title: Morris County Man Charged with Unlawfully Possessing and Storing Explosives and Explosive Materials

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: Newark, N.J. – A Morris County man was charged with unlawfully possessing and storing explosives and explosive materials in Morris County, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Joseph Rizos, 37, of Denville, New Jersey is charged by complaint with one count of unlawful receipt of explosive materials; one count of unlawful storage of explosive material; and one count of unlawful possession of plastic explosives without a detection agent. Rizos had an initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre in Newark federal court on August 26, 2026, and was ordered detained. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Between in or around April 2020 through in or around June 2026, Rizos purchased and received various explosive materials and other items, including fuels, fuses, precursor chemicals, and laboratory equipment from various online retailers which he illegally stored at his personal residence located in Denville, New Jersey. Further, on or about June 24, 2026, law enforcement searched Rizos’s residence and recovered from his bedroom, basement and garage a sophisticated home laboratory and laboratory equipment, numerous detailed receipts to manufacture multiple types of explosives, and a wide variety of suspected industrial and pharmaceutical chemicals that can be utilized to manufacture explosives. Additionally, law enforcement also recovered from Rizos’s bedroom various containers of suspected explosives. Counts 1 and 3 of the Complaint each carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Count 2 of the Complaint carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 1 year, and a maximum fine of $100,000. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Joint Terrorism Task Force of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka; the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Acting Superintendent Jeanne Hengemuhle; the Morris County Sherrif’s Office, under the direction of James M. Gannon; and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, with the investigation leading to the charges. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Smith and Vincent D. Romano of the Office’s National Security Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### Defense counsel: Brian J. Neary, Esq.


title: Dominican Man Admits to Fraudulently Obtaining United States Citizenship

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A native of the Dominican Republic admitted, on August 25, 2026, to fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenship, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Carlos Gonzalez-Rodriguez, a/k/a/ Braulio Cepeda-Rodriguez, 41, a native of the Dominican Republic, pled guilty today to fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenship in a hearing in Camden federal court before District Court Judge Karen M. Williams. According to statements made in court and documents filed in the case, Gonzalez-Rodriguez is a native of the Dominican Republic who was previously deported from the United States after being convicted of attempted armed robbery. Gonzalez-Rodriguez re-entered the United States using another person’s identity. Gonzalez-Rodriguez subsequently applied for and obtained U.S. citizenship using the other person’s identity. In his application for citizenship, Gonzalez-Rodriguez lied about his name, date of birth, criminal history, and history of deportation. The count of fraudulent obtaining U.S. citizenship has a maximum penalty of ten years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of three years of supervised release. In addition, the sentencing court will revoke Gonzalez-Rodriguez’s citizenship at the time of sentencing. Sentencing is scheduled for February 1, 2027. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy, with the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph McFarlane in Camden. ### Defense counsel: Jenny Hurwitz, Areeb Salim, Assistant Federal Public Defenders


title: South African national charged with yearslong identity theft and credit card fraud scheme targeting gym patrons across North Texas

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: FORT WORTH, Texas — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a South African national with a long history of fraud and identity related offenses was charged in a federal criminal complaint Aug. 25 with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft following an extensive multi agency investigation. Craig George McLachlan, who has used numerous aliases including “Craig Pritchard,” “Clive Morgan Pritchard,” “Jeffrey Moore,” “Joseph Robert Almond,” “John Paul Loisel,” and “Francis Castanho,” is alleged to have carried out a yearslong scheme involving thefts from gym patrons across Texas. “McLachlan didn’t just steal wallets, he stalked gyms across North Texas for years, hunting for victims and hijacking their identities with the confidence of someone who thought he could never be caught,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “His long trail of aliases and deceit shows a deliberate attack on hard working Americans just going about their daily lives. These charges make clear that those who treat fraud as a way of life will face swift federal consequences.” “Identity theft is not a victimless crime. As alleged, this defendant preyed on everyday people across North Texas, stealing from gym patrons and using their identities to fuel a years-long fraud scheme,” said HSI Dallas Deputy Special Agent in Charge Antwoine Jones. “HSI Dallas and our law enforcement partners will continue to pursue criminals who exploit stolen identities, drain victims’ accounts, and hide behind aliases to evade accountability.” According to the complaint, McLachlan entered gyms, stole wallets and credit cards and used those stolen cards to make thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases across the Dallas–Fort Worth region. Homeland Security Investigations, Southlake Police Department, Coppell Police Department, Plano Police Department, University Park Police Department, Richardson Police Department, Grapevine Police Department, Flower Mound Police Department, Austin Police Department and other agencies traced reports dating back as far as February 2018. Each case involved the same modus operandi: McLachlan allegedly stole credit cards from unlocked gym lockers or unattended bags, then purchased electronics, restaurant meals, groceries and other goods. Law enforcement connected McLachlan to alleged thefts at gyms including YMCA locations, Texas Family Fitness, Summit Climbing Gym, Lifetime Fitness, Impact Fitness, and Club 4 Fitness, and fraudulent financial transactions at Whole Foods, Best Buy, REI, St. Bernards, Trader Joe’s, Spec’s, Central Market, Home Depot and other retailers. The complaint also alleges that on Jan. 10, McLachlan used an alias “Jeffrey Tims” to obtain a day pass at Club 4 Fitness in Grapevine. He then stole a victim’s Chase Sapphire and AAdvantage MasterCard credit cards, charging more than $1,500 at stores and restaurants across North Texas. Surveillance images from Central Market and The Home Depot show McLachlan using the victim’s stolen card. Because the victim’s AAdvantage MasterCard transactions were routed through interstate servers in Texas, Georgia, Nebraska, and Arizona, the conduct constitutes wire communications in interstate commerce. McLachlan was taken into custody on Feb. 5, after Grapevine Police located him driving a black 2020 Ford F 150 in Dallas. He has prior federal convictions for illegal reentry, firearms offenses, passport fraud, and aggravated identity theft, and he remains illegally present in the United States with an outstanding deportation order. Homeland Security Investigations – Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation with support from multiple partner law enforcement agencies throughout Texas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric B. Chen from the Fort Worth Division is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Former non profit CFO sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for embezzling more than $2 million

