title: Former Cherokee County employee guilty of embezzling over $400k from Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office

body_text: TYLER, Texas – A former Cherokee County employee has pleaded guilty to a federal violation related to embezzling over $400,000 in funds in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Gina Upshaw, 65, of Jacksonville, pleaded guilty to federal program theft before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love on August 11, 2026. According to information presented in court, Upshaw was a bookkeeper for the Cherokee County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office from 2008 through January 2022. The Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office collects both property taxes and motor vehicle sales taxes, as well as registration fees, from Cherokee County residents, for both Cherokee County and the State of Texas. The office receives these payments in the form of both cash and checks. During her employment as a bookkeeper for the office, Upshaw was responsible for making daily deposits of the cash payments at a local bank. Instead of doing so, Upshaw stole cash payments totaling $431,375.91. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. Upshaw faces up to 10 years in federal prison, a potential fine, and restitution at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the U.S. Probation Office. This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble. ###


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 11½ Years in Prison for Multiple Robberies Targeting Armored Trucks

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Dante Shackleford, 27, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced this morning to 138 months’ imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and $119,100 in restitution by United States District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer for his role in multiple area robberies targeting armored trucks. The defendant was charged by superseding indictment in January and pleaded guilty in April to one count of Hobbs Act robbery, three counts of attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, Shackleford, with others, participated in the following crimes: the July 15, 2025, attempted robbery of a Brinks truck in Philadelphia the July 22, 2025, attempted robbery of a Brinks truck in Elkins Park, Pa. the August 12, 2025, robbery of a Brinks truck in Elkins Park, Pa. the October 3, 2025, attempted robbery of a Brinks truck in Philadelphia In total, the defendant admitted to stealing $119,100 from Brinks, Inc. Shackleford’s co-defendant, Mujahid Davis, 24, also of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty in March to two attempted Hobbs Act robberies, two Hobbs Act robberies, and one count of carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He was sentenced last week to 11 years in prison. This case was investigated by the FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force and the Philadelphia Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Eckert and Kwambina Coker.


title: Drug-Dealing Marine Sentenced to 7-Years in Federal Prison

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

body_text: Raleigh, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Alexander Jules Pawluk, 29, to seven years in federal prison for trafficking large quantities of meth and firearms throughout the Eastern District of North Carolina. On May 10, 2026, Pawluk pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 or more grams of meth, distribution of 50 grams or more of meth, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. “While it is tragic to see a Marine betraying his oath to protect and serve his country, nobody gets away with crime in Eastern North Carolina. Drugs kill families and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Marines should not dishonor themselves by hurting Americans. Simple Lesson; drugs kill, prison awaits, do better.” In 2024, investigators identified Pawluk—then an active-duty Marine—as a drug dealer operating in the greater Jacksonville area. That December, federal and local law enforcement conducted three controlled meth purchases from him. During two of those transactions, he also sold firearms. After completing the controlled buys, law enforcement arrested Pawluk and placed him in state custody. Following his arrest and subsequent discharge from the Marine Corps, a state judge released Pawluk from custody. Unfortunately, he returned to his drug dealing ways. In June 2025, investigators conducted another controlled meth purchase from him. After that transaction, they searched Pawluk’s home and found more meth and firearms. “Mr. Pawluk’s relentless distribution of lethal drugs and firearms despite devastating outcomes demonstrates his complete and callous disregard for human life and the safety of our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Kelly Parrish of the NCIS Carolinas Field Office. “NCIS and our law enforcement partners remain unwavering in our mission to protect our Navy and Marine Corps communities. We will continue to conduct thorough investigations to ensure individuals complicit in crimes are held accountable for the grave consequences of their actions.” This prosecution is part of Operation Moral Turpitude, a component of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) established under Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole‑of‑government initiative committed to dismantling criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in the United States and abroad. Through unprecedented interagency coordination, HSTF directs federal law enforcement resources to investigate and prosecute the broad spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations. The HSTF places a particular emphasis on targeting offenders involved in crimes against children and uses all available legal authorities to identify, prosecute, and remove violent criminal aliens from the United States. W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement following sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. NCIS, ATF, and the Jacksonville Police Department, and the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:25-CR-63-D-BM-1.


title: DOJ Invests Nearly $30 Million in the USAO Eastern District of North Carolina to Support Law Enforcement and Strengthen Community Safety

component: Department of Justice

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina is proud to announce that the Department of Justice (DOJ) distributed nearly $30 million in grant funding across the district to strengthen public safety efforts. Our partners will use these funds to support state and local law enforcement agencies and community organizations that put in the hard work and long hours every day to reduce violence, prevent crime, and build safer neighborhoods. “Our district remains committed to giving our local law enforcement partners the tools they need to protect Eastern North Carolina communities, get criminals off the streets, and reduce violence,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “These grants directly support the folks who are out there facing danger, boots on the ground, doing the work each and every day. They give us a chance to team with these critical local agencies and community‑based groups who keep our neighborhoods safe from criminals” This new funding strengthens the district’s ongoing partnerships and expands the resources available to the agencies and organizations. Building on this commitment, DOJ will send grant funding to the following: NC Conf. of DAs: $11,640,892 Pitt County: $55,520 Cumberland County: $225,590 Robeson County: $125,443 Harnett County: $22,230 Sampson County: $10,781 Johnston County: $11,561 Vance County: $21,868 Lenoir County: $14,570 Wake County: $221,272 Nash County: $40,867 Wayne County: $50,144 New Hanover County: $64,657 Wilson County: $22,147 Onslow County: $34,572 NCDPS: $17,366,761 Local law enforcement agencies and community‑based organizations invest this funding by implementing crime‑reduction efforts, upgrading technology and training, supporting victims, and building programs that strengthen trust between law enforcement and the neighborhoods they serve. The Eastern District of North Carolina covers 44 counties and includes big and small cities, rural communities, beaches and waterways, and major military installations. The United States Attorney’s Office serves as the coordinating hub of federal, state, and local law enforcement, enforces federal law, prosecutes criminal offenses, defends the United States in civil matters, and advances community‑focused crime‑prevention efforts. The office works closely with federal, state, and local agencies across the district to promote public safety, protect the Constitution, uphold the rule of law, and support programs that address the causes of crime and strengthen long‑term community well‑being. A copy of this press release may be found on our website .


