title: Las Vegas Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ronald A. Parsons, Jr. announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a man from Las Vegas, Nevada, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026. Jeffrey Skannal, 67, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Skannal was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026. For several months in 2024, Skannal served as a member of a California-based drug trafficking organization that brought large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California to South Dakota and used short-term rental properties as bases of operation to distribute the drugs in and around Sioux Falls. Skannal participated in the conspiracy by driving rental cars loaded with drugs from California to Sioux Falls; assisting in packaging the drugs for sale; and accompanying other members of the organization on sales to sub-distributors. 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case. Skannal must self-surrender no later than noon on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.


title: Chancellor Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison  for Production of Child Pornography

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Chancellor, South Dakota, man convicted of Production Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on August 31, 2026. Marquis Lavelle Jordan, age 39, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison, five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Once released from federal prison, Jordan must register as a sex offender for 25 years. Jordan was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025 and pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026. The conviction stemmed from incidents between June 16, 2024, and June 24, 2024, when Jordan supplied a runaway juvenile female with drugs and alcohol and forced her to perform oral sex on him while he recorded the act with his cell phone. “This was a fitting sentence for this predator,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “I am so proud of the dedicated efforts of our federal prosecutors and the agents at Homeland Security Investigations for bringing him to justice.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . Jordan was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Two Men for Illegal Reentry into the United States

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury in Providence returned separate indictments today charging two men with illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed. According to the indictments, Edwin Aldana , 45, a citizen of Guatemala, was ordered removed from the United States on November 13, 2006. He later reentered the United States and was removed from the country again on September 7, 2020. On June 1, 2026, Aldana was arrested in Rhode Island. Aldana did not obtain the required consent from the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to reapply for admission to the United States. In a separate indictment, Kevin Osvaldo Lopez Lopez , 25, a citizen of Honduras, was previously ordered removed by an immigration judge and departed the United States on January 12, 2021. On July 4, 2026, Lopez Lopez was arrested in Rhode Island. Lopez Lopez did not obtain the required consent from the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to reapply for admission to the United States. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Lowell. The matters were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Convictions through Guilty Pleas and Sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (August 31 through September 4, 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 August 31 through September 4, 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 September 1, 2026, Álvaro Ortiz-Callejas pleaded guilty to narcotics importation conspiracy and narcotics importation aiding and abetting in Criminal Case 23-085 (PAD). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiring to import and aiding and abetting the importation of five kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine. Defendant was arrested on October 18, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for December 7, 2026. AUSA Lani Lear is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On September 2, 2026, Edgar Santiago-Vázquez pleaded guilty to Count One of the Indictment in Criminal Case 25-215 (SCC) and to Counts One and Seven of the Indictment in Criminal Case 25-392 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Defendant was arrested on September 25, 2026. The court set defendant's sentencing date for December 4, 2026. AUSA R. Vance Eaton is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On September 2, 2026, Enrique Falcón-Lopez pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case 25-275 (RAM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with a conspiracy to commit wire, bank and mail fraud. Defendant was arrested on June 17, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for January 12, 2027. SAUSA Vanessa Bonano is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On September 3, 2026, Lucas José Pérez pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case 22-520 (RAM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to manufacture or distribution of cocaine for purpose of unlawful importation. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025, in the Dominican Republic and extradited to Puerto Rico on August 21, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for December 2, 2026. AUSA Camille García Jiménez is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On September 4, 2026, Yariel Enrique Morales-Fuentes 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 December 4, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. Sentencings: On September 1, 2026, Josué Isaac-Febus, a.k.a. “Tonto/Doble T” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Angongiorgi-Jordán to nine (9) years of imprisonment to be followed by eight (8) years of supervised release for his participation in a violent drug trafficking organization that worked out of various Public Housing Projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, principally the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ), and pleaded guilty on May 13, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On September 2, 2026, Defendant Jesús M. Cruz Martínez, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Raúl Arias-Marxuach to 30 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for a conspiracy to commit bank, wire, and mail fraud. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on June 12, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-275 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 4, 2026. SAUSA Vanessa Bonano is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On September 2, 2026, Ángel Ocasio-Cancel was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach to 60 months of imprisonment and eight (8) years of supervised release for a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 3, 2026, in Criminal Case 25-365 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 4, 2026. AUSA Andrés L. Orr is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On September 3, 2026, Jeuris Rodríguez-Payano was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Raúl Arias Maxuach to a term of imprisonment of 118 months and five (5) years of supervised release for conspiring to manufacture or distribute 323 kilograms cocaine for the purpose of unlawful importation. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2022, in Criminal Case 22-520 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 11, 2026. AUSA Camille García Jiménez was in charge of the prosecution of the case. On September 3, 2026, Raúl González-Santiago was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach to 84 months of imprisonment—24 months as to Count One and 60 months as to Count Seven, to be served consecutively—and six (6) years of supervised release for a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 3, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-365 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 10, 2026. AUSA Andrés L. Orr is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On September 4, 2026, Robert Martínez-Limas was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado Hernández to a term of six (6) months in home incarceration and four (4) years and six (6) months in probation for possessing with intent to distribute 10 kilograms of cocaine. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on August 22, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-280 (PAD), and pleaded guilty on April 20, 2026. AUSA Camille García Jiménez was in charge of the prosecution of the case. On September 4, 2026, Rodney Alexis Maldonado-Márquez was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach to time served and six (6) years of supervised release for a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 3, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-365 (RAM), and pleaded guilty on June 18, 2026. AUSA Andrés L. Orr is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On September 4, 2026, Barbara Valentín-Rivera was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado to time served and three years of supervised release for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and to launder the drug trafficking proceeds. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 29, 2021, in Criminal Case 21-359, and pleaded guilty on May 18, 2026. AUSA Ricardo Imbert Fernández 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: Additional Hacienda Employee and Business Owners Plead Guilty to Bribery Conspiracies Involving Millions in Public Funds