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a former chief financial officer of a Dallas‑based charity has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for embezzling more than $2 million from the organization. Jeffrey Scott Keehn, the 55-year-old former CFO of the Child and Family Guidance Center from Imperial Beach, California, previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud after admitting he stole $2,109,786.56 from the non-profit over a period of approximately seven years. At Wednesday’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade sentenced Keehn to 60 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay full restitution in the amount of $2,109,786.56. “Stealing from a charity that serves families in crisis is unconscionable,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Mr. Keehn’s fraud didn’t just drain the charity’s finances; it forced them to divert time and resources away from their mission. This prison sentence and the restitution he now owes demonstrate that the Justice Department will pursue accountability for those who exploit nonprofits and divert funds meant to support critical community services.” “This sentence reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s actions, which included embezzling charitable funds meant to help those in need of mental health services,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “The FBI will continue to investigate those responsible for defrauding organizations that provide critical services to members of our communities.” According to court documents, Keehn abused his position as CFO by secretly accessing the charity’s checkbook, forging signatures and depositing fraudulent checks into his personal accounts. He also falsified QuickBooks entries and misrepresented the charity’s available cash to conceal the scheme. As part of the investigation and forfeiture proceedings, the government successfully seized approximately $800,000 in assets, including multiple bank accounts, precious metals, a vehicle and his interest in a condominium in Oceanside, California. At sentencing, two representatives of the Child and Family Guidance Center addressed the Court, describing the organization’s mission of providing mental health services to the indigent population. They emphasized not only the financial harm caused by Keehn’s actions but also the significant operational burden the fraud imposed, including extensive forensic audits and the challenge of rebuilding after years of concealed losses. The FBI – Dallas Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marty Basu prosecuted the case. ###


title: Lorain County Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sexual Abuse Related Charges, Including Driving Out of State to Sexually Exploit a Minor

body_text: CLEVELAND – A 47-year-old man has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of sending, receiving, and possessing Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM), and to coercing a 13-year-old girl to meet him for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Michael Neville, of Elyria, Ohio, pleaded guilty to five counts in a superseding indictment, those being: Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct Possession of Child Pornography Interstate Travel to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct Sexual Exploitation of Children Receipt of Visual Depictions of Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct District Judge Charles Esque Fleming accepted Neville’s plea Aug. 26. According to court documents and evidence presented to the judge, from about Jan. 23, 2024, to Sept. 21, 2025, Neville sent numerous sexually explicit communications to an undercover agent purporting to be the father of a 9-year-old girl, using a social media messaging application. The messages were largely focused on the defendant’s sexual interest in children. Federal agents executed a search warrant and seized Neville’s electronic devices. Forensic analysis of Neville’s devices found that they contained CSAM of pre-pubescent children, and that he sent CSAM material involving the sadistic abuse of an infant to others. During the investigation, agents also discovered that Neville was communicating with a 13-year-old girl online for about a year. They learned that in August 2021, Neville drove more than 700 miles from Ohio to Massachusetts to meet with the 13-year-old he was messaging online. Once there, he met with the girl and took her to a hotel where he proceeded to coerce her to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Investigators also learned that Neville solicited sexually explicit images from a second minor victim. Neville is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 10, 2026. He faces maximum prison sentences of 20 years for counts 1, 2, and 5, and a maximum of 30 years for counts 3 and 4. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Margaret A. Kane for the Northern District of Ohio. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC . To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org , or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


title: Nigerian Extradited to the U.S. after being Indicted for Financially-Motivated Sextortion Scheme that Caused Death of a Mississippi Teenager

body_text: OXFORD, Miss. – Adebola Festus Adekunle, 26 years old, of Lagos, Nigeria, has been extradited to the United States from Nigeria to face prosecution in an unsealed indictment for the financially-motivated sextortion of a Mississippi minor, which lead to the victim’s death. The three-count federal indictment charges Adekunle with the sexual exploitation of a minor resulting in death, the production of child sexual abuse material, coercion and enticement of a minor, and interstate threats with intent to extort. He appeared in federal court in Oxford, Mississippi for an initial appearance on August 28, 2026. Adekunle was arrested in Nigeria in August of 2023, as part of a wider operation with the FBI to apprehend sexual extortionists targeting minors in the United States. He was extradited to the United States on Thursday, August 27, 2026, with the assistance of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI Legal Attaché in Abuja, and FBI agents from the Jackson Resident Agency, who traveled to Nigeria and took him into U.S. custody. The support and assistance of Nigerian security authorities was essential to this effort, notably that of Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Justice’s International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Adekunle faces up to life in prison, and mandatory minimum prison sentences on at least two charges. The child exploitation resulting in death count carries a mandatory 30-year prison sentence, if found guilty of that charge. United States Attorney Scott Leary stated, “Several weeks ago we announced an undercover operation dealing with child exploitation, which resulted in 70 arrests. Unfortunately, here we are again in an unrelated child victimization case. This time a child died. The dedication involved in this case cannot be overstated. This tragedy was immediately investigated by the Mississippi Attorney General, the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, the Starkville Police Department and the FBI. The evidence led agents to Nigeria. Undeterred, the FBI worked with DOJ’s Office of International Affairs for years, and eventually the defendant was extradited from Nigeria to face justice in the United States. We are thankful for the hard work of Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice. Working together, state, federal and international agencies brought us here today.” Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff stated, “Sextortion is a serious crime with devastating consequences. Its impact on victims and their families is profound and long‑lasting. The extradition of Adekunle sends a clear and unmistakable message: crossing state lines does not erase criminal charges, and international borders do not shield individuals from accountability.” “Walker Montgomery should be here with us today,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “He should be moving into his dormitory, meeting up with friends, and running to class. That he is not is a tragedy. And it is because of the criminal acts of someone halfway around the world – someone who has been brought back to the United States now to stand trial for his actions. This trial cannot bring back Walker and the Montgomery family will always hurt. But I hope that today they get some closure, and assurances that Walker will get justice.” The case is being investigated by the FBI Jackson Field Office, the FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children Section and International Operations Division, and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker S. King. These cases are a result of Operation Artemis, the FBI’s surge against financially motivated sextortion rings operating from Nigeria. In coordination with domestic and international law for enforcement partners, the FBI deployed agents, analysts, and forensic experts to Nigeria to confront perpetrators of these deadly schemes—directly linked to dozens of American teen deaths by suicide. This same focused, multi-agency approach now drives a broader national effort to dismantle the foreign criminal networks behind sextortion and other predatory schemes. The US Government's Financially Motivated Sextortion Campaign Team coordinates across agencies, prioritizes victims, and brings every available tool to bear in its fight to bring to justice those who prey on American families. All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If someone you know is being victimized by sextortion, please report to local law enforcement and to the FBI. Learn more about sextortion and find resources for parents, caregivers, and teachers.


title: Wisconsin Man Charged in Federal Court With Possessing Child Pornography on International Flight to Chicago

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO — A Wisconsin man was charged today in federal court with possessing child pornography on a flight from Tanzania to Chicago. ECA BARUANI, 36, of Green Bay, Wisc., possessed videos of child pornography on his cell phone when he flew from the United Republic of Tanzania to O’Hare International Airport in Chicago on Thursday, according to a criminal complaint filed today in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Upon arrival at O’Hare, Baruani was selected for secondary customs inspection by United States Customs and Border Protection, the complaint states. After observing what appeared to be images of child pornography on Baruani’s cell phone, CBP officers handed the phone to Homeland Security Investigations special agents for a manual search, the complaint states. HSI agents searched the phone and discovered multiple videos of prepubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct with adults, the complaint states. Baruani was taken into custody. The complaint charges Baruani with one count of possession of child pornography. The charge is punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Baruani was expected to make an initial appearance on Friday afternoon in federal court in Chicago. The complaint was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of HSI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Pope. The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by logging on to www.missingkids.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. baruani_complaint.pdf


title: Felon Sentenced to Over Seven Years in Federal  Prison for Possessing a Gun

