title: Convictions through Guilty Pleas and Sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (July 27 through July 31, 2026)

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

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of July 27 through July 31, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations—including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations. Convictions through Guilty Pleas: On July 29, 2026, Junior Alcántara-Escoboso pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 28, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 29, 2026, Estefanny Parra-Rosa pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 29, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 29, 2026, Emanuel Antigua Evangelista pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case 26-202 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with reentry of removed alien after a felony conviction. Defendant was arrested on May 5, 2026. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 16, 2026. SAUSA Steven Liong-Rodríguez is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 30, 2026, Bryan Abdiel Camarena-Rodríguez pleaded guilty to Counts One and Seven in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 29, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. Sentencings: On July 30, 2026, Augusto Quilarte-Brito was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll to 34 months of imprisonment for conspiring to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the United States, jettisoning property subject to forfeiture, and related charges. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on March 6, 2025, in Criminal case number 25-114 (SCC), and pleaded guilty on February 13, 2026. AUSA Lani Lear is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 30, 2026, Luis Natanael Hernández-Corporán was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll to a term of 27 months of imprisonment for aiding and assisting entry of an aggravated felon to the United States. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 18, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-387 (SCC), and pleaded guilty on April 16, 2026. SAUSA Steven Liong-Rodríguez is in charge of the prosecution of the case. These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department. ###


title: Springfield Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distribution of Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: EUGENE, Ore.—A Springfield, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford. Robert Eugene Josh Jr, 65, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison and 3 years’ supervised release. 25 months of the sentence was ordered to be served consecutively to a separate case. According to court documents, in January 2024, Josh Jr. possessed almost three pounds of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. In late January 2024, as part of a larger federal and state investigation, Eugene Police Department officers stopped Josh Jr.’s vehicle and located almost three pounds of methamphetamine. Josh Jr. told the officers he purchased the methamphetamine, was acting as a middleman, and was going to sell it to somebody else for a profit. Josh Jr. was also arrested for a shooting as part of a drug deal gone bad. Josh Jr. was convicted in Marion County Circuit Court of attempted assault I and unlawful use of a weapon. He was sentenced to 60 months in prison related to the shooting. On May 5, 2026, Josh Jr. pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On June 20, 2024, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging Josh Jr. with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Eugene Police Department and the Springfield Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Sweet. 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: Iranian National Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Healthcare Fraud

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.— Iranian National residing in Coos Bay pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. Mehrdad Gerami, Age 67, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. According to court documents, from 2021 to the present, Gerami was the owner and operator of Coastal Diagnostic Testing Group (CDTG). CDTG operates out of Coos Bay, Brookings, Reedsport, Florence, and Roseburg, Oregon. He and his employees overcharged the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Veteran’s Health Administration (VA), and numerous private insurance companies for intensive, in-office sleep studies. CDTG billed for the more expensive in-office sleep studies when more inexpensive at-home sleep studies were actually conducted. Additionally, to generate more revenue in certain offices during months of low productivity, defendant instructed staff to falsely bill for sleep studies using patient information despite the studies never occurring on those dates. Gerami oversaw all aspects of the company’s operation and conspired with and directed employees to bill fraudulently. The estimated loss is $2,124,363.41. On June 22, 2026, Gerami was charged by Information with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Gerami faces a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years of supervised release. Gerami will be sentenced on January 26, 2027, before a U.S. district court judge. As part of the plea agreement, Gerami has agreed to pay restitution in full to his victims. This case was investigated by Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Huynh and Julia Jarrett are prosecuting the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Nevada Doctor Charged with $95 Million Wound Care Fraud on Medicare

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A federal grand jury in the District of Nevada returned an indictment on Tuesday charging Stephen Dubin, M.D., 74, of Henderson, Nevada, with a $95 million scheme to defraud Medicare by billing for medically unnecessary amniotic wound allografts that he and others applied to elderly Medicare patients. “This indictment exposes a scheme driven by greed, not medicine. As alleged, this provider exploited elderly patients by pushing costly and unnecessary medical procedures, then lied to Medicare to pocket millions of taxpayer dollars,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Schemes like this drain Medicare of resources and impose substantial burdens on the taxpayers who fund it. Let this serve as a warning: any healthcare professional who tries to get rich at the expense of patient care can expect to face the same scrutiny—and the same consequences.” “Healthcare fraud is not a victimless crime; it steals vital resources from elderly and vulnerable citizens who truly need life-saving treatments,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah of the District of Nevada. “These defendants prioritized personal greed over patient care by weaponizing complex billing codes for advanced wound care products. As part of the West Coast Health Care Strike Force, our office, alongside our federal law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively dismantle predatory schemes that target public healthcare programs.” “Dr. Dubin, as a physician, had a duty to prioritize the well-being of his patients; however, he engaged in unethical practices by prescribing costly, unnecessary allografts at taxpayer expense,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “This betrayal of trust and exploitation of his healthcare position for personal financial gain is both cruel and premeditated. The FBI remains dedicated to collaborating with federal, state, and local agencies to investigate individuals like Dr. Dubin and to safeguard federally funded healthcare programs from provider abuse.” “These charges reflect a clear and calculated betrayal of elderly Medicare patients who depend on trusted providers for legitimate care,” said Special Agent in Charge Robb R. Breeden of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “Schemes like this siphon taxpayer dollars, undermine patient safety, and erode confidence in our health care system. HHS‑OIG, working closely with our law enforcement partners, will continue to identify and hold accountable those who exploit federally funded health care programs for personal gain.” “Fraud involving TRICARE, the healthcare program that provides medical coverage for active duty service members, retirees, and their families, strikes at a benefit earned through service to our nation,” said John Helsing, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s Western Field Office. “As the criminal investigative arm of the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, DCIS is steadfast in protecting TRICARE from individuals who manipulate medical billing for personal gain. The West Coast Health Care Fraud Task Force, working with our federal partners, greatly enhances our ability to detect and dismantle these schemes, ensuring we preserve the integrity of our nation’s military health system.” According to court documents, Dubin, a medical doctor and sole owner of Dubin Medical Consultants, Inc. (a/k/a Wound MD) caused Medicare to be billed over $95 million for expensive amniotic allografts that he procured through illegal kickbacks and bribes. Dubin allegedly applied these allografts to elderly patients—including vulnerable patients in hospice care—without medical necessity. Medicare paid over $54 million based on Dubin’s false and fraudulent claims. As alleged in the indictment, Dubin received illegal kickbacks, bribes, and rebates from two different allograft distributors. Some of these illegal payments were falsely structured to appear as legitimate “Rebate Agreements” while concealing their true nature and illegal payments. These purported rebates substantially reduced Dubin’s true net cost of acquiring the allografts. Dubin allegedly submitted claims to Medicare seeking reimbursement for the price listed on sham full-price invoices, instead of the actual price he paid for the allografts. Dubin and others allegedly kept as profit the difference between Medicare’s reimbursement and the price paid for the allografts. The indictment also alleges that Dubin received illegal kickbacks from one allograft distributor through payments from a pass-through bank account held in the name of a shell company in exchange for purchasing allografts from the distributor. Induced by these illegal kickbacks, bribes, and rebates, Dubin and his co-conspirators applied allografts without regard to medical necessity, including by applying allografts to infected wounds; to wounds that were not responding to allograft treatment; without first attempting, completing, or confirming conservative wound care treatment as required by Medicare; and in quantities that far exceeded the size of wounds. Dubin allegedly selected allografts that would maximize his profit, not based on the patient’s need. To conceal the lack of medical necessity, Dubin falsified patient medical records to make it appear as though the application of allografts was medically reasonable and met Medicare requirements. Dubin used the proceeds of his alleged offenses to fund a lavish lifestyle, including having multi-million-dollar yachts built for him. Dubin is charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud and five counts of health care fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count. FBI, HHS-OIG, and DCIS are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Chris Wenger and Shane Butland of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Oliva for the District of Nevada 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 support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. On April 30, the Fraud Division announced the formation of the West Coast Health Care Fraud Strike Force , a multi-district enforcement initiative uniting the Division’s Health Care Fraud Section with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Arizona, District of Nevada, and Northern District of California. The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Las Vegas Woman Sentenced to Prison in $5M Refund Fraud Scheme