title: Delaware Drug Dealer Receives 12-Year Federal Prison Sentence For Trafficking Meth

body_text: Raleigh, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced James Nadel Taylor, 31, to 12 and half years in federal prison for trafficking large quantities of meth along the east coast. On May 5, 2026, Taylor pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of meth and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of meth. “Here is another fine example of law enforcement protecting and serving the citizens of Eastern North Carolina. Through one officer’s keen eye for discerning criminal activity, law enforcement sniffed out the drug mule and his Big Shark Bad Boy co-conspirator.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “To those who think they can bring their venomous drugs into Eastern North Carolina: you are dead wrong! Will we find you; we will prosecute you; and we will throw you under the jail.” On January 14, 2025, a Selma Police Department detective stopped a Kia Optima for following a tractor trailer too closely. The detective questioned the driver, Erminio Ferri, about his travel plans and noticed a nervous Ferri gave an implausible story. Taylor, the owner of the car, sat next to him as a passenger. Detectives searched the car and found over four pounds of meth. They later learned that Ferri and Taylor had driven from Delaware to South Carolina the previous day to pick this meth and were returning to Delaware when police stopped the car. "This sentence reflects the outstanding work and dedication of our detectives, whose attention to detail during a routine traffic stop led to the seizure of a significant quantity of methamphetamine and ultimately the dismantling of a drug trafficking operation,” said Justin R. Vause, Selma Police Chief. “Cases like this demonstrate that proactive policing and strong partnerships with our federal law enforcement partners continue to play a critical role in keeping dangerous narcotics out of our communities. Having firsthand knowledge of this investigation from its inception, I can say this outcome sends a clear message to those who seek to traffic illegal drugs through our town and across North Carolina: law enforcement agencies are committed to identifying, investigating, and holding offenders accountable. Protecting our residents and preventing dangerous substances from reaching our neighborhoods, families, and especially our children remain a top priority for the Selma Police Department. I am proud of the work conducted by our detectives and grateful for the collaborative efforts of the ATF and the United States Attorney's Office in bringing this case to a successful conclusion." W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement following sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The ATF and the Selma Police Department investigated the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-CR-202-D-BM-2.


title: Man Admits Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material When a Minor, Distributing as Adult

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – A man from Wayne County, Missouri on Tuesday admitted distributing child sexual abuse material that he produced as a minor. Tanner Stevens, 23, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of receiving child pornography. He admitted viewing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) beginning when he was 13 or 14. Stevens took pictures of two minors when he was a minor and uploaded them to X when he was 21. The investigation began when the Missouri State Highway Patrol Special Victims Unit received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding someone who uploaded CSAM into Google Photos. Investigators traced the account to Stevens. Stevens’ cellular phone contained over 100 videos and over 400 images containing CSAM. Stevens is scheduled to be sentenced on November 17. The charge carries a penalty of five to 20 years in prison. The Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. For more information, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Illinois Man Sentenced to 154 Months in Prison for Carjacking, Shooting in St. Louis

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from Venice, Illinois was sentenced Tuesday to 154 months in prison for the armed robbery and carjacking of one man in St. Louis in 2024 and for shooting at another man an hour later. On Sept. 4, 2024, Harry Moore, 21, was driving a Cadillac that had been stolen in Belleville, Illinois, and was accompanied by two other armed people, including a juvenile. They spotted an SUV in the Tower Grove East neighborhood in St. Louis and decided to rob the driver. Moore’s two passengers got out and demanded the victim’s wallet, iPhone and keys. Then Moore, who was also armed, got out and demanded that the victim unlock his phone and provide his debit card PIN so that the three could loot his accounts. Moore then drove to a gas station, followed by his accomplices, and used the victim’s debit card to withdraw more than $200 from an ATM. He used the victim’s phone to transfer $200 from the victim to an associate via Cash App. About an hour later, Moore was in the front passenger seat of the stolen SUV when he spotted someone from a rival group walking near Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis. Moore opened fire with a .45-caliber handgun as his target fled into a parking garage. Later that day, investigators found the juvenile and the SUV in East St. Louis. On Oct. 10, 2024, Moore was arrested inside a home in Cahokia Heights, Illinois. Investigators found three firearms there, including the Glock used in the shooting. Moore’s conduct risked the lives of his victims and anyone near the shooting, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Martin said in court Tuesday. The carjacking and shooting followed a “staggering amount of crimes” that began at a young age, Martin said, adding that Moore was one of a small subset of individuals responsible for a large amount of violent crime. Moore, 21, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in April to one felony count of carjacking and one felony count of possession and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI and the St. Clair County (Illinois) Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Martin prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Justice Department Secures $150,000 Settlement in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Kentucky Landlord

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that Danny Bell, the owner and manager of residential rental properties in Somerset, Kentucky, agreed to pay $150,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that he sexually harassed female tenants in violation of the Fair Housing Act. “Tenants should not be forced to choose between safety and keeping a roof over their heads,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This case involved a landlord’s sexual harassment of female tenants, including threats to evict tenants who refused his advances. The Justice Department will continue to hold landlords accountable for using their power to violate the rights of vulnerable women.” “Housing should never be used as a tool to exploit vulnerable people in our community,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Parman for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “This settlement sends a clear message that our office will not tolerate sexual harassment in housing and will vigorously protect the rights of tenants to feel safe in their homes.” The Justice Department’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky in April 2023, alleges that Bell sexually harassed female tenants for over a decade, including in their homes. The suit alleges that Bell offered to forgive rent in exchange for sexual contact, subjected tenants to unwelcome sexual touching, made unwelcome sexual comments and sexual advances, let himself into female tenants’ homes without notice or permission, and threatened to evict tenants who refused his demands. Pursuant to the proposed consent order, which still must be entered by the court, the defendant must pay $140,000 to tenants who were harmed by his harassment and a $10,000 civil penalty to the United States. The consent order governs the sale of Bell’s current residential rental properties, and bars Bell from managing any future residential rental properties and from contacting tenants harmed by his harassment. It also mandates training and the adoption of policies and procedures to prevent future discrimination in his rental properties. If you are a victim of sexual harassment by another landlord or property manager or have suffered other forms of housing discrimination, call the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743 or submit a report online . More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt . This settlement is part of the Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative . The initiative, which the department launched in October 2017, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 53 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $19 million for victims of such harassment.


title: Previously Convicted Killer Pleads Guilty to Possessing Loaded Pistol

body_text: WASHINGTON – Rocky Lee Brown, 53, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in connection with his unlawful possession of a SCCY CPX-1 9mm pistol, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Brown pleaded guilty before Judge Richard J. Leon to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. Judge Leon scheduled sentencing for Dec. 21, 2026. According to court papers, Brown was wanted on an active warrant out of Maryland for escape from a Bureau of Prisons facility when he was arrested Dec. 29, 2025, by the United States Marshals Service on the 5200 block of Hayes Street, NE. An officer with the Metropolitan Police Department responded and recovered a SCCY CPX-1 9mm pistol from Brown’s jacket pocket. The firearm contained nine rounds of 9mm ammunition in the magazine and one round in the chamber. Brown previously was convicted in D.C. Superior Court on a charge of second-degree murder and on May 5, 2006, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. As a convicted felon, Brown was prohibited from possessing a firearm. This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Liss. Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. 26cr7


title: Hartford Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Trafficking Charge