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On September 8, 2026, Alexander Ortiz-Robles, a Puerto Rico Department of Treasury (Departamento de Hacienda or “PRDT”) employee was charged via information and pleaded guilty to participating in a bribery conspiracy involving the loss of approximately $6,772,578 in Puerto Rico tax revenue, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. Ortiz-Robles is scheduled to be sentenced before U.S. District Judge Gina R. Méndez-Miró on January 15, 2027. This represents the third PRDT employee to plead guilty within the last three months to a bribery or fraud scheme. Along with numerous other “gestors”, individuals, and corporate defendants that also pleaded guilty, the total loss of Puerto Rico tax revenue related to these schemes exceeds $14 million. According to the plea agreement in the case of Alexander Ortiz-Robles, he admitted to receiving bribe payments to eliminate Puerto Rico taxes owed by various individuals and businesses. From June 2020 through October 2025, Alexander Ortiz-Robles was an employee and agent of the PRDT with duties that included physically and electronically accessing and reviewing tax returns and documents related to invoicing and collection of owed taxes. The defendant had privileged access to the PRDT’s online platforms, the Puerto Rico Integrated Tax Administration System (PRITAS) and the Internal Revenue Unified System (GenTax/SURI) and was experienced and able to access, monitor, and modify taxpayer information, including creating taxpayer credits, modifying income tax, employee retention tax and sales tax information. As part of the conspiracy, Ortiz-Robles corruptly accepted bribe payments and other benefits, in exchange for submitting false information to the PRDT. The false information was submitted to the PRDT for the elimination of taxes owed, evasion of taxes, and theft of funds. These bribe payments received by Ortiz-Robles included $15,500 in July 2022, $20,000 in December 2023, $60,000 in November 2024, and $6,000 in April 2025. These illicit bribe payments were paid through third parties, who were in business to charge customers to illegally reduce their taxes owed. The conspiracy resulted in a total approximate loss to the PRDT of $6,772,578. A separate but similar bribery and fraud scheme, Criminal No. 25-434(PAD), involving employees of the PRDT was indicted in October 2025. The following defendants in that case recently pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing before the U.S. District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado. That case involves a total loss of over $3.5 million (with some individuals jointly responsible for losses with corresponding companies). Defendant Guilty Plea Sentencing Date Amount of Loss [2] Harry E. Muriel-Falero 7/20/2026 10/9/2026 $665,639.74 [3] César Rodríguez-Nieves 8/17/2026 12/4/2026 $852,487.91 [4] 24 Marketplace, Inc. 8/17/2026 12/4/2026 $35,125.84 [5] A La Silla LLC 8/17/2026 12/4/2026 $205,514.32 [6] RB Marketplace, Inc. 8/17/2026 12/4/2026 $154,728.92 [7] Hiram Firpi-Cruz 8/18/2026 12/11/2026 $526,263.67 [8] Líneas de Puerto Rico, Inc. 8/18/2026 12/11/2026 $393,408.91 [9] Héctor J. Baerga-Ortiz 8/31/2026 12/14/2026 $1,833,983.81 [10] Híjole Foods Bistro Corp. 8/31/2026 12/14/2026 $447,241.14 [11] HVP Foods Corp. 8/31/2026 12/14/2026 $564,545.29 [12] BBB Food, Corp. 9/1/2026 12/14/2026 $386,483.84 [13] BHV Food, Corp. 9/1/2026 12/14/2026 $225,340.52 [14] VHB Foods Corp. 9/1/2026 12/14/2026 $131,461.02 [15] Carlos A. Rodríguez-Ortiz 7/7/2026 10/2/2026 $33,660.53 [16] Red Point Pizza and Restaurant, Corp. 8/10/2026 11/6/2026 $33,660.53 [19] Suhail Pastrana-Vega 8/4/2026 12/4/2026 $193,577.03 [21] Rafael A. Tefel-Santana 8/3/2026 11/6/2026 $437,785.06 [22] Gabrielle López-Berríos 7/20/2026 10/16/2026 $36,138.55 [23] G Fitness & Body Performance LLC 8/19/2026 12/18/2026 $17,309.55 [24] Veevo LLC 8/19/2026 12/18/2026 $1,642 [25] Patria Silfa-Báez 8/25/2026 12/22/2026 $47,209.44 [26] Print Pro LLC 8/25/2026 12/22/2026 $44,630.33 In another separate case, Criminal No. 26-359 (MAJ), Edwin Gómez-Villegas and Brisas BBQ, Inc. pleaded guilty on September 2, 2026, to participating in a similar fraud scheme to defraud PRDT of approximately $23,904 in Puerto Rico tax revenue. Gómez-Villegas and Brisas BBQ, Inc. are scheduled to be sentenced on December 3, 2026, by U.S. District Judge María Antongiorgi-Jordán. Acting U.S. Attorney Héctor Ramírez-Carbó of the District of Puerto Rico; and Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating these matters. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie Christine Amy from the District of Puerto Rico’s Financial Fraud & Public Corruption Section is prosecuting these cases. This is part of an ongoing effort to combat public corruption and fraud committed by Puerto Rico Department of Treasury employees. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico previously announced the indictment of the initial twenty-six individuals and corporations in October 2025 , the July 2, 2026 guilty plea of Luis A. Jiménez-Guzmán , an Hacienda employee who admitted to participating in a similar bribery conspiracy involving the loss of approximately $5,000,000, and the July 20, 2026 guilty plea of Harry E. Muriel-Falero . ###


title: Illegal Alien from Mexico Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun Trafficking in Homeland Security Task Force Case

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—Hugo Alberto Roman Aparicio, 42, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release for a gun trafficking conspiracy. All guns were seized and forfeited. According to court documents, Roman Aparicio and others, conspired to smuggle guns from Portland to Mexico. They hid 12 firearms in the spare tire compartment of a car, that Roman Aparicio obtained, to secretly transport the guns into Mexico. Roman Aparicio, and others, arranged for the guns to be left with a co-conspirator in California, who was to complete the trip and smuggle the guns into Mexico. Investigators believe the guns were destined for cartels. The group was trying to impress a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) with the hope of receiving illegal drugs to sell in Oregon. With the assistance of the California Highway Patrol, DEA task force officers located and stopped the courier in California before the guns could be transferred. The courier’s vehicle was searched, and law enforcement officers found the firearms hidden in the spare tire area. On November 26, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 2-count superseding indictment charging Roman Aparicio with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to traffic firearms. On May 22, 2026, Roman Aparicio pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic in firearms. U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Tigard Police Department, Sherwood Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul T. Maloney and James Kilcup. 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 Portland comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, USMS, IRS-CI, ATF, USPIS, CBP, TSA, U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon Air, Army National Guard Counterdrug program, and Oregon-Idaho HIDTA with prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon


title: Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – James Brooks was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 10 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and for possession of a semi-automatic handgun during a drug sale. The government recommended a sentence of 10 years in prison. "Fentanyl is tearing apart families and poisoning our communities at an alarming rate,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “This sentence sends a clear and unwavering message to drug traffickers: if you flood our streets with lethal chemicals for profit, you will be caught, and you will face severe consequences in federal prison. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to disrupt these deadly networks and protect the people of Las Vegas." “Every drug trafficker operates with a single, ruthless purpose—profiting from human suffering,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “Alongside our partners, the FBI will continue dismantling their networks, erase their poison from our streets, and ensure every single participant faces justice behind bars.” According to court documents, from October 28, 2023, to January 21, 2024, Brooks, also known as “Grizz,” conspired with co-defendant Geronimo Gutierrez to distribute pills containing fentanyl. During a drug transaction, Brooks possessed a 9mm semi-automatic handgun with a high-capacity magazine and paid cash to an individual for approximately 2,000 pills. Fentanyl is a Schedule II controlled substance. Illicit fentanyl is a synthetic opioid up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Just two milligrams, about the size of a few grains of salt, can be lethal. Brooks pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Gutierrez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to money launder. On January 12, 2026, Gutierrez was sentenced to 97 months in prison. This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Brister prosecuted the case. ###


title: Pinedale Woman Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Pinedale woman pleaded guilty in federal court to involuntary manslaughter for killing her husband during a physical altercation. According to court documents, on June 30, 2025, Mabelene Grey , 46, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, confronted her husband, John Doe, at their residence in Pinedale, New Mexico, regarding an affair. A physical altercation ensued, during which Grey produced a firearm and, during the struggle, fired it, killing John Doe. Grey pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. At sentencing, she faces up to eight years in prison followed by up to three years of supervised release. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today. The Gallup 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 Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case.