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A felon who was previously convicted of drug distribution charges was sentenced August 26, 2028, to 92 months in federal prison for possessing a gun. Donta Racine Euells, age 45, from Freeport, Illinois, received the prison term after a January 12, 2026, guilty plea to possession of a firearm as a felon. On August 9, 2025, Dubuque police responded to a 911 call. Victims reported that Euells, Davion Trawick (who has previously been sentenced), and another man forced their way into the home. At the time, Trawick possessed a large capacity firearm and Euells possessed what later was determined to be a BB-gun. However, law enforcement officers found a gun in Euell’s car that he had driven to the residence. Euells was prohibited from possessing firearms because of numerous prior felony convictions. Euells was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Euells was sentenced to 92 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Euells is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 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 Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-1042-2. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Illegal Aliens Face Federal Drug Trafficking Charges After South Fulton Meth Lab Bust

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ATLANTA - David Miranda Gomez and Robert Gomez Garcia, both illegal aliens from Mexico, face federal drug distribution charges after a search of their South Fulton home resulted in the discovery of a methamphetamine laboratory and seizure of over 240 pounds of solid and liquid methamphetamine. “These illegal aliens were allegedly concocting massive amounts of methamphetamine in the cul-de-sac of a neighborhood and intended to distribute their deadly drugs in our community,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thanks to the unwavering work of our law enforcement partner, Gomez and Garcia are in custody, their meth lab has been shut down, and the public is safer.” “This case demonstrates the lengths drug traffickers will go to conceal their criminal activity and evade law enforcement,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The defendants used a different method of concealment in an effort to thwart detection, but our investigators remained persistent and uncovered the operation. We will continue to pursue those who manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and hold them accountable.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On August 25, 2026, after previously observing Garcia allegedly sell nearly four and a half pounds of methamphetamine in the parking lot of a shopping plaza, DEA agents executed a search warrant at a South Fulton, Georgia residence occupied by Gomez and Garcia. Upon entry, agents discovered that multiple rooms of the home had been equipped with propane burners, large pots, electric fans, plastic sheeting, resealable bags, and other items used to convert and manufacture methamphetamine. Agents found large amounts of liquid and crystal methamphetamine on both floors and various painted trinkets, which allegedly contained liquid methamphetamine. In total, agents seized approximately 240 pounds of crystal and liquid methamphetamine, thousands of dollars of cash, and an AR-style pistol. David Miranda Gomez, 34, and Robert Gomez Garcia, 33, both of Mexico, appeared in federal court yesterday on a criminal complaint charging them with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Both men were ordered detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings. Members of the public are reminded that the criminal complaint contains only charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. 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. Assistant United States Attorney James Hwang is prosecuting the case. 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: Federal Jury Convicts Panama City Man in Meth Bust

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Calvin Leon Jackson, 40, was convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. John Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the verdict today. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners, and this successful prosecution by my office, this criminal will be held accountable for peddling poisonous drugs in our community. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve to live in safe, drug-free communities, and with more aggressive prosecutions of criminals like this defendant that is exactly what my office will deliver.” Trial testimony and court records revealed that, on June 28, 2026, law enforcement stopped a vehicle in which Jackson and his co-conspirator were passengers. During the stop, a drug canine alerted to the vehicle. During a subsequent search, officers discovered a large vacuum sealed package containing a white crystalline substance under the front seat where Jackson’s co-conspirator had been sitting. Subsequent forensic testing confirmed the white crystalline substance was 448 grams of methamphetamine with an approximate purity of 97%, amounting to 434.5 grams of pure meth. Jackson faces a minimum mandatory sentence of ten years’ imprisonment and up to a maximum of life imprisonment. He also faces a minimum of five years of supervised release up to a maximum of life on supervised release. The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Panama City Beach Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch is prosecuting the case. Sentencing is scheduled for November 13, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark Walker. 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: Walker County Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of Children

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A Walker County man has been sentenced for committing child exploitation crimes, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. U.S. District Court Judge Annmarie C. Axon sentenced Larry King, II, 29, of Quinton, Alabama, to 600 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release. In March, King pleaded guilty to attempted sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child pornography. “Protecting children and aggressively prosecuting those who seek to exploit them is a top priority of my office,” said U.S. Attorney Williams. “This 50-year sentence reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s conduct and ensures he will spend decades in prison, where he will no longer have the opportunity to prey upon our most vulnerable – our children. I commend our prosecutors, and the agents with HSI and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency for their dedication to investigate and prosecute these horrific crimes and hold the defendants accountable.” “Crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children are among the most disturbing and damaging offenses HSI investigates,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “This 50-year sentence sends a clear message that those who prey on children, trade in child sexual abuse material, or use online platforms to exploit minors will be identified, investigated, and brought to justice. HSI is proud to stand with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and all our law enforcement partners in the continued fight to protect children and hold offenders accountable.” According to the plea agreement, on March 19, 2024, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Snapchat, a social media provider, reported to NCMEC that King had shared an image of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). During the investigation, ALEA learned King was at a residence in Quinton, so on May 9, 2024, ALEA executed a search warrant on that residence. The agents seized King’s cell phone and Xbox gaming system. A forensic examination of King’s cell phone revealed 798 images and 988 videos of CSAM. Agents also discovered Telegram chats between King and a minor female. In the chats, King attempted to purchase videos of child pornography from the minor and sent $15 to the minor’s CashApp account. King did not receive the requested video although the payment was made. There were other Telegram chats between King and a second individual that related to King’s purchase of Mega links containing suspected CSAM. Additionally, a Snapchat conversation of a sexual nature was located between King and a presumed 16-year-old female. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . If you suspect or become aware of the possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org . Homeland Security Investigations, Birmingham, investigated the case along with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant United States Attorneys R. Leann White and Sara Judah prosecuted the case.