body_text: LAS VEGAS — A Las Vegas woman was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States by filing false tax returns with the IRS and diverting portions of the resulting tax refunds to herself and her codefendant. According to court documents and statements made in court, Iris Hondermann owned and operated Silver State Tax & Multiservices LLC, a tax preparation business in Las Vegas. An individual close to Hondermann worked for the business and was charged in the same scheme. From approximately 2017 through 2021, Hondermann and her codefendant prepared tax returns for clients that included one or more false items, including business profits and losses, COVID-19 sick and family leave credits, and residential energy credits. “The deliberate falsification of tax records and the theft of funds are severe violations of public trust and federal law,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Our office, alongside our law enforcement partners, remains committed to aggressively investigating and prosecuting those who use deceit to enrich themselves at the expense of taxpayers and honest institutions.” “By inserting false information into client tax returns and taking a share of the fraudulent refunds, Hondermann and her codefendant defrauded the government of millions for personal benefit,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown of the IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office. “This was a substantial theft from the U.S. Treasury and, ultimately, from every honest taxpayer. IRS CI remains dedicated to identifying schemes that exploit the tax system and holding accountable those who choose to profit through fraud.” Between 2017 and 2021, Hondermann and her codefendant prepared false tax returns with the IRS seeking more than $5 million in refunds that their clients were not entitled to receive. At times, Hondermann and her codefendant also diverted portions of client tax refunds to themselves. From 2017 through 2021, they diverted more than $1.1 million in fraudulent tax refunds to bank accounts one or both of them controlled. Hondermann pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to defraud the United States. Hondermann’s codefendant, who admitted to filing false tax returns for clients as part of the same scheme, still awaits sentencing. Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown of the IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Thomas W. Flynn and Stuart A. Wexler of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. ###


title: Sanostee Woman Pleads to 2022 Assault

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Sanostee woman pleaded guilty in federal court to using a rifle to seriously injure one individual and threaten another during an August 2022 incident. According to court documents, on August 20, 2022, Leticia Washburn , 42, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, retrieved a rifle during an argument and threatened two individuals with the weapon. During the confrontation, she discharged the rifle, striking one victim in the abdomen and causing serious bodily injury. Washburn pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and using carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. At sentencing, she faces no less than seven years and up to life in prison followed by up to five years of supervised release. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Marshall is prosecuting the case.


title: Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Commanding the Exploitation of a Then-Four-Year-Old Child in New Jersey and Producing Child Pornography

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Texas man was sentenced in United States District Court to 25 years in prison in connection with the exploitation of a child and production of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today. “Crimes against children strike at the heart of our communities, and the exploitation of a child is among the most disturbing crimes we encounter. This case is particularly egregious because it involved a man directing and commanding a mother to abuse her own four-year-old child and then capture those images in video recordings. Particularly troubling is the fact that this defendant was already a registered sex offender. The children of our state deserve to be protected. Our Office is committed to holding accountable anyone who exploits children, whether they abuse a child directly or direct others to do so. Today’s sentence sends a clear message: Those who prey on children will be identified, prosecuted, and held fully accountable for the devastating harm they cause.” - U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer Russell Lynn Davis, Jr., 48, of Texas previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Kiel in Camden federal court to conspiracy to sexually exploit a child, sexual exploitation of a child, and receipt of child pornography. Judge Kiel imposed the sentence today. According to documents filed in these cases and statements made in Court: Between June and August 2021, Davis received at least fourteen videos from a female based in New Jersey who engaged in sexual contact with her then-four-year-old child and then produced and sent those videos to Davis. Law enforcement’s review of messages between Davis and the abuser revealed that Davis had directed and commanded the abuser in committing specific sexual acts against the child. Davis is a registered sex offender. In addition to the prison term, Judge Kiel also sentenced Davis to 10 years supervised release. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited FBI Newark’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, with the investigation. 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 Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/psc . The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorney Rachelle M. Navarro of the Criminal Division in Newark. ### Defense counsel: Anhtony Iacullo, Esq.