title: Family Workshop Counseling Center and Owner to Pay $350,000 to Resolve Alleged Improper Medicare Billing

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Family Workshop Counseling Center, LLC, and its owner, Jeffrey Burrows, have agreed to pay $350,000 to the United States to resolve allegations that they improperly billed Medicare for clinical social worker services provided by individuals who were not authorized to receive Medicare reimbursement. According to the settlement agreement, between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2021, Family Workshop Counseling Center, LLC, a mental health and behavioral health counseling group with offices in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, and Jeffrey Burrows submitted claims to Medicare for clinical social worker services using the billing credentials of licensed clinical social workers when the services were actually provided by individuals who were not authorized to receive Medicare reimbursement. Under Medicare rules, only licensed clinical social workers may be reimbursed for clinical social worker services. The allegations arose from a qui tam lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico by former Family Workshop employees under the False Claims Act. The settlement covers only the claims related to the allegedly improper Medicare billing and does not resolve the relators’ separate claims for wrongful discharge, prima facie tort, and libel, slander, or defamation. To resolve the allegations, Family Workshop and Burrows agreed to pay $350,000 to the United States, including $121,305 in restitution. The settlement does not release potential criminal liability or certain administrative enforcement rights. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today. The matter was investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico. The settlement and investigation were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Cunniff and Auditors Philip Stella and Julie Chappell.


title: Two Men Plead Guilty to Stealing Checks From the Mail  in Livingston and Clifton

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – An Irvington man and a Roselle Park man both admitted to conspiring to steal checks from the mail using stolen or misappropriated arrow keys belonging to the United States Postal Service (“USPS”), U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today. Leslie Blackwood, 25, of Irvington, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to an Information charging him with conspiracy to steal checks from the mail. Verly Antenor, 24, of Roselle Park, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty on July 16, 2026, before Judge Salas to the same charge. According to documents filed in the cases and statements made in court: Between September 2021 to March 2022, Blackwood and Antenor agreed with other individuals to steal checks from the mail. They possessed and used stolen or misappropriated arrow keys to access USPS collection boxes in Livingston and Clifton and steal mail containing checks. To profit from the scheme, Blackwood and Antenor sold, deposited, or caused to be deposited the stolen checks to fraudulently obtain funds from financial institutions. Blackwood and Antenor sometimes “washed” the stolen checks by erasing the date, payee, amount, and memo line from the stolen checks and replacing the information, oftentimes for higher amounts than the amounts originally written on the checks. Overall, Blackwood and Antenor agreed that the scheme caused an actual loss of approximately $670,313.46. The charge of conspiracy to commit mail theft carries a maximum potential penalty of 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing for Blackwood is scheduled for February 16, 2027, and sentencing for Antenor is scheduled for December 17, 2026. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited postal inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen, Philadelphia Division, and special agents with the U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi, Northeast Area Field Office, with the investigation. He also thanked the Livingston Police Department and the Clifton Police Department for their assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey S. Smith of the Criminal Division in Newark. ### Defense counsel for Blackwood: Claressa Lowe, Esq. Defense counsel for Antenor: Roberto Espinosa, Esq. antenor.information.pdf blackwood.information.pdf


title: Arizona Woman Pleads Guilty to Shipping Methamphetamine to New Hampshire in Multi-State Dark Web Drug Trafficking by Mail Operation

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: CONCORD – Brejea Wrigley, 30, of Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to two counts of Distribution of Controlled Substances, specifically more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, United States Attorney Erin Creegan announces. According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2025, the defendant took over a dark web methamphetamine distribution operation under the vendor account name “BlackCoconut” and used that account to arrange shipments of drug parcels nationwide through the United States Postal Service (USPS). Items for sale through this operation included methamphetamine, fentanyl marketed as “China White,” pressed oxycodone pills, and mushrooms in various quantities. Undercover agents were able to arrange through the dark web for parcels of methamphetamine to be purchased and shipped from Phoenix, Arizona to a law enforcement monitored P.O. Box in Manchester, NH in September and October 2025. The first shipment contained nearly 450 grams of methamphetamine hidden inside two stuffed animals, purchased for a total of $1,850 from the “BlackCoconut” account. The second shipment contained more than 800 grams of methamphetamine, similarly packaged to the first shipment. Following further investigation and the execution of search warrants, the defendant was identified as the person operating the “BlackCoconut” dark web account and trafficking operation. The charging statute provides for a sentence up to life in federal prison, at least 5 years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $10,000,000. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante scheduled sentencing for December 17, 2026. The United States Postal Inspection Service led the investigation, with valuable assistance from the Drug Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar Vega is prosecuting the case.


title: U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould leads the Northern District of Texas to historic results and takes the stage as a national leader on the eve of his investiture

