title: Co-Founder of Sinaloa Cartel, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada Garcia, Sentenced to Life in Prison for Engaging in a Continuing Criminal Enterprise and Other Drug-Related Charges

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: “El Mayo” Spent Nearly Four Decades Leading the Sinaloa Cartel’s Trafficking of Tons of Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Other Deadly Drugs into the United States, and Ordered Ruthless Acts of Violence to Protect His Enterprise MIAMI – Ismael Zambada Garcia, also known as El Mayo, 77, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced today to life in prison and ordered to pay $15 billion in forfeiture for his role as the principal leader of a continuing criminal enterprise — the Sinaloa Cartel (the Cartel), one of the most violent and powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world — and for his involvement in racketeering. “Today, narco-trafficker El Mayo was sentenced to life in prison, marking the end of his reign over the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the most violent and deadly drug cartels in history. He will never again inflict carnage, corrupt public officials, or traffic deadly drugs into our communities that ruin Americans and their families,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “El Mayo’s capture and conviction is historic, and it reflects the Justice Department’s commitment to the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations that threaten American lives. To those who remain: we will find you, we will prosecute you, and you, too, will face substantial time in prison.” “Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada Garcia spent nearly four decades leading a cartel that poisoned American communities, corrupted public officials, and used murder and terror to protect its power,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Today’s life sentence ensures that his reign of violence is over for good. This result reflects years of determined work by prosecutors in the Southern District of Florida, who helped build and carry this case alongside our partners in Brooklyn, Texas, the Criminal Division, and federal law enforcement. No cartel leader is beyond the reach of American justice, and the Southern District of Florida will stay in the fight until the job is finished.” “Ismael Zambada Garcia spent nearly four decades poisoning American communities to make billions of dollars in profit and ordering the murders of anyone who stood in his way. Today, that chapter closes for good,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “He will spend the rest of his life in a U.S. prison, exactly where he belongs. This sentence was made possible by the tireless work of law enforcement across two countries who refused to let El Mayo’s years of evading justice become a permanent state of affairs. We hope that today’s sentence brings some measure of justice to the countless victims of the Sinaloa Cartel’s narcotics trafficking and violence.” “The sentencing of Zambada Garcia to life in federal prison is a landmark moment in the fight against transnational criminal organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “This Administration has made the total elimination of cartels a national priority because Mexican drug cartels are a multifaceted threat to the American way of life. Today’s sentencing is yet another example of our commitment to accomplishing that goal. The Western District of Texas is literally on the front lines of that fight, and our AUSAs and support staff will continue to wake up every day and do the next right thing on behalf of the American people just as they did in this case and so many cases like it.” “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message to every cartel, every foreign terrorist leader: No matter how powerful you become or how long you evade justice, DEA will not stop pursuing you,” said Administrator Terrance C. “Terry” Cole of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “For decades, Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada García helped lead the Sinaloa Cartel — now designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization – fueling violence, corrupting public institutions, and trafficking fentanyl into the United States, where it has become a weapon of mass destruction that has claimed countless American lives. This outcome reflects the unwavering determination of DEA and our law enforcement partners, who never stopped pursuing this case. Justice does not have an expiration date, and neither does our resolve. We will continue targeting the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel and every criminal organization that threatens the American people.” “Today, the United States closes the book on one of the most violent and destructive criminal figures of our time — the most prolific drug trafficker in modern history: Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada Garcia,” said Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “For nearly two decades, HSI special agents and investigators interviewed countless witnesses, dissected every shred of evidence, and devoted themselves, through sleepless nights and early mornings, to making certain that 'El Mayo' and his co-conspirators would face justice on behalf of Sinaloa’s victims. Through the Homeland Security Task Force framework, HSI fused its global investigative reach, financial expertise, and border authorities with the invaluable capabilities of the FBI, the DEA, the U.S. Marshals Service, and our Department of Justice counterparts. With this sentencing, HSI, together with our invaluable HSTF partners, has taken one of the world’s most dangerous criminals off the map permanently.” “El Mayo's sentencing is a testament to the dedication of dozens of law enforcement officers and attorneys who labored over this case for decades,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Tyler of the FBI Washington Field Office. “It’s also a victory for every American family who has lost a loved one to a drug overdose and every Mexican community that has lived in fear of cartel violence. In the wake of this sentencing, the FBI and our partners vow to continue to pour our collective resources into dismantling the cartel — bringing every faction leader, plaza boss, and assassin to justice.” Today’s sentencing is the result of a joint prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) and Southern District of Florida (SDFL) and the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF). Zambada Garcia was previously charged by indictments filed in the Eastern District of New York (the EDNY/SDFL/MNF indictment), the Western District of Texas (WDTX), the District of Columbia, the Northern District of Illinois, the Southern District of California, and the Central District of California. The EDNY/SDFL/MNF indictment charged Zambada Garcia with, among other things, being a principal leader of a continuing criminal enterprise from January 1989 through January 2024. The WDTX Indictment charged Zambada Garcia with, among other things, RICO conspiracy for his participation in money laundering, murder, and drug conspiracies, and violations of state law for murder and kidnapping for conduct between Jan. 1, 2000, and April 11, 2012. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Zambada Garcia agreed to the transfer of the WDTX indictment for plea and sentencing in the Eastern District of New York with the EDNY/SDFL/MNF indictment. Zambada Garcia then pleaded guilty to being a principal leader of a continuing criminal enterprise and a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) charge. Zambada Garcia’s rise to power began with the Cartel’s inception and ended with his arrest in July 2024. Previously known as the Mexican Federation, the Cartel is a drug trafficking organization based in Sinaloa, Mexico, that since approximately the late 1980s has imported lethal quantities of narcotics — including, among others, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl — into the United States and laundered billions of dollars in drug proceeds back to Mexico. The Cartel’s operations initially focused on cocaine distribution based on cooperative arrangements and close coordination with South American sources of supply and distribution networks. This changed in the 2000s when the Colombians, seeing increased law enforcement activity, started to abandon their U.S. distribution businesses in favor of permitting Mexican traffickers to invest in cocaine shipments at wholesale prices, which those Mexican traffickers would then distribute in the United States. As a result, Mexican traffickers and the Cartel began to take a more integral role in moving cocaine from Colombia into and throughout the United States. Under Zambada Garcia’s leadership, the Cartel also recently branched out into the production and trafficking of fentanyl, including by purchasing fentanyl precursor chemicals from Chinese companies and producing many thousands of kilograms of fentanyl in laboratories both in rural areas and major cities in Mexico for distribution in the United States. The Cartel’s distribution networks also have supported money laundering efforts that have delivered billions of dollars in illegal profits generated from drug sales in the United States back to the Cartel. Increased profits allowed the Cartel’s operations to grow a large-scale narcotics transportation network involving the use of land, air, and sea transportation assets, which eventually led to the Cartel shipping multi-ton quantities of cocaine from South America, through Central America and Mexico, and finally into the United States. Zambada Garcia has devoted his efforts over decades to growing, increasing, and enhancing the power of the Cartel, and to growing his individual power and position in the Cartel after his partner El Chapo was captured in 2016. Under Zambada Garcia’s leadership, the Cartel regularly used brutal violence, intimidation, and murder to silence potential witnesses and dissuade law enforcement from performing its duties. Zambada Garcia has operated with impunity at the highest levels of the Mexican drug trafficking world while being assured of his continued success and safety from arrest through his payment of bribes to Mexican government officials and law enforcement officers. He controlled those corrupt officials and officers who protected his workers and drug shipments as his drugs were transported across Mexico and into the United States. Numerous witnesses have testified, including at the trials of El Chapo and corrupt former Mexican Secretary of Public Security Genaro García Luna, that corruption at all levels was necessary to allow the Zambada Garcia’s criminal enterprise to function so effectively at such a large scale: from local police officers who escorted the drugs through Mexico, to corrupt officials who informed the Cartel of military actions, thwarted capture operations, and consulted with the Cartel about proceedings and investigations against it. The DEA, HSI, and FBI investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Jayce Born and Kirk Handrich of the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit (NDDU) are leading the prosecution for the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, along with the Eastern District of New York’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section as part of the work of EDNY’s Transnational Criminal Organizations Strike Force and SDFL’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Goldbarg and Monique Botero are leading the prosecution for the Southern District of Florida. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francisco J. Navarro, Robert M. Pollack, Adam Amir, Lauren A. Bowman, and Rebecca M. Urquiola are leading the prosecution for the Eastern District of New York. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Northern District of Illinois, Central District of California, and Southern District of California provided substantial assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Antonio Franco and Kyle Myers are leading the prosecution for the Western District of Texas. MNF’s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations. MNF’s NDDU investigates and prosecutes the top command and control elements of international drug cartels, drug trafficking organizations, and related transnational criminal organizations. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of New York at www.nyed.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.nyed.uscourts.gov , under case number 09-cr-466. ###


title: One of Rhode Island's Most Wanted Fugitive Captured After More Than 20 Years on the Run