title: Members of Great Falls meth trafficking ring sentenced to prison

body_text: GREAT FALLS – Four defendants involved in a widespread methamphetamine trafficking operation were sentenced to prison this week, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. The four were linked to an organization run out of Great Falls by Dan Wakeford, Melissa Barone, and Mike Wakeford. In 2024, investigators arrested Barone and the Wakefords for trafficking, and seized over 100 pounds of meth and an illegal firearm in an Arizona storage unit. In 2025, Dan Wakeford and Barone were sentenced to 20 years in prison, and Mike Wakeford was sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking charges. Sentenced this week after pleading guilty to trafficking charges were: Jonathan James Henderson, seven years and 10 months Levi Jerome Dabler, three years and eight months Patrick James Wright, two years and six months Stephanie Lee Hurd, three years and six months Earlier this year, Travis Edward Dabler was sentenced to four years and 10 months, and Charles Nichols Williams was sentenced to three years and seven months. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. “This announcement underscores the ongoing threat posed by drug trafficking organizations that continue to move significant quantities of illicit drugs into Montana,” said DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Assistant Special Agent in Charge Cesar Avila. “Through coordinated investigations and interagency partnerships, law enforcement has disrupted these networks and seized substantial amounts of methamphetamine intended for distribution in our communities. We remain committed to protecting Montanans by targeting the organizations responsible and reducing the flow of these dangerous drugs into our state.” The government alleged in court documents that during the Wakeford investigation in 2024, Henderson was identified as an associate of the trafficking organization. Agents used an informant to purchase meth from him and then used a similar setup on Levi Dabler. Agents also sent an informant to buy meth from Hurd. Henderson and Dabler pleaded guilty in March 2026 to meth trafficking charges. Hurd pleaded guilty to a meth distribution charge in February 2026. Around the same time law enforcement learned that Wright had purchased meth and had connected at least one person with a supplier. He was pulled over in March 2025 and officers found meth and drug paraphernalia in his car. He pleaded guilty in February 2026 to possession with intent to distribute. “The defendants brought methamphetamine into our tribal communities, putting lives at risk, fueling violence, and causing lasting harm,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin Gerken of the FBI Billings Field Office. “The sentencings are about accountability, but our work does not stop here. The FBI will continue working side-by-side with our tribal, federal, state and local partners to disrupt drug trafficking networks and protect the communities we serve.” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeff Starnes and Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the Russell Country Drug Task Force. 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 Montana comprises agents and officers from the DEA, FBI, ATF, HSI, the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, the Great Falls Police Department, and the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana.


title: Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Charges

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to two counts of distributing crack cocaine and fentanyl. According to court records, Tasheem Carter , 41, sold more than 28 grams of crack cocaine and more than 40 grams of fentanyl to an FBI informant on three occasions in June and July 2025. On July 29, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Carter’s residence and recovered drugs and more than $25,000 in cash. At the time Carter distributed the crack cocaine and fentanyl, he was on supervised release following a 2016 federal conviction for conspiring to distribute controlled substances. In addition to pleading guilty, he also admitted that his new criminal conduct violated the terms of his supervised release. Carter faces a mandatory minimum term of 10 years and up to life imprisonment; up to an $8 million fine; and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Portland Police Department investigated the case. ###


title: Dallastown Man Sentenced To 21 Months’ Imprisonment for Defrauding a Financial Institution

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on August 27, 2026, United States District Judge Karoline Mehalchick sentenced Jason Motter, age 42, of Dallastown, Pennsylvania, to 21 months’ imprisonment for executing a scheme to defraud a financial institution in connection with a $773,409 residential loan application. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, on or about April 13, 2023, Motter applied for a residential loan. In support of the loan application, Motter provided bank statements he had fraudulently altered to increase the account balances by approximately $400,000. Later, on or about June 8, 2023, knowing he had provided fraudulently altered bank statements, Motter provided the bank with a written representation in which he affirmed that the information he provided on the application was “true, accurate, and complete.” The bank relied on the fraudulent loan application and disbursed $773,409 to Motter. Subsequently, during an internal audit, the bank learned of Motter’s fraud and demanded that he immediately repay the loan balance. In response to the bank’s demand, Motter refinanced the loan and repaid the balance of the loan in its entirety. The FBI Philadelphia’s Capital Area Resident Agency investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph J. Terz prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Nigerian Man Extradited to U.S. in Connection with the Financially Motivated Sextortion of Two Victims and Death of a North Carolina Teenager

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: GREENSBORO, NC – United States Attorney Dan Bishop and FBI Charlotte SAC Reid Davis announced the extradition of Mudasiru Afeez Olawale, age 24, from Nigeria to the United States to face federal charges related to the financially motivated sextortion of two victims and death of a teenager in the Middle District of North Carolina. Olawale was charged by indictment in August 2023, with offenses relating to sexual exploitation of minors, coercion and enticement of minors, distribution of child pornography, and interstate threatening communications. He appeared in federal court in Greensboro before U.S. Magistrate Judge L. Patrick Auld today. Olawale was arrested in Nigeria on August 9, 2023, as part of a wider operation with the FBI to apprehend sexual extortionists targeting minors in the United States. He was extradited to the United States on Thursday, August 27, 2026, with the assistance of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI Legal Attaché in Abuja, and FBI Charlotte agents from the Greensboro Resident Agency, who traveled to Nigeria and took him into U.S. custody. The support and assistance of Nigerian security authorities was essential to this effort, notably that of Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Justice’s International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. “Today’s announcement makes clear that we will not rest in our pursuit of justice for victims of sextortion: Three years after indictment, and almost five years since the offense conduct occurred, the defendant will finally appear in a U.S. court to face the charges against him,” said United States Attorney Bishop. “We are grateful to all the agents, attorneys, and others whose tenacity and steadfast pursuit of justice contributed to the defendant’s extradition.” “Financially motivated sextortion inflicts lasting harm on victims and their families. These schemes often begin with threats and manipulation, but their impact extends far deeper—causing emotional and psychological devastation. The extradition of this suspect proves the FBI’s commitment to pursue those who exploit vulnerable individuals, wherever they may be, and ensures they are held accountable for the profound and lasting damage they cause,” said Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina. This case is being investigated by FBI Charlotte’s Greensboro Resident Agency and the Surry County Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ann Nee. This case is a result of Operation Artemis, the FBI’s surge against financially motivated sextortion rings operating from Nigeria. In coordination with domestic and international law enforcement partners, the FBI deployed agents, analysts, and forensic experts to Nigeria to confront perpetrators of these deadly schemes—which have been directly linked to dozens of American teen deaths by suicide. This same focused, multi-agency approach now drives a broader national effort to dismantle the foreign criminal networks behind sextortion and other predatory schemes. The US Government’s Financially Motivated Sextortion Campaign Team coordinates across agencies, prioritizes victims, and brings every available tool to bear in its fight to bring to justice those who prey on American families. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Burlington Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Dealing in Firearms Without a License

body_text: GREENSBORO, N.C. – On August 28, 2026, Akeem Alphonso Maynard was sentenced to 30 months in prison for dealing in firearms without a license, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(1)(A), 923(a) and 924(a)(1)(D). Maynard, age 33, of Burlington, North Carolina, appeared before Judge William L. Osteen, Jr., and was also sentenced to 3 years of supervised release following his prison term. Maynard was charged by federal indictment in February 2026 and pled guilty in June 2026. Dan Bishop, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, made the announcement and thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE), and Alamance County Sheriff’s Office for their work investigating the case. “Today we shut down one conduit of illegal firearms sales in this District, thanks to our law enforcement partners’ investigation,” said Bishop. “This should serve as a message to anyone who seeks to put guns in the wrong hands.” On March 11, 2025, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office found a handgun during the search of a fentanyl dealer’s Burlington apartment, and the BATFE then found that Maynard was the original purchaser of that firearm. Further investigation showed that Maynard had purchased 16 firearms between June 16, 2023, and February 26, 2026. Seven of those firearms were later recovered by law enforcement, including the one on March 11, 2025. The other firearms recovered were: A Glock 27 pistol seized on May 4, 2025, by the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office from a juvenile who used it to threaten another juvenile. A Glock 27 pistol seized by Burlington, N.C., police on March 15, 2025, from a person who was arrested while intoxicated at a Burlington restaurant. A Glock pistol seized by the Burlington Police Department on January 25, 2025, in the possession of a convicted felon during a DWI stop. A Glock 22 pistol seized by Gaston County law enforcement on December 12, 2024. A Glock 20 pistol, seized by the Burlington Police Department from a convicted felon during a traffic stop. A Taurus pistol seized on May 3, 2023, by the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office from a convicted felon. The standard ATF Form 4473 Maynard completed during the purchase of each firearm states that the buyer understands, “that the repetitive purchase of firearms for the purpose of resale to predominantly earn a profit without a Federal firearms license is a violation of Federal law.” Recovered text messages showed Maynard offered to purchase firearms for others for a $120 to $150 fee. Maynard also failed to state his correct address on those forms. ###