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: DALLAS — Less than one year after appointment as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Ryan Raybould marks a year of institutional transformation, historic prosecutions and measurable results across one of the nation’s largest and most complex federal districts. Ryan Raybould was sworn in as the U.S. Attorney on Nov. 17, 2025, pursuant to an Attorney General Appointment. He was then appointed by the Northern District of Texas judges before being confirmed by the U.S. Senate in May 2026, following his October 2025 nomination by President Donald J. Trump. From his first day in office, U.S. Attorney Raybould established three guiding principles for the Northern District of Texas: reduce violent crime, disrupt cartels, and protect North Texans from fraudsters. Within his first 90 days, U.S. Attorney Raybould reorganized the Criminal Division to sharpen its focus on the threats facing North Texas and the nation. Over the following year, the office hired over 40 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and brought in the best and brightest leaders across the nation to reform its leadership team. At the same time, the office increased violent crime prosecutions by 26 percent, white collar prosecutions by 50 percent and charged the most immigration offenses in North Texas history. The office also ranked first among the extra-large U.S. Attorney’s Offices in cases charged per federal prosecutor. Empowered by U.S. Attorney Raybould to crush crime, the office has already charged more criminals than in 2025 and will end the fiscal year with more filed cases than at any point this decade. “In less than a year, we’ve only just begun to transform the Northern District of Texas into the safest community it can be. With families, businesses and entire industries moving here from across the country, North Texas is booming and our office is meeting that growth with unwavering resolve. I’m proud of the extraordinary team we’ve built, men and women who bring unmatched talent and commitment to the mission every single day. As Y’all Street emerges as a powerful economic engine, drawing investment and opportunity from every direction, one thing remains constant: criminals will find no refuge in North Texas. We will continue driving violent crime down, protecting our borders and defending the rule of law with absolute determination.” — U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould PROJECTS AND PRIORITIES Project Safe Schools U.S. Attorney Raybould launched Project Safe Schools , a federal initiative aimed at protecting students, enforcing accountability and restoring transparency in public schools across North Texas. Project Safe Schools directly targets failures in mandatory reporting of educator misconduct and combats the practice known as “passing the trash,” where educators with known misconduct issues move between schools without disclosure of their prior wrongdoing. Project Safe Neighborhoods Project Safe Neighborhoods is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that unites federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and public safety partners to coordinate efforts to reduce violent crime and strengthen community safety. The Northern District of Texas hosts several PSN operations. Under U.S. Attorney Raybould’s leadership, a second high‑risk area in Dallas – along Harry Hines Boulevard long known for trafficking, violence and public safety challenges – received PSN designation. Through a Homeland Security Task Force investigation, federal, state and local agencies recently shut down a sex trafficking conspiracy operating out of the Paris Adult Bookstore , resulting in the indictment of eight defendants on related federal charges. Additionally, U.S. Attorney Raybould expanded PSN to a second area in Fort Worth and is currently leading an operational surge there of state, local, and federal resources to ensure that violent offenders are brought to justice. Decentralize the District U.S. Attorney Raybould has made enormous strides to decentralize the district, including filing more cases in West Texas and ensuring that the branch offices are staffed to meet the population growth. U.S. Attorney Raybould has assigned more Assistant United States Attorneys and Special Assistant United States Attorneys than ever before to the Fort Worth division, Abilene division and Amarillo division. As the chief federal law‑enforcement officer for the entire region, overseeing a vast jurisdiction that spans 100 counties and multiple metropolitan areas, his commitment is to deliver fair, effective and consistent enforcement of federal law to every single one of the almost nine million residents who call North Texas home, ensuring their safety and trust in the justice system. As he often says, “I’m a U.S. Attorney for all 100 counties in North Texas. That is both an honor and an obligation that I aim to meet every single day by leaving it all on the field so that people can go about their lives free from violence, intimidation, and fraudsters.” RECENT CASES OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE Antifa Cell Leader Gets 100-Year Sentence for Terrorist Attack: In the Country’s first prosecutorial response to Antifa-designated domestic terrorism, Benjamin Hanil Song , who was convicted of the attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, was sentenced to 100 years in prison. Together, the 16 Prairieland terrorists received a combined sentence of 450 years in prison. Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Dismantle San Angelo Drug Trafficking Ring – 48 Arrested as Part of “Operation Concho Valley Shakedown .” This investigation and prosecution dismantled a major drug‑trafficking network operating across West Texas, leading to 48 arrests and the disruption of a supply chain responsible for fueling violence and addiction throughout the region. 60‑Year Sentence for Child Sexual Abuse Material: Victor Torres pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography leading to one of the lengthiest sentences handed down in the District for such crimes highlighting the District’s commitment to protecting minors and combating sexual exploitation. Homeland Security Task Force Investigations lead to indictment of 8 members of designated foreign terrorist organization TdA: Five of the eight indicted illegal aliens from Venezuela were charged in Northern District of Texas with kidnappings that resulted in death, racketeering involving murder and other violent offenses. Health Care Fraud Takedown – 13 Charged in NDTX, $360 Million Loss: This strategically coordinated nationwide law enforcement action resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. Civil Fraud Enforcement – Nearly $75 Million in Settlements: The use of civil tools to protect the public fisc and recover taxpayer dollars lost to fraud, waste, or abuse is also a priority for U.S. Attorney Raybould, and so far in 2026 the office has reached civil settlements totaling $74,990,652.66, primarily under the False Claims Act. These cases reflect U.S. Attorney Raybould’s and the Northern District’s concentrated efforts to disrupt cartels, domestic terrorist actions and cyber enabled crimes; dismantle fraud networks and protect children, reinforcing its strategic priorities in law enforcement. ###


title: Project Safe Schools: Federal grand jury charges former high school teacher with enticement offense for alleged sexual relations with a minor

body_text: LUBBOCK, Texas — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a former Muleshoe, Texas High School teacher has been charged in a federal enticement case involving a minor student. A federal grand jury in Lubbock returned an indictment today charging Allegra Fey Mora, 28, with enticement of a minor for allegedly having sexual relations with one of her students. “The full force of my office will be brought to bear on teachers, administrators, and school districts who perpetuate a cycle of abuse in our schools,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “No one who abuses a position of authority over a child in the Northern District of Texas will escape scrutiny. As I said before, Project Safe Schools is here to stay, and I’d encourage teachers, administrators and school districts to report any and all abuse that has occurred in the past to my office. If we find out about it on our own, the consequences will be more severe. And to North Texas parents, we will continue to fight for you to put bad actors in prison who abuse kids and create a culture of concealment in our North Texas schools.” “Protecting children from exploitation is among HSI’s highest priorities, especially when allegations involve an abuse of trust by someone in a position of authority,” said HSI Dallas Deputy Special Agent in Charge Antwoine Jones. “HSI Dallas will continue working alongside our partners to identify, investigate and support the prosecution of those who target minors. Every child deserves to be safe from exploitation, including in the places where they should feel most protected.” According to the indictment, from October 2025 to May 2026, Mora allegedly knowingly used a facility and means of interstate and foreign commerce, including a cellular telephone, to persuade, induce, entice and coerce a minor to engage in sexual activity. Texas Rangers initiated an inquiry in June 2026 after receiving a report concerning possible inappropriate sexual conduct between Mora and a 17‑year‑old Muleshoe High School student. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted interviews, collected electronic evidence and executed search warrants related to the case. The evidence reviewed by investigators corroborates alleged explicit communications and conduct underlying the federal charge. Mora was arrested by state authorities earlier this year and was released pending further state proceedings. If convicted, Mora faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and up to life in federal prison. The Texas Rangers conducted the investigation with forensic assistance from Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam from the Lubbock Division is prosecuting the case. Project Safe Schools is a federal initiative aimed at protecting students, enforcing accountability and restoring transparency in public schools across North Texas. Project Safe Schools directly targets failures in mandatory reporting of educator misconduct and combats the practice known as “passing the trash,” where educators with known misconduct issues move between schools without disclosure of their prior wrongdoing. Project Safe Schools’ goals are to: Enforce mandatory reporting requirements tied to federal education programs. Hold school districts, administrators and teachers accountable through civil and criminal enforcement. Increase transparency in educator misconduct investigations. Strengthen student safety across schools in North Texas. An indictment is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. ###


