title: Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Laundering More than $1.9 Million in Drug Proceeds

body_text: A Mexican national pleaded guilty today for his role in the collection of more than $1.9 million in drug proceeds in the United States and the return of those proceeds via cryptocurrency or wire transfers to Mexico as part of a money laundering conspiracy. According to court documents, Daniel Gordiano Valenzuela, 60, who was residing in Mexico at the time of his arrest, served as a “money broker” in an organization that conspired with drug traffickers to launder money for them in Mexico. Gordiano Valenzuela personally arranged for the laundering of $1, 973,076 from the sale of drugs and used a network of co-conspirators to pick up the drug proceeds throughout the United States. After delivery of the bulk cash, he provided instructions for the transfer of those funds via cryptocurrency or wire transfer and then received a “commission,” or percentage of the money laundered successfully. Gordiano Valenzuela pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 19 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Parman for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph O. Dixon of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit Field Division made the announcement. The DEA Detroit Field Division and IRS Criminal Investigation Detroit investigated the case, working closely with the DEA Austin Residence Office and Lexington Residence Office with assistance from DEA’s Special Operations Division and DEA offices in Mexico, Houston, Tulsa, Chicago, and Youngstown, Ohio. Deputy Chief Elizabeth R. Rabe of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section and Deputy Chief Gary Todd Bradbury of the Eastern District of Kentucky are prosecuting the case. The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations. MNF’s Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit investigates and prosecutes sophisticated money laundering schemes involving financial facilitators, gatekeepers, and other individuals and entities laundering criminal proceeds, and litigates complex civil forfeiture cases to recover assets on behalf of victims. This prosecution is also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.


title: Justice Department Partners with Tennessee Attorney General to Preserve Competition for Asphalt in Western Tennessee

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, joined by the Attorney General of Tennessee, announced today that they will require CRH and its subsidiary APAC-Tennessee to divest two hot-mix asphalt plants as part of its acquisition of Standard Construction to address antitrust concerns in western Tennessee. “Today’s settlement is a model for how government works better when federal law enforcers collaborate with states in protecting local interests from competitive harm,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “I thank Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti for his partnership to protect critical roadway infrastructure in western Tennessee and preserve the state and federal funds that pay for it.” “State antitrust enforcers can play an important role in merger enforcement in local markets in which potential harm is limited to a single state,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General G. Charles Beller of the Justice Department's Antitrust Division. “I am proud of our partnership with the Tennessee Attorney General and our collective efforts to preserve competition in local asphalt markets. This enforcement action builds on recent consent settlements we have taken alongside other state attorneys general to obtain local concrete plant divestitures in California and power plant divestitures in Texas.” The divestiture is part of a proposed settlement that was filed at the same time as a civil antitrust lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee to block APAC’s proposed acquisition of hot-mix asphalt plants from Standard Construction. The proposed settlement, if approved by the court, will resolve concerns that the transaction, as originally proposed, would likely harm competition, leading to higher prices, lower quality, and less favorable terms for hot-mix asphalt used by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The Antitrust Division is actively collaborating with state antitrust enforcers in reviewing mergers in which potential competitive harm is local. State enforcers often bring significant local expertise, and their participation and leadership in local matters helps preserve federal resources for matters of regional and national significance. As alleged in the complaint, APAC and Standard Construction are two of the three leading suppliers of hot-mix asphalt in western Tennessee. The acquisition, as originally proposed, would have left the Tennessee Department of Transportation and other customers with fewer choices and higher prices. The proposed settlement requires APAC and Standard to divest two hot-mix asphalt plants in western Tennessee to Dunn Construction of Birmingham, Alabama. CRH plc, headquartered in Ireland, is a global supplier of building materials. In 2025, CRH had global sales of approximately $37.4 billion, with sales in the United States of approximately $10 billion through subsidiaries, including APAC-Tennessee, Inc. Standard Construction Group, Inc. is a privately held corporation headquartered in Cordova, Tennessee. As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register . Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days following the publication to Soyoung Choe, Acting Chief, Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8700, Washington, DC 20530. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest. Note : See the Complaint here , the Proposed Final Judgment here , the Competitive Impact Statement here , and the Stipulation and Order here . This release has been updated from a previous version


title: Memphis Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Filing False Returns for Clients

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: WASHINGTON — A Memphis woman pleaded guilty today to helping prepare false tax returns for clients. According to court documents and statements made in court, Selma Brinson owned and operated a tax preparation business that she used to report false items on clients’ tax returns to generate inflated tax refunds. Among other false items, Brinson reported false fuel tax credits, false claims for residential energy credits and false health savings account deductions on client returns. She received hundreds of thousands of dollars in client fees in exchange for preparing returns. In total, Brinson filed false returns that attempted to defraud the IRS out of more than $5.4 million. Brinson pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting the preparation of a false tax return. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 10 and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Caroline Pearson and Max Willner-Giwerc of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. ### NFED 26-892 If you have questions, please use the contacts in the message or call the Office of Public Affairs at 202-514-2007.


title: Jamestown man sentenced on multiple drug charges

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jun N. Martinez, 33, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 100 grams or more of acetyl fentanyl; 400 grams or more of fentanyl; 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; and 500 grams or more of cocaine, was sentenced to time served (approximately 70 months) by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. During the conspiracy, Martinez received several large packages of cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin via mail from an out of state source. He also provided large quantities of crystal methamphetamine and heroin/fentanyl to an individual known to law enforcement, who then sold the drugs to others for profit. The individual then provided additional funds to Martinez for more narcotics. During a trip in September 2020, to acquire more narcotics, Martinez’s vehicle was stopped by an Illinois State Police Trooper. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 9,589 grams of methamphetamine, 3,157 grams of fentanyl, 2,241 grams of cocaine, and marijuana products. In October 2020, during the execution of a search warrant at Martinez’s Wescott Street residence, investigators recovered methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, a drug ledger and approximately $62,000. This case was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Buffalo comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Enforcement and Removal Operations, Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Diplomatic Security Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Jamestown Police Chief Scott Forster, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana, New York Field Division. # # # #


title: Jamestown man charged with fentanyl and gun charges

body_text: BUFFALO, NY — U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Dasai Bradberry, 24, of Jamestown, NY, was charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of life. According to the complaint, on August 4, 2025, the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force and Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at a Bush Street residence associated with Bradberry. During the search, investigators recovered a semi-automatic rifle, ammunition, approximately 22 grams of suspected fentanyl, Oxycodone pills, $1,303.00 in cash, and drug paraphernalia. Bradberry made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was detained pending trial. This is HSTF. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Buffalo comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Enforcement and Removal Operations, Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Diplomatic Security Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti. The complaint 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, and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Forster. 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 pleads guilty to selling fentanyl that resulted in two deaths