title: Nigerian National Sentenced to Federal Prison in Connection With Business Email Compromise Scam

body_text: Greenbelt, Maryland – A Nigerian national learned that he is headed to federal prison for eight years, today, after he executed a business email compromise scam to steal millions from two charitable organizations. U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang sentenced Olusegun Adejorin, 32, to 96 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and unauthorized access to a protected computer to obtain information. In August 2024, the FBI extradited Adejorin from Ghana to stand trial for this case. In December 2025, after a six-day trial, a federal jury convicted Adejorin of all charges. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office. According to the evidence presented at trial, between June and August 2020, Adejorin perpetrated a scheme to defraud Victim 1, a charitable organization located in Maryland, that provided investment services to other organizations. Additionally, through the scheme, Adejorin defrauded Victim 2, a charitable organization located in New York, by gaining access to employee email accounts and impersonating employees to induce financial transactions. Among the acts in furtherance of the fraud scheme, Adejorin registered spoofed domain names, which he used to pose as employees of Victim 2 to request withdrawals of Victim 2’s funds from Victim 1. Adejorin also fraudulently obtained access to email accounts of Victim 1, which he used to send emails falsely confirming the fraudulent requests made in Victim 2’s name. He ultimately caused more than $7.5 million of Victim 2’s funds to be sent, pursuant to the fraudulent withdrawal requests, from Victim 1 to bank accounts that were not Victim 2’s bank accounts. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI Baltimore Field Office for its work in the investigation along with the FBI Legal Attaché in Accra, Ghana, Office of Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, Republic of Ghana’s Economic and Organized Crime Office, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Police Services – INTERPOL, and National Intelligence Bureau, for their valuable assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with the International Cooperation Unit of the Office of the Attorney-General of Ghana to secure Adejorin‘s extradition to the United States. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Rosenthal and Darren Gardner, who are prosecuting the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: Illegal aliens plead guilty to having fake Green Cards

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Two illegal aliens pleaded guilty to having federal immigration documents that were forgeries with information assigned to other people. According to court documents, Santos Ramirez-Ramirez, 38, of Guatemala pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents. Yolanda Mendoza-Emiliano, 32, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents. On May 28, 2026, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed a federal criminal search warrant at a house on South 16th Street in Kansas City, Kansas. Although agents repeatedly gave lawful orders in Spanish for the occupants to come out of the house, no one exited until agents went in through the back door. Agents arrested Ramirez-Ramirez and Mendoza-Emiliano after finding counterfeit Lawful Permanent Resident cards, also known as Green Cards, and falsified Social Security cards. Photos Source: Homeland Security Investigations They had Green Cards with their names and photos, but with alien file numbers that belong to other people. The falsified Social Security cards had numbers that are invalid. “Falsified federal documents often include information that belongs to an actual person,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Victims can have their lives turned upside down with the IRS, creditors, and other entities seeking money they don’t actually owe but are asked to pay because criminals are securing jobs, renting homes, and opening lines of credit using their information.” “Counterfeit immigration documents are not harmless pieces of paper. They are tools used to undermine the integrity of our immigration system, conceal identities, and enable individuals to remain in the United States unlawfully,” said Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Rick Sabatini. “HSI will aggressively investigate document fraud and work relentlessly with our federal partners to hold offenders accountable.” Records show in April 2024, U.S. Border Patrol agents in Arizona arrested Mendoza-Emiliano four separate times in a 10-day period for illegally entering the country. The first time she was detained, she was fingerprinted. In that instance, and each subsequent time she was allowed to voluntarily return to Mexico. A third defendant was indicted in connection with this case for allegedly having false documentation, and those charges are still pending. Agents arrested three other defendants at the house who were indicted for unlawful reentry after deportation. Returning to the U.S. without permission after deportation is a federal criminal offense. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the cases. ###


title: Illegal alien accused of having forged immigration documents

body_text: KANSAS CITY, KAN.– A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging an illegal alien from Nicaragua for having forged government documents. According to court documents, Rolando Gonzalez-Gonzalez, 33, was indicted on one count of fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents. Gonzalez-Gonzalez is accused of having a counterfeit permanent resident card that allegedly had his name and an invalid alien file number. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. OTHER INDICTMENTS Alonzo Jerome Boyd Jr, 24, of Topeka was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Edwin Josue Franco-Amaya, 30, an illegal immigrant from Honduras, was indicted on one count of reentry of a previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Jose M. Patricio, 29, of Kansas City, Kansas, was indicted on one count of felon in possession of a firearm. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Former postmaster pleads guilty to fraud

body_text: TOPEKA, KAN. – A former Kansas postmaster pleaded guilty to falsifying money orders in order to embezzle from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). According to court documents, Sierra Werth, 32, of Quinter pleaded guilty to one count of misappropriation of postal funds. In January 2025, the U.S, Postal Service determined the post office in Quinter, Kansas, had a significant shortfall. The deficit was in missing deposits, deposit short in cash, errors on bank deposits, and money orders issued and voided on the same day but negotiated after being voided. An investigation revealed Werth issued and voided at least 10 money orders on the same day. She issued seven money orders under her employee ID and included her name and address in the remitter section. There were three money orders issued under a different postal employee’s ID, but they had her name and address in the remitter section. Also, the name of someone associated with Werth was in the “pay to” section of the all the money orders. The records show the money orders were issued, voided, and cashed without USPS receiving payment, and that Werth had engaged in this activity since approximately October 2024. Law enforcement found an additional invoice the Werth created. As part of her plea agreement, Werth must pay approximately $26,700 in restitution. “As postmaster, it was Ms. Werth’s role to display good leadership qualities like sound judgment and moral character to the rest of the staff, but instead she abused her authority for personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “This guilty plea represents the hard work and dedication by USPS OIG Special Agents working alongside our federal law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring charges in this mail theft investigation,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennus Bishop, U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Central Area Field Office. “The OIG, along with our law enforcement partners, remain committed to safeguarding the U.S. Mail and ensuring the accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service employees and those external subjects who collude with them.” The U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Debenham is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Muskego Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Federal Prison For Child Exploitation Crimes