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A man who spent more than two decades evading justice is now in custody following a coordinated multi-state law enforcement operation led by the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force (RI VFTF) and the FBI. After more than 20 years as a fugitive, Ronald L. Fischer, one of Rhode Island's Most Wanted fugitives, was apprehended following an intensive investigation conducted by the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force with the assistance of numerous law enforcement partners. During the past 48 hours, Deputy U.S. Marshals and Task Force Officers assigned to the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force, working alongside FBI Special Agents, FBI intelligence analysts and Rhode Island State Police, pursued newly developed investigative leads regarding Fischer's whereabouts. Information received by the Task Force was rapidly analyzed, corroborated, and determined to be credible and actionable, ultimately leading investigators to New York. Once the intelligence was confirmed, members of the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force immediately deployed to New York and coordinated with the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Service Southern District of New York, and the United States Coast Guard to locate and apprehend Fischer. Investigators determined Fischer was operating a 56-foot sailing vessel, The Silver Lining, which was registered under the name Richard Graydon, an alias used by Fischer. Working from a U.S. Coast Guard 45-foot Response Boat, Deputy U.S. Marshals and U.S. Coast Guard personnel located and intercepted the vessel approximately one hour offshore. Fischer was taken into custody without incident. Fischer was arrested on a United States Marshals Service Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution warrant. Fischer had been a fugitive since fleeing Rhode Island during his criminal trial in 2005. He was subsequently convicted in absentia of First-Degree Sexual Assault after failing to appear for trial and remained wanted for Failure to Appear, First Degree Sexual Assault, and Flight to Avoid Prosecution. Following his arrest, Fischer was transported aboard the U.S. Coast Guard vessel to Coast Guard Station Staten Island, New York, where custody was transferred to Deputy U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement officials. “You can run, but you cannot hide from justice. Thanks to the determined, coordinated efforts of the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Service, our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, and the dedicated prosecutors in this office, Ronald Fischer will now return to Rhode Island to face the consequences he sought to evade for more than 20 years, said First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.” The successful apprehension of Ronald Fischer was the result of exceptional collaboration between the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Service Southern District of New York, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Rhode Island State Police, Portsmouth Police Department and the United States Coast Guard. This investigation exemplifies the power of intelligence-driven fugitive investigations and the effectiveness of coordinated federal, state, and local law enforcement partnerships. "This arrest demonstrates that time does not erase accountability," said Wing Chau, U.S. Marshal for the District of Rhode Island. "For more than twenty years, Ronald Fischer believed he had successfully escaped justice. The men and women of the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force, together with our partners, remained committed to ensuring that day would eventually come. Thanks to outstanding investigative work, exceptional intelligence analysis, and seamless coordination between agencies, Fischer is finally in custody. We hope today's arrest brings a measure of justice and long-awaited closure to the victim and everyone impacted by these crimes." The investigation was significantly enhanced by the outstanding work of FBI intelligence analysts, whose ability to rapidly collect, analyze, and develop actionable intelligence proved instrumental in identifying Fischer's location. Their analytical efforts, combined with the investigative experience and operational capabilities of Deputy U.S. Marshals, FBI Special Agents, Coast Guard personnel, and Task Force Officers, directly contributed to the successful conclusion of this operation. "The arrest of Ronald Fischer is the result of outstanding teamwork and an unwavering commitment to justice," said Colonel Darnell Weaver, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Director of the Department of Public Safety. "I commend the members of the United States Marshals Service, the United States Coast Guard, the FBI, and our Rhode Island State Police Troopers whose professionalism and determination brought one of Rhode Island's most wanted fugitives into custody. Their efforts demonstrate that those who seek to evade justice will not succeed, and that law enforcement agencies at every level will always work together to hold dangerous individuals accountable." The Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force is a multi-agency partnership dedicated to locating and apprehending the most dangerous violent fugitives in Rhode Island and throughout the United States. The Task Force is comprised of personnel from the United States Marshals Service, Rhode Island State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Providence Police Department, Pawtucket Police Department, Warwick Police Department, Cranston Police Department, Middletown Police Department, and Portsmouth Police Department. Combining investigative expertise, intelligence analysis, and operational resources, the Task Force conducts intelligence-driven fugitive investigations resulting in the apprehension of violent offenders throughout Rhode Island, across the United States, and internationally. Regardless of how much time has passed, the Rhode Island Violent Fugitive Task Force remains committed to ensuring violent fugitives are located and brought before the courts. This investigation remains ongoing. Additional information will be released as official reports are completed, and court proceedings continue.


