title: Mackinac County Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Tax Crime for Failing to Report All Income

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: Erin Patti-Coveyou Agreed to Pay $535,605 in Income Tax Owed to the United States GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Erin Patti-Coveyou, age 36, of Moran, Michigan, pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement on a federal income tax return. She faces a maximum of three years in federal prison and will pay full restitution to the Internal Revenue Service, calculated at $535,605. Patti-Coveyou will be sentenced later this year by the Honorable Hala Y. Jarbou, Chief United States District Judge. From 2021 through 2024, Patti-Coveyou failed to report $1,666,499.78 of income to the Internal Revenue Service when she filed false U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns on Form 1040 in each of those years. For example, in 2022, she falsely reported her 2021 income was $353,055. In fact, she had obtained an additional $279,079.12 of income from embezzling cash from her employer and her gambling activity. Additionally, for calendar years 2022 and 2024, she underreported her income as $39,960; $53,188; and $56,545, when in fact her true income in those years was $424,882; $461,300; and $650,931, respectively. Her failure to report income resulted in a total federal income tax loss of $535,605. Patti-Coveyou also agreed to repay a total of $1,751,059 that she embezzled from her employer between 2021 and 2025. U.S. Attorney VerHey stated, “Ms. Patti-Coveyou reported only a small fraction of her income because she was an embezzler, a gambler, and wanted to avoid paying her share of taxes. We cannot tolerate people who lie on their taxes because it undermines the integrity of our tax system. Today’s plea demonstrates my office’s commitment to holding individuals accountable when they choose to break our federal tax laws.” “Taxpayers thinking about participating in fraudulent tax schemes, including failing to report all forms of income, should stop in their tracks and simply look at the consequences of taking the next step,” said Robert Kuszynski, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS-CI. “Those consequences include going to prison, being branded a convicted felon for the rest of their lives, and paying back all the taxes owed plus steep penalties and interest.” This matter was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation, the law enforcement arm of the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris O’Connor is prosecuting it.


title: Utah Felon Indicted in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation where Agents Seized a Large Amount of Alleged Bath Salts and Firearm

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment today charging a Utah man and previously convicted felon of drug and firearm crimes after agents seized approximately 351.8 grams of alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (Alpha-PVP), the primary illicit substance found in “bath salts,” and a handgun, which the defendant is restricted from possessing. Bronson Gary Dean, 51, of Duchesne, Utah, was charged by complaint on July 7, 2026. According to court documents, on February 23, 2026, North Salt Lake Police stopped a pickup truck after the driver and sole occupant, identified as Dean, committed a traffic violation. Police ordered Dean to exit the vehicle after an officer observed items that appeared to be drug paraphernalia. Police conducted a vehicle search and officers located and seized additional drug paraphernalia, which included baggies, a digital scale with powder residue, and suspected marijuana. Officers also located a backpack that contained additional drug paraphernalia including several baggies containing a yellowish granular-type substance, and a black .45 caliber Kahr CW45 handgun, which was reported stolen. Officers also located large containers containing laboratory grade glassware, which included a three-bottle neck flask, miscellaneous flasks, condenser tubing, and other volume measuring type glassware. Officers also noted the presence of unknown liquids, contained in various pieces of glassware and baggies located among various labeled chemical containers. As a result of the findings, the DEA Clandestine Lab Team was called to respond. Upon arrival DEA lab team agents determined the glassware and related chemicals were all used in the manufacturing of synthetic cathinones (“bath salts”). DEA collected representative samples of the unknown liquids and yellow-granular substances and sent them to the DEA Southwest Laboratory for analysis. Results from the laboratory confirmed the presence of 351.8 grams of Alpha-PVP, the primary illicit substance in “bath salts,” which is a schedule I controlled substance. Dean is charged with felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of α-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone with intent to distribute. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for July 27, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Court Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Salt Lake Metro Narcotics Task Force. Significant assistance was provided by the North Salt Lake Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Seth A. Nielsen for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Salt Lake comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Illegal Aliens from Honduras Charged after Law Enforcement Seized Approximately 7,500 Fentanyl Pills in the District of Utah

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment today charging two illegal aliens from Honduras, residing illegally in Utah, with drug crimes after law enforcement allegedly located and seized approximately 7,500 fentanyl pills for distribution in the District of Utah. Kevin Arrazola-Canaca, 26, residing illegally in Tooele County, Utah; and Eddy Otel Arrazola-Canaca, 34, residing illegally in Kearns, Utah, were charged by complaint on July 16, 2026. According to court documents, on July 15, 2026, law enforcement executed a search warrant on a vehicle and residence in the District of Utah. Law enforcement first encountered Eddy, the driver and sole occupant, during a traffic stop. Pursuant to a search warrant, detectives located and found approximately 295 grams of pills, which tested positive for fentanyl hidden within the dashboard of the car. That same day, detectives also executed a search warrant at a residence. During the search of the residence, Kevin was the sole occupant inside the residence. Inside the residence, detectives located and seized approximately 455 grams of pills, which tested positive for fentanyl, and $17,503 in cash. In total, Eddy possessed approximately 2,950 fentanyl pills, and Kevin possessed approximately 4,550 fentanyl pills. Both were arrested. According to court documents, both Kevin and Eddy Arrazola-Canaca are not citizens of the United States. Kevin Arrazola-Canaca and Eddy Arrazola-Canaca are charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. Their initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for July 23, 2026, at 2:15 p.m. in courtroom 7.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force (UCMC), and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Significant assistance was provided by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Special Assistant United States Attorney Peter Reichman for the District of Utah is prosecuting 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. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: South Charleston Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Role in Kanawha County Drug Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Andre Marvin Marneal Jenkins, also known as “Meech,” 28, of South Charleston, was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Jenkins admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025. According to court documents and statements made in court, Jenkins arranged to distribute fentanyl pills to a co-conspirator who intended to redistribute those pills to a customer. On April 10, 2025, law enforcement officers encountered Jenkins when they executed a search warrant at a Charleston apartment and seized a quantity of fentanyl and a loaded Glock 17 9mm pistol from Jenkins. He also possessed a key to a storage unit in Dunbar. Officers executed a search warrant on that storage unit and recovered over 5,300 pills containing fentanyl and other substances, along with three additional firearms. Jenkins is among nine defendants who pleaded guilty following their indictment on charges alleging they participated in the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025. Four additional defendants pleaded guilty in separate cases that resulted from the same federal investigation. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe 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. 2:25-cr-78. ###