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 26, 2026, Justin D. Kagerbauer (age 47) of Muskego, Wisconsin, was sentenced to a total of eight years in federal prison. Kagerbauer pled guilty to two federal felonies: (1) attempted interstate or foreign travel with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2423(b); and (2) distribution of child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(2)(A). According to court documents, from March 2025 through late November 2025, Kagerbauer communicated with an individual in the United Kingdom (“UK”), expressing an intent to travel to the UK to sexually assault a nine-year-old female child. During his online communications, Kagerbauer also distributed a video depicting CSAM (child sexual abuse material). Unbeknownst to Kagerbauer, the individual with whom he was communicating was actually an undercover law enforcement agent. Following his term of imprisonment, Kagerbauer will also spend five years on supervised release. “We are blessed that there are highly skilled and tenacious law enforcement agents and prosecutors who work to catch child sex offenders, sometimes, as in this case, before they get their hands on a child,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Schimel. “We have no higher priority than protecting children, and I’m proud of our law enforcement who work tirelessly to catch and convict these dangerous predators.” “This case demonstrates exactly why HSI aggressively pursues child predators across international borders and online platforms,” said Homeland Security Investigations Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. “Kagerbauer believed he was making arrangements to sexually assault a nine-year-old child, but instead he was exposed by skilled law enforcement work and brought to justice. Today’s outcome underscores HSI’s commitment to target predators and protect vulnerable children.” This case was investigated by law enforcement in the United Kingdom and Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Assistant United States Attorney Abbey M. Marzick 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 U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: Indiana Man Charged with Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Child Following Undercover Investigation

body_text: Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 25, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Christopher L. Guinn (age 50), of South Bend, Indiana, with attempted sexual exploitation of a child. According to the indictment and the underlying criminal complaint, Guinn engaged in online communications with an undercover law enforcement officer whom he believed to be a 12-year-old girl. During these communications, Guinn sent the undercover officer multiple sexually explicit videos and solicited sexually explicit images and videos in return. The investigation further determined that Guinn possessed child sexual abuse material and has attempted to sexually exploit multiple minors across the United States. Guinn was arrested in South Bend on August 5, 2026, and was ordered detained by a Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of Indiana. He is currently being transported to the Eastern District of Wisconsin to face the federal charge. The offense carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment and a maximum of 30 years imprisonment. This case was investigated by the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Green Bay Resident Office, the Wisconsin Department of Justice ICAC Task Force, the St. Joseph’s County Sheriff’s Office, the Indiana State Police ICAC Task Force, the United States Marshals Service – Great Lakes Fugitive Task Force, and Homeland Security Investigations. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative led by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: Warden Teacher Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on August 26, 2026, Andrea Lee Campos-Hernandez, age 26, was sentenced to 180 months in prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice also imposed a 10-year term of supervised release to follow the prison term, as well as imposing a $10,000 special assessment pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act (AVAA), and a $5,000 special assessment pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. According to court documents, Campos-Hernandez pleaded guilty to producing child pornography in connection with her sexual abuse of a 13-year old boy from February 2021 to July 2022. Campos-Hernandez took pictures and recorded video of the two of them engaged in sexual intercourse and sent the minor victim pictures of herself partially nude and in underwear. In an emotional statement to the Court, the mother of the victim told Judge Rice, “One of the most painful memories I carry is hearing my son cry alone in his room in the middle of the night. I did not know what was going through his mind or how deeply he was hurting because he could not bring himself to talk about it.” “Today I am speaking because you no longer get to control my voice,” the victim said at sentencing to Campos-Hernandez. “You took away parts of my childhood that I will never get back.” The victim’s sister asked the Court for a sentence that “sends a clear message that every child deserves the same protection, compassion, and justice, regardless of the gender of the victim or offender.” “The sentence imposed in this case sends a clear message to anyone seeking to harm the children of our community,” said Serrano. “As a teacher, every family entrusted their children to Ms. Campos-Hernandez. Her violation of that sacred trust extended by each family and each student places her victimization on another level. Although not seen as often, female sexual offenders exist, and justice demands they be treated the same as their male counterparts.” "As children return to school, we are especially reminded what a consequential role teachers play in the lives of students,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Andrea Lee Campos-Hernandez violated her responsibility to protect and enrich this young person by taking advantage of both her position of trust and a family friendship to inflict lasting harm on a child. I commend the courage of the victim who stepped forward to tell his story, as well as the investigators and prosecutors who hold child predators like Ms. Campos-Hernandez accountable." This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Warden Police Department. The Grant County Prosecutor’s Office prosecuted Campos-Hernandez on the related state crimes, eventually participating in a global resolution of both the state and federal charges. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ann T. Wick. 2:24-cr-00082-TOR


title: Coulee Dam Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Sexually Abusing a Minor

body_text: Spokane, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on August 26, 2026, Douglas Lee Clark, age 47, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for Abusive Sexual Contact of a minor. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke also imposed a 10-year term of supervised release to follow the prison term. According to court documents, Clark pleaded guilty on March 9, 2026, to sexually touching the minor victim from approximately January 2019 to January 2021. Clark’s crime came to the attention of law enforcement in 2021, when the victim was brave enough to disclose to the parent of a friend and others that Clark had touched her sexually. When interviewed in a child forensic interview, the victim described Clark complimenting her body and rubbing her legs when she was as young as 10 or 11 years old. She further described Clark coming into her room when she was sleeping and touching her genitalia with his hands. Judge Dimke deemed Clark’s crime an “absolute repugnant series of acts,” through which he took advantage of a “child already absolutely vulnerable.” In addressing the victim, Judge Dimke spoke of her bravery in coming forward, despite Clark’s attempts to use her past trauma to discredit her. “Survivors of sexual abuse demonstrate extraordinary courage when they come forward, often in the face of profound adversity,” stated Serrano. “As prosecutors, we honor that courage by pursuing accountability with unwavering diligence, ensuring that those who commit these offenses are confronted by the full measure of justice.” "Mr. Clark abused a child in his care who deserved safety in her own home, and then tried to intimidate her into keeping silent,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “I deeply appreciate the courage this victim displayed in advocating for herself and bringing these crimes to light. While no sentence can undo this traumatic experience, we hope it brings a measure of comfort that justice has been served and sends a clear message to others. This kind of predation will not be tolerated and, thanks to the dedicated work of FBI Seattle and our partners, will have consequences." The Chairwoman of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Cindy Marchand, said, "The Colville Tribes is absolutely committed to keeping the children in our community safe and secure. Predators who commit acts of sexual abuse on children must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. We appreciate the diligent and successful work in this matter of the Colville Police Department, led by Chief Steve Brown, and our partners in the Federal Bureau of Investigation and in the Department of Justice in the Eastern District of Washington. Our specific thanks go to Assistant United States Attorney Ann Wick, who prosecuted this case and earned both a conviction and a lengthy prison term. Through the combined efforts of these law enforcement professionals, our children are now a little bit safer with this abuser behind bars. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Colville Tribe Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ann T. Wick. 2:24-cr-00130-MKD


title: Illegal alien living in Irving sentenced to federal prison as part of Homeland Security Task Force investigation in the Eastern District of Texas