title: Dallas man who conspired to use interstate facilities to aid a marijuana trafficking enterprise sentenced in Homeland Security Task Force investigation

body_text: DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Dallas man who admitted to running a multi‑state marijuana distribution operation was sentenced today in federal court for conspiracy to use interstate facilities in aid of racketeering. U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay sentenced Dian Huang Jiang, aka “Danny Jiang,” to 60 months in federal prison. “Drug traffickers who exploit interstate networks to pump poison into our communities will be met with the full force of federal prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Mr. Jiang built a sprawling, multi‑state drug enterprise that pushed thousands of kilograms of marijuana and funneled millions of dollars in proceeds through criminal channels. The Homeland Security Task Force unraveled that operation piece by piece, and today’s sentence reflects our unwavering commitment to dismantling criminal organizations that threaten public safety.” “This case sends a clear message; drug traffickers do not get a free pass simply because marijuana laws vary from state to state” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Joseph B. Tucker. “Mr. Jiang moved large quantities of marijuana across state lines and supplied dangerous criminals who fuel violence and threaten our communities. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to dismantle networks and prevent drug proceeds from strengthening criminal organizations.” According to court documents, Jiang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to use interstate facilities in aid of racketeering. From at least January 2020 through August 2023, Jiang led a large‑scale distribution network responsible for moving marijuana from Oklahoma to customers across Texas and multiple other states. Jiang routinely used cellular telephones to coordinate marijuana deliveries, negotiate pricing and direct customers where to drop off large quantities of U.S. currency as payment for drug shipments. Court records show Jiang acquired multi‑ton quantities of marijuana, often distributing up to 1,000 pounds in a single day, and required customers to purchase between 20 and 300 pounds per transaction. He utilized multiple residences in Oklahoma and Texas to store, distribute and collect proceeds from the illegal drug enterprise. As part of the conspiracy, Jiang and his coconspirators transported drug proceeds between states, sometimes sending substantial amounts overseas to include the People’s Republic of China. On Aug. 8, 2023, federal agents seized more than $2.8 million from bank accounts and safe deposit boxes linked to Jiang’s operation. In addition to the prison term, Jiang faces forfeiture of several residential properties used in the drug‑trafficking operation as well as more than $4 million in drug proceeds traced by investigators. The Drug Enforcement Administration – Dallas conducted the investigation with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Oklahoma City), the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, Oklahoma, and the City of Mesquite Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph T. Lo Galbo and Rick Calvert prosecuted the case with assistance from AUSAs Phelesa Guy and Jonathan Penn. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, United States Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and United States Secret Service in partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety, City of Dallas Police Department, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement entities. The prosecution was led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas. ###


title: Homeland Security Task Force Investigations Lead to Sentencings for Drug Traffickers

body_text: Memphis Man Sentenced To 10 Years For Trafficking 20 Lbs Of Meth To Marshall County OXFORD, MS. – United States Attorney Scott Leary announced two separate convictions resulting from Homeland Security Task Force investigations. Albert Ardell Scott, 38, of Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced today to ten years in prison for delivering 20 pounds of methamphetamine to Mississippi. The DEA conducted this Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation. According to court documents, Scott made the methamphetamine delivery from the Memphis area to Byhalia, MS, in May of 2025. Scott was part of a multi-defendant conspiracy which operated in Tennessee and Mississippi. Several members remain currently charged by indictment, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Chief United States District Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Scott to 120 months, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Addison prosecuted this case. Tupelo Man Sentenced To Over 15 Years For Possessing Hundreds of Meth &Fentanyl Pills In another case, James Homan, 44, of Tupelo, was sentenced today to over 15 years in prison for possessing with intent to distribute significant quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The FBI conducted this HSTF investigation, which resulted in the seizure of more than 600 grams of methamphetamine and over 100 grams of fentanyl. Homan had a lengthy criminal history. Chief United States District Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Homan to 188 months, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Addison and Sam Stringfellow prosecuted the cases. U.S. Attorney Scott Leary stated, “Homeland Security Task Forces were created by Executive Order in 2025. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels and drug trafficking organizations operating in the United States and abroad. We are again seeing the great law enforcement results from the HSTF initiative. Methamphetamine is among the most addictive and destructive drugs this country has ever faced. Likewise, one fentanyl pill can be fatal, and in this case enough fentanyl was seized to create thousands of pills. The FBI and DEA took these drugs off the streets of the Northern District of Mississippi, and today our communities are safer. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Addison and Sam Stringfellow prosecuted the case. They are valuable assets to the Northern District of Mississippi. Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff said, "Homan intended to distribute massive quantities of deadly methamphetamine and fentanyl pills throughout Mississippi, putting our communities at risk and destroying lives in the process. Today’s sentence should serve as a warning to others who engage in this dangerous and illegal activity: illicit drugs will not be tolerated. The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting public safety and holding those who threaten our communities accountable for their criminal actions." These operations and convictions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. 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 not only on cartel crimes, but also 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 Jackson comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ICE ERO, CBP, CBP OFO, CBP USBP, CBP AMO, CGIS, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS and with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi. ###


title: Valparaiso Man Sentenced for Making Online Threats

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Alexander Jakeway, 36 years old, of Valparaiso, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to transmitting online threats, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Jakeway was sentenced to 1 year of probation and ordered to complete 50 hours of community service. “The First Amendment does not give anyone unfettered liberty to threaten harm against other individuals, including agents of the United States government. In November 2025, the Defendant posted threats on social media directed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The online posts included the Defendant telling followers to ‘actually kill’ ICE agents and to ‘shoot on sight.’ We will aggressively defend the United States Constitution and those who swear an oath to protect it. Thanks to the partnership of Homeland Security Investigations, the Valparaiso Police Department, and NDIN AUSA Lydia T. Lucius, the Defendant has been held accountable for his actions,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Valparaiso Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius. This case is part of the nationwide National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 initiative, which is a White House directed, interagency effort to integrate federal, state, and local partners in protecting First Amendment rights while targeting individuals and organizations engaged in political violence and is led by the investigative and prosecutorial Joint Task Force Vanguard.