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that JOSE COLON, also known as “Uncle Benny,” 61, of Hartford, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Sarah F. Russell in New Haven to a cocaine trafficking charge. According to court documents and statements made in court, in January and February 2026, an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force revealed that Colon attempted to purchase several kilograms of cocaine and was in possession of a large amount of cash to complete a purchase. On February 19, 2026, investigators arrested Colon and two associates at Colon’s residence on Pearl Street in Hartford. A court-authorized search of the residence revealed approximately $52,000 in cash. Colon pleaded guilty to attempting to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. Judge Russell scheduled sentencing for November 12. Colon has been detained since his arrest. Colon’s criminal history includes a federal heroin trafficking conviction in October 2015 , and he is currently on state probation following a conviction for sexual assault in the second degree. This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force, which includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reed Durham. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: $5,000 Reward Offered and New FBI Tip Line Launched to Catch Los Angeles Animal Abusers

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – Federal law enforcement today announced a $5,000 reward and a new FBI tip line, for information leading to the successful prosecution of criminals who violate the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, a federal law that carries penalties of up to seven years in prison. This statute, which President Trump signed into law in November 2019, criminalizes engaging in animal abuse in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce and making “animal crushing” videos that depict obscene animal abuse. Those who have evidence against anyone suspected of breaking this law is encouraged to email the FBI at LA-AnimalCrimesTipline@ic.fbi.gov . Successful tips include specific evidence: photographs, videos, dates, times, locations, and a description of who is committing these crimes. This dedicated email account will be reviewed by the Animal Abuse Task Force which was created last year and is led by federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section working in partnership with the FBI, the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles City Animal Control, and other state and local law enforcement officers. This task force focuses on charging serious animal abuse crimes throughout the Central District of California, the most populous federal district in the country. The seven-county district is home to nearly 20 million residents and is comprised of the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.


title: New York Woman Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Illegal Aliens from Canada

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A New York woman pleaded guilty today for her role in an international alien smuggling conspiracy that brought aliens primarily from India into the United States across the northern border. According to court documents, Stacey Taylor, 43, of Plattsburgh, New York, was involved in a failed human smuggling event in January 2025 involving aliens from India brought illegally into the United States. U.S. Border Patrol agents stopped the defendant’s vehicle near Churubusco, New York, in the early morning hours of Jan. 20, 2025, and discovered four men inside her vehicle. Agents then determined the four men, three from Indian and one from Canada, were illegal aliens and had just crossed the U.S.-Canadian border illegally, without inspection, in the freezing cold. When law enforcement later examined the defendant’s cellphone, they learned that Taylor had received coordinates for the aliens’ location and instructions for picking them up. The four aliens illegally entered the United States by foot through a wooded area and got into Taylor’s waiting vehicle, and she then drove them away from the border and further into the interior United States. After law enforcement stopped her vehicle, Taylor admitted that she picked up the four aliens and expected to receive payment for doing so. Additional review of Taylor’s phone revealed text messages that indicated that she had been involved in multiple other human smuggling events in the days prior. Following her January 2025 arrest, she was subsequently stopped in a suspected alien smuggling venture in August 2025 and was again implicated in alien smuggling in September 2025. Taylor pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in alien smuggling and four counts of alien smuggling for profit. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 3 and faces a statutory minimum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo made the announcement. HSI Rouses Point, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Border Patrol Champlain Station are investigating the case. HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington D.C. and CBP’s International Interdiction Task Force provided significant assistance. The investigation and indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including HSI and CBP, Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 477 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 431 U.S. convictions; and more than 370 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets. Deputy Chief Rami Badawy of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffry Stitt for the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case.


title: Justice Department Files Complaint to Stop Washington Firm from Manufacturing and Selling Adulterated Food Products

component: Civil Division

body_text: The United States filed a complaint seeking to permanently enjoin a Washington state pet food manufacturer from manufacturing and selling adulterated pet food. In a civil complaint for permanent injunction, filed on Aug. 7, the United States alleges that Gary T. Tashjian, through his business, Arrow Reliance Inc., also doing business as Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) by failing to follow preventive controls requirements and causing uncooked pet food to become adulterated. “Pet food manufacturers must ensure the safety of their products,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Given the high likelihood that consumers will come into direct contact with pet food products, the Department of Justice will continue to work closely with FDA and take action against food manufacturers that operate under insanitary conditions.” “Every American pet owner deserves confidence that the food they feed their animals is safe and will not pose health risks to their families,” said Timothy Schell, Ph.D., director of FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. “Despite repeated FDA warnings, this company continues to manufacture and distribute products contaminated with harmful bacteria. When a company does not take responsibility for product safety, FDA will intervene to protect public health.” The complaint, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, alleges FDA found the presence of pathogenic bacteria, including Salmonella , Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono) , and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in the company’s finished pet food products in samples collected from 2017 through 2025. In 2024, FDA investigators also found Salmonella in the company’s Tukwila facility. Infections from L. mono , Salmonella, or STECcan cause symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting in healthy adults. For vulnerable consumers — including pregnant women, the elderly, and the immune-compromised — L. mono , Salmonella, and STEC can each cause more serious effects including death. L. mono can cause stillbirths and miscarriages. The complaint further alleges Arrow Reliance’s products have repeatedly infected consumers over several years. After multiple Arrow Reliance customers complained of humans or pets suffering from health problems, FDA investigators detected the presence of pathogenic bacteria in unopened samples of the company’s product. In 2024, a four-year-old child fell ill with a STEC infection and developed Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome after the family dog was fed Arrow Reliance’s products. Third party laboratory testing of the family’s unopened pet food from Arrow Reliance confirmed the presence of both Salmonella and STEC bacteria. According to the complaint, Arrow Reliance’s pet food products are sold throughout the country. The government’s lawsuit seeks an injunction that would require Tashjian and Arrow Reliance to make sanitation improvements and comply with preventive controls regulations and other federal food safety requirements before making or distributing any more pet food. Trial Attorney David Crockett of the Enforcement Section of the Civil Division’s Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch is handling the case with the assistance of Assistant U.S Attorney Kayla C. Stahman for the Western District of Washington, and Associate Chief Counsel Rachel E. King of the FDA’s Office of the Chief Counsel. Additional information about the Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/civil/enforcement-affirmative-litigation-branch . The claims made in the complaint are allegations that, if the case were to proceed to trial, the government must prove by a preponderance of the evidence.