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – An illegal alien has been sentenced to federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Jose Guadalupe Lopez-Arana, 41, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and aiding and abetting and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on August 27, 2026. According to information presented in court, in 2023, Lopez-Arana, a Mexican national illegally living in Irving, was identified during an investigation into activities associated with a drug trafficking conspiracy responsible for distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. Lopez-Arana was specifically responsible for receiving and delivering proceeds from the drug trafficking organization to conceal the illegal activity. Lopez-Arana laundered between $150,000 and $250,000 in U.S. currency. 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 Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Wynne. ###


title: Colombian drug trafficker convicted as part of the Homeland Security Task Force in the Eastern District of Texas

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – A Colombian man has been found guilty of federal drug trafficking violations as part of the Homeland Security Task Force in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Nelson Javier Christancho Parada, 45, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of federal drug trafficking violations related to a cocaine distribution conspiracy. The verdict was reached on August 27, 2026, following a two-day trial before U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan. According to information presented in court, Cristancho Parada used his skills as a machinist to manufacture water bag rolls with a false compartment in them. He and others filled the false void with kilograms of cocaine that were intended to be sent to the United States. The Colombia National Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and DEA were able to seize 1,207 kilograms of cocaine on November 22, 2019, on the island of San Andres, Colombia, that were sent in a cargo shipment. The cocaine was found in hidden voids in the containers that Cristancho Parada manufactured. “Today’s verdict marks another significant step in our ongoing efforts to dismantle the transnational criminal networks that threaten the safety and security of our communities," said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. "This defendant exploited his technical skills to hide more than a metric ton of cocaine destined for the United States, but through the dedication of our Colombian partners and the unwavering commitment of Homeland Security Task Force agencies, his scheme was uncovered and justice has been served. The Homeland Security Task Force represents a historic level of coordination among federal law enforcement, and this case demonstrates exactly why that partnership matters. We will continue to use every lawful tool at our disposal to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who traffic drugs, exploit vulnerable people, and endanger Americans. I am grateful for the outstanding work of our agents, officers, and prosecutors whose efforts made today’s outcome possible.” 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. HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Rapp and David Rehfuss. ###


title: International Shipping Companies Sentenced to Pay $1.75 Million Fine for Concealing Discharges of Oily Waste Into Ocean

component: ENRD - Environmental Crimes Section

body_text: PHILADELPHIA — United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that a vessel operating company pleaded guilty today to charges stemming from the discharge of oily waste into the sea. MSC Shipmanagement Limited, one of the largest shipping companies in the world, pleaded guilty to two counts of violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (“APPS”) for conduct that occurred on the motor vessel MSC Samira III between June 2024 and January 2025. The vessel’s owner, Hong Kong Spirit Shipping and Trading Limited, also pleaded guilty to two counts of violating APPS. Both companies were sentenced to pay a combined fine of $1.75 million and serve four years of probation. Second Engineer Mikhail Tsurikov previously pleaded guilty to violating APPS and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 10. “These companies repeatedly cut corners and covered it up, befouling the marine environment,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “Their violations evidence both a disdain for our country’s laws and a clear case of greed. Shippers who illegally discharge pollutants and doctor their records will be prosecuted and held accountable.” “Foreign vessels that enter the ports of the United States and present false documents undermine our efforts to preserve our environment and enforce the law,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Department of Justice’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (“ENRD”). “We will vigorously protect the integrity of our port state control system against actors who put profit over compliance with the law.” “Deliberately concealing illegal discharges puts our marine environment at risk and undermines the domestic and international regulatory frameworks designed to keep our waterways safe,” said U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Roberto Rivera, captain of the port and commander of Sector Delaware Bay. “The Coast Guard remains committed to working with our federal partners to hold operators accountable when they violate the laws that protect our oceans.” “The Coast Guard Investigative Service (“CGIS”) possesses unique statutory authorities and specialized investigative capabilities purpose-built to address complex criminal conduct in the maritime environment,” said CGIS Assistant Special Agent in Charge Javiel Gonzalez. “When maritime operators engage in criminal deception, falsify official records, and attempt to circumvent federal oversight, CGIS special agents have the technical expertise and jurisdiction to uncover the truth and hold perpetrators accountable. This case underscores our unwavering commitment to maintaining the integrity of our waterways and enforcing the rule of law across the maritime domain.” Between June and September 2024, senior officers in the engine department of the MSC Samira III instructed lower-level crew members to pump oily bilge water from the vessel’s bilge holding tank to the sewage holding tank using portable pumps and hoses. The crew members then discharged the oily bilge water into the sea using the sewage holding tank’s overboard discharge valve. In doing so, they bypassed the oil water separator, a piece of pollution prevention equipment that is designed to prevent the discharge of oily bilge water containing more than 15 parts per million of oil into the sea. Such exceptional discharges of oil are required by U.S. and international law to be recorded in a ship’s oil record book, but the officers in charge of these operations failed to do so. In addition to these discharges of oily waste from the vessel’s sewage holding tank, on several occasions between September 2024 and January 2025, senior engine department crew members also tricked the oil water separator by running fresh water instead of oily bilge water through the equipment’s oil content monitor. Doing so allowed them to discharge oily bilge water directly into the sea through the oil water separator. These discharges were also not accurately recorded in the vessel’s oil record book as required by law. In January 2025, the MSC Samira III made two separate calls in the Port of Philadelphia, where its crew presented the false oil record book to the U.S. Coast Guard. This case was investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Angella Middleton and Anthony Scicchitano and Trial Attorney Lauren Steele of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section.


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced to 360 Months for Engaging in Nationwide “Sextortion” Scheme That Victimized Children as Young as Seven Years Old

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that COLE DIGGS (a/k/a Kevon Godson) (“DIGGS”) , age 32, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on August 27, 2026, to 360 months of imprisonment by United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe after previously pleading guilty to producing files depicting the sexual exploitation of children, in violation of 18 U.S.C. ' 2251(a). Judge Ashe also sentenced DIGGS to a 15-year period of supervised release following his term of imprisonment, payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee, registration as a sex offender, and the payment of restitution to all of his victims. According to court documents, on numerous instances between November 2021 and December 2022, DIGGS engaged in a scheme to obtain sexually explicit depictions of at least six minors he met via a multimedia instant messaging application that allowed users to exchange pictures and videos. The identified victims varied between the ages of seven years old and fifteen years old. In each case, DIGGS sought and obtained the sexually explicit depictions of minors by utilizing a “sextortion” scheme. In this scheme, DIGGS claimed to be a minor, sent minor victims sexually explicit depictions of adults, engaged in sexually charged communications, directed the minors on how to pose and perform when taking sexually explicit depictions, and, when the minors expressed reluctance to continue sending sexually explicit depictions, DIGGS extorted the minors to comply with his demands. Additionally, DIGGS offered to purchase, and did in fact purchase, offered to trade, and did in fact trade, sexually explicit depictions of minors, including some of those he received via his extortionate scheme, on multiple occasions. “Today’s sentence removes a dangerous, anti-social predator from our community,” said U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. “ DIGGS ’ cruelly manipulative crimes against children, as young as seven years old, deserved this significant sentence. The youthful innocence, forever stolen from these children, breaks our hearts and triggers our society’s worst fears. Nevertheless, strengthened by the single-minded commitment of both our office, and FBI - New Orleans, to identify, locate, and bring to justice those who prey on our children, we hope to bring security, peace and closure to these victims and their families.” “Mr. Digg's disgusting actions impacted families across this country,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office.” “The sentence imposed today should serve as a warning for anybody who thinks they are going to coerce and abuse children and get away with it. The FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office stand ready to find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.” U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. * * *


title: Attorney Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud in Connection with Hurricane Ida Fraud Committed by Law Firm with Louisiana and Texas Offices