title: Interstate Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Lewis County traffic stop and hotel room search led to the sentencing of a North Carolina man responsible for distributing a large quantity of fentanyl in West Virginia, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced. Shawn Galin Whitley, Jr., 35, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was sentenced to 48 months in prison. A Lewis County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped a vehicle occupied by Whitley. He was removed from the car during the stop. Deputies discovered $2,040 in cash and five fentanyl stamps in Whitley’s pocket. Officers then obtained a search warrant for Room 204 of a nearby hotel where he was staying. Inside the room, investigators found a backpack containing approximately 3,750 fentanyl stamps. Hotel security footage showed Whitley wearing the backpack shortly before police arrived. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.


title: Fentanyl Near Playground Leads to Ohio Man’s Conviction

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA — A Canton, Ohio man has admitted to having more than 40 grams of fentanyl near a playground in Ohio County, West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Jaylen Jawaun Lashawn Martin, also known as “Money,” age 29, pleaded guilty to one charge of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl within 1,000 feet of a protected location. According to statements made in court, Martin was staying at a hotel in the Elm Grove section of Wheeling. While under investigation for drug trafficking, officers observed Martin exit a vehicle and go inside his room. Officers arrested Martin and conducted a lawful search of the vehicle, seizing a shopping bag containing nearly 72 grams of fentanyl and drug paraphernalia. The hotel is within 1,000 feet of Overbrook Playground. Martin faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years and up to 80 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration. U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.


title: Operation Clean Sweep Produces Major Arrests and Seizures in Onondaga County

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK — Law Enforcement officials announced the results of Operation Clean Sweep – Onondaga County, a major enforcement initiative resulting in several arrests and significant seizures of firearms and narcotics. Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in charge New York division Bryan DiGirolamo, Federal Bureau of Investigation Albany Field Office Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam, Syracuse Police Chief Mark Rusin, Onondaga County Sheriff Tobias Shelley, and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James, made the announcement. The success of this operation reflects enhanced cooperation between federal and local law enforcement, working collectively through integrated planning, intelligence sharing, and unified resources to address violent crime in Onondaga County. Officials highlighted that this level of interagency coordination represents one of the most collaborative enforcement actions undertaken in the county in recent years. Operation Clean Sweep – Onondaga County Results: 13 arrests connected to narcotics distribution and firearm offenses 11 kilograms of cocaine seized 615 grams of crack cocaine seized 365 grams of fentanyl seized 3 pounds of methamphetamine seized 37 illegally possessed firearms seized Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said, “I want to thank my friend, U.S. Attorney John Sarcone for honoring his commitment to work collaboratively with local law enforcement to keep Syracuse and other communities in the Northern District as safe as possible. In my three decades as District Attorney, this represents the highest level of cooperation we have had with our federal partners. Let this serve as fair warning to those who seek to prey on our community with deadly firearms and narcotics.” First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III said, “Today’s results prove that when local law enforcement and local prosecutors, work together with federal law enforcement and federal prosecutors we can make a difference in the community. As a result of this operation, 37 illegal firearms have been removed from our streets—each one representing countless potential lives saved. In addition to significant quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine, this operation seized 365 grams of fentanyl. To put that into perspective, 365 grams of fentanyl equates to approximately 180,000 potentially lethal doses. That is enough fentanyl to fatally poison the equivalent of more than four sold‑out crowds at the JMA Wireless Dome.” ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo said, “Violent crime doesn’t respect agency boundaries, and neither does our response. Operation Clean Sweep reflects what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal partners share intelligence, coordinate enforcement efforts, and pursue the individual’s driving violence in our communities. Together, we’ve removed dozens of illegal firearms, significant quantities of deadly drugs and disrupted criminal networks that threaten public safety. ATF NY remains committed to working alongside our partners to reduce gun violence and ensure those who traffic firearms and drugs are brought to justice. Thanks to the steady partnership with ATF NY Syracuse, Syracuse PD, NYS DOCCS & USAO NDNY.” "Operation Clean Sweep is a clear example of what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies come together with a shared mission of protecting our community and holding those who choose to bring violence and dangerous drugs into our neighborhoods accountable. This operation highlights the strength of the partnerships we have built with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. By working together, we are able to identify and disrupt criminal networks, remove dangerous individuals and illegal firearms from our streets, and make a meaningful impact on public safety,” said Chief Mark Rusin, Syracuse Police Department. “Operation Clean Sweep Onondaga County demonstrates what is possible when law enforcement agencies unite with one mission: protecting our communities from violent drug traffickers and armed criminals,” stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam . “The seizure of 37 illegally possessed firearms, along with significant quantities of cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl represents more than evidence—it represents lives protected and violence prevented. Every firearm removed from our streets is one less weapon that can be used to intimidate or kill, and every gram of fentanyl seized is another step toward preventing a tragedy. The DEA New York Enforcement Division remains steadfast in our commitment to dismantle the criminal organizations fueling addiction and violence across Central New York.” FBI Albany Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli said, “Operations like Clean Sweep present the invaluable opportunity for federal, state, and local law enforcement to deliver a unified response to our shared mission of crushing violent crime and protecting our communities. By coming together, we can identify problematic criminals wreaking havoc in our communities, then quickly get to work to leverage our collective resources and hold them accountable. The success of this joint operation is the direct result of that remarkable collaboration. 37 illegal guns and a significant amount of deadly narcotics will never make it into our neighborhoods. FBI Albany remains deeply committed to continuing this important work with our outstanding partners throughout Onondaga County.” New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “Disrupting the flow of illegal guns and narcotics and mitigating their source of supply remains a top priority for the State Police. Not only has the success of this operation saved lives, but it has also put an end to the violence associated with these illegal possessions. I commend our State Police members and all law enforcement partners involved for their intelligence, coordination, and expertise in keeping New Yorkers safe.” "Operation Clean Sweep is about a direct, unwavering commitment to the safety and peace of mind of every resident in Onondaga County. By working shoulder to shoulder with our local and federal partners, we are actively pulling dangerous weapons and illegal drugs off our streets before they can destroy more lives or disrupt our neighborhoods. I want the people of Onondaga County to know, without a doubt, that law enforcement is working diligently in your communities every single day. We are focused, relentless, and unified in our mission to protect your families, restore peace to our streets, and ensure that our county remains a safe place to live, work, and raise a family,” said Sheriff Tobias Shelley Today’s announcement underscores the shared commitment of all participating agencies to protect the community, disrupt violent criminal networks, and hold offenders accountable. The arrests and seizures described are at various stages of judicial proceedings. Accordingly, any statements made here constitute allegations only. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. These cases are being investigated by Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, Syracuse Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. The cases are being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 12 Months and 1 Day in Prison for Forcibly Assaulting a Federal Officer During an Immigration Enforcement Action