title: Two Human Smuggling Guides Sentenced After Woman Dies in New Mexico Desert

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Two Mexican nationals were sentenced to federal prison for their roles as foot guides in a human smuggling operation that resulted in the death of a 26-year-old woman who was left behind in the New Mexico desert. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on August 7, 2024, United States Border Patrol agents in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, discovered 13 undocumented noncitizens hiding in the desert near New Mexico State Road 9 after they illegally entered the United States from Mexico. Agents later learned that another individual traveling with the group had been left behind and needed medical attention. When agents responded to the area, agents located 26-year-old Evelyn Esmeralda Villalta-Marquez deceased in the desert. The Office of the Medical Investigator determined Villalta-Marquez’s cause of death was hyperthermia due to environmental heat exposure. During the investigation, agents determined Gustavo Joachin-Hernandez , 37, a Mexican national who had previously been deported, and Israel Gonzalez-Cruz , 36, a Mexican national illegally present in the United States, acted as foot guides for the group and were responsible for leading 12 undocumented noncitizens for approximately five and a half hours through desert terrain in temperatures reaching approximately 97 degrees. Joachin-Hernandez admitted that Villalta-Marquez struggled to keep up with the group due to the heat, that he assisted her to the pickup location, and that she was still alive but in bad shape when he left her behind to continue with the smuggling operation. Joachin-Hernandez further admitted he had worked as a foot guide for a human smuggling organization since November 2023 and expected to be paid $2,000 Mexican pesos for each illegal alien that he assisted in being successfully smuggled to a stash house. Joachin-Hernandez and Gonzalez-Cruz pled guilty to conspiracy to transport an illegal alien and were sentenced to 46 months in prison. Upon their release from prison, they will be subject to deportation. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan G. McRae of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, made the announcement today. HSI Las Cruces investigated this case with assistance from the United States Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Castellano prosecuted the case.


title: Mescalero Man Charged with Assault and Child Abuse

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero man has been charged in federal court with assault arising from an alleged February 2026 incident and prior assaults. According to court documents, on February 25, 2026, Bradley Isaiah Davis , 36, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, allegedly assaulted the victim during an argument. Davis allegedly struck the victim multiple times in the face with a closed fist, and strangled the victim. The victim sought medical treatment. Medical records showed the victim suffered a fractured nasal bone, a head contusion, facial swelling, bruising, and nosebleeds. During a post-arrest interview with investigators, Davis allegedly admitted to striking the victim in the face and admitted to choking the victim. Davis is charged with assault causing serious bodily injury, assault by strangling and/or suffocating and child abuse and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, Davis faces up to 13 years in prison. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. The Las Cruces Branch Office of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Dulce Man Sentenced for Assault

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Dulce man was sentenced to 24 months in prison after admitting he repeatedly assaulted a woman, causing substantial injuries, while subject to a tribal court order prohibiting contact with the victim. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on July 23, 2025, Shelton Atole , 35, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, physically attacked the victim, hitting her repeatedly in the face and head. The victim attempted to flee and Atole chased her, but the victim was eventually able to get away and called a friend who picked her up. At the time of the assault, Atole was under a tribal court order prohibiting him from contact the victim following a separate incident of assault in June 2025. Atole pleaded guilty to assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to an intimate or dating partner.Upon his release from prison, Atole will be subject to three years of supervised release. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Jicarilla Apache Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meg Tomlinson is prosecuting the case.


title: Member of Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced To 104 Months for Fentanyl, Heroin, and Cocaine Trafficking