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Rashaun Crule, 32, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to distribution of fentanyl, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $1,000,000. On February 10, 2023, Crule delivered a bag of fentanyl to an individual identified as M.M., at a location on Campus Drive in Amherst, NY. Within approximately 20 minutes of Crule delivering the fentanyl, M.M. did not communicate with anyone and was never seen alive again. On February 12, 2023, law enforcement officers arrived at the Campus Drive residence after receiving a 911 call from the mother of an individual identified as B.Y. The mother reported that she found a dead woman inside of her son’s home. Law enforcement found M.M. and B.Y. slumped over in close proximity to the dining room table. Both were deceased. The Erie County Medical Examiner's office determined that the cause of death for both M.M. and B.Y. was acute intoxication with fentanyl, cocaine, and ethanol. At the time, Crule was on probation for a 2022 felony drug conviction in Erie County. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan K. Glaberson. The plea 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, and the Amherst Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Chamberlin. Sentencing is scheduled for November 6, 2026, before Judge Arcara. # # # #


title: Buffalo man charged with possession of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl

body_text: BUFFALO, NY — U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jamarr A. Cunningham a/k/a Grass, 31, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams of methamphetamine, cocaine, and 40 grams of fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. According to the complaint, in November 2025, the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force conducted multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl from a co-conspirator associated with Cunningham at a Palmer Street residence in Jamestown. On November 13, 2025, the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force and the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at the Palmer Street residence, seizing a quantity of suspected cocaine, suspected methamphetamine, suspected fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and a quantity of cash. Cunningham was the residence and taken into custody on New York State charges. Cunningham made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was released on conditions following a detention hearing. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti. The complaint 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, and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Forster. 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: Recidivist Sex Offender Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Richard Sevear Greene, 58, of Franklin, N.C., was sentenced to 20 years in prison yesterday for distributing and attempting to distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Greene was also ordered to register as a sex offender and serve a lifetime term of supervised release after his release from prison. According to court documents and the court proceedings, Greene was previously convicted in North Carolina state court of Third Degree Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and was required to register as a sex offender. In February 2025, while Greene was a registered sex offender, he used a messaging application to communicate with individuals in a public group on the application whose members were known to be interested in the sexual exploitation of minors. An investigator working with the FBI in an undercover capacity began communicating with Greene. Over the course of their communications, Greene sent the undercover investigator videos depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. On March 27, 2025, the FBI arrested Greene. During an interview, Greene admitted to possessing CSAM and to sending CSAM through the messaging application to others. He also admitted to being the administrator or owner of several chat groups on the messaging application that were dedicated to the sexual exploitation of minors. In imposing Greene’s sentence, Judge Reidinger noted that in reoffending, Greene had “doubled down” and not only returned to the same criminal conduct that he had previously been convicted of, but had engaged in even more serious and harmful behaviors, and that Greene’s conduct clearly shows that he is a danger to the community and has not been deterred by prior convictions and sentences. Greene is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility. The investigation was led by the FBI with assistance from the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, United States Forest Service, and the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction - Division of Community Supervision. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis Benjamin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov.


title: Prior Federal Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A prior federal drug trafficker was sentenced to prison yesterday for distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl throughout Burke and Catawba Counties, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Rodney Justin Crisp, 38, of Morganton, N.C., was sentenced to 14 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. On January 5, 2026, Crisp pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine. According to filed court documents and the sentencing hearing, in June 2024, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation into Crisp for distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl in Burke and Catawba Counties. Investigators developed a confidential source who began purchasing methamphetamine and fentanyl from Crisp. Prior to each controlled purchase, the confidential source communicated with Crisp to arrange the transaction, then travelled to various locations in Burke and Catawba Counties to purchase the drugs. During the investigation, the confidential source engaged in multiple controlled drug transactions with Crisp. On October 13, 2025, deputies with the Burke County Sheriff’s Office encountered Crisp and two passengers in a vehicle. Deputies executed a federal arrest warrant. A search of the vehicle uncovered numerous small, empty clear plastic baggies in and around the driver’s seat and center console, as well as a leather bag on the rear center floorboard. Inside the bag, deputies located drug paraphernalia and a smaller purple bag containing methamphetamine. Crisp 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 Burke County Sheriff’s Office and the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Interim Jackson County Executive Philip LeVota Indicted for Bribery

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Interim Jackson County Executive has been indicted by a federal grand jury for engaging in a bribery scheme related to the 2026 election for Jackson County Executive. Philip LeVota, 61, was charged in a five-count sealed indictment on July 16, 2026, by a federal grand jury sitting in Kansas City, Mo. The indictment was unsealed today upon LeVota’s initial court appearance. LeVota is charged with honest services fraud, federal program bribery, Travel Act violations, and making a false statement to federal law enforcement agents. As alleged in the indictment, from March 16, 2026, to March 31, 2026, LeVota took multiple actions aimed at inducing a specific candidate to abandon the 2026 election for Jackson County Executive. As part of the scheme, LeVota entered into an agreement for the candidate to abandon the election in exchange for the candidate and a colleague of the candidate receiving full-time positions in the government of Jackson County. When approached by federal law enforcement agents on April 6, 2026, LeVota made false statements related to the agreement. “The allegations contained in the indictment are incredibly serious and should send a clear warning to any officeholders who violate their oath. My office will aggressively pursue all allegations of public corruption and will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to hold wrongdoers accountable. Bottom line, the citizens in the Western District deserve to have faith in their public officials, whether elected or appointed.” said United States Attorney Matthew Price. “The citizens of Jackson County deserve honesty, transparency, accountability, and integrity from those entrusted with public office. Today’s indictment announcement alleges serious breaches of those principles and represents a significant moment for our community.” said Chris Ormeord, FBI Kansas City- Special Agent in Charge. “Public trust is the foundation of an effective government. Citizens must have confidence that public officials will uphold the law and serve the public interest above all else.” The charges contained in the indictment are simply accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsels Patrick D. Daly and Nicholas P. Heberle and Assistant United States Attorney J. Benton Hurst. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Attached is a copy of the indictment: levota_indictment.pdf


title: Kalamazoo Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 18 Years for Gun and Drug Crimes

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Lunden Lamon Walker, 40, of Kalamazoo was sentenced to 18 years in prison for trafficking in methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl while also possessing multiple firearms in furtherance of his drug dealing. During sentencing, Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou emphasized Walker’s “flagrant disrespect for the law.” In 2025, Walker sold fentanyl on five separate occasions before investigators executed search warrants at multiple residences where he sometimes stayed. In Walker’s car, they found more than 1.5 kilograms of pure methamphetamine. At the Kalamazoo home where Walker’s children were staying, investigators found two safes to which Walker provided the combination. Inside one safe, police found fentanyl, cocaine, more methamphetamine, two guns, ammunition, and other hallmarks of the drug trafficking trade, including baggies and a digital scale. They found a third gun inside the other safe. The following photographs show only some of the evidence recovered: “Walker was a large-scale drug trafficker whose crimes ravaged a community that has already been deeply affected by drug and gun violence,” said United States Attorney Timothy VerHey. “My office is committed to working with our state and local partners to take these dangerous criminals off the street and help bring safety and stability to our communities.” “Criminals who make the choice to profit from poisoning our communities and use deadly weapons as part of their criminality, create an even greater threat to this country. This sentence is a reflection of the seriousness of those actions. We are committed to safeguarding American lives by targeting these individuals and organizations and ensuring that west Michigan communities remain safe places to live, work, attend school and raise families.” said DEA Detroit Division Special Agent in Charge Joseph O. Dixon. “The success of this investigation is a testament to the strength of collaboration between the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team, DEA, and ATF. By combining local proactive investigative efforts with federal resources, this partnership dismantled a major drug trafficking operation and secured the successful prosecution of a large-scale drug dealer, resulting in a lengthy prison sentence. Together, we remain committed to holding those who poison our communities and illegally possess firearms accountable and making our neighborhoods safer.” The Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team (KVET), a division of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, along with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Carowan prosecuted it on behalf of the United States.