title: South Bend Man Found Guilty by Jury for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Rodoundy Smith, 41 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was found guilty of illegal possession of a firearm after a two-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Sentencing is scheduled for January 20, 2027. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew A. Krumwied, Joseph M. Barrier, and Lydia T. Lucius. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.


title: Gary Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Postal Money Order Fraud Scheme

body_text: HAMMOND – Jordan C. Sneed, 32 years old, of Gary, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. McClendon was sentenced to 15 months in prison, 2 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $41,426.14 in restitution to victims of the offense. Sneed is the last of five defendants to be sentenced in this case. Anthony Juan McClendon, the leader and organizer of the scheme, was sentenced on December 18, 2025, to 24 months in prison and 4 years of supervised release. On October 22, 2025, co-Defendant Reginald Russell was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for his role in altering the Postal money orders used in the scheme, after having been previously convicted of a similar offense in the Northern District of Illinois. Co-defendants Austin Hartman and Santiago Andrade also received prison sentences for participating in the scheme. “Recidivist Jordan Sneed was sentenced to prison because he and his co-conspirators exploited the services of local banks and the United States Postal Service to make money through fraud. They used U.S. Postal Service money orders that had been altered to reflect higher face values than the amounts for which they had been purchased. In total, the conspiracy produced and negotiated over $120,000 worth of altered money orders at financial institutions throughout Northern Indiana. Unfortunately, Sneed engaged in this conduct within a matter of months after being released from a lengthy sentence in the Indiana Department of Corrections. Prior to this offense, Sneed had been incarcerated for approximately 10 years after a 2012 conviction for robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and carjacking in Vigo County, Indiana. Thanks to the partnership of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Porter County Sheriff’s Office, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Munster Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Lansing (Illinois) Police Department, and NDIN AUSA Zachary D. Heater, repeat offenders and fraudsters will be held accountable in the Northern District of Indiana,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred. This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the Porter County Sheriff’s Office, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Munster Police Department, Hammond Police Department, Lansing (Illinois) Police Department, and others. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary D. Heater. 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: Man Sentenced to 14 and a Half Years in Federal Prison for Carjacking Vehicle at Gunpoint in Backyard of Chicago Residence

body_text: CHICAGO — A man who carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint in the backyard of a Chicago residence has been sentenced to 14 and a half years in federal prison. On the evening of Nov. 2, 2023, KENNETH MERRITT and DAMARRI CONNER carjacked an Audi sedan in the backyard of a residence in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood. A woman and her daughter had just returned home in another vehicle when Conner and Merritt sprang from a hiding place and attacked them. Merritt threw the mother violently to the ground, ripped her purse from her arms, and threatened to kill her and her daughter. Conner then pointed a gun at the woman’s husband, who had rushed outside to help his family. The carjackers took the Audi and drove off. The carjacking was captured on a home-security video, which can be viewed here . Merritt, 29, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to carjacking and firearm offenses. On Sept. 3, 2026, U.S. District Judge Sunil R. Harjani sentenced Merritt to 14 and a half years in federal prison. Conner, 23, of Chicago, also pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal carjacking and firearm offenses. Judge Harjani sentenced Conner on April 8, 2026, to the same period of incarceration as Merritt. Merritt’s sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. “This crime was heinous and violent,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Elie Zenner argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum in Merritt’s case. “The trauma he inflicted on his victims will take years to repair.”


title: Lieutenant in Sinaloa and Beltran-Leyva Cartels Sentenced to Federal Prison

body_text: ATLANTA - Roberto Lopez, a/k/a Shrek, a/k/a NWA, was sentenced to nearly two decades in federal prison following his convictions for cocaine trafficking and money laundering. Lopez, who was hiding in Mexico for more than a decade before his capture and expulsion to the United States, smuggled weapons to Mexico and helped manage a vast cocaine-smuggling network in support of high-level cartel leaders. “Before he went underground, Lopez was the head of domestic transportation for ruthless and far-reaching cartels that poured drugs into our community with military-level precision,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Even if it takes decades, my office and our law enforcement partners in the Homeland Security Task Force will never cease our efforts to track and arrest fugitives in their hiding places and hold them accountable for their crimes.” “Lopez’s sentence is the result of a determined and coordinated effort to dismantle the criminal network he was a part of,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The success of this investigation demonstrates the strength of our Homeland Security Task Force partnerships and what we can accomplish when agencies work together.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In the early 2000s, Edgar Valdez-Villareal, a/k/a “La Barbie,” was an infamous and ruthless enforcer for the Sinaloa and Beltran-Leyva Cartels in their war against the Gulf Cartel and the Zetas. Valdez also partnered with U.S.-based trucking businessman Carlos Montemayor to operate a distribution network that moved up to 300 kilograms of cocaine per week to Atlanta, Memphis, and other cities while smuggling cash back to Mexico in shipments carrying no less than $1 million per load. In just a six-month period, the organization distributed 1,500 kilograms of cocaine in Atlanta alone. The cartels’ operation is also estimated to have smuggled more than 1,000 rifles, 100-200 converted machineguns, and hundreds of magazines and ammunition drums into Mexico from the United States, along with silencers, night vision goggles, ballistic vests, helmets, and other tools of violence. Lopez was the primary lieutenant for Valdez and Montemayor’s network, handling various logistics, including payments to truck drivers and stash house operators and the repackaging and transportation of money over the border. He was repeatedly intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps discussing loads of cocaine bound for the U.S. and shipments of cash destined for cartel leaders. When the investigation disrupted the organization, Lopez fled to Mexico, where he remained in hiding until his arrest there in 2024. Roberto Lopez, 46, of Laredo, Texas and Mexico City, Mexico, was sentenced to 18 years, 10 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. He pled guilty on May 19, 2026, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Following his indictment on December 15, 2009, Lopez was arrested in Mexico City on June 27, 2024, and expelled by Mexico to the United States on August 12, 2025. In 2018, a federal judge in Atlanta sentenced Valdez to 49 years and 1 month in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. In 2019, Montemayor was sentenced to 34 years and 3 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs. Assistant United States Attorneys Garrett L. Bradford and Elizabeth M. Hathaway and former U.S. Attorney John Horn prosecuted the case. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. 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 U.S. 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: Illegal Alien Faces Federal Charges for Identity Theft, Producing and Selling Counterfeit Social Security Cards, and Unlawful Gun Possession