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A dual citizen of Mexico and the United States who trafficked multi-kilogram quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine was sentenced on July 14, 2026, to 104 months in prison and four years of supervised release before U.S. District Judge Michael E. Farbiarz in Newark federal court, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Edgar Lopez Razo, Jr., 30, previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. Lopez Razo admitted that, from approximately February 2022 through March 2024, he participated in a scheme to traffic large quantities of controlled substances by booking a series of short-term property rentals that he and his coconspirators would use to receive deliveries of narcotics. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Lopez Razo participated in a sophisticated large-scale drug-trafficking conspiracy. Lopez Razo and a coconspirator booked a series of short-term property rentals that they would systematically use to receive multi-kilogram deliveries of narcotics. Through this scheme, the coconspirators continually changed the address receiving the narcotics as a technique to evade detection by law enforcement. Lopez Razo and a coconspirator booked at least 27 rental properties to receive shipments of narcotics, in multiple locations throughout New Jersey and other states. The investigation resulted in the seizure of over 31 kilograms of cocaine, over 9 kilograms of fentanyl, and nearly 5 kilograms of heroin. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas in Newark with the investigation that led to the charges and conviction. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Newark comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, IRS and local law enforcement officers with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel H. Rosenblum of the Narcotics & International Trafficking Unit in Newark. ### Defense counsel: John H. Yauch, Esq.


title: Air Force Captain Convicted for Child Exploitation Offenses

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A Burlington County, New Jersey, man was convicted by a jury on July 17, 2026, for offenses arising from his illicit communications and conduct with an individual he believed to be a 14-year-old girl, United States Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Gabriel Perez, 31, of Eastampton, New Jersey, was convicted of attempted enticement and coercion of a minor and attempted transfer of obscene materials to a minor following a five-day jury trial that began on July 13, 2026 before United States District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn in Camden federal court. Sentencing is scheduled for December 9, 2026. According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial: In mid-August 2024, Perez, then a 29-year-old captain in the United States Air Force, communicated on an online social media platform with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 14-year-old girl. Within approximately 24 hours of learning the purported girl’s age, Perez expressed his interest in meeting her for sex. On August 28, 2024, Perez sent an obscene photograph of himself to the purported girl and arranged to meet her the next day to engage in unlawful sexual activity. On August 29, 2024, Perez drove to the pre‑arranged meeting location with condoms in his pocket and was arrested by law enforcement. Perez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment for his conviction for attempted enticement and coercion of a minor. He also faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for his conviction for attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. Each offense carries a maximum fine of $250,000. United States Attorney Frazer credited law enforcement members with the Air Force Office of Special Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ryan Gribble, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and the Eastampton Police Department for their assistance with the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Matt Belgiovine and Richard Shephard of the Criminal Division in Trenton. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/psc . ### perez.supersedingindictment.pdf Defense counsel: Ray Mateo, Esq.


title: Summit County Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Committing Crimes While Out on Parole

body_text: CLEVELAND – A 32-year-old Summit County man was sent back to prison for committing drug offenses while he was out on parole. Darren Tibbets, of Akron, was sentenced to a total of 144 months (12 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent. Tibbets received 24 months in prison (2 years) for being in violation of the terms of his supervised release after he was imprisoned for a previous drug conviction. He was also sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison after pleading guilty in December 2025 to the following charges: Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin and Fentanyl Distribution of Heroin and Fentanyl Both sentences will run consecutively. Court documents show that in 2025, federal agents began investigating suspected drug trafficking in Akron, Ohio. Tibbets was subsequently identified. During the investigation, law enforcement found that Tibbets was actively involved in illegal drug trafficking. In total, investigators seized approximately 21 grams of heroin and fentanyl from Tibbets. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brett S. Hammond .