title: Guatemalan Man Sentenced to Prison for Attacking ICE Officer

body_text: Enrique Lopez-Mejia injured the officer attempting to arrest him following his eighth illegal reentry into the United States GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Enrique Lopez-Mejia, 41, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou to 24 months in prison for assaulting and resisting a United States Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officer. The assault occurred when immigration agents attempted to stop a vehicle occupied by Lopez-Mejia and other illegal aliens. He attempted to evade officers by driving erratically, stopping abruptly, then fleeing from his car in Grand Rapids. When caught, Lopez-Mejia pushed an officer to the ground and wrestled with him until other officers succeeded in handcuffing him and securing him in their patrol car. The defendant injured an officer’s knee during the confrontation, which required medical treatment. Lopez-Mejia is illegally in the United States for the eighth time, after having been ordered removed by an immigration judge in 2005 and being deported seven times between 2005 and 2016. After the completion of his sentence, he will again be removed to his native Guatemala. U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said, “This case deserves our attention because it is an example of the dangerous work we ask our immigration officers to do every day. Lopez-Mejia has been removed from the United States seven times since 2000. He has been convicted numerous times for illegally re-entering the United States, and for committing state offenses once he got here. He is already subject to a lifetime ban from this country. This time, when he was found here yet again, he attacked and injured one of the officers who was trying to apprehend him. My office fully supports the important and dangerous work our immigration officers are asked to do and will always vigorously prosecute attacks like this one.” “ICE officers put themselves in harm’s way every day to uphold our nation’s immigration laws and protect our communities,” said ICE ERO Detroit Field Office Director Matthew Putra. “This sentencing sends a clear message that individuals who assault federal officers will be held accountable. I commend our officers and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan for their work in bringing this case to justice.” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations - Grand Rapids investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Daniels prosecuted it. 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: Former Ionia Township Treasurer Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud

body_text: Marilyn Harp took nearly $750,000 in Township funds for her own use GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Marilyn Ethel Harp, 74, of Ionia, Michigan pleaded guilty to bank fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344. Harp is scheduled to be sentenced on December 3, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. U.S. Attorney VerHey filed a bank fraud charge against Harp on June 30, 2026. The Felony Information specifies that Harp served as the treasurer of Ionia Township between 1984 and 2025. Her position put her in charge of collecting property taxes from residents of Ionia Township, which she was supposed to deposit into Township bank accounts and be used for public services. The criminal charge alleges that Harp committed fraud between 2014 and 2025 when she diverted much of this money-- $747,025-- for her own benefit. On August 6, 2026, Harp appeared before Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou and admitted her fraud. She agreed that she took Township funds and used them for herself, which included building a vacation home, taking vacations and purchasing luxury items. When others began to suspect that Harp was stealing public funds, she attempted to cover her tracks by fabricating some records and destroying others. As part of her plea agreement, Harp agreed to forfeit $647,698 that federal investigators connected to the fraud scheme and seized during the investigation. U.S. Attorney VerHey said, “As a corrupt public official who was stealing public funds, Marilyn Harp deserved to be charged with the most serious crime available. Harp’s crime is worse than that, though. The money she stole from her neighbors was intended to fund her community’s school system. For over ten years she took this money from the people in her community and spent it on a vacation home and other luxuries that were out of reach for many of her neighbors. I look forward to telling Judge Jarbou all about this at the sentencing hearing.” “Holding public office is a public trust, not a personal opportunity for financial gain. Ms. Harp deliberately broke that trust, and today’s guilty plea is an important step toward her accountability to the people of Ionia,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “I am grateful for the exceptional work of our FBI Grand Rapids Resident Agency, in partnership with the Michigan State Police, whose professionalism, dedication, and collaboration were instrumental throughout this investigation. FBI Detroit will continue working with our partners to protect the integrity of public institutions and preserve the confidence our communities place in those institutions.” The Grand Rapids office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Michigan State Police investigated this case. The prosecution was personally handled by United States Attorney Timothy VerHey, after consultation with the Ionia County Prosecutor’s Office.


title: Bunkie Man Indicted as Armed Career Criminal for Drug and Firearm Offenses

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: LAFAYETTE – On June 17, 2026, a federal indictment was returned against Rininski Edwards , 33, of Bunkie. Edwards is charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon as an Armed Career Criminal, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug-Trafficking Crime. Edwards faces decades of mandatory minimum sentences in federal prison if convicted of all charges. “This Administration has made clear that drug traffickers and armed criminals have no place in our communities, and our Office will aggressively pursue and prosecute these offenders to get them off our streets,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “This Office looks forward to seeing justice done in this case, with a sentence that is commensurate to the crime and criminal history of this alleged offender.” According to court documents, on March 31, 2026, Edwards is alleged to have possessed 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute those drugs and a loaded .45 caliber pistol in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities. It is further alleged that Edwards possessed that loaded .45 caliber pistol after having been convicted three separate times of drug trafficking or violent felonies, which renders him an Armed Career Criminal under the law. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Louisiana State Police investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Ashley Hammons with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Denise Duhon. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 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. The case number for this matter is 6:26-cr-00250. ### 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: Northwest Arkansas Man Sentenced to 15 years for Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identify Theft

component: USAO - Arkansas, Western

body_text: FAYETTEVILLE – An Arkansas man was sentenced yesterday to 180 months in prison for attempting to sell real estate he did not own and unlawfully trying to use another person’s identify in the attempt. The Honorable Chief Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville. Smith was sentenced to 156 months for Wire Fraud and 24 months for Aggravated Identity Theft, these sentences will run consecutively. Smith was also sentenced to three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. According to court documents, Steven James Smith , age 41, engaged in a scheme to defraud in which he identified real property in the Northwest Arkansas area and attempted to sell the property, despite having no legal claim or authority to sell the property. Smith entered into purchase agreements with buyers to sell the property, which he transmitted to various title companies through email and electronic communication, under the appearance that he had legal authority to sell the property. As part of his scheme, Smith used a fraudulent driver’s license bearing another individual’s name and information. U.S. Attorney Kevin R. Holmes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Marshall prosecuted the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov .


title: Repeat felon bites cops during arrest, sentenced to over 11 years for drugs and firearms charges

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 45-year-old Edinburg resident has been ordered to federal prison for possession with intent to distribute meth and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Alvaro Salinas Jr. pleaded guilty April 27. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now handed Salinas a 140-month term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence about Salinas’s criminal history, including prior convictions for federal drug trafficking, transporting of illegal aliens, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. In imposing the sentence, the court noted Salinas seemed unable to live a law-abiding life. On the afternoon of Dec. 7, 2025, law enforcement responded to a report of an unconscious driver in the middle of the road. They found Salinas asleep behind the wheel of a Nissan Rogue. As authorities attempted to wake him, Salinas became combative and tried to flee with the vehicle doors open. They were able to remove him from the car, but Salinas continued to resist arrest and attempted to bite them. Law enforcement soon discovered a firearm inside the driver’s side door panel within his reach. Salinas has multiple prior felony convictions. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law. A subsequent search of his vehicle revealed a large plastic bag containing approximately 127 grams of meth. Salinas has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation with assistance of Pharr Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia prosecuted the case.


title: Jury finds Columbus man guilty of drug crime within Marietta school zone, firearms crimes

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal jury has convicted Stephen Sullens, 29, of Columbus, on all counts as charged, finding him guilty of three drug and gun crimes. The verdict was announced today following a trial that began on Aug. 4 before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. According to court documents and trial testimony, on July 18, 2024, Sullens possessed with intent to distribute fentanyl within 1,000 feet of Saint Mary’s Catholic School. Marietta police officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle. Sullens was in the vehicle in an alley behind a residence on 5 th Street. When officers encountered the vehicle and its occupants, a police canine alerted, and officers discovered fentanyl and a pistol with a loaded magazine. As a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. Sullens was originally indicted in this case in June 2025. He was convicted of three counts as charged in a superseding indictment in July 2026. Sullens faces at least six years and up to life in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Marietta Police Chief Katherine Warden; and officials with the Southeast Major Crimes Task Force announced today’s verdict. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin W. Kelley and Nicole Pakiz are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Four Managers and Supervisors of Franklin County Mine Indicted for Failing to Evacuate Miners During Underground Fire, Conspiracy to Obstruct Investigators, and Falsifying Records

component: ENRD - Natural Resources Section

body_text: BENTON, Ill. – Ronald Dale Koontz, 69, of Hendersonville, Tennessee, Demitrios George Macropoulos, 38, of Buckeye, Arizona, Randy L. Nowland, 67, of Waltonville, Illinois, and Cory Taylor Humphrey, 37, of Prospect, Kentucky, have been charged with multiple crimes related to an underground fire that occurred in the MC#1 Mine in Franklin County, Illinois, in August 2021. The indictment returned Tuesday charges Koontz, Macropoulos, Nowland, and Humphrey with conspiring to defraud the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) by concealing the fire and other hazards at the mine and taking steps to interfere with MSHA’s investigation of the fire and administration of safety-related orders in the aftermath of the fire. The Indictment charges the defendants with keeping miners underground and continuing to mine coal for all or portions of three shifts while unsuccessfully fighting a fire. The defendants are charged with failing to evacuate the mine and notify MSHA as required by mandatory safety standards under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act (the Mine Act). Nowland and Humphrey are also charged under the Mine Act with falsification of records required to document mine hazards. Koontz and Macropoulos are charged with obstruction of an MSHA proceeding for entering the mine in violation of an MSHA safety order withdrawing miners from the mine. Koontz is further charged with obstruction for directing another supervisor to delete a record reflecting a telephone call he made. A fifth conspirator and former mine manager, Brandon Timothy Parsons, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud MSHA on Aug. 28, 2025 in a related criminal proceeding filed in August 2025. “As Congress has long recognized, a strong, productive coal industry depends on miners who feel safe and trust that their leaders are not putting them at unnecessary risk,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Energy and Natural Resources Division. “Supporting MSHA’s work to protect coal miners is an important part of ENRD’s mission.” “When people in positions of authority conceal deadly conditions and then cover up their actions, they put lives at risk and prevent federal authorities from doing the job the law requires them to do. That kind of obstruction is unacceptable,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “These charges hold accountable those who chose to protect the company’s financial interests over the safety of the people they are obligated to protect.” As alleged in the Indictment, in August 2021, Koontz was the general manager of a company that provided oversight and services to the corporate operator of the MC#1 Mine. Macropoulos was the mine superintendent of the MC#1 Mine and Nowland and Humphrey were shift mine managers. On or about the afternoon of Aug. 13, 2021, an underground fire was ignited while mine personnel used cutting torches to cut collapsed steel beams in the mine. According to the Indictment, when the fire could not be extinguished within 10 minutes, rather than implementing the approved Mine Emergency Evacuation and Firefighting Plan, the defendants, and their co-conspirator Parsons, allegedly agreed that they would not evacuate miners or notify MSHA. Instead, the defendants are alleged to have directed coal mining to continue during ad hoc firefighting efforts through the morning of Aug. 14. Nowland and Humphrey are charged with signing records of required mine examinations, falsely certifying that no hazardous conditions existed in the mine. On August 14th, Parsons tried to conceal the existence of the fire from those not already aware of it by evacuating the mine of hourly employees on the false pretense that a belt used to carry coal from underground to the surface was broken. Members of the conspiracy, including Koontz, Macropoulos, and Parsons, are alleged to have then gone underground to continue their attempts to fight the fire. Later that morning, MSHA received an anonymous tip about the fire and, by that afternoon, ordered that the mine be evacuated after inspectors confirmed the existence of the fire. Despite the evacuation order, over the next several days, it is alleged that conspirators re-entered the mine in violation of MSHA’s order on two occasions to assess the fire and manipulate the conditions underground to fool underground gas detectors so that MSHA would allow mining to resume. When MSHA began collecting portable gas detectors worn by miners during the fire as part of its investigation, a member of the conspiracy allegedly encouraged another co-conspirator to get rid of the portable gas detector he had worn. That co-conspirator concealed his portable gas detector away from the mine. If convicted, the defendants each face possible incarceration. If found guilty, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft for the Southern District of Illinois, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito, Special Agent in Charge of the DOL-OIG Great Lakes Region Megan Howell, Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley of the FBI Springfield Field Office made the announcement. The Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General and FBI investigated the case. Senior Trial Attorney Lana N. Pettus of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin F. Burke for the Southern District of Illinois are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Miami-Dade Man Pleads Guilty to $14M Fraudulent Check Scheme

