juan Albino are prosecuting the case. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 24-cr-80161. ###


title: Cuban National Convicted of Unlawfully Obtaining US Citizenship After Concealing Healthcare Fraud Scheme

body_text: MIAMI – A federal jury has convicted a Cuban national of obtaining U.S. citizenship after she concealed her involvement in a multi-million-dollar healthcare fraud conspiracy during the naturalization process. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Tania Rosa Rodriguez, 57, applied to become a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2017 and was granted citizenship in 2018. On her naturalization application, Rodriguez stated that she had never committed a crime for which she had not been arrested. At the time, however, Rodriguez was participating in a healthcare fraud conspiracy that began before she applied for naturalization and continued after she became a U.S. citizen. “American citizenship cannot be lawfully obtained through fraud and concealment,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “While participating in a multi-million-dollar healthcare fraud conspiracy, this defendant sought U.S. citizenship and concealed her criminal conduct from the government. A federal jury has now held her accountable. Our Office will vigorously enforce the laws that protect the integrity of our immigration and naturalization system.” Rodriguez was later convicted in federal court for her role in the seven-year conspiracy, which resulted in approximately $4.6 million in fraudulent healthcare claims. Evidence at trial established that Rodriguez knowingly concealed her criminal conduct during the naturalization process. The jury found Rodriguez guilty of one count of unlawful procurement of citizenship or naturalization. She faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Pierce and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jackson Dering are prosecuting the case. This case is being prosecuted by the Border and Immigration Crimes Enforcement (BICE) Section. BICE was created by U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones in November of 2025 to strengthen South Florida’s border security posture, protect maritime and land points of entry, enforce federal immigration law, and dismantle transnational smuggling networks operating through the region. The Section brings together narcotics, immigration, fraud, and violent-crime expertise into a single coordinated unit focused on border-driven threats. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 26-cr-20133. ###


title: Richland County Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun Offenses

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Nathan Johnson, Jr., 45, of Richland County, has pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in a drug trafficking crime. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on April 20, 2024, a Richland County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a service call at a residence in Richland County. Upon arrival, the deputy observed a vehicle sitting in the middle of the road with the brake lights on. The deputy approached and found Johnson asleep in the car with the car in drive and Johnson’s foot on the brake. After the deputy woke Johnson up, the deputy told him to put the car in park, but Johnson put the car in reverse and struck the marked unit. After getting Johnson out of the vehicle, the deputy searched him and found more than 100 grams of cocaine in his pocket and a .45 caliber pistol in the glove compartment. Johnson faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and five years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Johnson after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Lexington County Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison on Drug and Gun Offenses

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

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Trevor Jerremy Jones, 36, of Lexington County, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a stolen firearm. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on Nov. 6, 2021, a University of South Carolina patrolman conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle after determining that the car tag had expired. The officer made contact with the driver, Trevor Jones and smelled the strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Jones denied that there was any marijuana in the car, but the officer searched the car and located a clear plastic bag containing marijuana in the driver’s side door and a large clear plastic bag containing a large amount of marijuana in the center console. Jones was arrested and stated that the property in the vehicle belonged to him. Officers also found a .40 caliber pistol loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition in the glove box. The gun had been reported stolen. Jones claimed he bought the firearm from a friend. Jones also had a large amount of money, grouped into small denominations consistent with the sale of narcotics. United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Jones to 24 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities . This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the University of South Carolina Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon prosecuted the case. ###


title: Federal Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer Indicted for Bribery, Drug Scheme

body_text: FLORENCE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Florence returned a three-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Joseph Templeton, 30, of Elgin, for bribery, money laundering, and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. The indictment alleges that while employed as a correctional officer at the Bennettsville Federal Correctional Institution, Templeton accepted more than $60,000 in bribes from a BOP inmate and others associated with the inmate. The indictment further alleges that in exchange for those bribes, Templeton smuggled contraband into FCI Bennettsville, including cell phones, cell phone accessories, cigarettes, and THC. Templeton falsely processed the contraband as a contraband seizure before distributing the contraband within FCI Bennettsville. Templeton faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment. He was arraigned in federal court today before United States Magistrate Judge Kaymani D. West. The case was investigated by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, the FBI Columbia Field Office, and the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case. All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Columbia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Guns and Drugs

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Paubon Ojo, 27, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison for possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on May 27, 2023, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department responded to a store on Decker Blvd after receiving a call about a man shoplifting, later determined to be Ojo. When officers arrived, Ojo attempted to flee from the store and was detained. Officers search Ojo and found a stolen firearm in Ojo’s pocket and 447.3 grams of marijuana and a scale in his backpack. Ojo has prior convictions for shoplifting, burglary, grand larceny, and strong-arm robbery, all of which prevent him from possessing a weapon under federal law. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. sentenced Ojo to 100 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities . This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall prosecuted the case. ###


title: Georgia Man Sentenced for Multi State Fraud Scheme Targeting Seniors

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Georgia man has been sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for his role in a wide‑ranging lottery and sweepstakes scam that defrauded senior citizens in Rhode Island and multiple other states out of at least one million dollars. Patrick Dallas, 38, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose to 24 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to court documents, Dallas and two co‑conspirators defrauded senior citizens through a bogus “Publishers Clearing House” (PCH) or similar sweepstakes scam and laundered the proceeds through entities and bank accounts they controlled. Victims were told they had won large sums of money, often millions of dollars, in a PCH lottery or sweepstakes. To collect their purported winnings, victims were instructed to provide personal identifying information for “verification” and to pay upfront fees and taxes. Some victims were directed to send money, gift cards, and high‑value items such as Rolex watches and iPhones to addresses controlled by the defendants. “These defendants preyed on seniors across the country by offering them the false promise of life‑changing winnings, only to drain their savings and exploit their trust,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “This office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting individuals who target vulnerable victims, and today’s sentence reflects our determination to hold accountable those who profit from fraud and deceit.” “Patrick Dallas and his co-conspirators ran a predatory fraud scheme that stole from seniors by weaponizing hope, trust, and fear, convincing victims they had won life-changing prizes only to drain them of their hard-earned money and personal information,” said HSI New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming. “This sentence cannot undo the financial and emotional harm inflicted on these victims, but it delivers accountability and makes clear that those who target older Americans through lies, intimidation, and greed will face serious consequences. HSI New England is at the forefront of investigating fraud that seeks to exploit our unsuspecting, hard-working, and often vulnerable public, and we will continue working relentlessly with our partners to identify these schemes, dismantle them, and bring the perpetrators to justice.” Dallas’s sentencing follows last week’s sentencing of his co‑defendant, Owen Demoy Byfield, 33, who was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose to 24 months imprisonment, ordered to pay $1.7 million in restitution, and received a judicial order of removal, allowing for his deportation upon completion of his sentence. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams. The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Warwick Police Department. Homeland Security Investigations in Atlanta, Georgia State Patrol, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the East Providence Police Department also assisted in the investigation.