title: Justice Department to Conduct Election Monitoring in Minnesota Primary Election

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Today, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) is monitoring polling sites in two Minnesota counties for the state’s primary election to ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law. “Minnesota is DOJ’s next stop on its nationwide effort to ensure free and fair elections,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The DOJ is committed to nondiscriminatory monitoring throughout the primary and general election seasons.” “Election monitoring is critical to ensuring our elections have the trust of Minnesotans,” said U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota. “We are proud to partner with the Civil Rights Division in this effort.” The DOJ, through the Civil Rights Division, enforces federal voting laws which protect the voting rights of all eligible citizens. The DOJ regularly deploys staff to monitor compliance with federal civil rights laws in communities across the country, as it did in Minnesota in the 2020, 2022, and 2024 federal elections. The DOJ is monitoring polls in Hennepin and Ramsey counties with approximately 20 staff from the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section and Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney’s Office. Already this primary season the DOJ has deployed over 50 monitors across seven counties. This monitoring initiative is aimed at promoting transparency and an open flow of communication between poll observers and election monitors. The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces various federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights Acts. From now through the general election on Nov. 3, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available to receive questions and complaints from the public related to federal voting rights laws. If you have a question or complaint or would like to request election monitoring in a particular jurisdiction, please contact the Voting Section at VEM@usdoj.gov.


title: Chinese-Owned Company to Pay More Than $11M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Paycheck Protection Program Loan

body_text: Continental Aerospace Technologies Inc. has agreed to pay $11,772,680.14 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to obtain a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for which it was not eligible. “PPP loans were intended to help small businesses in the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department remains committed to pursuing those who violated the requirements of this taxpayer funded program.” “PPP loans were meant to help small American businesses survive the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic. Continental, however, was part of a large Chinese-owned corporation and allegedly provided false information to the SBA to obtain taxpayer funds to which it was not entitled,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. “This matter is just one of many cases in which our office continues to hold corporations, particularly those owned by a foreign government, accountable when they submit false claims to obtain American taxpayer money.” “This settlement demonstrates our office’s steadfast commitment to relentlessly investigating and resolving fraud against American taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello for the Southern District of Alabama. “It also reflects the effectiveness of our collaborative False Claims Act investigations in holding companies and individuals accountable for fraudulent conduct and returning unlawfully obtained taxpayer funds to the United States, together with significant financial penalties.” “The SBA is committed to rooting out every dollar of PPP fraud,” said SBA General Counsel Wendell Davis. “Alongside the Department of Justice Civil Fraud Section, U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Southern District of Alabama, and our other law enforcement partners, the agency will aggressively pursue bad actors to hold them accountable and recover pandemic relief funds improperly obtained from the program.” Congress created the PPP in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the PPP, eligible businesses could receive forgivable loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA). Regulations provide various eligibility requirements for the PPP, including limitations on the number of individuals the borrower and its affiliated entities employed. In their loan applications, borrowers were required to certify that they were eligible for the PPP and that the information they provided was accurate. Continental designs and manufactures aircraft engines and parts. At the time it applied for its PPP loan, it was part of a large multinational corporation partially owned by Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). AVIC is wholly owned by the State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC), an arm of the People’s Republic of China. In applying for its PPP loan, Continental certified that it was eligible for the PPP. The United States alleges that Continental was not eligible because it was affiliated with other companies in the United States and China, and together with its affiliates across the globe, Continental employed more individuals than permitted by SBA’s size standard for its industry. The United States also contends that Continental was not eligible because it was ultimately owned by a government entity in violation of SBA rules. The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The lawsuits were filed by GNGH2 Inc. in the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Andrew McCarley in the Southern District of Alabama. In connection with the settlement, GNGH2 Inc. will receive $1,765,902.02. This year the Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel and Office of the Inspector General. Trial Attorney Lindsey Roberts of the Civil Division, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Carter for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nina Herring for the Southern District of Alabama handled the matter. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.


title: Drug trafficker from Phoenix sentenced to 150 months in prison

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – A 42-year-old Phoenix man with prior convictions for drug trafficking was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 150 months (12.5 years) in prison for acting as a broker for huge amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl headed to western Washington, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Ryan Matthew Gennette was a long-time resident of Auburn, Washington, before relocating to Phoenix. Gennette was tied to large shipments of methamphetamine and fentanyl tainted M30 pills. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle said that Genette was “willing to engage in the large-scale distribution of dangerous substances for money.” “Not only did Mr. Gennette traffick huge amounts of dangerous drugs by mail and by courier, he was also involved in sending firearms to cartel connected drug sources in Mexico,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “This sentence takes a repeat offender out of the drug business for a significant period.” According to records filed in the case, Gennette was already on law enforcement radar in June 2024 when he shipped two large boxes containing seven kilograms of fentanyl pills, almost two kilograms of fentanyl powder, and over ten kilograms of actual methamphetamine to an address on Whidbey Island. Law enforcement seized and replaced the drugs with sham materials so that they could gather information on Gennette’s drug network. Next Gennette sent nine kilograms of methamphetamine via courier – it too was seized by law enforcement. Over time, law enforcement worked with confidential informants to place orders for large amounts of drugs from Gennette. This led to Gennette reaching out to an alleged contact in Mexico, Donald Budge. Budge is also charged in this case and is detained pending trial scheduled for December 15, 2026. Budge is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Gennette sent shipments of highly pure methamphetamine on two occasions in October 2024 – those shipments came into law enforcement custody. A shipment of 13 kilos of methamphetamine was tested as being 100 percent pure. A final shipment of over 64 kilograms of actual methamphetamine, plus 6.5 kilograms of counterfeit “M30” pills manufactured to look like prescription oxycodone, was seized from a courier in a traffic stop. Both men were arrested in November 2024 – Gennette in Phoenix and Budge in Tijuana, Mexico. Gennette pleaded guilty in May 2026. This investigation 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 Seattle comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), The United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington. This investigation was led by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). There is significant assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Tahoma Narcotics Enforcement Team (Auburn Police Department, Bonney Lake Police Department, Lakewood Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, Puyallup Police Department, Tacoma Police Department, Washington State Department of Corrections) the Skagit County Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit (which includes the Skagit County Sheriff’s Office, Mt. Vernon Police Department, Burlington Police Department, Anacortes Police Department and the Oak Harbor Police Department) as well as the Island County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Vincent T. Lombardi and Crystal C Correa.