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A Miami-Dade man pleaded guilty today to wire fraud for using fraudulent, unauthorized checks to steal money from victims’ bank accounts. According to court documents, Eri Guzman Ortiz, 69, formerly of Miami-Dade County, created and deposited about $14 million in fraudulent checks into the bank accounts of sham companies in the U.S. The fraudulent checks were used to steal victims’ money by transferring it from the victims’ bank accounts to the bank accounts of the sham companies without the victims’ authorization. “Eri Guzman Ortiz used fraudulent checks totaling approximately $14 million to reach into the bank accounts of thousands of people and businesses who never authorized the transactions,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “He created sham companies and fabricated transactions to make systematic theft look legitimate. This guilty plea reflects our commitment, alongside the Fraud Section, USPIS, and FDIC-OIG, to protect the integrity of our financial system and hold sophisticated fraudsters accountable.” Guzman Ortiz’s client in Canada sent him lists of thousands of people and businesses who had purportedly made purchases from sham companies and had purportedly agreed for their bank accounts to be debited by the sham companies. Guzman Ortiz used these lists to create fraudulent checks and deposit them into bank accounts for sham companies, knowing that these people and businesses had not made purchases from the sham companies and had not authorized debits from their bank accounts. Guzman Ortiz pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 5 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones; Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group; and Special Agent in Charge Vincent R. Zehme of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) Chicago Region made the announcement. USPIS and FDIC-OIG are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Daniel Zytnick and Anna Forgie of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff for the Southern District of Florida is handling forfeiture. 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 numbers 25-cr-20351. ###


title: Two Defendants Convicted of Bank Fraud Schemes Targeting a Federal Court and a Luxury Vehicle Dealership, and Prison Contraband Offenses

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A federal jury convicted a Mobile man and woman for a conspiracy to commit bank fraud involving more than $25 million in fraudulent checks they mailed to the U.S. District Court and a luxury car dealership, and prison contraband offenses. According to court documents and evidence presented at a two-day trial, Kartarius Dewan Johnson, 45, and Danisha Anita Foster, 39, conspired to commit bank fraud while Johnson was a federal inmate at the Escambia County Detention Center (“ECDC”) in Brewton, Alabama, attempting to secure Johnson’s release from federal custody. In July 2023, U.S. District Judge Terry F. Moorer of the Southern District of Alabama sentenced Johnson to serve 231 months in federal prison for various fraud schemes, aggravated identity theft, and false statements to a federal agency. At trial, the jury reviewed emails, Snapchat messages, recorded jail calls, and other evidence showing that after Johnson’s sentencing, Johnson and Foster coordinated with one another to draft fictitious, “sovereign citizen”-style documents, which Foster mailed to the federal courthouse in Mobile and the U.S. Secretary of State in Washington, DC. The packages included fictitious checks containing the routing number of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The fraudulent checks totaling $25 million were accompanied by documents purporting to obligate the Court to release Johnson from federal custody. Federal agents also discovered that Johnson sent a similar fictitious check for $825,000 to a luxury vehicle dealership in Houston, Texas, in an attempt to fraudulently purchase two Rolls-Royce vehicles. In October 2023, federal agents seized a contraband cell phone from Johnson at the ECDC, and in January 2024, agents seized Foster’s cell phone pursuant to a federal search warrant. The phones contained messages, photos, videos, and other evidence regarding the defendants’ schemes to defraud several banks, the Court, and the vehicle dealership in Houston. Jurors also reviewed evidence that Foster made contraband payments to Johnson via Cash App, which Johnson converted to Bitcoin and used to illegally gamble from inside the ECDC while he was a federal inmate. In December 2023, Johnson and Foster submitted a fake driver’s license bearing Johnson’s name but another person’s photo to Bovada, an online gambling platform. Bovada closed Johnson’s account because of fraudulent activity. U.S. District Judge Kristi K. DuBose will sentence Johnson and Foster in November 2026. Each defendant faces a maximum prison term of 30 years, supervised release terms of up to five years, and possible fines, restitution, and special assessment fees. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller and Michael Tabarrok are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison  for Receipt of Child Pornography

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on August 3, 2026. Jackson Moss, 38, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $15,095 in restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture of several cell phones was also ordered. Moss was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury in March 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 21, 2026. Between June and December 2024, Moss used Kik, an internet-based chat application and cloud service, to search for, download, and view sexually explicit visual depictions of child pornography to his cellular phone. Moss’s online conduct involving child pornography was so prevalent that the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received at least 12 CyberTips involving multiple files associated with each CyberTip, all relating to his consumption of child pornography. Investigators found 649 images and 185 videos of child pornography on his phone. The images and videos depicted minors who were unmistakably under the age of 18 and were engaged in sexually explicit conduct and being sexually abused. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case. Moss was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Porcupine Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for  Five Charges of Abusive Sexual Contact

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Porcupine, South Dakota, man convicted of five charges of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on August 3, 2026. Gary Pourier, 59, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for each count, followed by five years of supervised release. Each sentence was ordered to run concurrently. Further, Pourier was ordered to pay a $500 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and a $5,000 special assessment pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015. Pourier was initially indicted for Abusive Sexual Contact by a federal grand jury in August 2024. After his initial indictment, additional charges were added as two other victims came forward alleging abuse at the hands of the defendant. Four victims testified during the three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota, beginning April 16, 2026. The jury found Pourier guilty of all counts. In July of 2024, Pourier was at the Common Cents Convenience Store near Porcupine when he made contact with a 10-year-old female. Pourier sexually fondled the young girl inside the store. After the victim left the store, she reported to a guardian what had happened. Officers with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, responded to the scene and the child’s home. During its investigation, the FBI learned of additional victims. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case. Pourier was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


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

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Manderson, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on July 27, 2026. Christopher Calvin Bald Eagle, 71, was sentenced to two years and nine months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Bald Eagle was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2024. He pleaded guilty on May 4, 2026. Bald Eagle was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in September 1992 in United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. Bald Eagle was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison. Based on the conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender for life under the provisions of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). In December 2023, Bald Eagle admitted to a supervised release violation for not updating his address within three business days of a change in his residence. He was released from custody in April 2024. Upon his release from custody, however, Bald Eagle did not update his address as required by law. Bald Eagle was charged for violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, again, and eventually arrested. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case. Bald Eagle was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Kenel Man Sentenced to Over 3 Years in Federal Prison  for Aggravated Assault of a Romantic Partner

body_text: ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Kenel, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to a Dating Partner. The sentencing took place on August 3, 2026. Delyle Ambrose Left Hand, age 55, was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Left Hand was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. He pleaded guilty on May 15, 2026. On September 14, 2023, Left Hand quarreled with his girlfriend at his ranch in rural Kenel, South Dakota, in the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. Left Hand punched, kicked, and bit her, resulting in extensive bruising to her face, shoulders and legs. Left Hand later failed to appear for his jury trial for this conduct in July 2025. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal Court as opposed to State Court. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case. Left Hand was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence.