title: Putnam County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Steven Mark Hosey, 59, of Poca, was sentenced to three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawfully engaging in the business of dealing in firearms. According to court documents and statements made in court, from at least April 2024 through April 10, 2025, Hosey sold firearms without a Federal Firearms License (FFL) in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Hosey admitted that he knew he needed an FFL based on the quantity and regularity with which he was buying and selling firearms. Hosey further admitted that he purchased firearms from FFL licensees with the intent to sell the firearms to other individuals, received requests from individuals for specific firearms that he would purchase to sell to those individuals, purchased firearms without a specific buyer in mind, and advertised the sale of firearms on various social media platforms. Hosey also admitted that he sold between 40 and 50 firearms for profit during the time period. These firearms included a Glock model 43X 9mm pistol and a Shadow Systems model MR920 9mm pistol on January 25, 2025, a Glock model 40 10mm pistol and a Colt model Anaconda .44 Magnum revolver on February 6, 2025, a Sig Sauer model P320 9mm pistol and a Smith & Wesson model 629 .44 Magnum revolver on February 28, 2025, a Glock model 45 9mm pistol and a FN model FNX-45 Tactical .45-caliber pistol on March 17, 2025, and a Kimber model Tactical Pro II 9mm pistol and a Springfield Armory model Hellcat 9mm pistol on April 8, 2025. Hosey admitted that he conducted the five transactions in the parking lot of an FFL business and sold the firearms to a confidential informant. On April 10, 2025, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Hosey’s residence and seized 34 firearms. Hosey admitted that he intended to sell some of the seized firearms for profit. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). 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. 3:26-cr-36. ###


title: Kanawha County Man Found Guilty of Federal Drug and Gun Crimes

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – After a one-day trial, a federal jury convicted Christian Garrett Thornton, 40, of Cross Lanes, on Monday, July 20, 2026, of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl and 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine; being a felon in possession of a firearm; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Evidence at trial showed that on October 29, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Thornton’s Cross Lanes residence. Officers found 662 grams of fentanyl and 162 grams of methamphetamine, having a street value of approximately $50,000, a Taurus model PT709 Slim 9mm pistol, a Taurus model Judge Public Defender Poly .45/,410 revolver, and a Colt model Peacemaker .22-caliber revolver in Thornton’s bedroom. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Thornton knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions on four counts of distribution of a quantity of oxymorphone and one count of possession with intent to distribute a quantity of oxymorphone in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on March 29, 2017. Thornton is scheduled to be sentenced on December 3, 2026, and faces a minimum of ten years and a maximum penalty of life in prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; up to 15 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm; and a minimum of five years and a maximum of life in prison, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Hurricane Police Department conducted the investigation. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the jury trial. Assistant United States Attorneys D. Keith Randolph and Joshua Hanks are prosecuting 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. 2:26-cr-38. ###


title: Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Crimes

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marcus Allen Johnson, also known as “Mook,” 42, of Huntington, was sentenced on July 20, 2026, to seven years and eight months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for distribution of a quantity of fentanyl and distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, Johnson sold approximately 53.76 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl on January 14, 2025, and approximately 56.68 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl on January 28, 2025, each time to a confidential informant in Huntington. As part of his guilty pleas, Johnson admitted that he conducted each transaction and arranged them beforehand. Johnson’s sentence was enhanced based on his role in having threats made to a government witness during the prosecution. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff's Office. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams prosecuted the cases. This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (SOS), an enforcement surge that has sought to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas. 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 Nos. 3:25-cr-96 and 3:25-cr-187. ###


title: Indianapolis Career Offender Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Drug Trafficking

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Deontai Williams, 33, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, after a federal jury found him guilty of trafficking in fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine; illegally possessing eight firearms as a convicted felon; and possessing those firearms in furtherance of his drug-trafficking crimes. The jury returned its verdict in February 2026. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on January 17, 2025, Williams was attending a pretrial hearing in Marion County for a case in which he was charged—and later convicted—of dealing methamphetamine, cocaine, a narcotic drug, and marijuana. While he was at the courthouse, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at his residence and discovered a cache of drugs, firearms, and high-capacity magazines. Officers seized 22.4 grams of methamphetamine, 45.5 grams of cocaine, 7.3 grams of cocaine base, and 50.7 grams of fentanyl, along with digital scales. They also recovered eight firearms and multiple high-capacity magazines. Williams’ conduct in this case caps a long history of drug dealing and violent criminal behavior. In one prior offense, Williams assaulted a woman who was taking a smoke break from her job on Massachusetts Avenue. After she declined to give him a cigarette, Williams took her cell phone and punched her in the face. In another prior case, he physically assaulted a six-year-old child by hitting him on the back with an extension cord, choking him, striking him in the face, and throwing him across a room. Williams has multiple prior felony convictions including battery resulting in bodily injury to a person under 14, unlawful residential entry, unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and dealing in methamphetamine. “Despite multiple incarcerations and consequent opportunities to change course, Deontai Williams continued to traffic deadly drugs and arm himself illegally. His pattern of violence and criminal behavior put our community at serious risk,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Thanks to the hard work of DEA agents and our federal prosecutors, another reckless, violent offender faces the accountability he has long evaded.” “Williams’ history of violence and repeated felony convictions demonstrate a pattern of behavior that has absolutely no regard for the law or the safety of our community,” said Gerald C. Dooley, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge. “This federal prison sentence ensures that a dangerous individual is removed from our neighborhoods and sends a clear message that armed drug traffickers will face full accountability in federal court.” The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case, with assistance from the Metro Drug Task Force. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Chief Judge James R. Sweeney II, with 25 years of the sentence to run consecutive to his state sentence in Marion County Cause No. 49D31-2206-F2-016856. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha Spiro and Patrick Gibson, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Illegal aliens face immediate deportation for immigration violations