title: DOJ provides crime-fighting grants to state, cities, and counties in Western Washington

body_text: Seattle – The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs has awarded more than $8 million to Washington State, its cities and counties for law enforcement equipment, training and personnel, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. The federal Byrne grants (named for a young police officer killed in the line of duty) were awarded last month to the state and ten different cities and counties. The two largest grants, nearly $6.5 million total, went to the Washington State Department of Commerce to be parceled out to cities, counties and non-profit organizations for programs that focus on community safety. “It can be highly competitive to get these federal funds, and I congratulate the cities and counties that developed proposals that were chosen for Byrne grants,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “We know that a strong partnership with state and local law enforcement is crucial to federal efforts to protect our community. I am pleased to be able to announce this DOJ support for state and local law enforcement.” Additional grants include: Seattle Police and surrounding jurisdictions: $842,356 for programs and equipment identified by each jurisdiction – includes overtime and improved technology systems. Tacoma and Pierce County: $395,052 for Tacoma’s Building Resilience Against Youth Violence and Exploitation (BRAVE) program to reduce young adult violence and for Pierce County Sheriff’s Office investments in safety equipment and training. Longview and Cowlitz County: $10,793 to support the Longview School Resource Officer Program. Bremerton: $16,612 to maintain and develop crime prevention activities and initiatives. Kitsap County: $46,956 to purchase equipment for digital evidence extraction and secure storage, and for purchase of high sensitivity camera for use in identifying skin bruising and other forensic material. Everett: $38,199 for technology upgrades for investigations and for establishing a North Precinct Drone for the First Responder Operations Center to expand emergency response capacity. Snohomish County: $84,296 for implementing the Grappler Police Bumper pursuit immobilization system on patrol vehicles, and the training for using the system to bring fleeing vehicles to a safe stop. Vancouver and Clark County: $139,355 The two entities will evenly split the federal dollars and use the funds for technology, equipment and supplies that enhance community safety. Marysville: $14,226 for the purchase of tactical emergency medical equipment. The first aid kits will enhance officer safety and provide immediate lifesaving care to community members. Bellingham: $44,163 to bring back the motorcycle traffic unit which was closed due to COVID. The federal funds will pay for equipment and technological upgrades such as radios, printers, scanners, and other communication devices.


title: Illegal Alien from Mexico Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the United States and Possessing Firearm as a Felon

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ROANOKE, Va. – A Mexican citizen, living illegally in Danville, Virginia, pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States after a prior removal and unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon and alien illegally in the United States. Fernando Bahena Ruiz, 28, was charged based on an incident that occurred March 25, 2026. According to court records, several people called 911 on March 25, 2026 to report gunfire in a Danville neighborhood. One person saw muzzle flashes coming from Bahena Ruiz’s backyard. Officers arrived and saw Bahena Ruiz carrying a gun before he went back inside his house. Officers ultimately took Bahena Ruiz into custody, then executed a search warrant on his house, where they found a handgun, magazines, ammunition, and fraudulent immigration documents, including a green card and Social Security Card bearing false names. Officers also found at least 71 spent shell casings on Bahena Ruiz’s back porch and peyote plants containing mescaline, both Schedule I controlled substances, in Bahena Ruiz’s basement. First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf of Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C. made the announcement today. Homeland Security Investigations and the Danville Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Drew O. Inman is prosecuting the case for the United States.


title: Illegal Alien Convicted in Homeland Security Task Force Case Involving Deadly Alien Smuggling Operation

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: EL PASO, Texas – Furthering the achievements of the Homeland Security Task Force, a federal jury in El Paso convicted an illegal alien from Mexico of five counts for his role in a deadly conspiracy to smuggle and harbor illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Juan Carlos Lara-Quezada aka Ironman, was a leader of an alien smuggling organization operating in the Western District of Texas and District of New Mexico. The organization is responsible for smuggling hundreds of illegal aliens into the U.S. via the desert in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. After successfully entering the U.S., the aliens were picked up and then driven to a stash house in El Paso where they would remain until they were transported further into the United States. In 2024, the organization smuggled a woman and her son-in-law into the U.S., using a foot guide to lead them on an eight-hour journey through the desert. On the journey, the woman fell ill. The smugglers were directed to drop her off at an El Paso hospital instead of the stash house. En route to the hospital, the foot guide and driver instead abandoned the woman and her son-in-law on the sidewalk of a residential neighborhood. A passing motorist noticed the two abandoned aliens and called emergency services. The woman was transported to a hospital where she was pronounced dead due to environmental heat exposure. An investigation led by Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations resulted in Lara-Quezada’s arrest on Dec. 20, 2024. He was charged in a second superseding indictment on April 2, 2025, with conspiracy to transport aliens resulting in death, conspiracy to harbor aliens, transporting aliens resulting in death, conspiracy to bring in aliens, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. Now convicted om all five charges, Lara-Quezada is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 2. Three co-defendants were sentenced earlier this year. Juan David Vaquera-Guerrero aka Cone aka Sonic was sentenced to 46 months in prison on April 2. Carlos Omar Lara-Muniz aka Goofy was sentenced to 57 months in prison on April 16. On April 21, Ruben Esquivel-Gomez aka Guero was sentenced to 72 months in prison. All defendants in the case are illegal aliens from Mexico and were charged with the death of the smuggled alien. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone presides over the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mathew Engelbaum and Michael Williams are prosecuting the case. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of 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 comprises agents and officers from FBI; ICE HSI; DEA; ATF; U.S. Border Patrol; USMS; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Texas Department of Public Safety; as well as local police departments and sheriff’s offices, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. ###


title: Hardin County Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Multiple Child Exploitation Offenses