title: Former Sisseton-Wahpeton Housing Officials Plead Guilty to Embezzlement

body_text: ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that Eric Shepherd, age 53, of Wilmot, South Dakota, and Olivia Locke, age 60, of Sisseton, South Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann on August 3, 2026, and pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Theft from a Program Receiving Federal Funds. The maximum penalty upon conviction is five years in custody, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered. Shepherd was the executive director of the Sisseton Wahpeton Housing Authority (SWHA) between September 2019 and July 2025. Locke was the chief financial officer. During that time, Locke and Shepherd issued and cashed over $3,500,000 in unauthorized SWHA checks for their personal enrichment. “Stealing from the government is stealing from the American people,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “Our federal prosecutors are dedicated to ensuring that criminals like these are caught and sentenced to federal prison, so it becomes abundantly clear that crime does not pay.” “Olivia Locke and Eric Shepherd abused their positions of trust by engaging in multiple fraud schemes and stealing more than $3.5 million in federal funds intended to serve some of the community’s most vulnerable residents,” said Special Agent in Charge Machelle Jindra with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “This is not an isolated act of misconduct but a deliberate effort that diverted millions of dollars in critical resources designed to assist those most in need. HUD OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and hold accountable individuals who misuse public funds and exploit positions of trust for personal gain.” The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the United States Attorney’s Office, and the Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for November 9, 2026. The defendants were detained pending sentencing.


title: Two Individuals Sentenced for Their Roles in Transnational Fraud Scheme Targeting Elderly Victims

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – Two members of a multi-jurisdictional conspiracy who helped orchestrate a transnational fraud and money laundering scheme that targeted elderly victims in the United States and Canada have been sentenced in federal court. Cynthia Jia Sun, 36, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 18 months in federal prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. Sun pleaded guilty on April 1, 2026, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to court documents, Sun and Wang were part of a conspiracy that used pop‑up messages and telephone calls to convince elderly victims that their financial accounts had been compromised or were at risk. To carry out the scheme, members of the conspiracy sent pop-up messages to seniors’ computers, often styled to appear as if they were originating from a well-known technology company. The messages contained various false claims, including that the victims’ financial accounts had been compromised, that their computers had been hacked, or that the victims had been identified as the target of a criminal investigation. Victims were directed to call a supposed “live agent,” who falsely informed them that their assets were in danger of being frozen, seized, or garnished, and that the agent could assist in “protecting” their funds. During a series of calls, victims were connected with other persons who falsely claimed to be “representatives” of the victim’s financial institutions and/or government agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Reserve Bank. Those “representatives” were, in fact, members of the conspiracy. During these calls, some victims were instructed that, in order to protect their assets, they should initiate a transfer of their funds from their accounts via wire transfers and cryptocurrency transfers to accounts controlled by agencies the scammers purportedly represented. Other victims were told to withdraw their funds in cash and purchase gold bars and turn them over to a purported government courier who would come to their home for transfer to a secure government location. Still others were told to simply turn the cash over to a courier for safekeeping by the government. Sun and Wang coordinated with co‑defendants to travel to the victims’ homes to pick up cash and gold from victims, transport the money or gold, and deliver it to other members of the conspiracy. Wang was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy on July 8, 2026, to a time-served sentence, 13 months, and 24 days. “Sun and Wang played a direct role in a scheme designed to frighten and financially devastate elderly victims,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “When criminals manipulate seniors into handing over their life savings under the guise of government authority, the response must be decisive. This office will continue to bring the full weight of federal prosecution against anyone who targets vulnerable victims for profit.” “Sun and her co-conspirators have fleeced victims around the country of millions of dollars. These scams rely on fear and threats to manipulate victims into acting against their good judgement,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming. “Anyone can become a victim of these scams, and I urge the public to stay alert and to be wary of high-pressure tactics. Legitimate authorities won’t contact you on the phone or through a pop-up to resolve legal issues and will never ask for cash, gold, or gift cards.” At the time of indictment, law enforcement had identified approximately 300 victims in at least 37 states, including Rhode Island. Known losses attributed to the conspiracy exceed $5 million, and investigators identified an additional $16 million in suspected fraud proceeds laundered through a related account. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney’s Stacey A. Erickson and Denise M. Barton. The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Providence and the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation, as part of the Rhode Island Homeland Security Task Force, a multi-agency task force focused on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.


title: Jamaican National Sentenced for Role in Sweepstakes Fraud Scheme Targeting Elderly Victims

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Jamaican national residing in Georgia has been sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for his role in a nationwide sweepstakes fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims. Owen Demoy Byfield, 33, was sentenced today 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 once he completes his sentence. Byfield pleaded guilty on January 13, 2026, to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to court documents, between March 2022 and October 2024, Byfield and his co‑conspirators operated a sweepstakes scam that falsely claimed victims had won large cash prizes. Elderly victims across the United States, including Rhode Island, were contacted through mailings, commercial carriers, phone calls, text messages, and other communications and were instructed to send money or grant access to their financial accounts to obtain their supposed winnings. The conspirators used fictitious names and directed victims to speak with individuals posing as “prize representatives.” Victims were told they needed to pay taxes, fees, or other costs, or risk being removed from a fabricated “winner list.” In one instance, Byfield used approximately $171,635 of fraudulent proceeds to make a down payment on a residence in Georgia. “Byfield helped run a scheme that preyed on older Americans and stole from some of the most vulnerable members of our communities,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “When criminals target elderly victims, hide behind fake identities, and move fraud proceeds through complex channels, federal prosecution is not just appropriate — it is necessary. This office will continue to pursue and disrupt schemes that exploit seniors for profit.” “Byfield and his co-conspirators hooked their victims by offering them the dream of a life-changing sweepstakes prize before extracting hundreds of thousands of dollars from them for fake ‘fees’ and ‘taxes’ that were swiftly laundered before victims could even realize they’d been scammed,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming. “After HSI’s investigation with our law enforcement partners, Byfield is not only facing federal prison time, he will be removed from the United States. Exploitation of vulnerable members of our community can’t be tolerated, and we’ll use all tools at our disposal to seek justice for victims.” The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams. The matter was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security–Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Warwick Police Department. More information about the Department’s efforts to support older Americans is available through the Elder Justice Initiative. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov or by calling 877‑FTC‑HELP. Additional resources for elder fraud victims are available through the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime at www.ovc.gov


title: California Man Sentenced for Stalking, Harassing,  and Threatening Women in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and in Other States