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: SAVANNAH, Georgia: Multiple defendants illegally inside the United States were sentenced in federal court and transferred to immigration authorities for immediate deportation. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker, and announced by Margaret E. ‘Meg’ Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Homer Esau Vazquez-Mendez , 45, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Vazquez-Mendez was identified as an illegal alien in May 2026 during a targeted enforcement operation in Chatham County and taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Manuel de Jesus Perez-Melgar , 32, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Perez-Melgar was identified as an illegal alien in May 2026 during a traffic stop in Port Wentworth and transferred to ICE custody. Didier Mora-Tino, 38, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation. Mara-Tino was identified as an illegal alien in March 2026 in Ware County and transferred to ICE custody. Illegal Re-entry after Removal or Deportation is a charge applied to an illegal alien present in the United States after at least one prior removal. “Federal immigration laws exist to protect the integrity of our nation’s borders,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Those who repeatedly undermine those laws will be held accountable, removed and returned to their country of citizenship.” These cases were investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Port Wentworth Police Department, Ware County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Timothy P. Dean, L. Alexander Hamner, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karl I. Knoche.


title: Pierre Man and Woman Sentenced to Lengthy Terms in Federal Prison  for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Pierre, South Dakota man and woman in a case charging Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. Brandon Hitt, age 41, and Luticia Falcon, age 41, were indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025. On March 19, 2026, Falcon pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. On June 15, 2026, she was sentenced to eight years and four months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crimes Victim Fund. On June 15, 2026, Hitt pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm. On July 20, 2026, he was sentenced to 26 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The court also ordered forfeiture of numerous firearms. These convictions stemmed from an extensive drug distribution conspiracy beginning in June 2024 and continuing until October 2025. Hitt was the source of supply for several individuals in the Pierre and Rapid City, South Dakota, areas. He obtained his drugs from individuals in Texas. Hitt would acquire up to five kilograms of methamphetamine at a time. Falcon would help transport the methamphetamine from Texas to South Dakota where she and others would distribute it on behalf of Hitt. As part of the conspiracy, Hitt, who is a convicted felon, would routinely carry firearms. The conspiracy involved between 15 and 45 kilograms of methamphetamine. Five other co-defendants are currently set for trial on November 3, 2026. “These substantial prison sentences removing these dangerous drug dealers from our community are the result of the incredible cooperation, teamwork and hard work by all levels of law enforcement in our state,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “That work continues until all of our communities are safe.” “We are removing illegal drugs from our communities thanks to strong partnerships among law enforcement at every level. We share a common goal: keeping our citizens safe,” said South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case was investigated by the FBI Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Pierre Police Department, the Hughes County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case. Following their sentencing hearings, both Falcon and Hitt were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Fort Thompson Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison  for Firing a Gun at Other Persons

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Fort Thompson man convicted of Using and Carrying a Firearm During and Relation to a Crime of Violence. The sentencing took place on July 20, 2026. Tigh Bagola, age 42, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Bagola was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 20, 2026. The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in July 2023 in the Crow Creek Sioux Indian Reservation. On the afternoon of July 5, 2023, Bagola was walking in Ft. Thompson, South Dakota, when he encountered the victims. Bagola argued with the victims and then brandished a handgun at them. Bagola fired the gun in the victims’ direction, and then fled the scene. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. This case was investigated by the FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services – Crow Creek Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case. Bagola was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Arizona Man Sentenced to Over 21 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiring with Others to Distribute Fentanyl in Western South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that United States District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Arizona man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on July 20, 2026. John Parrado, 38, was sentenced to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Parrado was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in September 2025. He pleaded guilty on January 5, 2026. In 2025, Parrado conspired with other people to obtain fentanyl and distribute it in South Dakota. He received much of his supply from out of state through the U.S. mail. Ultimately, Parrado was personally involved in the distribution of 400 grams of the drug in the state. “This is another step forward in eliminating these deadly substances from our state,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “My deepest thanks go out to the strong detective work of the Rapid City Police, the DEA, ATF, and Postal Inspection Service, working together to reel in this fentanyl dealer and put him away.” This case was investigated by the Rapid City Police Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Peterson prosecuted the case. Parrado was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.


title: Goose Creek Felon Sentenced to More than 9 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm

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

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — Thomas Lamont Ancrum, 37, of Goose Creek, has been sentenced to more than nine years in federal prison for possessing two firearms as a convicted felon. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Ancrum led officers with the North Charleston Police Department on a dangerous highspeed chase on the night of Aug. 12, 2024. During the chase, Ancrum reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour, weaving in and out of interstate traffic. Eventually, officers used stop sticks to puncture the vehicle’s tires which quickly ended the pursuit. Ancrum then exited the vehicle, dropped a book bag, and ran across the interstate. He was quickly apprehended by a police K9 and arrested. Inside the backpack, officers found two firearms and small quantities of cocaine and marijuana. As a previously convicted felon, Ancrum is prohibited from legally possessing firearms or ammunition. He was indicted in federal court on one count of felon in possession of a firearm in 2025. United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Ancrum to 115 months' imprisonment—the maximum term called for by the United States Sentencing Guidelines. Ancrum will be under court supervision for three years upon his release from federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities . This case was investigated by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the North Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cole Shannon prosecuted the case. ###


title: Former SCDC Guard, Co-Defendants Plead Guilty in Bribery Scheme

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. —Five individuals charged in a $550K prison bribery scheme entered guilty pleas in federal court this week. Lowanda Atkinson , 52, of Kershaw County, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud. Atkinson served as a corrections officer in SCDC and was assigned to Lee Correctional Institution. Jason Brown , 43, an SCDC inmate, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud. Adriana Conyers , 37, of Sumter County, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud. Christopher Hickman , 46, of Richland County, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud. Mary Ann Hickman-Brown , 64, of Clarendon County, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Lowanda Atkinson, a 16-year corrections officer with SCDC, accepted more than $550,000 in bribes from inmates Larry Williamson and Jason Brown, along with Jason Brown’s mother Mary Ann Hickman Brown, Jason Brown’s brother Christopher Hickman, Jason Brown’s nephew’s mother Adrianna Conyers, and Jason Brown’s friend Courtney Briggs. In exchange for the bribes, Atkinson smuggled contraband, including cell phones, cell phone accessories, tobacco, and controlled substances, into Lee Correctional Institution. The contraband was later sold to other inmates by Brown and Williamson and the proceeds of the contraband sales were split between Brown, Williamson, and Atkinson. Atkinson later spent the proceeds on designer purchases, plastic surgery, and a luxury SUV. Larry Williamson and Courtney Briggs were charged in a separate Indictment. Briggs was arraigned on July 7, 2026 on count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and one count of honest services wire fraud. Williamson is pending arraignment on one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, five counts of honest services wire fraud, one count of use of an interstate facility to facilitate bribery, and one count of drug conspiracy. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with SCDC to root out corruption within our correctional system, whether it originates inside the walls or through networks that support it from the outside,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “Atkinson’s scheme is an example of law enforcement corruption, and we will not tolerate that in South Carolina.” “This person took advantage of the trust given to her and conspired with inmates and their families to flood our prison with deadly contraband,” SCDC Director Joel Anderson said. “I'm glad they are all being held accountable for their crimes. Her conduct is not characteristic of our values or of the people who work in our department.” Each of the defendants faces up to 20 years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon accepted the guilty plea and will sentence the defendants after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Department of Corrections Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Samantha Usher are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Massachusetts Man Sentenced for Violation of Animal Welfare Act