title: Georgia Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison for Stealing $1.7 Million Through Business Email Scheme

body_text: CLEVELAND – A Georgia man has been sentenced to prison for participating in a scheme to defraud victim entities by illegally accessing their email accounts to identify their true vendors and then posing as those vendors in emails requesting payments. Chinedu Opute, 43, of LaGrange, Georgia, was sentenced to 72 months (6 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Bridget Meehan Brennan after pleading guilty in January to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, and Aggravated Identity Theft. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment, pay a $15,000 fine, and pay over $1.4 million in restitution. According to court documents and evidence presented in court, in 2023, Opute and his co-conspirators engaged in a widespread campaign to compromise business email accounts and steal victim funds. They gained unauthorized access to victims’ email accounts and then posed as legitimate third-party creditors or vendors to whom the victim business owed money. The conspirators then sent a fraudulent email with payment instructions directing the victims to send funds to bank accounts that the conspirators, in fact, controlled. Opute was responsible for setting up the bank accounts that were used to receive, and subsequently disburse, the stolen funds. Specifically, in early 2023, Opute established a fake company, Overseas Dry Food Supplier LLC (ODFS), as well as a fake identity, Angel Adames, that he used to open a bank account in the name of ODFS. In June 2023, the ODFS bank account received more than $1 million in stolen funds from three victims, including a local government entity in the Northern District of Ohio. Opute immediately disbursed the stolen funds by loading them onto prepaid credit cards in the names of real people that were disguised to look like payments to gig employees. Opute then withdrew those funds from the prepaid cards at ATMs in the Atlanta area. Opute kept approximately 30-40% of the stolen funds and used the money to fund his lavish lifestyle. He used the funds to make a $200,000 down payment on an Atlanta-area condo and to buy a $100,000 Range Rover and luxury jewelry. In total, eight victims lost a combined $1.7 million because of Opute’s scheme. Investigators also discovered that he, and his coconspirators, had targeted other victims in attempts to obtain another $5.1 million through fraud. This investigation was led by the FBI Cleveland Division. Assistant United States Attorney Megan R. Miller for the Northern District of Ohio led the prosecution.


title: Oneida County Man Pleads Guilty to Accessing Child Pornography

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – David McMurray, age 43, of Utica, New York, pled guilty July 8 th , 2026 to accessing with intent to view child pornography and also admitted to violating several conditions of his federal supervised release. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement. As part of his guilty plea, McMurray admitted that around September of 2025, while on federal supervised release related to a 2013 federal conviction related to child pornography, he accessed websites via the internet with the intent to view child pornography. McMurray also admitted to violating several conditions of his supervised release by failing to file required monthly reports, failing to submit to a polygraph, failing to successfully complete mental health treatment, accessing pornography, possessing unmonitored internet-capable phones, and committing new criminal conduct. “The dedicated efforts of the FBI have brought this repeat offender back to justice,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarcone. “Upon his release from prison, McMurray remained subject to supervision and required to comply with the strict conditions established at sentencing. His decision to violate those conditions and again engage in conduct that threatens the safety of children has now resulted in a new federal sentence that could place him in prison for up to 20 years.” “Mr. McMurray was already on supervised release for a federal conviction related to child pornography,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli. “His decision to ignore most of his conditions and repeat his horrific behavior just sent him back to prison for up to 20 years. The FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is committed to relentlessly investigating and holding accountable any predator who accesses child pornography and perpetuates the abuse of our most vulnerable.” New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “Mr. McMurray took advantage of technology and evaded conditions of supervised release to engage in this deplorable illegal activity. These actions show that child predators will go through extreme lengths to do the unthinkable and exploit children. I commend our State Police members, the United States Attorney’s Office, and the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations for their steadfast and proactive work on this case.” At sentencing for the child pornography charge, McMurray faces a term of imprisonment between 10 and 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. McMurray will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. McMurray also faces additional penalties, including additional prison time, for his violations of federal supervised release. Sentencing on both matters is currently scheduled for November 18th, 2026, in Utica, New York, before Senior U.S. District Court Judge David N. Hurd. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the New York State Police, and the United States Probation Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle as part of Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Gloversville Drug Dealer Sentenced for Distribution of Methamphetamine and Crack Cocaine