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A California man who made hundreds of obscene, harassing, and threatening telephone calls to women in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and other states has been sentenced in federal court in Providence. Justin Glauthier, 31, of Anaheim, California, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose to 36 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $400 special assessments . Glauthier previously pleaded guilty to four counts of stalking through cellular and internet communications. According to court documents, Glauthier obtained women’s names, photographs, and other personal information from the internet and used that information to make repeated, unwanted, sexually explicit, and threatening calls. During dozens of calls to at least nine identified victims, Glauthier, using a false name and hiding his identity by creating voice of internet protocol phone numbers or the *67 function on his phone, made sexually explicit and threatening statements, at times claiming to know where victims lived or worked and threatening to appear at their homes or workplaces if they did not comply with his demands to continue speaking with him or describing the sexual acts he wanted or was planning to do with the victims. On some of the calls, Glauthier would tell victims that he had masturbated to their online photos and would masturbate while on a call with a victim. An investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Providence Resident Agency and FBI’s Orange County, California, Resident Agency linked the calls to Glauthier, who was arrested in Anaheim on March 5, 2025. “Glauthier believed he could hide behind a phone and inflict fear without consequence,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “He was wrong. The federal system held him accountable, and we will continue to aggressively pursue anyone who thinks they can use digital tools to terrorize vulnerable victims.” “Justin Glauthier was a prolific, persistent, and pernicious cyber predator who relentlessly taunted and tormented dozens of victims with sexually explicit and threatening calls, and deliberately took steps to hide his identity,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “We are especially grateful to the courageous victims who came forward—they’re willingness to speak up enabled the FBI to identify Glauthier and ultimately stop this incessant harassment. Today’s sentence should serve a lesson to anyone who attempts to inflict this type of cruelty on others: the FBI will find you and will ensure you are brought to justice.” The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise M. Barton for the District of Rhode Island, with assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Restrepo of the Central District of California. The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Mexican National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Pleads Guilty to Firearms Offenses

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: MEDFORD, Ore.—A Mexican National unlawfully residing in the United States, Samuel Rodrigo Melo Santos, 27, pleaded guilty to alien in possession of a firearm, and making false statements in acquisition of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon. According to court documents, in July 2025, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigators, as part of a compliance inspection, began reviewing ATF Form 4473, known as the Firearms Transaction Records, of a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) in Cave Junction, Oregon. ATF Form 4473 must be completed by the person who is purchasing a firearm. During the inspection, investigators observed repeated sales of the same make and model of firearm by a group of individuals sharing the same address in O’Brien and Medford, Oregon, indicative of firearms trafficking. On ATF Form 4473, defendants wrote “Mexico” for place of birth and checked the box next to the United States for country of citizenship. An immigration query into Melo Santos, and his co-defendants, concluded they have no legal status and are residing unlawfully in the United States. Melo Santos told law enforcement that he bought firearms and sold them to anyone, including people who couldn’t legally buy them. Melo Santos purchased 91 firearms for $56,448 between May 2024 and July 2025 and 40,000 rounds of ammunition. One of these firearms was later found in Mexico. As part of the plea agreement, Melo Santos agreed to forfeit any criminally derived proceeds and property used to facilitate his crimes identified by the government prior to sentencing Melo Santos faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years of supervised release. Melo Santos will be sentenced on October 9, 2026, before U.S. District Court Judge Michael McShane. On December 18, 2025, Melo Santos, and three co-defendants made their first appearance in federal court before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Co-defendants Samuel Amador Ortega, Aldo Melo Amador, and Oscar Amador Ortega are awaiting trial. ATF is investigating the case with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Judith Harper is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Repeat Offender Sentenced to Prison for Unlawful Possession of Firearms

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who has 16 prior felony convictions was sentenced on Tuesday by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 30 months in prison for unlawfully possessing multiple firearms. The government requested 77 months’ imprisonment. “The illegal possession and carrying of firearms pose a direct threat to the safety, peace, and well-being of our communities," said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. "We are actively working alongside federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to disrupt illegal weapon pipelines, remove unauthorized firearms from our streets, and hold violators fully accountable under the law." “Firearms trafficking threatens the safety of the public," said Special Agent in Charge John Wester, San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). “ATF will continue to work alongside our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure that firearms remain out of the hands of prohibited people. The suspect in this case illegally possessed firearms and sold them in the Las Vegas area. That kind of conduct will not be tolerated. We are committed to ensuring that those who choose to operate in a manner that endangers the safety of this community are prosecuted.” According to court documents, from October 31, 2022 to November 18, 2022, Frederick Warren, 70, illegally possessed and sold multiple firearms in the Las Vegas area. He possessed a loaded Colt Defense Carbine 5.56 caliber rifle; a Remington Arms, 700, 22-250 rifle; a loaded 9mm caliber pistol; another 9mm caliber pistol; and a 12-gauge shotgun. Warren has 16 prior felony convictions, including robbery with use of a firearm in Riverside County, California; and possession of a controlled substance for sale, manufacture controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm, and taking a vehicle without owner’s consent/vehicle theft, all in San Bernardino County, California. He is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm. Warren pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of a firearm. This case was investigated by the ATF. Assistant United States Attorney Melinda Brewer prosecuted the case. Anyone with information about unlawful firearms activity should call ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email ATFTips@atf.gov or submit an anonymous tip at www.reportit.com . ###


title: Las Vegas Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Lead Role in Large-Scale Drug Trafficking Organizations

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who was a leader within two drug trafficking organization was sentenced today by United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II to a total of 12 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release for his role in importing substantial quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl into the Las Vegas area, and then selling those drugs to others within Las Vegas and throughout the United States. The government requested a sentence of 300 months. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message. We will dismantle criminal networks that poison our neighborhoods,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Our law enforcement partners worked tirelessly to bring this offender to justice. We remain committed to protecting public safety and stopping the flow of illegal drugs into our communities.” According to court documents in one of the two cases, from April 2, 2019 to April 2, 2024, Calvin Bryant conspired with his co-defendants to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. Bryant and his co-defendant Kefer Funches purchased drugs on a large scale and redistributed those drugs throughout the country. Numerous co-conspirators worked as couriers and resellers of the drugs. Bryant also engaged in money laundering of the drug proceeds. In that case, law enforcement seized 40.98 kilograms of actual methamphetamine, 34.08 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1,105.3 grams of fentanyl, .5 grams of heroin, and 1 kilogram of cocaine. At the same time that Bryant was working with Funches, he was also running his own drug trafficking organization operating within Las Vegas. Bryant was charged for this drug conspiracy as well. In this separate organization, Bryant oversaw the renting and use of multiple apartments as trap houses, or addresses used primarily or exclusively for the sale of drugs to end-users. In each case, Bryant pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to money launder. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Chrysanthis of the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division made the announcement. The DEA Las Vegas District Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Rose prosecuted the case. ###


title: Taos Man Sentenced to Life in Prison Plus 120 Months for Brutal 2023 Taos Slaying and Coverup