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Jackson, TN – Christopher Peyton Stricklin, 20 , of Savannah, Tennessee, was sentenced to 300 months’ imprisonment for committing three sexual exploitation offenses against minors in August 2025. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. The investigation in this case revealed that Stricklin used a cell phone to videotape himself sexually molesting a minor female, and he then sent the video to another minor using the same cell phone. Stricklin was charged in a three-count indictment with production and distribution of child pornography, and with transferring obscene material to a person under age 16. Following a two-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen, Stricklin was convicted of all three counts. On August 6, 2026, Judge Breen sentenced Stricklin to 300 months’ imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release. Stricklin was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,000 to the victim of his production offense, and a $5,000 special assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 (JVTA). Following his release from prison, Stricklin will have to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration & Notification Act (SORNA). U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “With the proliferation of cell phones and social media, predators are increasingly committing disturbing crimes against vulnerable victims, including child sexual abuse. As offenders keep committing these heinous crimes against children, our office will keep convicting and severely punishing them.” “This sentence is a reminder of the FBI’s never-ending pursuit of criminals who exploit our children,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The community is safer with Stricklin behind bars. Removing those who prey on others – especially children – helps protect the public and reinforces the commitment of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to protecting children from these insidious crimes.” “This case highlights the power of the strong collaboration and the unwavering commitment shown by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation along with our local, state, and federal partners in pursuing those who exploit innocent children,” said TBI Director David Rausch. “We hope this sentence sends a clear message to others: we will continue to devote every necessary resource to identifying and apprehending individuals who prey on our most vulnerable citizens across Tennessee.” This case was investigated by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the Savannah Police Department, the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office, and the District Attorney’s Office for the 24th Judicial District in Tennessee. Assistant United States Attorneys Josh Morrow and Caroline Parish prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. ### For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Sharpsburg Resident Charged with Distribution, Receipt, and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of distributing, receiving, and possessing material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The three-count indictment named Drew Michael Kozlowski, 45, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on or about March 27, 2026, Kozlowski received and attempted to receive material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, with the Indictment also charging Kozlowski with distributing and attempting to distribute material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor on or about March 28, 2026. The Indictment further alleges that, in June of 2026, Kozlowski possessed material which depicted prepubescent minors or minors who had not attained 12 years of age engaging in sexually explicit conduct. As to the receipt and distribution charges, the law provides for a sentence of not less than five years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. As to the possession charge, the law provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Pittsburgh Woman Sentenced for Theft of Supplemental Security Income Funds

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to one year of probation and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $18,467 on her convictions for Supplemental Security Income fraud and theft of government property, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Dana Nicole Johnson, 56, of the Eastmont neighborhood of Pittsburgh. According to information presented to the Court, Johnson applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits through the Social Security Administration. Because SSI is a monthly, needs-based benefit afforded to people with disabilities and the elderly who have little or no income, applicants for the program are required to report their wages, assets, and living arrangements for consideration by the Social Security Administration in determining eligibility for SSI. Investigators determined that Johnson, while receiving SSI, worked for both a home healthcare business and as a federal employee at a Veterans Affairs medical center and that Johnson concealed her wages from the Social Security Administration, resulting in the theft of over $18,000. This was the second time Johnson concealed income while obtaining SSI. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Johnson. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs.


title: Wyoming County man going to prison for transportation of child pornography

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Shayne M. Hildreth, 46, of Bliss, NY, who was convicted of transportation of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 117 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. 60 months of his federal sentence will be served consecutive to a sentence he received in New York State Court after being convicted in Wyoming County following a jury trial of use of a child in a sexual performance as a sexually motivated felony, unlawful surveillance in the second degree, criminal sexual act in the second degree and endangering the welfare of a child. On February 24, 2018, a 15-year-old minor victim disclosed that she had been sexually abused by Hildreth and that she had seen child pornography on his cell phone. She reported that Hildreth was traveling from the Western District of New York to Aurora, MO. During an encounter with Hildreth later that day, law enforcement seized his cell phone. A search of the cell phone located 12 images of child pornography. Hildreth had engaged in a pattern of activity involving the sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor, which involved sexual contact on two separate occasions. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron J. Mango and Douglas A. C. Penrose. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Aurora-Marionville Police Department, under the direction of Chief Wes Coatney, Homeland Security investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone, and the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto. Additional assistance was provided by the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force and the Wyoming County District Attorney’s Office. # # # #


title: MS-13 Gang member pleads guilty to illegal reentry after federal racketeering conviction

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Yelso Ollyder Castro-Licona, 38, a citizen and native of Honduras, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to reentry of a removed alien subsequent to an aggravated felony conviction, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Castro-Licona is an alien without any legal status in the United States. In July 2004, he was found to be illegally present in the United States and was physically removed in January 2008. In November 2008, Castro-Licona was once again found to be illegally present in the United States, and the prior order of removal was reinstated. In May 2010, Castro-Licona, a member of the MS-13 gang, was convicted on a federal racketeering conspiracy charge. According to the prior case, the racketeering activity included murder, robbery, extortion, witness tampering, obstruction of justice, drug trafficking, and federal firearms violations. He was sentenced to serve 75 months in prison and was released from custody in May 2014. In July 2014, Castro-Licona was physically removed once again from the United States. In February 2026, he was found in Erie County, NY, in the Western District of New York. He did not possess any legal documents allowing him to be present in the United States. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan W. Fitzgerald. The plea is the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Acting Chief Patrol Agent James D’Amato, the Department of Homeland Security Enforcement and Removal Operations, under the direction of Acting Field Operations Director Phillip Rhoney, and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Christopher Bourke. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. # # # #


title: Senate Confirms Timothy VerHey as United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – On August 7, 2026, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Timothy VerHey as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan. VerHey assumed that position on July 21, 2025, after being appointed by former Attorney General Bondi. President Trump nominated VerHey for confirmation by the Senate on April 13, 2026. VerHey was confirmed as part of a block of nominees submitted for a roll call vote that occurred on August 7, 2026. U.S. Attorney VerHey said, “I consider this one of the great honors of my life. I am proud to represent the United States as it seeks justice in all its civil and criminal legal matters in this district. As long as I hold this position, my goal will be to see to it that all our citizens receive justice and fair treatment.”


title: Rayne Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Cocaine Trafficking

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: LAFAYETTE – On July 20, 2026, United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced Wayne Christopher Kelley , 43, of Rayne, to 60 months in federal prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine. He will serve four years of supervised release after his sentence is served. Kelley previously pled guilty to the charges. According to court documents, investigators with the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office (APSO) began investigating Kelley in early 2025 for suspected crack cocaine trafficking in and around Rayne, Louisiana. On June 26, 2025, detectives obtained search warrants for two residences associated with Kelley . On July 1, 2025, investigators recovered one kilogram of cocaine at the first residence. At the second, detectives found a book sack containing measuring cups, spoons, whisks, a calibrated scale with white residue, a razor blade, approximately 3.21 grams of cocaine, and a vacuum-sealed bag containing approximately 159 grams of cocaine. Kelley admitted that the narcotics belonged to him. The total amount of cocaine attributable to Kelley exceeded 500 grams and was consistent with distribution quantities. DEA DEA U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. APSO, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated this case. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte Murphy with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle. This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America (TBA), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s agencies, and coordinates efforts with state and local law enforcement and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF), ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. Learn more about PSN at https://www.justice.gov/psn You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 6:25-CR-00325. ### Public Affairs United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Louisiana USALAW-News@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Twitter @USAO_WDLA


title: Rayne Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Interstate Threats Targeting Mother of Minor He Previously Exploited