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: GAINESVILLE – Derly Alvarez-Rodriguez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly trafficking counterfeit Social Security cards bearing information of real victims and possessing a pistol. “Social Security fraud and identity theft strike at the heart of public trust and economic security. This alien’s alleged conduct not only jeopardized the integrity of our nation’s borders, but it also exposed unwitting victims to significant financial and legal issues stemming from the unauthorized use of their personal information,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office remains committed to protecting victims and holding accountable anyone who seeks to exploit them.” “Counterfeit identification documents, including social security cards, are instruments of fraud that can upend victims’ lives, fuel criminal activity, and erode the integrity of our immigration, employment, and financial systems,” said Ellen Johnson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI will continue working alongside our partners to disrupt fraud schemes designed to profit from stolen identities.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between March 11, 2026 and on May 19, 2026, Alvarez allegedly sold an undercover agent three Social Security cards in exchange for $750 per card. Following the transactions, Alvarez allegedly sent the undercover agent the corresponding birth dates for the individuals listed on the cards. Agents set up an August 5, 2026 meeting with Alvarez to purchase two additional Social Security cards. When Alvarez arrived to complete the transaction, agents arrested him on a federal criminal complaint and seized four additional Social Security cards from him. During a subsequent federal search warrant executed at Alvarez’s residence, agents found a semi-automatic pistol. Federal law prohibits illegal aliens from possessing firearms. The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (“SSA-OIG”) determined that all the cards purchased or seized from Alvarez were counterfeit. SSA-OIG further confirmed the Social Security numbers on each card were legitimate and associated with real people. Following his arrest on the complaint, a federal magistrate judge denied the United States’s motion to detain Alvarez. The United States immediately filed an emergency motion to stay and revoke the release order, arguing that there was a serious risk that Alvarez would flee. U.S. District Judge Richard W. Story granted both motions and ordered that Alvarez be detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service without bond through the conclusion of the case. On September 1, 2026, a grand jury returned an 18-count federal indictment charging Derly Alvarez-Rodriguez, 41, of Mexico, with seven counts of Social Security fraud, seven counts of production of false identification documents, three counts of transfer of false identification documents, and one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Today, a grand jury added two counts of aggravated identity theft, each of which carries a mandatory minimum of two years’ imprisonment. 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 Homeland Security Investigations with valuable assistance from the SSA-OIG. 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: Attorney General Todd Blanche Celebrates Prosecutorial Successes and Record-Setting Hiring During Atlanta Visit

body_text: ATLANTA – During a recent visit to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta, Attorney General Todd Blanche addressed a large class of new federal prosecutors, met with law enforcement leaders, and celebrated some of the office’s prosecutorial successes. “I appreciate the Attorney General for visiting the Northern District of Georgia to confer with me and our local law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “I am particularly proud that, after discussing the work of our Homeland Security Task Force and meeting nearly 30 of my newest hires, the Attorney General heralded my office as ‘a shining star at the Department of Justice.’ Thanks to a heavy hiring push supported at the highest levels in Washington, we will continue to drive crime rates down and aggressively uphold the law without fear or favor.” On September 3, 2026, Attorney General Blanche met with U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, his management team, and the full staff of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta. During these meetings, Attorney General Blanche praised the office’s work, including recent significant drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, and federal program fraud prosecutions. He also met with the regional leaders from more than a half-dozen federal law enforcement agencies, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey, several local police chiefs, and Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia Chair Sherry Boston. Additionally, Attorney General Blanche provided the keynote address during a swearing-in ceremony for more than two-dozen federal prosecutors and litigators now serving in the Northern District of Georgia. U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown administered the new attorneys’ oath of office. Since mid-2025, U.S. Attorney Hertzberg has hired thirty-one Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) and three Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys (SAUSAs)—setting a record for the office. The lawyers who U.S. Attorney Hertzberg hired from the Justice Department, other U.S. Attorney’s Offices, district attorney’s offices, other government agencies, and the private sector are: Jonathan Adams is a Civil AUSA handling bankruptcy matters. He served as a Trial Attorney in the Office of the United States Trustee and clerked for U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Homer Drake of Northern District of Georgia. He attended Mercer University for law school and undergrad. Anita Balasubramanian is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She was a Co-Managing Partner of Buckley Bala Wilson Mew, an Atlanta law firm. She attended the University of Georgia School of Law and Emory University. Jamie Bircoll is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Litigation & Trial Practice Associate at Alston & Bird and clerked for U.S. District Judge Nicholas Ranjan of the Western District of Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Michigan for law school and undergrad. Patrick Cespedes will be a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He clerked for Judge Sandra Lynch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga of the Southern District of Florida. He attended Harvard University for law school and undergrad. Melissa Cheape is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an AUSA in the District of Columbia and clerked for U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian K. Epps of the Southern District of Georgia. She attended Georgia State University College of Law and the University of Georgia. Kassi Conley is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She worked as a Special Matters & Government Investigations Associate at King & Spalding and clerked for Chief Justice David Nahmias of the Supreme Court of Georgia. She attended Georgia State University for law school, business school, and undergrad. Bernard Eyth is a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime & National Security Section. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan and clerked for the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. He attended Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and the University of Pittsburgh. Daniel Grill is a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime & National Security Section. He worked as a Complex Commercial Litigation Associate at Latham & Watkins. He attended the University of Virginia School of Law and the University of Michigan. Steve Hsieh is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime & Cartels Section. He served as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas SAUSA and Chief Enforcement Officer of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). He clerked for U.S. District Judge William Kuntz, II of the Eastern District of New York and attended New York University School of Law and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Nicholas Joy is a Criminal AUSA in the Complex Frauds & Cybercrime Section. He worked in the office of the Chief Executive Officer of Palantir Technologies and previously served as an AUSA and SAUSA in the Northern District of Georgia. He attended Harvard Law School and the University of Pennsylvania. Nathaniel Lancaster is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Litigation Associate at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler and clerked for Judge Myrna Pérez of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and U.S. District Judge Dan Polster of the Northern District of Ohio. He attended Emory University School of Law and Binghamton University. Jonathan Letzring is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. He served as an AUSA in the Western District of North Carolina and clerked for Judge Phyllis Kravitch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and U.S. District Judge Timothy Batten, Sr. of the Northern District of Georgia. He attended Emory University School of Law and Davidson College. Sara Lim is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an AUSA in the Middle District of Georgia and clerked for U.S. District Judge Louis Sands of the Middle District of Georgia. She attended Georgia State University College of Law and the University of Georgia. Jonell Lucca is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime & Cartels Section. She served as an Associate Director for Prosecutorial Operations at the OCDETF Executive Office after serving as an AUSA in two districts and clerking for Justice Wayne Kidwell of the Idaho Supreme Court. She attended University of Notre Dame Law School and Arizona State University. Julia Martin is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an Assistant District Attorney in the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office and worked as an Associate with Greenberg Traurig. She attended Georgia State University College of Law and the University of Georgia. Cole McFerren is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an AUSA in the Western District of Oklahoma and clerked for U.S. District Judge Stan Baker of the Southern District of Georgia. He attended the University of Georgia for law school and undergrad. Christopher Meredith is a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime & National Security Section. He served as an Assistant Chief Counsel with Immigration & Customs Enforcement. He attended Mercer University School of Law and the University of Georgia. James Murray is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an Assistant Corporation Counsel with the New York City Law Department and clerked for U.S. District Judge Harvey Schlesinger of the Middle District of Florida and U.S. Magistrate Judge Daryl Bloom in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He attended Cornell Law School and the State University of New York at Geneseo. Andrew Navratil is a Bureau of Prisons attorney serving as a Civil Division SAUSA. He clerked for U.S. District Judge Mark Cohen in the Northern District of Georgia and attended Georgia State University College of Law and Carleton College. Rebecca Perez-Espejo is an Immigration & Customs Enforcement attorney serving as a SAUSA in the Training Section of the Criminal Division. She attended the Emory University School of Law and the University of Central Florida. Edward Robinson is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime & Cartels Section. He served as an AUSA in the Southern District of New York and clerked for U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter of the Southern District of New York. He attended Harvard University for law school and undergrad. Kendall Runyan is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She worked as a Business & Securities Litigation Associate at Jones Day. She attended the University of Florida for law school and undergrad. Kaitlyn Salinas is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. She served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Georgia Attorney General’s Office in the human trafficking section. She attended the University of Georgia for law school and undergrad. Stephen Scaife is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an AUSA in the Northern District of Oklahoma and clerked for U.S. District Judge Karen Marston of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and U.S. District Judge Nicholas Ranjan of the Western District of Pennsylvania. He attended University of Richmond School of Law and Presbyterian College. Amy Schwarzl is a Criminal AUSA in the Transnational Organized Crime & Cartels Section. She served as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas SAUSA. She attended Penn State Dickinson Law and the University of Maryland. Robert Shapiro is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an Assistant District Attorney in Cobb County. He attended Pepperdine University School of Law and Piedmont University. Patrick Silloway is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. He worked as a Counsel at Balch & Bingham and clerked for Judge Daniel Manion of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Homer Drake of Northern District of Georgia. He attended Mercer University School of Law and the University of Georgia. Alexa Simonini is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She worked as a General Liability Associate at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith. She attended Georgia State University College of Law and Florida State University. Chloe Smith is a Criminal AUSA in the Violent Crime & National Security Section. She worked as Special Matters & Government Investigations Associate at King & Spalding and clerked for U.S. District Judge Steven Grimberg. She attended Emory University School of Law and Harvard University. Adam Sunstrom is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as an enforcement attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Division of Enforcement. He attended the University of Georgia School of Law and the University of West Georgia. Patrick Suter is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He served as a Trial Attorney in the Fraud Section of Department of Justice’s Criminal Division and as the Department’s Resident Legal Advisor in Beijing, China after serving as an AUSA in the Eastern District of California. He attended American University-Washington College of Law and the University of California, Berkeley. Katie Taylor is a Civil AUSA handling defensive matters. She worked as an Associate at Freeman Mathis & Gary. She attended Mercer University for law school and undergrad. Drew Waldbeser is a Criminal AUSA in the Training Section. He worked as a Counsel at Lehotsky Keller Cohn, served as Deputy Solicitor General for the State of Georgia, and clerked for Judge Michael Kanne of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington of the Eastern District of Michigan. He attended Indiana University Maurer School of Law and Thomas Edison State University Conor Woods is a Social Security Administration attorney serving as a SAUSA in the Complex Frauds & Cybercrime Section of the Criminal Division. He attended the University of Notre Dame for law school and undergrad. 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: Prior Felon Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking & Firearm Offenses