component: ENRD - Environmental Crimes Section

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Massachusetts man was sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for his role in a 2022 cockfighting operation in which he brought roosters from Massachusetts to Rhode Island for animal fighting. Luis Castillo, 38, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. Dubose to two years of probation, a $200 fine, and a $100 special assessment. Castillo previously pleaded guilty on January 21, 2026, to violating the Animal Welfare Act, in connection with his role in a 2022 cockfighting operation. As part of his plea, Castillo admitted that he travelled from Massachusetts to Rhode Island with roosters to participate in cockfighting for, sport, wagering, and entertainment. This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigation, and the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Rhode Island State Police, Massachusetts State Police, Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Law Enforcement Division, Providence, Woonsocket, and Attleboro Police Departments. The matter was prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Gary Donner and Assistant Chief Stephen Da Ponte of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney John McAdams for the District of Rhode Island.


title: Convictions through Guilty Pleas and Sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (July 13 through July 17, 2026)

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of July 13 through July 17, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations—including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations. Convictions through Guilty Pleas: On July 14, 2026, Melvis Marcano-González pleaded guilty to Count One of the Superseding Indictment in Criminal Case 21-317 (PAD). According to the Indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 225 kilograms of cocaine, aboard a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Defendant was extradited from Colombia on June 13, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 9, 2026. AUSA Camille García Jiménez is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 17, 2026, Kenneth Córdova-Real pleaded guilty to drug and firearm charges in case 23-353 (GMM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with participating in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated out of various public housing projects in and near Manatí, PR including the Enrique Zorilla Public Housing Project. Defendant was arrested on September 22, 2023. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 19, 2026. AUSAs Andrés Orr and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 17, 2026, Jadriel Yandel Bruno-Rodríguez pleaded guilty to drug and firearm charges in case 23-353 (GMM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with participating in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated out of various public housing projects in and near Manatí, PR including the Enrique Zorilla Public Housing Project. Defendant was arrested on September 22, 2023. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 19, 2026. AUSAs Andrés Orr and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 17, 2026, Kelvin Joel Rivas-Quiñonez pleaded guilty to drug and firearm charges in case 23-353 (GMM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with participating in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated out of various public housing projects in and near Manatí, PR including the Enrique Zorilla Public Housing Project. Defendant was arrested on September 22, 2023. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 13, 2026. AUSAs Andres Orr and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 15, 2026, Jeffrey Figueroa-Rosado pleaded guilty to Counts One and Seven in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 16, 2026, Luis Abdiel Reyes Nieves pleaded guilty to Counts One and Seven in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 17, 2026, Ezequiel Olivo Bido pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 14, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 17, 2026, Moisés Serrano De Jesús pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 17, 2026, Alexie Delgado Torres pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case number 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. Sentencings: On July 13, 2026, Joseph Ríos-Vélez was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Aida Delgado Colón to 108 months (9 years) of imprisonment to be followed 6 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on April 9, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-184 (ADC) and pleaded guilty on January 21, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 13, 2026, Jonathan Martínez-González was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Aida Delgado Colón to 84 months of imprisonment (7 years), to be served consecutively to the 72-month (6 years) sentence imposed in case number 23-133 (MAJ), to be followed 8 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on April 9, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-184 (ADC) and pleaded guilty on January 14, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 15, 2026, Yander Luis José-Peña pleaded guilty and was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Silvia L. Carreño-Coll to time served for improper entry by an alien. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on April 22, 2026, in Criminal Case 26-159. SAUSA Cody A. McKinney oversaw the prosecution of the case. These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department. ###


title: 22-Year-Old Humberty J. Carrillo-García Charged with 5 Counts of Threatening Interstate Communications

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On July 16, 2026, a grand jury returned an indictment against Humberty Jesús Carrillo-García, 22, from Gurabo, for making threatening interstate communications between March and June 2026 in violation of 18 U.S.C. 875(c), announced Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The defendant was arrested on July 20, 2026, and remains detained pending trial. “This individual made statements about his desire to do harm to various groups of people, including federal and state law enforcement, and motivated others to commit acts of violence against multiple groups of people. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has no tolerance for illegal threats, especially threats that target innocent people,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ramírez-Carbó. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect our community from those individuals who jeopardize our public safety.” “This individual publicly expressed a desire to commit acts of violence against multiple groups—including federal and state law enforcement, members of our armed forces, religious communities, and the public at large—and attempted to motivate others to do the same. Threats of domestic terrorism, religious‑motivated violence, and harm against our servicemembers or public institutions are intolerable. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has zero tolerance for illegal threats designed to intimidate or endanger innocent people,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ramírez‑Carbó. “We will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to protect our community and respond decisively to anyone who threatens our public safety.” “Threatening federal government employees, and inciting violence of any kind, against members of our community, is unacceptable and the FBI will not allow this type of behavior to impact the quality of life of our people,” said Carlos Goris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are generally joyful communities, where this type of violence is unheard of, and we will continue to work with our local, and federal law enforcement partners to keep it that way. As always, we encourage anyone to report suspicious behavior to the FBI and local authorities, before it's too late.” According to the indictment and the motion for detention, Carrillo-García used TikTok and X (previously Twitter) to post threats to do harm to various groups. The defendant identified himself as a Nazi, has emphasized his idea/desire of killing Jewish people, American soldiers, and other groups. He has also highlighted his desire to carry out a terroristic attack. The defendant posted videos of himself speaking about his desire to do harm to various groups of people and to bomb different locations – with the intent to scare people. Here are examples of Carrillo-García’s interstate threats published on social media: The Defendant posted publicly on X pictures of himself holding a knife and stating that he would use it to tear apart American soldiers and Jews, as well as another picture of himself with a machete. The Defendant posted a public video in which he says that arms must be taken up against the United States, and he calls on the listener to shoot at North American soldiers, hit and stab Jews, burn “gringo” businesses, and to burn Jewish synagogues and Judeo Cristian churches including Jehovah’s Witnesses and Pentecostal churches. The Defendant posted a public video in which he says that police and CIA agents must be killed. The Defendant posted a public video in which he states that various locations must be bombed, including the White House, Fort Buchannan, Camp Santiago, First Bank, Oriental Bank, Banco Popular, and the United States Post Office. The Defendant posted public videos in which he states and demonstrates with a knife and stick that “yankees” and “gringos” should be cut and beat to death, and he also states that Police of Puerto Rico must be killed. Each of the five counts of conviction carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. If the defendant is found guilty, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Vance Eaton of the Violent Crimes Division is prosecuting the case. The FBI’s San Juan Cyber and Violent Crimes Divisions are in charge of the investigation. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Las Vegas Business Owner Indicted for Fake Armed Robbery of His Store to Defraud Insurance Company