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: HAMMOND – Rosario Carrillo Lopez, 54 years old, a Mexican national, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Carrillo Lopez was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $3,809.33 in restitution for damage he caused to a government vehicle. Because he has no legal status in the United States, Carrillo Lopez will be subject to a separate and immediate removal process upon his release from prison. “An illegal alien will serve a year in prison after pleading guilty to assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer. He will then be subject to an independent, immediate removal process upon his release from prison. He was also ordered to pay $3,809.33 in restitution for damage he caused to a government vehicle . To be clear, there is zero tolerance for those who forcibly assault or impede federal law enforcement. Carrillo Lopez is a Mexico national who chose to enter the United States illegally. When ICE caught up with him and attempted to make an arrest, Carrillo Lopez stepped on the gas pedal and dangerously fled through a residential area. Through his reckless actions, Carrillo Lopez jeopardized the safety of law enforcement officers who are sworn to uphold our laws and protect the public. He also endangered the lives and safety of innocent bystanders who were simply going about their day—drivers, pedestrians, and schoolchildren—all so he could evade arrest. And later, he doubled down and put his own family in harm’s way, allowing them to physically confront agents while he bolted out the back door to escape a federal arrest warrant. Carrillo Lopez should consider himself lucky that a tragedy was avoided due to the disciplined and measured response by federal law enforcement agents. The Defendant chose to violate our nation’s laws, borders, and sovereignty, and then committed additional high risk felonies to evade capture with no care for the harm that might result. Thanks to the efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the United States Marshals Service and Assistant United States Attorney Steven J. Lupa, the Defendant has been held accountable for his deliberate, selfish choices,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred. “Violence against federal law enforcement is a serious crime that places agents and the public at risk,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. “HSI Special Agents and Task Force Officers put themselves in harm’s way every day to protect our communities from violent crime. HSI is grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their commitment to ensuring accountability in this case.” “The U.S. Marshals Service remains steadfast in its partnership with Homeland Security Investigations to remove dangerous criminals and undocumented offenders from our streets,” said United States Marshal Todd L. Nukes. “Through coordinated efforts, this subject was safely subdued and will not pose any future risk to our communities. We will continue these efforts for the safety and security of all residents.” According to documents in the case, on October 13, 2025, deportation officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) stopped Carrillo Lopez’s vehicle to conduct an immigration enforcement action. Upon learning the officers were with ICE, Carrillo Lopez sped away and led them on a high-speed chase through the streets of Gary, in the middle of rush hour on a Monday morning. As he fled, Carrillo Lopez drove over a curb, along a sidewalk, and through a cardboard sign. He also used his vehicle to strike one of the officer’s vehicles, causing damage to the front passenger’s side bumper and wheel well. Based on this criminal conduct, federal agents obtained a warrant for Carrillo Lopez’s arrest. Ten days later, on October 23, 2025, agents with Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Marshals Service went to Defendant’s house to arrest him. After their attempts to coax Carrillo Lopez out of the house failed, agents made the decision to breach the front door. Once inside the house, the agents faced physical resistance from Carrillo Lopez’s family, while Carrillo Lopez ran out the back door and jumped onto the roof. The agents eventually located Carrillo Lopez and took him into custody. Carrillo Lopez spoke to agents following his arrest, after being advised of his Miranda rights. Explaining his decision to flee, Carrillo Lopez said he needed to “hide” and that “if I go easy, you’re gonna take me.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with valuable assistance provided by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Steven J. Lupa.


title: Marion Man Sentenced to 132 Months in Prison For Attempting to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: FORT WAYNE – Douglas Hillsamer, 44 years old, of Marion, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to attempting to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Hillsamer was sentenced to 132 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. “A drug dealer intended to profit from distributing nearly 3 pounds of almost 100% pure methamphetamine and earned 11 years in prison and 5 years of supervised release instead. The Defendant was to receive a shipment of methamphetamine in the mail from Fresno, California when it was intercepted by the United States Postal Service. Inside the package were three plastic bags containing almost 100% pure methamphetamine with a pure substance weight of 1,317.83 grams. The Defendant admitted to investigators that the methamphetamine was destined for him, and that he planned to unleash that poison on our communities. He was no rookie, having prior felony convictions for possession of methamphetamine and invasion of privacy. Thanks to the partnership of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Indiana State Police and Assistant United States Attorneys Teresa L. Ashcraft and Justin C. Sheridan, the Defendant is behind bars, the drugs have been removed from our community, and the nation is safer,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred. "The U.S. Postal Service is a trusted service, not a pipeline for dangerous drugs," said Felicia George, Inspector in Charge for U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Detroit Division. "Postal inspectors are committed to identifying and disrupting drug trafficking networks that exploit the mail to distribute illegal narcotics. This sentence highlights the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies working together to protect our communities and hold offenders accountable." A photograph of the intercepted methamphetamine taken by law enforcement attached. This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Indiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Teresa L. Ashcraft and Justin C. Sheridan.


title: Columbia City Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison and 120 Months Supervised Release For Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: FORT WAYNE – Derek Gaff, 45 years old, of Columbia City, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to Possession of Child Pornography, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Gaff was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. Gaff was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $13,000.00, however further restitution will be determined at a later date. “A recidivist Defendant possessed child pornography between September 2023 and April 2025. The Defendant had previously been convicted of Possession of Child Pornography in Whitley County. The Defendant has traded the next ten years in prison for his choice to possess these deplorable materials and will be supervised for an additional ten years when he gets out to protect the children in our community. Offenders who possess CSAM take their delight in the victimization and violation of children and that is nothing short of evil. They also contribute to the perpetual victimization of the innocent so long as it is in circulation, whether or not the Offenders participate in it themselves. Thanks to the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Indiana State Police and the Whitley County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with the Whitley County Prosecutor’s Office led by D.J. Sigler, the case was able to be prosecuted by Lesley J. Miller Lowery as part of Project Safe Childhood. Our children are safer with him behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. 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 www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Sioux City Man Faces Up To 50 Years in Federal Prison After Pleading Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Gabriel Jauregui, age 36, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty August 5, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor. Jauregui was previously convicted of attempt to entice a minor in the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County in 2020. At the plea hearing, Jauregui admitted that between July 15, 2024, and August 20, 2025, Jauregui sexually exploited a sixteen-year-old child. A review of the minor victim’s phone revealed messages relating to drugs and sexual acts between Jauregui and the minor. Officers also located videos and photographs of nudity involving both parties. Jauregui filmed himself engaging in sex acts with the minor on his phone and then sent the videos to the minor. A forensic review showed that the material was sent from the phone number Jauregui had registered with the sex offender registry. Jauregui also forcibly injected the minor with methamphetamine. The minor discussed their active addiction to methamphetamine while exchanging images and videos with Jauregui. The videos contained material that depicted sadistic or masochistic conduct, or other depictions of violence. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Jauregui remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Jauregui faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 50 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-4051. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Fort Dodge Man Sentenced to Federal Prison  for Drug and Gun Charges