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Defendant, Ernest McMikle, age 39 of Gloversville, New York, was sentenced on June 24, 2026, by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino to 120 months in Federal Prison to be followed by a term of five years of supervised release. The sentence stems from his conviction of distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine base. McMikle previously admitted to selling methamphetamine and cocaine base on three occasions between February 13 and March 27, 2025. A search warrant conducted on defendant’s residence on April 9, 2025, revealed 144.3 grams of cocaine and 97.8 grams of crack cocaine. In total, defendant was responsible for distributing and intending to distribute 166.5 grams of methamphetamine, 152.2 grams of cocaine base, and 144.3 grams of cocaine. The announcement was made by First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Albany, New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Office of Special Investigations (OSI), Gloversville Police Department, and Johnstown Police Department. “I want to commend our law enforcement partners for their efforts in removing these deadly narcotics from our streets, and bringing this defendant to justice,” said First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “These deadly drugs are a drain on our society, and too often prove fatal, with this defendant behind bars, we have taken a meaningful step in safeguarding our communities.” “Mr. McMikle’s decision to distribute dangerous drugs on our streets just landed him a decade behind bars. FBI Albany will continue to work tirelessly with our partners at every level of law enforcement to swiftly identify, investigate, and bring to justice anyone looking to harm our communities through the sale of illicit narcotics,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Tremaroli FBI Albany. Assistant United States Attorney Paul DerOhannesian handled the sentencing.


body_text: Columbia County Registered Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Distributing Child Pornography ALBANY, NEW YORK – Registered sex offender Donald Heald, 43, of Columbia County, pled guilty to distributing child pornography and possession of child pornography following a previous conviction for attempted sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 13. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. Heald was previously arrested and detained on a complaint charging him with distribution of child pornography filed on July 3, 2025. In his plea, Heald admitted to knowingly possessing at least 126 videos containing child sex abuse material, including numerous videos that he knowingly distributed to others. Some of the videos depicted the sexual abuse of infants. In 2016, Heald was convicted in Columbia County Court of the New York State felony offense of attempted sexual abuse of a minor under the age of 13. He has been required to register as a sex offender ever since. “This repeat offender has once again been caught by law enforcement for his illicit behavior,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III . “Our partners at the FBI and Project Safe Childhood are relentlessly pursuing those who seek to exploit children, and my office will ensure we bring them to justice.” FBI Albany Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli said, “Mr. Heald, already a registered sex offender, admitted to perpetuating the abuse of children by both possessing and distributing child pornography. This sick behavior will send him to federal prison for at least 15 years. The FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force is steadfast in our mission to work with our law enforcement partners at every level to ensure these dangerous predators are held accountable for their demented actions.” Heald is scheduled to be sentenced on November 17, 2026, before the Hon. Anne M. Nardacci. He faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. Heald will also be required to pay restitution to the victims of his crimes and will have to continue his sex offender registration requirements upon his release from prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute(s) the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Alien Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the Country

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Heri Abelardo de Leon Garcia, 32, of Mexico, pled guilty on Tuesday, July 7, to one count of illegal reentry into the United States. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Homeland Security Investigations Buffalo Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone made the announcement. De Leon Garcia was arrested in 2012 for entering the country illegally and was subsequently deported. He was found in the country following a traffic stop in February 2026 and was arrested in May 2026. “The previous administration’s failed border policies and weak approach to crime allowed countless illegal aliens to cross into our country,” said First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III . “The American dream is alive and well—so much so that this defendant broke our laws twice to come here. We are a nation of immigrants, but those seeking to enter must follow the legal pathways. This defendant chose not to and will now serve a term of imprisonment before facing deportation.” Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone said, “After previously being removed from the United States, this individual chose to disregard our nation’s immigration laws by illegally reentering the country. HSI remains steadfast in working with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate, prosecute, and remove those who violate our laws in order to protect the public and uphold the integrity of our immigration system.” Senior District Judge Frederick J. Scullin sentenced de Leon Garcia to two months’ imprisonment. Following his sentence, de Leon Garcia is subject to be deportation following his sentence. Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Walter prosecuted the case.


title: Albany Man Sentenced to Five Years for Arson

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Marcasey Ventour, age 28, of Albany, New York, was sentenced July 17, 2026, to five years in prison for starting a fire at the Samuel S. Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Albany. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northeast Field Office made the announcement. “Thanks to our partners at the Department of Veterans Affairs, this defendant will now spend the next five years in federal prison,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “Mr. Ventour showed reckless disregard for both staff and the veterans receiving care when he started this fire, and now will be held accountable.” “This case underscores the VA OIG’s commitment to protecting veterans, VA employees, and federal property,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northeast Field Office. “We will continue to pursue those who threaten the safety and integrity of VA facilities.” As part of his guilty plea, Ventour admitted to having started a fire in a restricted storage area that caused $77,490 in damage to the facility. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Ventour is also required to pay restitution and must serve a two-year term of post-release supervision. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General investigated the case.