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: LAFAYETTE – On August 6, 2026, United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr., sentenced Raylin Richard , 46, of Rayne, to 46 months in federal prison for Interstate Communication with Threat to Injure, to run consecutive to a 17-year sentence he is currently serving. “Today’s age of social media, text messaging, and other forms of instant communication present a danger in the form of predators like this defendant using those means to terrorize and re-traumatize their victims, and this Office is committed to investigating and prosecuting that conduct alongside our federal and state law enforcement partners,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of this defendant’s conduct—a convicted sex offender terrorizing his former victims—and the fact that our community simply will not tolerate it.” According to court documents, Richard is currently serving a 17-year sentence for a prior child‑exploitation offense that involved secretly filming a 12-year-old girl, the daughter of his former romantic partner. After that conviction, the former partner secured a lifetime protective order against Richard and moved with her family to another state. While housed at Oakdale Federal Correctional Institution in Louisiana, Richard used a contraband cellphone to send threatening social‑media messages to the woman, which included threatening statements and photos of her new residence. A forensic review of the seized cellphone confirmed Richard’s access to the accounts used to send the threats. Investigators also found messages between Richard and a former cellmate which proved Richard’s anger toward the victim, and which corroborated his involvement in the hostile communications. In the messages, Richard threatened bodily harm to the woman if she ever reported him to the police again. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, personnel at Oakdale Federal Correctional Institution, and law enforcement officials in the state where the victim moved. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott Cade Cassidy and Myers P. Namie, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Denise Duhon. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 2:25-cr-00318. ### Public Affairs United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Louisiana USALAW-News@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Twitter @USAO_WDLA


title: Methamphetamine Seized During Bawcomville Traffic Stop Leads to 24-Year Federal Sentence for Repeat Offender

body_text: SHREVEPORT – On August 4, 2026, United States Chief District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced Bob Gilbert , Jr., 44, of Columbia, Louisiana, to 288 months in federal prison after his guilty plea for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, followed by eight years of supervised release. According to court documents, on May 31, 2024, deputies with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office (OPSO) conducted a lawful traffic stop of a Nissan Maxima on Sandal Street in Bawcomville. Gilbert was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. During the stop, deputies searched the car and located approximately 46 grams of pure methamphetamine in the driver's side door panel. Deputies also found a digital scale and approximately $3,200 in cash inside the vehicle, along with approximately $1,171 on Gilbert's person. Gilbert admitted he possessed the methamphetamine and that he had previously been convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and sentenced to seven years. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and OPSO. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlotte Farshian and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Cassidy, with assistance from Legal Assistant Amanda Morgan. This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America (TBA), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s agencies, and coordinates efforts with state and local law enforcement and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF), ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. Learn more about PSN at https://www.justice.gov/psn You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 3:25-cr-00026-01. ### Public Affairs United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Louisiana USALAW-News@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Twitter @USAO_WDLA


title: Wayne County Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Justin L. Wiegand, 34, of Kenova, pleaded guilty today to receipt of child pornography. According to court documents and statements made in court, in December 2023, Wiegand contacted a user on an instant messaging app who provided Wiegand with options for purchasing videos and links to files depicting child pornography. The options included “Cp,” “Kids,” and “Young Girls.” As part of his guilty plea, Wiegand admitted that he ordered a package from the Young Girls and Kids options that included approximately 160 videos and links to four folders on an online file hosting service containing over 50 gigabytes of child pornography. Wiegand further admitted that the videos sent to him depict minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including adult males having sexual intercourse with prepubescent females. Wiegand paid the messaging app user $25 for the package via an online payments system. At the user’s direction, Wiegand messaged a different messaging app account that provided Wiegand with the videos and online links he purchased. Wiegand also admitted to additional criminal conduct as part of his guilty plea. Wiegand purchased child pornography from the same and other messaging app users on at least eight other occasions between December 2023 and January 2025. Wiegand requested such content as “young girls cp” and asked if the user had rape videos during these transactions. Wiegand also set up a hidden camera in a bathroom at his residence and recorded a video of an approximately 10-year-old girl undressing until she was nude and taking a shower. The video was saved on one of Wiegand’s cell phones no later than July 29, 2025. Wiegand possessed numerous images and videos of child pornography on his cell phones, including depictions of prepubescent minors engaged in sexual intercourse and oral sex with adults. Wiegand saved some of these images and videos using a private cloud storage service, including at least two images depicting an approximately 14-year-old girl displaying her nude genital area. Wiegand was previously convicted of two counts of third-degree sexual assault in Wayne County Circuit Court on May 5, 2023. As part of today’s guilty plea, Wiegand admitted that his victim in that case is the approximately 14-year-old girl depicted in the child pornography on the private cloud storage service. Wiegard also admitted that he was serving a term of home confinement for those convictions at the time of his current offense. Wiegand is scheduled to be sentenced on November 23, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 17 years and up to 40 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement. The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) investigated the case with assistance provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the West Virginia State Police. “Sexual exploitation of children is one of the worst and most damaging crimes in our country,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Those who participate in these crimes damage lives, rob innocence, and create emotional wounds that last a lifetime. Whether you produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM), distribute it, or access it via subscriptions to messaging apps, we will find and prosecute you subject to mandatory minimum penalties, as in the case of this repeat offender.” “This predator admitted to continuing his horrific crimes against children even while serving a sentence for statutory rape,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “Our office remains steadfast and unrelenting, working closely with our law enforcement partners to protect our children and communities from such heinous and abhorrent offenses.” “This case demonstrates how DSS leverages its global footprint to protect vulnerable victims and work with law enforcement partners on complex, multi-jurisdictional investigations,” said William Ferrari, Deputy Assistant Director of the Office of Investigations for the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). “Every day, DSS works alongside U.S. and international partners to investigate cases like this, protect victims, and safeguard U.S. interests at home and abroad.” United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald and Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-197. ###


title: Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Delaquan Antonio Myers, also known as “Chase,” 37, of Dayton, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 7, 2022, Myers agreed to deliver approximately 400 grams of fentanyl to an individual in the Beaver area of Raleigh County, West Virginia. Rather than deliver the fentanyl himself, Myers asked the buyer to send someone to meet him in Dayton, Ohio. Two undercover law enforcement officers obtained the fentanyl from Myers. Myers is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit. United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin and former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell have prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-29. ###