body_text: A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine and possessed a firearm and ammunition as a prohibited person during and in furtherance of the conspiracy was sentenced August 4, 2026, to more than 18 years in federal prison. Ray Spencer Hollers, age 31, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 20, 2026, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine, two counts of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine, one count of possession of firearms by a prohibited person, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. At the plea hearing, Hollers admitted that from November 2024 to December 2024, Hollers and others agreed to distribute methamphetamine. He also admitted that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine that he was caught with by law enforcement officers on several occasions. On February 7, 2023, law enforcement officers in Webster County, Iowa, attempted a traffic stop on a car Hollers was driving. Hollers failed to stop and a high-speed pursuit ensued. Hollers reached speeds of over 100 miles-per-hour. After he hit “stop-sticks,” Hollers came to a stop and officers arrested him. Officers searched the car and seized more than 600 grams of methamphetamine, items for its distribution, over $1,800 U.S. currency, and various ammunition magazines belonging to Hollers. On December 5, 2024, after observing Hollers makea drug sale, law enforcement officers in Webster County, Iowa, again attempted a traffic stop of a car Hollers was driving. Once again, Hollers failed to stop for law enforcement, and a similar high-speed pursuit ensued. During the pursuit, law enforcement Officers observed Hollers discarding methamphetamine from his car. Hollers stopped once it was disabled by striking a concrete median. Law enforcement officers searched the car and seized approximately one-pound of methamphetamine, items for its distribution, two firearms (one loaded), and over $4,000 U.S. currency. That same day, officers searched a residence in Fort Dodge that was associated with Hollers. Officers seized approximately 75 grams pure methamphetamine and a digital scale. During the investigation, law enforcement officers obtained information that Hollers was a source of methamphetamine to numerous individuals and that Hollers would often carry firearms. Hollers was previously convicted of several felonies in the State of Iowa, including a drug trafficking offense in 2017, possession of multiple firearms by a convicted felon in 2018, and a dangerous eluding by vehicle in 2020, among numerous other criminal offenses the preceding ten years. Hollers was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Judge Strand found that Hollers repeated, dangerous eluding conduct while in possession of large quantities of methamphetamine and firearms and ammunition extremely aggravating and despicable. Hollers was sentenced to 224 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Hollers is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick T. Greenwood and Shawn S. Wehde, and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Dodge Police Department, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, Sac County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Laboratory. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-03056. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Bahamian Drug Trafficker Faces Federal Cocaine Charges Following At-Sea Rescue from Plane Crash

body_text: ATLANTA – An indictment unsealed today in the Northern District of Georgia charges Jonathan Eric Gardiner, a convicted felon and Bahamian national, with federal drug importation and conspiracy offenses. U.S. officials arrested Gardiner after rescuing him from the Atlantic Ocean following a plane crash on May 14, 2026. “Operating from The Bahamas, Gardiner allegedly coordinated the delivery of massive quantities of cocaine into the Northern District of Georgia and elsewhere,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Because of the quick action and dedication of federal law enforcement in Atlanta’s Homeland Security Task Force, this recidivist felon, alleged high-level drug trafficker, and priority target will be held accountable for his crimes.” “International cocaine trafficking fuels addiction, violence, and organized criminal activity that impacts communities across the United States,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “DEA remains steadfast in working alongside our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those charged with bringing dangerous drugs into our country.” “This indictment alleges Gardiner peddled cocaine into Atlanta and across the region for years,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Marlo Graham. “Our fight against international drug traffickers who spread poison into our communities requires all hands-on deck. Thanks to the collaboration of federal, state, and local agencies, Gardiner will face justice for his alleged crimes.” “The arrest of this individual underscores the relentless pursuit of transnational criminal organizations by Homeland Security Investigations,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI remains committed to leveraging our interagency partnerships to dismantle drug networks that threaten the safety of our communities, regardless of where the perpetrators attempt to operate.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other publicly available information: From approximately December 2022 to May 2026, Gardiner, who resided in The Bahamas, allegedly supplied large quantities of cocaine to drug trafficking organizations in the Northern District of Georgia and elsewhere. Gardiner could allegedly distribute more than 2,000 kilograms at a time. When the cocaine arrived in metro Atlanta, the organization then allegedly distributed the drugs to multiple states. More than twenty alleged members of the drug trafficking organization were previously charged, and thirteen have pleaded guilty. In May 2026, Gardiner and ten other people were traveling on a private plane near the coast of Florida when the plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued all of the passengers, including Gardiner, who was in possession of $30,000 in Bahamian currency. Nearly 20 years ago, Gardiner was convicted in the Southern District of Florida of conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States and was sentenced to over 18 years in federal prison. On June 9, 2026, a grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia returned an indictment charging Jonathan Eric Gardiner, a/k/a Player, 58, of Long Island, Bahamas, with conspiracy to import a controlled substance into the United States and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance. Gardiner is presently in the custody of the United States Marshals Service awaiting trial on additional drug charges in the Southern District of New York. He will appear in the Northern District of Georgia at a later date. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, with valuable assistance provided by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Coast Guard, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Assistant United States Attorneys John T. DeGenova and Dwayne A. Brown Jr. are prosecuting the case. The indictment is a result of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Tallahassee Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Offenses and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Amontea Allen John Mitchell, 28, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of attempted enticement of a minor, one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I deeply appreciate the continued vigilance of our state and federal law enforcement partners to stay one step ahead of the sexual predators, like this defendant, who seek to sexually exploit and victimize kids online. Aggressively prosecuting these sick individuals and ensuring they remain locked away in prison is the best way we can ensure our kids stay safe.” Court documents reflect that in April 2026, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Tallahassee Police Department conducted an undercover operation to identify individuals using the internet to sexually exploit children. During the operation, Mitchell responded to an online advertisement for a female escort and began communicating through text message with an undercover officer who was posing as a 15-year-old child. After the undercover officer told the defendant he was speaking to a 15-year-old female, the defendant proceeded to send an obscene photograph and asked the child to produce child pornography to send to him. The defendant ultimately expressed an interest in engaging in sex with the child. Law enforcement arrested the defendant near an arranged meeting location. Inside the defendant’s backpack, agents found three condoms and a firearm. Mitchell is a felon with multiple prior felony convictions, and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. Mitchell faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison, with a maximum of life imprisonment, for the attempted enticement of a minor count; up to a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment for the attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor count; and up to 15 years in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Sentencing is scheduled for September 17, 2026, at 3:00 PM at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker. This case involved a joint investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, the Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Emma Schwan is prosecuting 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 CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to Over 17 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking Offenses