component: Criminal Division

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas business owner made his initial court appearance yesterday to face charges in connection with a fake armed robbery of his cell phone repair store to collect money from his insurance company. According to allegations in the indictment, Erwin Lanada owned CPR Cellphone Repair, a store in Las Vegas that repaired and sold cell phones and other electronic devices. As alleged, in October 2023, he arranged for co-defendant Marco Antonio Capistran to rob his store, and he gave Capistran a revolver to use during the robbery. Later, Lanada filed fraudulent insurance claims with his insurance company for property loss and loss of income purportedly resulting from the robbery. In December 2023, the insurance company sent Lanada checks totaling approximately $88,611.23 for his claims. Lanada is charged with two counts of mail fraud. The maximum statutory penalties for each count are ten years in prison. A jury trial has been scheduled for October 19, 2026. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel R. Schiess is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Yatahey Man Pleads Guilty to Assault

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Yatahey man pleaded guilty to federal firearms offenses after assaulting and disfiguring a victim. According to court documents, on March 28, 2025, and March 29, 2025, Fernando Brown , 35, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted Jane Doe and the assault resulted in temporary but substantial disfigurement. Brown pleaded guilty to assault resulting in substantial bodily injury and faces up to five years in prison at sentencing. 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 Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Ramah-Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jordan is prosecuting the case.


title: Illegal Alien with 12 Prior Removals from the United States Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry by a Convicted Felon

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – An illegal alien who was previously removed from the United States on 12 separate occasions was arraigned earlier today on a charge of illegal re-entry after previously being convicted of a felony, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Aedo Cruz Gonzalez, 40, of New Jersey, was charged in a one-count Indictment with illegal re-entry by a convicted felon, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and (b)(1). According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Cruz Gonzalez, a citizen of Mexico, was removed from the United States to Mexico 12 separate times for illegally entering the United States between 2011 and September 2024. On February 6, 2012, Cruz Gonzalez pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona to a felony offense of illegally re-entering the United States, and was sentenced to five months’ imprisonment. He was subsequently removed from the United States to Mexico for the third time on or about August 20, 2012. Following his removal in August 2012, Cruz Gonzalez illegally entered the United States on nine additional occasions and was removed to Mexico each time. After his most recent removal on or about September 24, 2024, Cruz Gonzalez again unlawfully re-entered the United States. He was subsequently arrested by the Hillsborough Police Department on or about December 7, 2024 and charged with numerous crimes, including exhibiting a false motor vehicle insurance card and operating a motor vehicle during license suspension. Cruz Gonzalez was convicted in Somerset County Superior Court on those two charges on May 22, 2025. The charge of unlawful re-entry by a convicted felon carries a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain to the defendant as a result of the offense, or twice the gross loss to a person other than the defendant as a result of the offense, whichever is greatest. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations – Newark Field Office, under the direction of Acting Field Officer Director Arthur J. Wilson Jr., for their assistance with the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Miller of the General Crimes Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### Defense counsel: Adam Axel, Esq. and Meagan McGurl, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defenders cruzgonzalez.indictment.pdf


component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: Federal Jury Convicts Honduran Man for Possession of a Fraudulent Green Card CONCORD – After a trial, a Honduran national was convicted by a federal jury for the unlawful possession of a fraudulent green card yesterday, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Hector Ariel Ortiz-Guillen was convicted of knowingly possessing a fraudulent or forged Permanent Resident card, more commonly called a green card. U.S. District Judge Steven J. McAuliffe scheduled sentencing for July 28, 2026. Ortiz-Guillen has been detained since December 5, 2025. “It is a privilege to live and work in the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “We expect all persons who come to the United States to follow the rules and laws for entry. This verdict shows we will continue to protect the integrity of our immigration system.” The evidence introduced at trial showed that on December 5, 2025, Border Patrol investigated a tip that there was a work crew of three illegal aliens in Colebrook, New Hampshire. Border Patrol saw them enter a truck and tried stopping the vehicle. The truck sped off, and after a chase, the truck crashed into a snowbank. Ortiz-Guillen then fled on foot. After a pursuit, Border Patrol and other law enforcement personnel detained Ortiz-Guillen and searched him. Border Patrol found a wallet on him which contained a fraudulent green card which showed Ortiz-Guillen’s name and face, but an alien number belonging to a Canadian citizen. The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, and up to 3 years of supervised release. After serving his sentence, Ortiz-Guillen is subject to removal from the United States. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. U.S. Border Patrol led the investigation and was assisted on December 5 by personnel from the New Hampshire State Police, New Hampshire Fish and Game, the Colebrook Police Department, and the Coos County Sheriff’s Office. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services also provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles L. Rombeau and Alexander S. Chen are prosecuting the case.