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A federal judge sentenced Zebadiah Romero , 38, a non-Indian, to life in prison plus 120 months following his convictions for multiple felonies in relation to the cold-blooded murder of a Taos Pueblo man in 2023. Because there is no parole in the federal system, Romero will spend the rest of his life in prison. According to evidence presented at trial, on October 30, 2023, Romero , who had been previously evicted and banned from the Taos Pueblo, shot and killed John Doe inside John Doe’s residence on the Taos Pueblo before stealing Doe’s property and concealing evidence. Doe was an enrolled member of the Taos Pueblo. After the killing, Romero removed Doe’s body from the residence and barricaded it within a separate structure on Doe’s property. Romero then stole Doe’s pickup truck and dog before disposing of evidence related to the offense. On November 4, 2023, Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety officers discovered a blood trail leading from the victim’s bedroom, which ultimately led investigators to Doe’s body inside an adjacent abandoned structure. The victim had been wrapped in bedding material, covered with a tarp, and hidden beneath other miscellaneous items. The Office of the Medical Investigator determined that Doe died from a single gunshot wound to the back of the head. At trial, the United States presented extensive evidence placing Romero with Doe on the morning of the murder and eyewitness testimony identifying Romero driving Doe’s truck with Doe’s dog shortly after Doe had been slain. Witnesses recounted Romero ’s motive prior to the killing as revenge for his belief that Doe had reported Romero ’s criminal activities to law enforcement. Prior to the murder, Romero stated his intent to kill Doe and steal his truck, adding that he would “sleep like a baby and get away with it.” Among other pieces of evidence, jurors heard Romero ’s recorded interviews with the FBI following his arrest. In those interviews, Romero gave shifting accounts of the events inside the home before ultimately acknowledging that he shot Doe and removed evidence, including the spent casing and the murder weapon. Trial evidence also showed that Romero , a previously convicted felon, unlawfully possessed the firearm used in the killing and later disposed of it. The jury found Romero guilty of first-degree murder, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and larceny of the victim’s truck. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today. The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jesse E. Pecoraro and Mark A. Probasco are prosecuting the case.


title: Deming Man Sentenced for Machinegun Offenses and Fleeing Border Patrol Checkpoint

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

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Deming man was sentenced to 101 months in prison after admitting he possessed a machinegun in furtherance of cocaine trafficking and fled a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint, leading agents on a pursuit that reached approximately 140 mph on Interstate 10. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents and Lopez's plea agreement, on February 11, 2025, an undercover law enforcement officer conducted a controlled purchase of cocaine from Gerald Anthony Lopez , 20. During the transaction, Lopez displayed a Glock handgun equipped with an extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device (MCD), commonly known as a "switch." Lopez offered to sell the firearm for $1,300 with the switch installed or $1,000 without it and stated he could supply additional firearms, conversion devices, and narcotics. On February 20, Lopez met with an undercover law enforcement officer and sold cocaine and the Glock handgun equipped with the MCD for $1,300. During the sale, Lopez demonstrated how the switch converted the firearm from semiautomatic to fully automatic fire and confirmed the extended magazine was loaded with 30 rounds. In his plea agreement, Lopez admitted that he knowingly possessed and carried the machinegun in furtherance of his cocaine trafficking, that he understood the switch converted the firearm into a machinegun, and that he had personally modified the firearm with the device. In a separate incident on May 6, 2025, Lopez fled from a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint in Luna County after agents referred him to secondary inspection. According to court documents and Lopez 's plea agreement, he led agents on a high-speed pursuit, reaching speeds of approximately 140 mph on Interstate 10, where the posted speed limit was 75 mph. Lopez pleaded guilty to high-speed flight from an immigration checkpoint, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, illegal possession of a machinegun, and possession of a firearm not registered with the national firearms registration and transfer record. Upon his release from prison, Lopez will be subject to three years of supervised release. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, Special Agent in Charge A.J. Gibes of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Chief Patrol Agent Jesse D. Muñoz of the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector made the announcement today. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the firearms offense in partnership with the New Mexico State Police. The U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector is investigating the immigration-related offense. The Las Cruces Branch Office of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case. Machine gun conversion devices and auto sears are illegal devices that transform semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons capable of continuous firing with a single trigger pull. The possession, manufacture, and sale of these devices without proper licensing is a federal offense carrying severe penalties, including up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000. The proliferation of these devices poses an immediate and critical threat to public safety. Between 2018 and 2023, the ATF recovered thousands of machine gun conversion devices, indicating an alarming trend in their availability and use. Violent street gangs are increasingly employing these devices, devastating communities and neighborhoods with unprecedented firepower. This dramatic increase in illegal automatic weapons puts both civilians and law enforcement at extreme risk. Officers responding to incidents may find themselves severely outgunned, facing weapons capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute. The potential for mass casualties in such encounters is staggering. Law enforcement agencies are working to seize these illegal devices racing against time to intercept these devices before they can be used in violent crimes. Public cooperation is crucial in combating this threat. If you have information about illegal firearms or conversion devices, please contact the ATF immediately: Call: 1-888-ATF-Tips (1-888-283-8477) Email: ATFTips@atf.gov Visit: www.atf.gov/atf-tips Your tip could save lives and prevent these dangerous weapons from falling into the wrong hands. The time to act is now, before our community falls victim to the devastating impact of these illegal automatic weapons.


title: Defendant in Largest Methamphetamine Seizure in New Jersey History Admits to Drug Distribution Conspiracy

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – An Illinois man admitted to conspiring to distribute over 260 pounds of methamphetamine into New Jersey—the largest seizure of methamphetamine in the state’s history—U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today. Marcos Cesar Acosta, 47, most recently of Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Wiliams in Camden federal court to a one-count Information charging him with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On April 28, 2026, Acosta traveled to New Jersey to supervise the delivery of hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine coming into the state by truck. That evening, after the truck arrived in New Jersey loaded with the methamphetamine, law enforcement officers arrested Acosta and another co-conspirator. Law enforcement seized three black storage boxes, one duffel bag, and a garbage bag from the truck cab, all of which contained methamphetamine. Collectively, the seized methamphetamine from the truck weighed over 260 pounds. The conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10,000,000. Sentencing is scheduled for December 17, 2026. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) MOPOD Enforcement Group 11 and the DEA Camden Resident Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James, for the investigation leading to the guilty plea. He also thanked the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, and IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, for their assistance in the investigation. This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative. The HSTF is a United States government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, transnational gangs, and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) worldwide. This initiative identifies TCOs engaged in a wide range of criminal schemes that violate federal law, while dismantling cross-border human smuggling and trafficking networks that fuel violence and instability that threatens the safety and security of the United States and its global partners. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton. ### Defense counsel: Margaret M. Grasso, Esq. acosta.information.pdf


title: Massachusetts Man Indicted for Armed Bank Robbery in Nashua

body_text: CONCORD – Yesterday a federal grand jury indicted a Massachusetts man for armed bank robbery, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. According to the indictment, on June 12, 2026, Joseph Sawyer, age 52, allegedly used a firearm to rob the St. Mary’s Bank located at 4 Northwest Boulevard in Nashua. If convicted, Sawyer faces up to 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The details contained in the Indictment are allegations. Sawyer is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Sawyer will appear before the Court at a later date. FBI Boston is leading the investigation. The Nashua Police Department, FBI New Jersey, FBI Albany, New Jersey State Police, New York State Police, Warren County (NY) Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Attorneys’ Offices for the District of New Jersey, Northern District of New York, and District of Massachusetts provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon is prosecuting the case.