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Antonio Carlos Shine, 38, of Dania, Florida, was sentenced to 17 years and five months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and marijuana. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This serial felon’s lengthy criminal record amply demonstrates that the only way we can prevent him from continuing to terrorize our communities with his criminality is by keeping him incarcerated. This successful prosecution and long prison sentence should be a warning to other would-be drug peddlers that the Northern District of Florida has zero-tolerance for these crimes.” Court documents reflect that in August 2024, law enforcement officers intercepted a package containing nearly two pounds of methamphetamine addressed to a Tallahassee residence. Law enforcement conducted a controlled delivery at the residence, and the defendant took possession of the package and brought it into the residence. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on the residence. The defendant did not answer the door, requiring officers to breach the door, after which the defendant fled through the back door with the package of methamphetamine, where he was immediately taken into custody. Law enforcement searched the residence and located a digital scale, various narcotics paraphernalia, and 44 grams of marijuana packaged for sale. The defendant had previously been convicted of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with a firearm, and possession of cocaine with intent to sell/deliver, and had served several prior terms in Florida state prison. “This significant prison sentencing should serve as a deterrent to anyone attempting to use the US Mail for narcotics trafficking” said Bladismir Rojo, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Miami Division. “The Postal Inspection Service will continue to work with the Tallahassee Police Department and all of our law enforcement partners to keep these poisons out of our communities.” Shine’s term of imprisonment will be followed by ten years of supervised release. Thus, once Shine is released from prison, if Shine were to violate any conditions of his release, he could potentially face an additional period of incarceration related to violating his supervision. The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Tallahassee Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer 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. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Repeat Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Exploitation Charge

body_text: NASHVILLE – James Baker, 37, of Dickson, Tennessee, pleaded guilty on July 27, 2026, to receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee. According to court documents, in August 2024, the FBI received information that Baker was communicating through the social media application Kik with an undercover law enforcement employee who was posing as the father of an 11-year-old girl. During those communications, Baker claimed that he was sexually abusing his own teenage daughter and offered advice about abusing the purported 11-year-old. Baker also transmitted sexually explicit images that he falsely claimed depicted his daughter although Baker did not have a daughter. He later admitted that he had obtained the images online and did not know the individual depicted. “After already being released from state prison for a child exploitation offense, this defendant was found to have child sexual abuse material on his cell phone,” said U.S. Attorney Boucek. “Those who target children will be identified, prosecuted, and held accountable. Our office will continue using every available federal law-enforcement resource to protect children from exploitation.” “This case serves as a reminder of the dangers sexual predators, especially repeat offenders, pose to the most vulnerable every day,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “I am proud of the diligent work of the FBI Clarksville Resident Agency and partners whose vigilance and thorough oversight were key to uncovering Baker’s latest offenses. The FBI is committed to finding predators like him and bringing them to justice while also ensuring those they’ve victimized are safe and well-supported.” Emergency disclosure information obtained from Kik, and other service providers identified Baker as the person operating the account. In September 2024, FBI agents interviewed Baker and seized his cellphone. Baker admitted that he had communicated with the undercover employee and that his phone had contained child sexual abuse material. A court-authorized forensic examination of the cellphone identified images and videos of child sexual abuse, including material involving prepubescent children, which led to Baker’s indictment for receipt of child pornography. Baker was a registered sex offender at the time of the federal offenses. In March 2020, he pleaded guilty in Dickson County to sexual exploitation of a minor and was sentenced to six years in state prison. Baker was released from state custody in March 2024. Baker faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and forfeiture. A federal district court judge will determine Baker’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for November 9, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Eli J. Richardson. Baker was ordered to remain detained pending sentencing. The FBI’s Clarksville Resident Agency investigated the case with assistance from the Dickson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica R. Morrison is prosecuting the case. #####


title: Lebanon Woman Sentenced for Child Sex Trafficking and Exploitation Charges