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Michael Dontavious James, 34, of Marianna, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Keeping dangerous career criminals off our streets remains a top priority for my office. We will aggressively prosecute these cases until our citizens have the safe, drug-free communities they deserve.” Court documents reflect that on March 2, 2024, during a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper’s traffic stop, the Trooper smelled the odor of fresh green marijuana as he approached the defendant’s vehicle. The defendant was asked if there were any weapons in the vehicle, at which time he looked toward the front passenger windshield area and answered in the negative. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, law enforcement located a black bag secured to a black hose that was connected to the engine. The bag contained .3 grams of alpha PiHP, 1.98 grams of methamphetamine, and 15.9 grams of cocaine base. The bag also contained two 9mm firearms with loaded magazines and a bullet in each chamber. The defendant is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. James faces up to twenty years’ imprisonment on the controlled substances count, up to fifteen years’ imprisonment for the possession of a firearm by a felon count, and a consecutive mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment for possessing the firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Florida Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Eric Welch are prosecuting the case. Sentencing is scheduled for November 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen Winsor. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities . The 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: Pensacola Man Sentenced for Drug Distribution & Weapons Charges

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Marcel Mickles, 49, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple counts of distributing cocaine, unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a previously convicted felon. 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 days of flooding our streets with deadly drugs are over, and he’ll spend the next decade behind bars where he belongs because of his choice to poison our community with drugs and violence. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve to live on safe, drug-free streets, and my office will deliver on that promise with more aggressive prosecutions and lengthy prison sentences for career offenders, like this defendant.” Court records reflect that the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office received information that the defendant was selling cocaine from his residence in Pensacola, Florida. As part of an undercover operation, cocaine was purchased from the defendant. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for his residence and located multiple loaded firearms throughout the house, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, spice, and drug paraphernalia indicative of someone selling drugs. The defendant has multiple prior convictions, including armed robbery, aggravated battery, possession of controlled substances, and carrying a concealed weapon. Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said: “This case is a direct result of strong partnerships. When local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office work side by side, we get results. This sentence reflects the power of that teamwork and our shared commitment to public safety. We are grateful for these partnerships and what they mean for the safety of our community.” The case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Walter E. Narramore. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Three Defendants Charged with Fentanyl Trafficking

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Pierre Rasheem Fields, 42, of Minnetonka, Minnesota, Ray Eric Brasson, 36, of Minneapolis, and Jermaine Young, 26, of Chicago, were indicted for conspiring to distribute and distributing fentanyl. According to a six-count federal indictment that was unsealed on September 9, 2026, Fields, Young, and Brasson conspired with each other and others to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl from April 2026 through August 2026. Each defendant is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Fields is also charged with two counts of distributing fentanyl, Young is also charged with three counts of distributing fentanyl, and Brasson is also charged with two counts of distributing fentanyl. Fields was arrested this morning in the Houston, Texas, area, and he had his initial appearance in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. He will appear in U.S. District Court in Minnesota at a later date. Young and Brasson were arrested early this morning at hotels in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, and had their initial appearances this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Shannon G. Elkins. They will appear again in court on September 14, 2026, for detention hearings. This case was the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the East Central Drug Task Force, and the West Metro Drug Task Force, with assistance from other law enforcement partners. Assistant United States Attorney Campbell Warner is prosecuting the case. 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 U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.