title: Venezuelan Man Sentenced for Sex Trafficking of Minors

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Eduardo Jose Perdomo, 38, of Venezuela, was sentenced on July 20, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for sex trafficking of two minors by force, fraud, or coercion. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Perdomo to 240 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Perdomo’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Perdomo entered the United States illegally in 2021. Senior Judge Bataillon ordered Perdomo to pay a total of $5,400 in restitution to the minor victims. On January 6, 2025, the Omaha Police Department received a report of a theft at an Omaha hotel. Responding officers identified indicia of sex trafficking. The Omaha Police Department-Homeland Security Investigations Human Trafficking Task Force immediately began investigating and recovered two minor females, aged 15 and 16, who had been brought to a hotel in Omaha by Perdomo from out of state to be sold for commercial sex. Perdomo arranged for co-defendant Alfredo Manuel Zambrano-Hurtado to transport Perdomo and the minor victims to Nebraska. Perdomo agreed with co-defendant Michel Martinez-Gonzalez on a plan to both advertise the minor victims online for commercial sex and both correspond to potential sex buyers. Perdomo also arranged a deal with hotel staff allowing staff to have sex with the minor victims in exchange for allowing them to stay at the hotel and engage in commercial sex sales. The minor victims engaged in sex acts at Perdomo’s direction and after buyers paid the minor victims, they would give the money to Perdomo. 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 Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, USPIS, the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, and assistance of the Omaha Police Department with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska.


title: Niobrara Man Pleads Guilty to Committing Burglary on the Santee Sioux Reservation

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that on July 21, 2026, Clifford Jost pleaded guilty in United States District Court in Omaha, Nebraska, to committing burglary in Indian Country. Jost faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 14, 2026. In December 2025, Jost took part in a string of burglaries in Knox and Cedar counties, including within the Santee Sioux Reservation. On about December 22, 2025, Jost unlawfully and without authority entered a garage in Bloomfield, Nebraska, which was within the Santee Sioux Reservation. Jost was involved in stealing numerous items from the residence, including a game camera, deer mounts, and two utility terrain vehicles. As part of the investigation, law enforcement obtained and analyzed surveillance footage, Snapchat data, Facebook data, and Verizon data. Surveillance footage from a gas station in Santee and from the residence showed Jost’s role in the crime. Snapchat messages reflect Jost discussing the stolen utility terrain vehicles. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office, and the Santee Sioux Nation Police Department.


title: Cozad Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Drug Charges

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley Woods announced that Levi McAlevy, 37, of Cozad, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 17, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for one count of distribution of at least 5 grams of actual methamphetamine and one count of distribution of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. McAlevy was convicted of both counts following an April 2026 four-day jury trial in Lincoln. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced McAlevy to a total of 360 months of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After McAlevy’s release from prison, he will begin a 7-year term of supervised release. McAlevy sold methamphetamine to a Confidential Informant (CI) working with the CODE drug task force on two occasions in 2024. The first buy occurred on September 19, 2024. McAlevy and the CI traveled to various locations before McAlevy sold the methamphetamine. The Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory confirmed the substance was at least 5.3 grams of actual methamphetamine. The second buy—which involved at least 2.8 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine—occurred on October 2, 2024. Again, McAlevy and the CI traveled to various locations before McAlevy sold the methamphetamine. Although McAlevy sold smaller amounts of methamphetamine to the CI, the evidence at trial demonstrated that McAlevy was responsible for selling more than 25 kilograms of methamphetamine in central and western Nebraska. The evidence showed that McAlevy used firearms and threats to discourage others from notifying law enforcement about his drug dealing. This case was investigated by the CODE Task Force which is made up of law enforcement agencies throughout a 22-county area in west-central/southwest Nebraska and includes the North Platte Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Ogallala Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations.


title: Maryland Man Admits to Role in Sophisticated Scheme to Defraud the IRS

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — A Maryland man has admitted to his role in a financial fraud scheme involving stolen United States Treasury checks, fraudulent business registrations, and illicit withdrawals from newly created bank accounts, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Gregory Dean, 33, of Suitland, Maryland, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. According to the indictment and statements made in court, Dean and others participated in a scheme beginning in October 2024 to fraudulently obtain U.S. Treasury checks issued to legitimate businesses and individuals. The conspirators allegedly created or incorporated entities with names similar to the intended payees and submitted applications through the IRS’s Modernized Internet Employer Identification Number (MOD IEIN) portal, processed at the IRS facility in Martinsburg, to obtain Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) for those fraudulent entities. They used the EINs to open business bank accounts, deposit stolen Treasury checks, and quickly withdraw funds before the fraud could be detected. Relevant to Dean’s plea, the conspirators submitted an electronic EIN application for “Williams Homes Inc.” that was transmitted to the IRS processing center in Martinsburg. The assigned EIN was used to open a bank account in the business’s name in which a treasury check, in the amount of $342,320.00 and payable to a real business, was deposited. Two other Maryland men, Tijuan Arrington and David Walters, have also been charged with multiple counts of wire fraud. They are scheduled for trial in November 2026. Dean is facing up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor F. Hurney is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration is investigating. 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. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.


title: Mahoning Valley Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Child Pornography Offenses

body_text: CLEVELAND – A Columbiana County man was sentenced to federal prison for receiving, distributing, and possessing hundreds of child sexual abuse files. Scotty L. Skiba, 39, of Salem, Ohio, was sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams, after pleading guilty in February to Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Real Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct and Possession of Child Pornography, or Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). He was also ordered to serve a lifetime of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $40,000 in restitution to victims. He was additionally ordered to pay $10,000 toward the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Assistance Act, which was established in 2018 to provide monetary assistance for victims of child sexual abuse. According to court documents and evidence presented in court, from about July 2024 to June 2025, investigators found that Skiba was knowingly receiving and distributing digital files that contained images of the sexual abuse of children. During the execution of a search warrant execution at his residence, multiple electronic devices were seized. Forensic analysis revealed that Skiba possessed more than 1,500 images and videos of CSAM on his devices. Numerous videos depicting the rape, bondage, and torture of children were more than five minutes long, with at least one video nearly an hour in length. Investigators also learned that Skiba had previously engaged in sexual contact with two minors. The investigation leading to the indictment was led by the FBI Youngstown Resident Agency and the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from the Noble County Sheriff’s Office and the Southeastern Human Trafficking Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer J. King led the prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC . To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org , or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


title: 16 Charged in Trafficking Ring Allegedly Operating Out of a Mansfield Car Wash