body_text: NASHVILLE – Alisha Danielle Scudder of Lebanon, Tennessee, was sentenced on July 27, 2026, in U.S. District Court to several a total sentence of 340 months followed by 10 years of supervised release for conspiracy, four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, sex trafficking of children, distribution of child pornography, and sale of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee. “Scudder exploited two vulnerable children, produced child abuse material involving them, and accepted money in exchange for that material,” said U.S. Attorney Boucek. “Her conduct represents a profound betrayal of the children who depended on her for protection. Our office and our law enforcement partners will continue working together to identify those who exploit children, protect victims, and hold offenders accountable.” “Those who strip children of their innocence commit one of the gravest betrayals imaginable,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that exploiting children carries serious consequences. The FBI and our partners will continue to aggressively investigate, pursue, and bring child predators to justice, ensuring they are held fully accountable for the harm they inflict.” “Protecting children is one of HIS’s most important missions,” said HSI Nashville Special Agent in Charge Dennis M. Fetting. “HSI will continue working with our partners to identify predators, protect victims and seek justice for exploited children.” “The exploitation of children is among the most disturbing crimes we investigate,” said Tennessee Bureau of Investigations Director David Rausch. “Through strong partnerships and persistent investigative efforts, we remain committed to identifying those who exploit vulnerable victims and holding them accountable.” According to court documents, beginning in approximately June 2019 and continuing through March 2022, Scudder produced child sexual abuse material involving two children who were under the age of 14. She transmitted the material over the internet to a co-conspirator in exchange for money. The co-conspirator communicated with Scudder through social media and messaging applications, requested that she produce additional material, and paid her for images and videos she transmitted. On at least one occasion, the co-conspirator traveled from East Tennessee to the Middle District of Tennessee where additional child sexual abuse material was produced. The investigation began in October 2022 after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children referred two CyberTips concerning suspected child sexual abuse material uploaded through social media applications to law enforcement. Investigators traced the account activity to the co-conspirator and recovered child sexual abuse material from his electronic devices. On December 9, 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant at Scudder’s Lebanon residence and recovered several electronic devices, including a cell phone containing communications with the co-conspirator and child sexual abuse material. During an interview with investigators, Scudder admitted producing the material, transmitting it through internet-based applications, and receiving payments for some of it. The case was investigated by FBI Nashville and Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Lebanon Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica R. Morrison prosecuted the case. #####


title: United States Attorney’s Office Sues State College Landlord for Sexual Harassment and Retaliation in Housing

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today it filed a lawsuit against Venkatachalam Mani, a landlord in State College, Pennsylvania, for sexually harassing his female tenant and then retaliating against her when she refused his sexual advances, in violation of the Fair Housing Act. The tenant filed a complaint against Mr. Mani with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). After an investigation, HUD determined that Mr. Mani discriminated against the applicant in violation of the Fair Housing Act and issued a charge of discrimination. After the tenant chose to have the matter decided in federal court, HUD referred the matter to the Department of Justice. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages to compensate the tenant and her children and a court order barring future discrimination. The lawsuit alleges Mr. Mani made sexual advances toward his tenant; she rejected the advances; he sexually assaulted her; and then he engaged in months long retaliation by showing up at the leased property uninvited and failing to complete required maintenance on the property. The lawsuit also alleges that Mr. Mani’s refusal to fix a furnace after his tenant rejected his advances caused the tenant to be without heat in freezing cold temperatures and move out of the home when the furnace eventually caught fire. “This lawsuit involves a landlord who failed to fix a tenant’s furnace despite freezing temperatures because she refused his sexual advances, forcing her family to move out even though they did not have another place to live,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This conduct is immoral and unlawful. The Justice Department will continue to uphold the rights of female tenants to housing without the threat of sexual harassment by a landlord.” “Attempts to exploit tenants for sexual favors, sexual assault, and retaliation by landlords will never be tolerated in the Middle District of Pennsylvania,” said U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller. If you are a victim of sexual harassment by a landlord or property manager or have suffered other forms of housing discrimination, call the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743 or submit a report online . More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt . This case is part of the Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative . The initiative, which the Department launched in October 2017, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers, and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 53 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered approximately $19 million for victims of such harassment. Anyone in the Middle District of Pennsylvania may also report civil rights violation to the office’s Civil Rights Coordinator by calling 717-614-4911 or email usapam.civil.rights@usdoj.gov . Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Butler represents the government in this lawsuit. # # #


title: Federal Inmate Convicted Of Voluntary Manslaughter In The Death Of Cellmate

body_text: HARRISBURG– The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Rudy Mendoza, age 41, was convicted on July 31, 2026, of voluntary manslaughter in the death of his cellmate following a five-day jury trial before United States District Judge Keli M. Neary. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, on July 30, 2019, the Bureau of Prison’s staff found Mendoza’s cellmate dead in their cell within the Special Housing Unit at United States Penitentiary, Canaan, Waymart, PA. The correctional officers found blood in various locations throughout the cell and the victim had multiple injuries to his head and face. The cause of death was cardiorespiratory collapse secondary to physical trauma. The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons. Assistant United States Attorneys Scott Ford, Stephen Dukes, and William Behe prosecuted the case. The maximum penalty for these offenses is 15 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. # # #


title: Nigerian Citizen and Three Other Individuals Sentenced  in Connection with a $1.7 Million Money Laundering Operation

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: Greensboro, N.C. – Four individuals have been sentenced to imprisonment in connection with a money laundering operation in which the individuals attempted to launder the proceeds of approximately $1.7 million in fraud proceeds, announced United States Attorney Dan Bishop of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC). According to court documents, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Services (“USPIS”) investigated Adedayo Fateru, a Nigerian citizen and U.S. Permanent Resident, Lisa Farrow, William Atwater, and Victoria Stone for a money laundering ring involving the proceeds of various wire fraud schemes including business email compromises (“BEC”), modified check schemes, false ACH schemes, false applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”) provided during the COVID-19 pandemic, and false applications for unemployment benefits. Farrow recruited Stone and Atwater into the conspiracy to work along with Fateru. Farrow and Fateru provided Stone and Atwater directions on opening bank accounts and how to move the fraud proceeds. Farrow and Fateru would also collect portions of the money that Stone or Atwater withdrew from their bank accounts. Stone opened ten bank accounts and received, across those accounts, approximately $1,036,679 in proceeds from various wire fraud scams, including BECs. Stone was able to withdraw approximately $187,375 by conducting hundreds of smaller transactions, including automated teller machine withdrawals and debit card cash advances designed to move and conceal the fraud proceeds. William Atwater opened numerous bank accounts in his name to receive the proceeds of various wire fraud schemes including, among others, false applications for EIDLs and a BEC scam. In total, Atwater received fraud proceeds of approximately $704,320 into his bank accounts. Atwater was able to withdraw or remove approximately $390,352 by conducting over 150 different transactions designed to move and conceal the fraud proceeds. Fateru was sentenced to 87 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Upon completion of his sentence, Fateru will be transferred to ICE custody for removal proceedings in accordance with U.S. immigration law. Farrow was sentenced to 45 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release, Atwater was sentenced to 33 months of imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release, and Stone was sentenced to 25 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. IRS Criminal Investigation and the USPIS are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Waid of the Middle District of North Carolina is prosecuting the case.


title: DENHAM SPRINGS ACCOUNTANT PLEADS GUILTY TO WIRE FRAUD

body_text: Anisha Devall Hunter, age 48, of Denham Springs, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge John W. deGravelles to two counts of wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall. According to admissions made as part of her guilty plea, Hunter worked as a senior accountant for a business located in the Middle District of Louisiana in 2023. In her capacity as an accountant, she had access to company credit cards and bank account information. She also had the authority to pay off the credit card statements and make entries into the business’s accounting journal. As part of her scheme, Hunter used company credit cards to pay for her own personal expenses. These unauthorized charges included rental payments to her Denham Springs apartment complex, among numerous others. She would then disguise these charges by making false entries into the business’s accounting journal, indicating the purchases were legit business expenses. Each wire fraud count is punishable by a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain derived from the offense, whichever is greater. U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Vick leads the prosecution.


title: Orlando Men Sentenced for Attempting to Coerce and Entice a Minor to Engage in Sexually Explicit Conduct

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – Richard Kowalczyk (46, Windermere) and Eric Patrick (31, Windermere) have been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Kowalczyk was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison and Patrick was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Patrick pleaded guilty in February 2026 and Kowalczyk pleaded guilty in April 2026. Both are also required to register as sex offenders. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, Kowalczyk and Patrick, who are married, engaged in a sexually graphic conversation online that discussed their interests in minors. In July 2020, Kowalczyk and Patrick attempted to coerce and entice a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct and share sexually explicit images with them. Kowalczyk also possessed child sexual abuse images and videos, including minors under the age of 12, on his cellphone. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc


title: Homeland Security Task Force Arrests Members of Dade City Fentanyl Trafficking Organization on Federal Drug Charges

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging five individuals with federal drug offenses including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl. Name Age, Residence Charges Aaron McKinney 38, Dade City Drug trafficking conspiracy Distribution of fentanyl (4 counts) Distribution of cocaine and fentanyl Derrick Harrison 53, Dade City Drug trafficking conspiracy Distribution of fentanyl Derrick Harrison II 35, Zephyrhills Drug trafficking conspiracy Distribution of fentanyl Derrick Gentles 41, Dade City Drug trafficking conspiracy Michael Taylor 34, Dade City Drug trafficking conspiracy Distribution of cocaine and fentanyl If convicted, McKinney faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. Harrison and Harrison II each face a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. Gentles and Taylor face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. According to the indictment and other court records, McKinney sold fentanyl and other controlled substances in Dade City. The others assisted McKinney with his drug trafficking business. Through this drug trafficking organization, McKinney trafficked more than 400 grams of fentanyl, along with cocaine. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, and the Zephyrhills Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Buchanan. 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 Region 20 (Tampa) comprises agents and officers from multiple law enforcement agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.


title: Federal Jury Finds Columbia County Man Guilty of Knowingly Providing a False Statement to a Federally Licensed Firearms Dealer

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – A federal jury has found Bryan Steven Etheridge (40, Columbia County) guilty of providing a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer. Etheridge faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 16, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to evidence presented at trial, on May 10, 2025, Etheridge attempted to purchase a .40 caliber pistol from a firearms dealer in Columbia County. When completing a Firearms Transaction Record (ATF Form 4473), Etheridge knowingly provided a false statement by denying that he was subject to a court order restraining him from stalking, harassing, or threatening an intimate partner or child of an intimate partner. In fact, in 2024, Etheridge’s wife and mother of their six children sought a domestic violence injunction against him and the court imposed an injunction through early 2026. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rick Lasseter and David Mesrobian. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.


title: Final Defendant Sentenced in Montgomery Dry Cleaning Business Robbery Case

body_text: The final defendant has been sentenced for his role in the violent robbery of a Montgomery dry cleaning business, bringing the federal prosecution of all four participants in the March 10, 2025, crime to a close. On August 5, 2026, a federal judge sentenced Clinton Thompson, 56, of Birmingham, Alabama, to 121 months in federal prison after he pleaded guilty on April 13, 2026, to one count of Hobbs Act robbery. Following his prison term, Thompson will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Thomas Govan and Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Flowers with the FBI Mobile Field Office made the announcement. “Violent crime has no place in our communities, and those who commit these offenses should expect substantial federal prison sentences,” said United States Attorney Govan. “This was a calculated and violent robbery that left a hardworking business owner injured and traumatized. With the sentencing of the final defendant, every member of this robbery crew has now been brought to justice. Together, the defendants received nearly 53 years in federal prison, a result that reflects the severity of their conduct and the outstanding work of our law enforcement partners.” “Today’s sentencing of Clinton Thompson ends the final, real-life chapter of something you would only expect to find in a true crime story,” said Special Agent in Charge Flowers. “This brazen group of criminals pre-planned a robbery, then executed that plan with violence and intimidation, and stole not only the victim’s cash, but also the victim’s car. What this robbery crew did not expect was the relentless tenacity of federal, state, and local law enforcement. The FBI and our partners worked quickly and aggressively to investigate this case, and ensured these violent offenders were held accountable.” According to his plea agreement and other court records, Thompson joined co-defendants Zedekiah Sykes, Spirit Hooks, and Spencer Thomas in carrying out the robbery of the Montgomery business located on East South Street. After shattering the front door with a rock, the four men forced their way inside and confronted the business owner. During the robbery, Thomas brandished what appeared to be a handgun, pointed it at the victim’s head, and demanded that the safe be opened. The weapon was later determined to be a BB gun. When the victim struggled to remember the safe’s combination, Hooks struck him in the left eye, causing visible bruising and swelling. The group ultimately gained access to the safe and stole approximately $8,000 in cash. Before fleeing, the men zip-tied the victim’s hands and feet, stole his cell phone and car keys, and escaped in the victim’s vehicle. Thompson is the fourth and final defendant to be sentenced in the case. Sykes, the organizer and ringleader of the robbery, was sentenced to 195 months in federal prison on October 23, 2025. Hooks was sentenced to 175 months in federal prison, and Thomas received a sentence of 144 months in federal prison, both on January 13, 2026. Sykes, Hooks, and Thomas were also ordered to pay $9,598.74 in restitution to the victimized business. Thompson was ordered to pay restitution jointly and severally with his co-defendants. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Montgomery Police Department, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), and the Metro Area Crime Suppression (MACS) Unit investigated this case, with assistance from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Feil. 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.