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – RICHARD WILLIAM HUYE, III (“HUYE”) , age 34, formerly of New Orleans, and now a resident of Texas, was charged by bill of information on August 28, 2026, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to the bill of information, HUYE was an attorney licensed to practice law in Louisiana who started working for a Texas based firm (“Law Firm A” in the bill of information) three days after Hurricane Ida struck Southeast Louisiana on August 29, 2021. Law Firm A then opened an office in October of 2021 in New Orleans. After Hurricane Ida, Law Firm A encouraged an Alabama roofing company to open up operations in Louisiana by advising the roofing company that it could use an “Assignment of Benefits” (“AOB”) form without restriction. Contrary to that advice, most Louisiana homeowners’ insurance companies had either anti-assignment language in their policies, or the assignments needed prior approval. Once in the Louisiana market, the Alabama roofing company began to sign up hundreds of homeowners with the AOBs and sent the claims over to Law Firm A for handling. Law Firm A also instructed the Alabama roofing company to sign an attorney retention contract on behalf of the Louisiana homeowners without their knowledge or authorization. As a way around the assignment of benefits restrictions, HUYE , on behalf of Law Firm A and for the benefit of Co-Conspirator 1 (a managing partner for firm) electronically sent out false and misleading letters of representation to hundreds of Louisiana homeowners insurance companies wherein HUYE and Law Firm A claimed that they represented only the insured homeowner and failed to disclose the roofing company AOB. HUYE and Law Firm A made additional fraudulent representations to Louisiana homeowners’ insurance companies in other communications, mediations, and court filings in which no mention of the roofing company AOBs was ever made. The scheme to defraud Louisiana homeowners, and their insurers, surfaced in February 2023 during court proceedings held in the Eastern District of Louisiana. At that time, Law Firm A’s counsel admitted both to having sent at least 856 false and misleading letters of representation, and to having settled at least nine matters by mediation without disclosing that Law Firm A only represented the Alabama roofing company via an AOB. HUYE and Law Firm A also filed at least one complaint for damages without the Louisiana homeowner’s full consent, in addition to several other complaints for declaratory judgment that falsely stated who Law Firm A actually represented. The bill of information details the experiences of eight Louisiana homeowners whose property damage claims were impacted by the false and fraudulent actions of HUYE , Law Firm A and Co-Conspirator 1. As a result, most of the named victims either did not receive monies designated to repair their roofs, or had the amount reduced due to the withholding of unauthorized attorney’s fees and expenses. In some instances, Co-Conspirator 1 endorsed settlement checks without proper authorization from homeowners, and deposited funds earmarked for their damages into Law Firm A’s bank account. HUYE has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 1343. The maximum penalty for this offense is up to five (5) years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain to any defendant or twice the gross loss to any victim, and the payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. U.S. Attorney Courcelle would like to acknowledge the tremendous work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana Department of Insurance, and the Louisiana State Police with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera, Deputy Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey N. Knight. * * *


title: West Sacramento Man Sentenced to over 4 Years in Prison for Being a Felon with a Gun

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Richard Lee Dazo, 40, of West Sacramento, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta to four years and three months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, on Aug. 13, 2024, law enforcement officers conducted a probation search of Dazo and his motel room. A firearm was in plain view on the bed. Although Dazo claimed it was fake; it was identified as a CO 2 -powered pellet gun designed to resemble a 357 magnum revolver and loaded with four 357 rounds of magnum ammunition and two rounds of .38 special ammunition. Nearby was a knife handle with metal knuckles and an automatic-release blade. A purse-style bag in the room contained separate baggies of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin. Under the bed, officers found a loaded Remington 870 12-gauge shotgun with a 16-inch barrel, along with additional shotgun shells. Dazo is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to prior felony convictions. This is his third conviction for being a felon with a firearm. Dazo pleaded guilty on Dec. 4, 2025. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the West Sacramento Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew De Moura and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caily Nelson prosecuted the case. This case is also part of the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney program, a partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and local District Attorney’s Offices. These attorneys remain employed by the District Attorney’s Offices but work on federal investigations and can prosecute cases in both state and federal court, strengthening efforts to combat transnational organized crime and violent crime in the region. Currently, the District Attorney’s Offices of Fresno, Sacramento, Stanislaus, and Yolo Counties are participating. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt De Moura serves as a Deputy District Attorney in Yolo County. 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: Rocklin Man Implicated in Plot to Attack White House UFC Event Indicted for Firearms Possession and Destroying Records in a Federal Investigation

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Christopher M. Perry, 38, of Rocklin, was indicted Thursday for possessing firearms and destroying records in a federal investigation, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, Perry came to the attention of law enforcement because of an investigation into a plot to carry out attacks against federal property and officials, including an attack at an Ultimate Fighting Championship event on the South Lawn of the White House, which took place on June 14, 2026. Perry participated in a Signal chat group that was devoted to planning the attack. Perry additionally discussed related attacks in California against AI datacenters, satellite communication facilities, and a California-based technology company. Perry also referred to himself as a career criminal and stated that he was armed, even though he is prohibited from possession guns. On June 12, 2026, law enforcement contacted Perry at his home and asked about his Signal account. After the agents departed, Perry immediately attempted to destroy evidence by taking steps to remove himself from the Signal chat group, delete his Signal account, and remove the Signal application and associated data from his phone. The FBI subsequently executed several search warrants, and recovered multiple firearms that Perry owned, as well as more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition. On top of one of the ammunition containers was written “WWIII,” which is short for World War III. And on Perry’s phone were several pictures and videos of firearms and of Perry holding firearms. Perry is a felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms. Perry’s prior felony convictions include a conviction for attempting to bring drugs into a jail or prison and for possessing or purchasing drugs for sale. Perry is currently in federal custody and is scheduled to appear for arraignment on Aug. 31, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sean C. Riordan. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Wong is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Perry faces a maximum statutory sentence of 15 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and 20 years in prison for destroying records in a federal investigation. Both charges also carry a maximum fine of $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.