body_text: CLEVELAND – Sixteen individuals have been charged for their alleged involvement in a drug trafficking ring operating out of a car wash in Mansfield, Ohio. The charges are the result of a three-year-long investigation by federal and local officials. According to the superseding indictment filed July 8, the defendants are alleged to be responsible for trafficking large quantities of controlled substances in Richland County and the surrounding areas. Oxycodone was obtained from suppliers in Detroit, Cleveland, and Toledo which co-conspirators redistributed in Mansfield. The drugs and proceeds, were then stored at the New Millinium Car Wash and at a residence on Johns Avenue, both in Mansfield. Throughout the investigation, agents seized approximately 895 grams of cocaine, 127 oxycodone pills, and 50 grams of cocaine base (crack), as well as 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1,980 pressed fentanyl tablets, and 120 grams of powdered fentanyl. Agents also seized cash proceeds totaling more than $61,832 and numerous illegally possessed firearms during the investigation. Individuals were apprehended in a series of coordinated arrests. One defendant, Carl Henderson, 56, of Los Angeles, California, remains at large. A federal grand jury returned an 18-count indictment charging the following individuals with Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Cocaine Base (Crack), and Oxycodone: Calvin Caldwell, aka Petey, 67, of Mansfield, Ohio Carl Henderson, 56, of Los Angeles, California Damell Owens, 48, of Cleveland, Ohio Leon Moses, aka Lee, 47, of Toledo, Ohio Phillip Douglas Jr., 44, of Fraser, Michigan Robert Wade, aka Hollywood, 53, of Mansfield, Ohio Nashone Howard, aka Black, 53, of Mansfield, Ohio Edward Brooks, 67, of Ontario, Ohio Joann Robertson, 73, of Mansfield, Ohio Effie James, 69, of Mansfield, Ohio Jaynell Thornton, 67, of Mansfield, Ohio Timothy Moyer, 67, of Mansfield, Ohio Paul Baumer, 59, of Mansfield, Ohio Dreama Henderson, 42, of Mansfield, Ohio David George, 55, of Mansfield, Ohio, Toni Crawford, 66, of Mansfield, Ohio Caldwell was additionally charged with: Distribution of Oxycodone Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Felon in Possession of Ammunition; prior convictions include Aggravated Trafficking in 1995, Possession of Drugs in 2004, Distribution of Cocaine Base in 2008, and Trafficking in Cocaine in 2014 Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime Distribution of Cocaine Base (Crack) Distribution of Oxycodone Maintenance of Drug Premises Owens was additionally charged with: Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; prior convictions include Felonious Assault in 2004, and Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Cocaine and Cocaine Base in 2013 Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime Howard was additionally charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm; prior convictions include Aggravated Battery/Great Bodily Harm in 1991; Possession of Controlled Substances and Manufacture/Deliver Controlled Substances in 1994. The announcement was made by United States Attorney David Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio, Special Agent in Charge Joshua Del Manzo of the FBI Cleveland Division, and Mansfield Police Chief Jason Bammann. This case was investigated by the FBI Mansfield Resident Agency and the Metro-Richland County (METRICH) enforcement unit with assistance from the Mansfield Police Department, Richland County Sheriff Department, and the Marion County Drug Task Force (MARMET). The U.S. Marshals Service and Wyandot County Sheriff Office assisted with the arrests. The Richland County Prosecutors office provided valuable legal support throughout the investigation. The prosecution is being led by Assistant United States Attorney Vasile Katsaros for the Northern District of Ohio. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: South Bend Woman Convicted by Jury of Theft For Theft from Four Winds Casino

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Renee S. Toliver, 41 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was found guilty after a two-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. “On July 22, 2026, after a trial spanning two days, a jury returned a verdict of guilty against a Defendant charged her with one count of theft of money in excess of $1,000 belonging to the Four Winds Casino. The matter was investigated by the Pokagon Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Luke N. Reilander and Joseph M. Barrier. Sentencing is scheduled for October 29, 2026, at 2:00 PM before United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred. "Strong businesses create opportunities, strengthen communities, and improve lives," said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O'Malley. "When someone abuses a position of trust for personal gain, the damage extends far beyond the dollars stolen. The FBI is committed to investigating financial crimes, protecting the integrity of our institutions, and ensuring those responsible are held accountable." Pokagon Police Chief Doug Callahan said, “This verdict reflects the dedication and professionalism of the Pokagon Tribal Police Department and the strong collaboration with our federal law enforcement partners. We remain committed to protecting our community and ensuring those who commit crimes are held accountable." Sentencing is scheduled for October 29, 2026, at 2:00 PM. Any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the District Court Judge after consideration of federal statutes and the United States Sentencing Guidelines. This case was investigated by the Pokagon Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Luke N. Reilander and Joseph M. Barrier.


title: South Bend Man Sentenced to 90 Months in Prison

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Donald Cauffman, 34 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to attempt to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Cauffman was sentenced to 90 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. “The Defendant will serve seven and a half years in prison and will be supervised for three years thereafter because he sought to poison our communities by distributing nearly ten pounds of methamphetamine. Investigators learned that the Defendant ordered approximately $4,700 worth of methamphetamine pills on the dark web with the intent to distribute them. The pills were delivered in two packages and had a combined weight of approximately 4.5 kilograms. Investigators with United States Postal Inspection service executed a controlled delivery of the packages and monitored the packages as the Defendant opened them. Thanks to the United States Postal Inspection Service, the South Bend Police Department, the Mishawaka Police Department, and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office led by Ken Cotter, the Defendant was able to be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius. The Defendant sought to profit from peddling this poison in our communities and we are safer because the drugs were intercepted and he is behind bars,” said United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the South Bend Police Department, the Mishawaka Police Department, and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.


title: Guatemalan National Sentenced for Felony Reentry of Removed Alien For Immigration Offense

body_text: HAMMOND – Fredy Jiguan-Temaj, 23 years old, of Guatemala, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to felony reentry of removed alien, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Judge Philip P. Simon sentenced the Defendant to time served, followed by 1 year of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 Special Assessment. The supervised release term would go into effect should the Defendant remain in, or return to, the United States within that period following expected removal proceedings. “An illegal alien from the Republic of Guatemala who had been previously removed from the United States in 2022 was arrested on March 17, 2026, after causing a disturbance while operating a pickup truck in the parking lot of a Merrillville hotel. The defendant, who appeared to be heavily intoxicated at the time, then fled from the Merrillville Police officers responding to the scene, causing property damage to another vehicle. The Defendant was previously removed from the United States in 2022 and had reentered the country without inspection or approval. The Defendant again violated our nation’s borders, sovereignty and laws and was caught because he was endangering our community and then fled from officers. Thanks to the efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Merrillville Police Department and Assistant United States Attorney Zachary D. Heater, the Defendant has been prosecuted and sentenced. The Defendant needs to respect our nation’s laws and not return illegally,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.