title: Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking Organization

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Joe Sidney Cross, 44, of Huntington, was sentenced today to three years and five months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl. Cross admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed fentanyl, cocaine base, and methamphetamine in the Huntington area. According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 13, 2025, Cross sold approximately 3.5 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant for $220 in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Cross admitted that he arranged the transaction beforehand and conducted the drug deal in the confidential informant’s vehicle. Cross also admitted to conspiring with another individual to conduct additional transactions on March 20 and March 24, 2025. During each transaction, Cross sold a firearm and co-conspirator Erin Leigh Keeney sold approximately 1 gram of carfentanil to a confidential informant. Cross further admitted to selling 8.45 grams of fentanyl on May 22, 2025, and approximately 11.44 grams of fentanyl on June 12, 2025, each time to a confidential informant in Huntington. On September 11, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Huntington residence while Cross was present and seized approximately 12.35 grams of suspected cocaine base, also known as “crack.” Cross admitted that he intended to sell the seized crack. Cross and Keeney are among seven individuals indicted following a federal investigation of drug trafficking in the Huntington area. All seven defendants pleaded guilty. Keeney, 42, of Huntington, is scheduled to be sentenced on September 28, 2026, after pleading guilty to distribution of carfentanil. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Huntington Police Department, and the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-161. ###


title: Rio Grande City man sentenced for soliciting sexually explicit images of minors

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 32-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison for sexual exploitation of minors. Jorge Alberto Bazan pleaded guilty May 27. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Bazan to serve 60 months in federal prison. He must also serve five years of supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Bazan will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Authorities identified Bazan in 2025 when conducting investigations via social media. From Sept. 12 to Sept. 24, 2025, Bazan had been communicating with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old minor. In those conversations, he expressed interest in engaging in sexual activities with the child. Bazan also solicited photos of the minor’s genitals and instructed her on how to receive a picture and then delete them. He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. FBI McAllen conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page .


title: Previously convicted felon pleads guilty to illegally possessing firearm shown in social media posts

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – A repeat offender pleaded guilty in federal court here today to illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Terrill Hill, 21, of Cincinnati, was previously convicted of a local firearms felony in 2025 and sentenced to 24 months of community control. He was charged federally in February 2026. According to his plea documents, in November and December 2025, photos on Instagram showed Hill possessing a unique firearm. The firearm was a Glock with an extended magazine, a switch on the back, and a flashlight/laser pointer under the barrel. A switch is a metal device that effectively converts semi-automatic firearms into machineguns. Agents executed a search warrant at a residence used by Hill and recovered the same firearm Hill had been seen holding in social media posts. Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) announced the guilty plea entered today before Jeffery P. Hopkins. Assistant United States Attorney Frederic C. Shadley is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Unlicensed Tour Operator Charged For Causing Deaths Of Five-Month-Old Infant And 27-Year-Old Woman In New York Harbor Boat Capsizing

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, Assistant Director in Charge of the Coast Guard Investigative Service (“CGIS”), Josh Packer, and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today that MANUEL HERNANDEZ has been charged with negligently causing the death of a five-month-old infant and a 27-year-old woman, after the vessel HERNANDEZ was piloting capsized in New York Harbor. HERNANDEZ was presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo. “Federal regulations and maritime safety protocols exist to protect the lives and wellbeing of passengers on commercial vessels,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “The defendant allegedly flouted those regulations when he transported paying customers on a commercial vessel without appropriate licenses, overcrowded the vessel, and took on a five-month-old infant passenger, with no infant life vests onboard. We mourn the tragic drowning deaths of the infant and her mother and urge would-be tour operators and the public to observe all safety protocols for commercial vessels.” “Illegal charter operations gamble with human life, and in this case, the alleged conduct led to an unthinkable tragedy,” said Coast Guard Investigative Service Assistant Director Josh Packer. “As the Coast Guard’s criminal investigative agency, CGIS brings unmatched maritime subject-matter expertise coupled with federal law enforcement authority. Working with our federal, state, and local partners, we will continue to investigate those who ignore passenger vessel safety laws and put the public in danger.” “As alleged in the complaint, Manuel Hernandez showed a complete disregard for the safety of his passengers when he piloted an over-capacity boat without a license that capsized in the New York Harbor,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “This tragedy could have been prevented, and now a family is left to grieve the unimaginable loss of a mother and her five-month-old daughter because of his negligence. I am grateful to our NYPD Harbor and Aviation Units for their swift response and to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for bringing these charges.” According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:(1) On or about August 8, 2026, HERNANDEZ was piloting a Yamaha AR210 (the “Vessel”) when it capsized in New York Harbor, resulting in the deaths of a five-month-old infant (“Victim-1”) and a 27-year-old woman (“Victim-2”). At the time of the capsizing, HERNANDEZ was the pilot and operator of the Vessel and conducting a tour for paying customers that had been arranged through a tour operations company. HERNANDEZ’s negligent actions and omissions caused the capsizing and deaths of Victim-1 and Victim-2. At the time of the capsizing, among other things: (i) HERNANDEZ operated the Vessel with 14 people onboard, exceeding the Vessel’s maximum allowable capacity of 10 people; (ii) HERNANDEZ knowingly operated the Vessel with an infant onboard, knowing that the infant was not wearing a personal flotation device (“PFD”) and that the Vessel was not equipped with any child- or infant-sized PFDs; (iii) HERNANDEZ had not obtained a Merchant Mariner Credential, a required USCG certification to operate the Vessel with paying customers onboard; (iv) HERNANDEZ operated the Vessel without a valid USCG Certificate of Inspection, which is required for a vessel to operate with paying customers onboard, and, in fact, the Vessel was of a type and size that made it ineligible to receive a COI for the type of operation conducted by HERNANDEZ. All 14 people onboard the Vessel were thrown overboard during the capsizing. Shortly after the capsizing, other boats, including commercial vessels and vessels operated by the NYPD, the USCG, and the New York City Fire Department, responded to the scene to render emergency assistance. 11 passengers and HERNANDEZ were recovered in varying medical conditions and survived the capsizing. The bodies of Victim-1 and Victim-2 were recovered in the water by members of the NYPD and USCG. Both Victim-1 and Victim-2 were unresponsive, received CPR from emergency responders, and were immediately transported to a hospital in Brooklyn. Upon arrival at the hospital, both Victim-1 and Victim-2 were pronounced deceased by medical personnel. A photo of the capsized Vessel being recovered from the water is below: Please report any illegal passenger charters to the USCG at https://www.p3tips.com/878 . * * * HERNANDEZ, 46, of Manville, New Jersey, is charged with two counts of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding work of the CGIS and the NYPD. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Stahl is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ^ As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.