title: Gary Man Sentenced to 192 Months in Prison For Controlled Substance Offenses

body_text: HAMMOND- Derek Cast, 48 years old, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to distributing 50 grams of more of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Cast was sentenced to 192 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. “A drug and gun dealer will spend the next 16 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for plying his trade of mayhem and poison. On October 2, 2025, the defendant sold just under a pound of methamphetamine to law enforcement. A few weeks later, on October 28, and November 5, 2025, he sold law enforcement 4 semi-automatic pistols and 2 rifles and demonstrated how to use one of the rifles as a fully automatic firearm. He was immediately arrested and law enforcement recovered a firearm from his person. The defendant has multiple felony convictions, including attempted battery involving law enforcement, carrying a handgun without a license, possession of cocaine, and dealing in cocaine, all of which were felonies that disqualified him from possessing any firearm or ammunition, much less selling them along with the methamphetamine. Citizens of our community and nation are safer for the efforts of agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin M. Padula as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods and Operation Take Back America,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin M. Padula. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities .


title: Five-Week Trial Results in Federal Jury Convicting Three Members of Violent Robbery Crew Responsible for Robbing or Attempting To Rob 14 Stores and Bars in Chicago

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal jury has convicted three members of a robbery crew responsible for violently robbing or attempting to rob 14 liquor stores, convenience stores, and bars in Chicago. XAVIER HARRIS and his brother, ARDARIES HARRIS, conspired with JORDAN FOX to rob more than a dozen Chicago businesses in 2023 and 2024. The robbers used stolen cars as getaway vehicles, wore masks and gloves, and brandished firearms in the heists. In some of the robberies, members of the crew fired shots from machine guns. After a five-week trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago, the jury on July 21, 20226 convicted Xavier Harris, 27, of Chicago, Ardaries Harris, 28, of Chicago, and Fox, 26, of Chicago, of conspiracy, robbery, and firearm offenses. The jury found that Jordan Fox brandished firearms in 9 of the robberies; Ardaries Harris brandished firearms in 8 of the robberies; and Xavier Harris brandished firearms in 3 of the robberies. The jury also found that Jordan Fox discharged a machinegun during the robbery of the Irish Nobleman Pub on May 4, 2024, and that Ardaries Harris aided Fox’s discharge of a machinegun. The convictions carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. According to evidence presented at trial, the three defendants conspired to commit the following robberies or attempted robberies in Chicago: Aug. 24, 2023: Ace’s Liquor and Tap, 4400 block of West Armitage Avenue. Jan. 10, 2024: A&R Food Mart, 5900 block of West Grand Avenue. Jan. 11, 2024: Central Extra Value Food and Liquor, 2900 block of North Central Avenue. Jan. 13, 2024: Buchanas Food & Liquor, 1800 block of West 47th Street. Jan. 15, 2024: Mr. P Beverage Depot, 2000 block of West Division Street. Jan. 15, 2024: Before You Go Liquor, 1900 block of West Fullerton Avenue. Jan. 15, 2024: Clybourn Market, 2800 block of North Clybourn Avenue. May 3, 2024: Humboldt Haus Liquor, 2900 block of West North Avenue. May 3, 2024: Gladstone Food Mart, 5700 block of North Milwaukee Avenue. May 4, 2024: Irish Nobleman Pub, 1300 block of West Erie Street. May 7, 2024: Buchanas Food & Liquor, 1800 block of West 47th Street. May 7, 2024: El Trebol Liquors and Bar, 1100 block of West 18th Street. May 7, 2024: Community Food and Liquor, 5500 block of North Milwaukee Avenue. May 9, 2024: Basil Food & Liquor, 7700 block of North Western Avenue in Chicago. The government expects it will introduce evidence of additional robberies in the Chicagoland area at sentencing, which the government will ask the Court to consider in determining the appropriate sentence. The convictions were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Fred Waller, Interim Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago, the Illinois State Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service’s Great Lakes Regional Task Force. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily C.R. Vermylen, Stephanie Stern, and Jalan Jaskot. The verdict was particularly important because this case involved charges that carried a 30-year mandatory minimum for use of a machinegun during a crime of violence, given the defendants’ use of machinegun conversion devices. “Machinegun conversion devices turn semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic weapons, capable of firing multiple bullets at the single pull of a trigger,” U.S. Attorney Boutros said. “They have proliferated on the streets of Chicago. The office will continue to prosecute the use of these lethal weapons vigorously.” A fourth defendant charged in the case—ROOSEVELT VEAL, 28, of Rockford—will be tried separately. Veal’s trial date has not yet been scheduled.


title: Employee Who Fraudulently Embezzled Approximately $4 Million From Big Ten Network Sentenced 28 Months in Prison and Ordered To Repay Funds


title: Felon Who Possessed Ammunition Sent to Federal Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A New Mexico man who possessed over 640 rounds of ammunition was sentenced today to two years in federal prison. Chase Smith Walker, age 41, from Carlsbad, New Mexico, received the prison term after a March 9, 2026, guilty plea to one count of possession of ammunition by a felon. In a plea agreement, Walker admitted that, on October 6, 2023, at approximately 1:40 a.m., he was driving while intoxicated in Tama County, Iowa. During a traffic stop and his booking at the local jail, Walker was extremely defiant and disrespectful towards officers. After his arrest, officers searched his truck, and they located over 640 rounds of ammunition. Walker was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because he had previously been convicted of a drug‑trafficking felony. Walker was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Walker was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment and fined $1,500. He must also serve a two‑year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Walker is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Meskwaki Nation Police Department. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25‑CR‑00015‑LTS.


title: Trenton Man Indicted for Child Exploitation Crimes

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: Gainesville, Florida – Bryan James Shuping, 58, of Trenton, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with thirteen counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today. Shuping appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for September 2, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Gainesville, Florida. If convicted, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment, and up to 30 years’ imprisonment, on each production of child pornography count. He faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the possession of child pornography count. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler A. Fleming is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Man Caught in Florida with Over 100 Kilos of Marijuana  Faces Federal Indictment

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – James Craig, 46, of Mokena, Illinois, has been indicted in federal court on one count of possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge. Craig appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary Bolitho in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for September 8, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. before District Court Judge M. Casey Rodgers. If convicted, Craig faces between 5 years’ to 40 years’ imprisonment. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .