title: Hot Springs Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine and Firearms Possession

body_text: HOT SPRINGS – A Hot Springs, Arkansas man was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in Federal Prison to be followed by five years of Supervised Release for Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Firearm in furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense, and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person - Felon. The Honorable Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearings, which took place in the United States District Court in Hot Springs. According to court records, in July of 2024 law enforcement agent conducted undercover controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Markevin Duwayne Taylor, age 33. On August 5, 2024, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Taylor’s residence, during which they located a large quantity of methamphetamine and a handgun. It was also determined that Taylor was a multiple time convicted felon. On June 26, 2025, Taylor pleaded guilty to Possession of Methamphetamine with the Intent to Distribute, Possession of a Firearm in furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Offense, and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person - Felon. During Taylor’s sentencing hearing on July 6, 2026, the Court determined that Taylor was an Armed Career Criminal based on the number and type of Taylor’s prior felony convictions. “Career criminals will not have safe harbor inside the Western District of Arkansas,” said United States Attorney Kevin R. Holmes. “Our state, local and federal law enforcement partnership is strong, and we will work together to ensure that these dangerous offenders get the time in prison they deserve.” “This investigation highlights our unyielding resolve to target drug traffickers who bring weapons and dangerous narcotics into our neighborhoods. Through Operation Take Back America, we will continue to deploy the full force of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from violent crime,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge John P. Scott, New Orleans Field Division. “We are thankful for our relationship with the US Attorney’s Office,” said Hot Springs Police Chief Chris Chapmond. “The aggressive prosecution of these types of offenders sends a clear message to those that want to commit offenses that endanger our citizens.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan A. Achorn prosecuted the case for the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hot Springs Police Department investigated the case. The 18 th East Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office also assisted with the prosecution and investigation of this matter. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. 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. Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov .


title: Over $2 Million in Stolen Funds Recovered by U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: BURLINGTON – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced today that it had successfully obtained a judgment in forfeiture for $2,270,202.39 in funds stolen from the Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD) in a cyber-enabled fraud scheme. United States District Judge William K. Sessions III signed the order of forfeiture and judgment on July 2, 2026, releasing the funds to the government. According to the settlement agreement in the case, the funds will now be returned to CSWD by the United States Marshals Service. As explained in documents from the case, in late January 2026, CSWD received an email that appeared to redirect payments owed to a construction company with whom they were engaged in an ongoing project. Pursuant to the email’s directions, CSWD sent two payments, totaling over $3 million, to an account at Citibank. In fact, the account at Citibank did not belong to the construction company but was instead receiving the funds as part of an ongoing fraud scheme. With the assistance of the FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office seized the funds from the bank pursuant to a civil seizure warrant and obtained forfeiture of the funds to the government to allow the return to CSWD. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the prompt investigatory efforts of the FBI in identifying and recovering the stolen funds and thanked the United States Marshals Service for their assistance executing the forfeiture. He added: “Recoveries of stolen funds from sophisticated cyber actors are only possible when impacted entities quickly alert law enforcement about their losses. In this case, CSWD swiftly notified law enforcement and coordinated with the FBI. Because of CSWD’s actions in the wake of the phishing scam, we were able to seize and return over $2 million dollars to CSWD, a benefit to all residents of Chittenden County.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli of the Albany Field Office also praised CSWD’s actions and urged rapid reporting saying, "this type of fraud is one of the most pervasive threats facing our communities today, but the FBI is here to help. Thanks to the quick reporting from Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD), our team was able to immediately get to work to recover the transactions and return a substantial portion of the stolen funds. I thank CSWD and the District of Vermont for their swift and strong coordination, and I implore the public to immediately report this type of fraud to law enforcement so we can work together to achieve a similar outcome." Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia A. P. Cowles handled this civil forfeiture matter for the government.


title: Jury Convicts Chicago Resident of Drug Trafficking and Firearm Crimes While in the District of Utah

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ST. GEORGE, Utah – A federal jury in St. George returned a guilty verdict against a Chicago man after law enforcement found him in possession of cocaine and a firearm during a traffic stop. Marcus Kentral Brown, 44, of Chicago, IL, was found guilty of possession of 500 grams or more of cocaine with intent to distribute, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on July 13, 2021, Brown was pulled over by a Utah Highway Patrol Trooper. Brown, the driver and sole occupant of a Jeep Grand Cherokee, stated he was traveling back to Chicago from California. Brown claimed the Jeep was his and that he purchased the vehicle from a “friend” in February or March. During a consensual search of the vehicle, the UHP Trooper found air fresheners throughout the car and a hidden compartment in the rear cargo area. He also located and seized approximately $14,000 in cash. Inside the hidden compartment, the trooper located 10 packages of a controlled substance that later tested positive for cocaine, and a loaded Glock pistol. The total weight of the cocaine was 25 pounds Brown is scheduled to be sentenced on October 28, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Court Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen in courtroom 2B at the courthouse located at 206 West Tabernacle Street, St. George, Utah 84470. The case is being investigated by the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant United States Attorneys Brady Wilson and Christopher Burton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah 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.


title: Columbus repeat felon pleads guilty to firearms crime on same day jury trial was to commence

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus repeat felon whose jury trial was scheduled to begin on Monday pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court to a firearms crime. Antonio Triplett, 47, pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Triplett, who is also known as “Trip,” has at least six prior convictions that prohibit him from possessing a firearm, including robbery and domestic violence. According to court documents, on July 12, 2025, Columbus police officers were dispatched to Stevens Avenue in response to a 911 call about an armed man threatening a woman. Triplett was present at the property despite requests that he leave. Officers discovered a pistol under an inflatable mattress in the residence’s living room. Triplett told officers he had been staying at the home and spending most of his time in the living room. He also told officers that if his DNA was on the firearm, it was because he picked it up while cleaning the house. Lab results issued on Dec. 31, 2025, showed Triplett’s DNA on the firearm in at least three areas. The defendant was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2026. Triplett faces up to 15 years in prison. Sentencing will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the guilty plea entered on July 6 before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth A. Geraghty and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Pearl River Man Pleads Guilty to Theft on Reservation

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Jackson, MS – A Pearl River man pleaded guilty on July 7, 2026, to the charge of theft of a motor vehicle from the Choctaw Indian Reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi, and Sheriff Eric Clark, Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department. According to court documents, Joshua Hickman, 30, of the Pearl River Community, unlawfully took a motor vehicle from the Silver Star Hotel & Casino of the Pearl River Resort. Court documents also stated that Hickman was driving the vehicle when he was stopped by a Neshoba County Deputy on October 25, 2025, during a routine traffic stop. In January of 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Hickman on the charge. Hickman pleaded guilty to the charge and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 6, 2026. Hickman faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger commended the work of the Neshoba County Sheriff’s Department and the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, who jointly investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Payne, Brian K. Burns, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kalleigh McCoy.


title: Illegal alien faces lengthy prison sentence after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm

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

body_text: SAVANNAH, Georgia: An illegal alien in possession of a firearm has been sentenced to prison in federal district court. The sentence was 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. Alan Castro-Hernandez, 27, of Garden City, was sentenced to 160 months in prison followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to two counts of being an Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm. There is no parole in the federal system. In March 2025, Chatham County Police responded to a shooting at the Emperors Gentlemen’s Club, finding a wounded victim along with 9 mm casings at the scene. During the investigation, using surveillance video, investigators identified the suspects’ vehicle and physical description. Investigators searched Castro-Hernandez’s residence and found the Glock Model 48, 9 mm pistol used in the shooting. Several additional firearms were recovered during the search. “This defendant knew his actions were illegal, and the community is safer after the conclusion of this case,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “The teamwork and investigative skills of our law enforcement partners, including Chatham County Police Detectives Randall Noble and Jon Puhala, ensured this illegal alien would face justice.” Castro-Hernandez admitted to officers that he possessed the firearm and shot someone the night he was at the establishment. Castro-Hernandez also admitted to knowingly being illegally in the United States. "When individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms choose to arm themselves and commit acts of violence, they put innocent lives at risk,” said ATF Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Joseph Waller. “ATF will continue working with our law enforcement partners to investigate firearms offenses, remove illegal firearms from our communities, and ensure violent offenders are brought to justice.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Chatham County Police Department and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant United States Attorneys Kelsey L. Scanlon, Michael Spitulnik and J. Bishop Ravenel.


title: Armed career criminal sentenced to more than 30 years in prison for illegal gun possession

body_text: SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Savannah man has been sentenced to more than 30 years in federal prison for being an armed career criminal in possession of a firearm. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall, and announced by Margaret E. ‘Meg’ Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Duane B. Smith, aka “Flex,” aka “Dwayne Kelvin Smith,” 53, of Savannah, was sentenced to 405 months in prison, fined $1,200 and ordered to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term after being convicted at trial of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Smith was adjudicated as an Armed Career Criminal, which requires imposition of a mandatory minimum 15-year term of imprisonment for recidivists convicted of illegally possessing a firearm who have three prior state or federal convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses. As described in court documents and testimony, on June 13, 2023, officers with the Savannah Police Department responded to the Goodwill Store at 220 Eisenhower Drive in response to a missing person report. Officers found the missing individual with Smith, and learned that Smith had driven the missing person to the Goodwill Store in his vehicle. Investigators searched Smith’s vehicle and located a Cobra .380 caliber pistol under the back seat of the vehicle. Smith later was arrested by the Savannah Police Department SWAT team. Smith was prohibited from possessing firearms because of three previous state felony convictions and one federal felony conviction. “Our partnership with local and federal law enforcement agencies is vital in our efforts to remove firearms from the hands of those who can’t legally possess them – especially those convicted of prior felonies,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This conviction is a positive step in reducing violence in our communities.” This investigation took place under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer. “This should send a clear message that there are serious consequences for illegally possessing a firearm in Savannah,” said Savannah Police Chief Lenny B. Gunther. “I’m proud of my officers for getting both him and the weapons off our streets.” This case was investigated by the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant United States Attorneys Makeia R. Jonese and Patricia G. Rhodes.


title: Former San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputy Sentenced to Federal Prison for Excessive Force and Cover-Up

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Former San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremiah Manuyag Flores was sentenced in federal court today to 57 months in prison for violating the civil rights of a pretrial detainee by using excessive force that caused a spinal injury, then lying in a report to cover up his illegal conduct. “When a law enforcement officer abuses his authority and violates someone’s constitutional rights, there will be serious consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “Upholding civil rights is fundamental to the mission of every law enforcement agency. When an officer violates that oath, equal accountability is essential to maintaining the public’s trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI’s San Diego Field Office. “Today’s sentence reflects the commitment of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to thoroughly investigate such matters and ensure those who abuse their authority face appropriate consequences.” After a weeklong trial in December 2025, it took a jury just two hours to convict Flores of both counts filed against him, including Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law and Falsification of Records in a Federal Investigation. The jury found that Flores violated the civil rights of the victim, identified by the initials J.P., by unnecessarily shoving him from behind while his legs were shackled and his hands were cross-chained at his waist, causing J.P. to fly across his holding cell, slam headfirst into the far wall, and collapse to the ground with what was later determined to be a fracture of his spinal column. Flores did not provide J.P. with medical aid and failed to report his use of excessive force to a supervisor, both of which are required by the Sheriff’s Department’s Use of Force Policy. As a result, J.P. lay on the floor of his cell next to a pool of his own blood for over two hours before his injuries were discovered by another deputy. When Flores then was directed to write an Inmate Status Report about his earlier interaction with J.P., he included multiple false statements, including “no force was used.” In advocating for a lengthy prison term, Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Askins argued: “The power disparity between the defendant who was in complete control and [J.P.] who couldn’t do anything to protect himself was as wide as the ocean. The defendant’s only job was to walk with him.” Askins continued: “There was no escalation here. There was no resistance here. The defendant didn’t have to use any force at all. All he had to do was to keep walking.” Before pronouncing sentence, U.S. District Judge Linda Lopez noted that the public does not get to see what goes on inside jail facilities and relies on law enforcement officers to “do the right thing.” She discussed at length that Flores not only used excessive force but then told another deputy “nothing happened” and repeatedly ignored multiple opportunities in the two hours afterwards to help the victim. Addressing Flores, Judge Lopez said: “What you do then matters.” In referencing a still-shot from a surveillance camera that showed Flores walking away from the victim’s cell smiling in the moments afterward, Judge Lopez said: “I don’t know how many years it’s going to be before I get that photo out of my mind. Your conduct was egregious.” Flores, who had been free on bond, was ordered to report to prison by August 18, 2026. As a result of his convictions, Flores was terminated by the San Diego Sheriff’s Office and will not be able to work as a law enforcement officer at any level of government—local, state, or federal—in the future. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth Askins and Michael Deshong. DEFENDANTS Case Number 25cr0254 Jeremiah Manuyag Flores Age: 45 La Jolla, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 242 Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine Falsification of Records in a Federal Investigation – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1519 Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Federal Bureau of Investigation San Diego County Sheriff’s Office (Homicide Unit)


title: Alleged Leader of a Violent Wing of the Sinaloa Cartel Charged with Narcoterrorism, Material Support of Terrorism and Drug Trafficking

body_text: SAN DIEGO – An indictment unsealed today charges Carlos Paez Pereda, aka “Carlitos,” aka “Carlitos Rugrats,” alleged high-ranking lieutenant and leader of a violent wing of the Sinaloa Cartel called “Los Rugrats,” with Narcoterrorism and Material Support of Terrorism in connection with trafficking massive amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine into the United States. “No se puede capturar a un personaje de dibujos animados. Pero a un narcoterrorista, sí,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “Today’s indictment underscores the FBI’s determination to dismantle the most violent elements of the Sinaloa Cartel,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Remily of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “Los Rugrats has fueled brutal violence in Mexico that reaches into the United States along with a relentless flow of deadly drugs into our communities. Together with our federal and state partners, we will continue to target cartel leadership wherever they operate to bring them to justice and protect the public.” “For years, Pereda allegedly fueled the drug crisis by trafficking deadly drugs into the United States while using violence, intimidation, and fear to protect his criminal enterprise,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge James Nunnallee. “As alleged in the indictment, his organization relied on murder, kidnapping, and armed enforcers to maintain power and ensure the continued flow of drugs that have devastated families and communities across our nation. DEA and our law enforcement partners remain relentless in our pursuit of those who profit from addiction and violence. Together, we are strengthening a global network of partnerships that is disrupting cartel operations, dismantling their criminal enterprises, and ensuring those responsible have fewer places to hide and nowhere to run.” “This indictment highlights the collaboration and strength of the Homeland Security Task Force,” said Kevin Murphy, acting Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in San Diego. “HSI will continue to support our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners as HSTF San Diego continues to dismantle the cartels and protect our communities.” All photos are published in court documents and were pulled from social media accounts associated with Paez. The images depict drugs, guns and trafficking proceeds connected to the defendant. According to court documents, Paez operates a prolific manufacturing and distribution network of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine for the Mayo Zambada faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. Paez also enforces the Sinaloa Cartel’s operations in Sinaloa and Tijuana through murder, kidnappings, and other violent activity, using a group of armed fighters and hitmen. Paez also manages and controls a portion of the Sinaloa Cartel’s transportation operations from Sinaloa to Tijuana, and the surrounding municipalities, ultimately leading to the importation of these drugs into the United States and distribution in the Southern District of California and elsewhere. Over the past decade, Paez has imported tens of thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, into the United States and laundered hundreds of millions of dollars in drug proceeds. Paez was designated by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, as a Drug Kingpin in September 2025. Paez has also assisted the Los Mayos faction during their ongoing bloody conflict with the “Los Chapitos” faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. Paez has provided fighters, weapons, logistics, and money during the conflict. This indictment follows a storied tradition in the Southern District of California for dismantling leadership and operations of powerful Mexican cartels – from the dismantling of the Arellano Felix Cartel to major strikes against today’s most dangerous, powerful and violent cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and the Beltran Leyva Organization. The indictment is a direct result of President Trump’s Executive Order 14157 which designated the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and the Secretary of State’s subsequent designation of the same on February 20, 2025. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Mellor and Peter Horn. DEFENDANT Case Number 26cr1044-DMS Carlos Paez Pereda Age: 30 City of Residence: Laguna Colorada, Sinaloa, Mexico aka “Carlitos” aka “Carlitos Rugrats” SUMMARY OF CHARGES Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 960a and 841 – Narcoterrorism Maximum penalty: Life in prison, mandatory minimum 20 years in prison; $20 million fine Title 18, U.S.C. Sec. 2339B – Providing Material Support to Terrorism Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine Title 21, U.S.C., Sec. 848(a) -Continuing Criminal Enterprise Maximum penalty: Life in prison, mandatory minimum 20 years; $10 million fine Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 952, 959, 960, and 963 - International Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances Maximum penalty: Life in prison, mandatory minimum 10 years; $10 million fine Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 841(a)(1) and 846 - Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances Maximum penalty: Life in prison, mandatory minimum 10 years in prison; $10 million fine Title 21, U.S.C., Secs. 952, 960 and 963 – Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances Maximum penalty: Life in prison, mandatory minimum 10 years; $10 million fine Money Laundering Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1956(h) Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $500,000 fine or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved, whichever is greater INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Federal Bureau of Investigation Drug Enforcement Administration Homeland Security Investigations Chula Vista Police Department High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. This case was investigated and prosecuted by the California Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs were established by President Trump in 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. Operation Take Back America is 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. High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, provides assistance to Federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States. This grant program is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). There are currently 33 HIDTAs, and HIDTA-designated counties are located in 50 states, as well as in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia.


title: Knoxville Man Sentenced to 60 Months’ Imprisonment for Fentanyl Trafficking

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – Tobias Billingsley of Knoxville, Tennessee, was sentenced on June 30, 2026, by United States District Judge William H. Steele to 60 months in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl. According to court documents, on May 20, 2025, agents with the 17th Judicial Drug Task Force conducted a traffic stop on a rollback wrecker traveling north on Interstate 65 near mile marker 85 in Conecuh County after observing that the vehicle's license plate was not plainly visible. The wrecker was transporting a GMC Yukon. During the stop, investigators developed probable cause to search the Yukon and discovered approximately seven kilograms of fentanyl concealed inside the vehicle's battery compartment. The investigation revealed that Billingsley had traveled to Houston, Texas, to retrieve the fentanyl at the direction of others. After obtaining the drugs, he arranged for the Yukon to be transported by rollback wrecker to Atlanta, Georgia, where he was instructed to deliver the fentanyl to another individual. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations and the 17th Judicial Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney George F. May prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison  for Failing to Register as Sex Offender

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on July 6, 2026. James Murphy, 34, was sentenced to one year and three 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. Murphy was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 6, 2026. Murphy was convicted of a federal sex offense in 2014 for soliciting a 13-year-old girl off Backpage for sex in exchange for money. At the time, Murphy was 21 years old. Because of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender. Murphy was aware of his obligation to register and to keep his registration current. Nonetheless, from early November 2023 through December 2024, Murphy knowingly failed to register and update his registration despite being instructed by law enforcement to do so. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Larson prosecuted the case. Murphy was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence. This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison  for Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition as a Felon

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on June 26, 2026. Rudolph Bissonette, 34, was sentenced to 12 months and a day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Bissonette was indicted for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in December 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 15, 2026. On October 15, 2025, law enforcement observed a vehicle committing a traffic violation. Bissonette was the driver. He had been drinking alcohol and had a blood alcohol content of .266%. Bissonette informed law enforcement there was a pistol in the vehicle. Law enforcement also found a round of ammunition in Bissonette’s front-right pants pocket. Bissonette is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to prior convictions punishable beyond a year in prison. It is a federal felony to possess firearms or ammunition after a felony conviction. 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case. Bissonette is to self-surrender to the U.S. Marshals Service at a date and time ordered by the Court.


title: Rapid City Man Convicted by Federal Jury of Possessing a Firearm as a Felon

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted Avery Hawk Wing, age 35, of Rapid City, South Dakota, of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on July 2, 2026. The maximum penalty is 15 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered. Hawk Wing was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2024. Evidence at trial showed Hawk Wing handled a rifle that was in a tote bag that belonged to him. Hawk Wing told law enforcement that he touched the firearm when going through his tote bag. Unsurprisingly, forensic examination revealed Hawk Wing’s DNA on several locations of the firearm, consistent with him handling the firearm. Hawk Wing was previously convicted of a crime punishable beyond a year in prison and, as a result, is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case. A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date will be set for a later date. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Mission Man Sentenced to Federal Prison  for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man from Mission, South Dakota, convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on July 6, 2026. Jaret Wooden Knife, age 28, was sentenced to one year and one month in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Wooden Knife was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 9, 2026. Wooden Knife was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in U.S. District Court in 2022. Consequently, he is required to register as a sex offender and update his registration within three business days of relocation or changing employment or student status. In July 2025, Wooden Knife began a period of supervised release residing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and he appropriately updated his sex offender registration. Wooden Knife thereafter relocated from his registered address and updated his sex offender registration to reflect a different residence in Sioux Falls, but he never resided at the new address. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued, and on September 12, 2025, Wooden Knife was arrested in Sioux Falls. This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case. Wooden Knife was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Mission Man and Woman Sentenced for Larceny

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man and woman, both from Mission, South Dakota, following their convictions for Larceny. Amelia Bordeaux age 20, pleaded guilty on April 1, 2026. On June 29, 2026, she was sentenced to time served, equal to approximately four months in custody, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Andrew Whiting, age 20, pleaded guilty on January 12, 2026. On April 21, 2026, he was sentenced to time served, equal to approximately eight months in custody, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Bordeaux and Whiting were indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025. The convictions stem from an incident that occurred on February 18, 2025, within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On that date, Whiting and Bordeaux stole a pickup truck that was parked at a residence in Mission. They subsequently got the vehicle stuck in a rural area south of Mission and abandoned it. The vehicle was recovered by law enforcement the following day. 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 was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case. Bordeaux and Whiting were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service at the conclusion of their individual sentencing hearings.


title: Lower Brule Man Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Federal Prison  for Assaulting a Bureau of Indian Affairs Police Officer with His Vehicle

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons, announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Lower Brule, South Dakota man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on July 6, 2026. Cody Crazy Bull, age 35, was sentenced to seven years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Crazy Bull was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 9, 2026. This conviction stems from an incident that occurred on May 12, 2025, in Lower Brule, South Dakota. Federal officers with the Bureau of Indian Affairs observed Crazy Bull in the driver’s seat of a vehicle in a parking lot. Aware that Crazy Bull had an active tribal arrest warrant, the officers attempted to place him under arrest. As an officer was standing in an open door of the vehicle, Crazy Bull put the vehicle in reverse and backed up quickly, striking the officer with the vehicle door. The officer then jumped into the moving vehicle to avoid being run over and gave repeated commands for Crazy Bull to stop the vehicle. Crazy Bull eventually stopped the vehicle and fled on foot until he was apprehended a short time later hiding in a mechanical closet of a nearby building. “The reckless and intentional actions of this fugitive from the law might well have killed this heroic federal officer acting in the line of duty,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “Thank goodness the police lieutenant is safe. Our office backs the blue, and we will do everything we can to put anyone who assaults a law enforcement officer behind bars where they belong.” This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services-Lower Brule Agency and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case. Crazy Bull was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Kyle Man Sentenced to Over 2 Years in Federal Prison  for Possessing a Firearm as a Felon on the Pine Ridge Reservation

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Kyle, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on June 29, 2026. Marcel Boyd, 40, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Boyd was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in September 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 31, 2026. On July 10, 2024, law enforcement responded to a report of gunshots fired in Kyle, South Dakota. Boyd pointed a pistol at others and shot it off in the air. Boyd then ran into the home of someone he knew. Law enforcement officers observed a small child’s hand wave for help from inside. They entered the home and safely secured Boyd. Underneath the mattress where Boyd was found, officers located the pistol. Boyd had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and, accordingly, is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case. Boyd was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Former Spartanburg County Sheriff Sentenced to 41 Months in Federal Prison in Public Corruption Scheme

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREENVILLE, S.C. — Charles Wright, 61, of Wellford, the former sheriff of Spartanburg County, has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and obtaining controlled substances by misrepresentation. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office Chaplain’s Benevolence Fund is a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to SCSO deputies and their families during times of need, such as bereavement, financial difficulties, and traumatic line-of-duty events. Wright, in his capacity as sheriff, hired Amos Durham as the director of the Benevolence Fund. In that position, Durham was responsible for overseeing the fund. Wright then directed Durham to withdraw cash and right checks to Wright, which Wright used for his own personal enrichment and not for deputies and their families in need. When one employee’s family approached the Benevolence Fund for help covering hospice bills, they were turned away because the fund was empty. When another deputy asked for assistance with bills associated with a tree that fell on the deputy’s house, they were also turned away. Around the same time, Wright took more than $89,000 donated cash from the Benevolence Fund for his private use. Wright used for personal purchases and expenses, to include hotel rooms, food, and travel bills. Wright also charged more than $17,000 in personal expense on the county credit card, including for fitness programs, Apple products, online games, and streaming platform subscriptions. Wright also employed and paid his cousin, Lawson Watson, at least $200,000 in taxpayer funds for a no-show job across a four-year period. In March 2005, Wright hired Watson as an employee of the SCSO. Watson received a full salary and benefits for work that he did not perform from at least January 2021 through March 2025. Wright knew that his cousin was not working and he allowed Watson to continue to fraudulently receive a paycheck and benefits for work that he did not perform. Wright further provided his cousin the use of a county vehicle and county phone for the cousin to use at a private job. Wright also obtained controlled substances under false pretenses. Wright repeatedly obtained oxycodone and hydrocodone pills fraudulently by misleading numerous employees and members of the public, seeking them out to turn over prescription pills over to Wright for what he claimed was part of the SCSO “take back” narcotic disposal program. In truth, Wright obtained the narcotics for his own personal use. He targeted many at SCSO and in his community who were suffering loss and medical hardship—including at funerals, at church, and following surgery—whom he knew would have pills. Wright, while in uniform, badge on chest and service weapon on his hip, purchased drugs from a street-level pill dealer on several occasions in the SCSO parking lot. “Wright’s abuses represent a grave violation of public trust. He let down the people who elected him to serve,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate public corruption and hold those who abuse their positions of power accountable.” “Today’s sentencing reaffirms that honor and integrity remain core traits of wearing a law enforcement badge,” said FBI Columbia Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore. “There is a real cost for tarnishing the badge and the trust it represents, and former Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright will now face that consequence. The FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to ensure elected officials are held accountable for crimes—especially when their actions erode the public’s trust.” “My office was proud to partner with law enforcement at SLED and the FBI who investigated this matter as well as our counterparts at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute this case and ensure that justice was done,” stated 10th Circuit Solicitor Micah Black. “Public trust in our institutions cannot be undermined, and today’s sentence should send a clear message that this behavior will not be tolerated.” Chief United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain sentenced Wright to 41 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Wright’s two co-defendants, Amos Durham and Lawson Watson, are scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday, July 9. The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lothrop Morris and Criminal Chief Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the case. ###


title: Individuals Sentenced to 35 and 25 Years in Prison for Firearms Violations and Double Murder

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – United States District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado-Hernández sentenced two defendants, Sean Díaz-De León and Juan Carlos Pagán-Bonilla, charged with the murder of two transgender women in April 2020 in Humacao, PR. The defendants were arrested on May 4, 2020, indicted on May 13, 2020, and pleaded guilty in October and December 2025. According to court documents, on June 30, 2026, defendant Sean Díaz-De León was sentenced to 35 years in prison and five years of supervised release for carrying and using a firearm during a crime of violence which resulted in the murder of L.P.S. and S.A.V.R., two transgender women. On December 4, 2025, Díaz-De León pleaded guilty to shooting and killing both victims and disposing of their bodies with co-defendant Pagán-Bonilla. On May 22, 2026, Juan Carlos Pagán-Bonilla was sentence to 25 years in prison and five years of supervised release for using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence which resulted in the double murder of the transgender women. Pagán-Bonilla pleaded guilty on October 20, 2025. On April 21, 2020, Sean Díaz-De León and Juan Carlos Pagán-Bonilla agreed and planned to meet on a double date with L.P.S. and S.A.V.R. at L.P.S.’s residence in the municipality of Las Piedras. The defendants and the victims socialized, smoked marihuana, made small talk, and got to know each other. L.P.S. recorded a short video showing all their faces that she published online on the Snapchat social media application. At some point, Díaz-DeLeón and L.P.S. moved to a different bedroom and had sexual relations. Afterwards L.P.S. admitted to Díaz-De León that she was transgender and Díaz-De León got angry. Pagán-Bonilla and S.A.V.R. also had sexual relations. Subsequently, Díaz-De León told Pagán-Bonilla that S.A.V.R. was also transgender and that he wanted to kill both women because he felt like they tricked them into having sex without telling them that they were transgender. The victims tried to calm down the defendants and proposed that they get more marihuana to smoke and talk. The defendants however, decided to shoot the victims once they reached the highway. Díaz-De León shot and killed both victims. Both defendants, to conceal their crimes, filled the car with trash to make it more flammable and set the car on fire under a bridge in Barrio Mambiche Prieto in Humacao. U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico; and Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement. The FBI and the Puerto Rico Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney José Contreras prosecuted the case. ###


title: Two Men Charged for Armed Carjacking

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – Two men made their initial appearances in court today for allegedly carjacking with use of using firearms last month in Las Vegas. According to allegations contained in the indictment, on May 27, 2026, Michael Merryman and Jermaine Francis took a motor vehicle at gunpoint. Allegedly, during the carjacking, Merryman brandished a 9mm firearm and Francis brandished an AM-15 firearm. Merryman and Francis are each charged with two counts of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. They each face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement. The FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney Strange 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: Three Men Convicted of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A federal jury convicted three men last week for their participation in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. “This jury verdict is the result of our strong partnership with the DEA to make Nevada’s communities safer and free of dangerous drugs,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “We are relentless in our joint efforts to disrupt and pursue drug traffickers who distribute illicit drugs.” “These convictions are a testament to the united stand taken by law enforcement partners working to reverse the tide,” said Anthony Chrysanthis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division, which oversees Nevada. “Methamphetamine and fentanyl continue to fuel the drug crisis facing Nevada. Identifying and taking drug distributors off our streets is a vital part of our commitment to halt the flow of drugs that continue to devastate communities. DEA will remain at the frontline of this battle, working shoulder-to-shoulder with our federal partners to safeguard the health and safety of all Nevada residents.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from August 2022 to June 20, 2023, Darrell Glen Harris, Joey Lamar McRoyal, and Lamar Deshawn Rosser conspired to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 40 grams or more of fentanyl — both drugs are Schedule II controlled substances. As proven at trial, during the course of the conspiracy, Harris supplied McRoyal and Rosser with methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and other controlled substances for distribution in Las Vegas. Harris was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. McRoyal and Rosser were found guilty of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Sentencing is scheduled on October 1, 2026, before United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva. The statutory maximum penalty is life in prison, lifetime supervised release, and a fine up to $10,000,000. The DEA Las Vegas District Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Brister is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Illegal Alien With 11 Prior Deportations and Multiple Felony Convictions Sentenced to Over One Year in Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States

body_text: LAS VEGAS – An illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced today by United States District Judge Cristina D. Silva to 13 months and one day in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for illegally reentering the United States after having been removed from the country on three prior occasions. The government recommended a sentence of 13 months and one day imprisonment. According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings, on December 27, 2025, Ulian Ohye-Michiko was found in the United States after being arrested by officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for child abuse or neglect, domestic battery, false statement to or obstruct public officer, driving without a driver's license, driving under the influence, and operator - proof of insurance required. Ohye-Michiko has four prior felony convictions: Aggravated Assault- Law Enforcement Officer, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and two for illegally returning to the United States after a removal. This is his third conviction for illegally reentering the United States. Ohye-Michiko was previously deported to Mexico 11 times between 2008 and 2020. Ohye-Michiko pleaded guilty to one count of Deported Alien Found in the United States. After serving his prison sentence, he will be deported to Mexico for a 12th time. First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Acting Field Office Director Alejandro Almeida made the announcement. The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case. Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form . This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: California Man Sentenced in $39M Bank Fraud Scheme That Defrauded Seven Financial Institutions

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A California man was sentenced today to 78 months in prison and three years of supervised release for perpetrating an elaborate bank fraud scheme that took in approximately $39 million from multiple financial institutions over the course of nearly 10 years. He was also ordered to pay over $19.4 million in restitution and $21.8 million in forfeiture. According to court documents, Gary Topolewski, 64, of Northridge, engaged in the nearly decade-long scheme to defraud multiple financial institutions through the submission of false and fraudulent commercial loan applications on behalf of his purported companies, Topolewski America Inc., Morrison Knudsen Services Inc., and Metal Jeans Inc. As a result, these entities received more than $39 million in fraudulently obtained loan proceeds, with Topolewski unsuccessfully seeking millions more. Topolewski falsely represented in the loan applications that the loans were for the purchase of large, industrial earth-moving construction equipment, and for business working capital purposes. In reality, Topolewski and his companies did not use the proceeds as represented and instead diverted, laundered, and misappropriated the proceeds for other purposes, including for the purchase of properties and to make Ponzi-like payments to financial lenders to perpetuate the scheme by using loan proceeds from newer loans to pay down the balance of other loans. Topolewski used several aliases, including the stolen identity of a victim, and company names that were similar to those of established companies in the construction and equipment industries. In December 2025, Topolewski pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Delzotto of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement. The FBI investigated the case. Trial Attorney Sara Hallmark of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Lopez for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case. ###


body_text: Andy Sanborn Pleads Guilty to Misusing Over $250,000 of CARES Act Funds CONCORD – Anthony Sanborn, a/k/a Andy Sanborn, 64, pleaded guilty today to Theft of Government Funds, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. U.S. District Judge Landya B. McCafferty scheduled sentencing for October 15, 2026. “This office is dedicated to combating fraud and prosecuting those who wrongfully take money from American taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “Today’s conviction was the result of incredible work done by a dedicated team of agents. We and our law enforcement partners will continue to diligently investigate those who target federal benefits programs.” “This casino owner must’ve thought he hit the jackpot when he got more than a quarter of a million dollars set aside to keep businesses afloat amid a pandemic battering our economy. But the odds and the FBI finally caught up with him when he misused that money for his own financial gain,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “The FBI simply won’t stand for opportunists thinking they can defraud the federal government, live large, and get away with it. We will aggressively pursue anyone foolish enough to do so.” “Today’s guilty plea of Andy Sanborn demonstrates IRS-CI’s continued commitment to root out fraud and theft from the United States Government at all levels,” said Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. “Sanborn misappropriated federal funds designated to aid small business owners in their time of need, during a global pandemic. Instead of using these funds for their intended purpose and invest in his own business, Sanborn selfishly decided to use these funds for his own self-enrichment and to purchase luxury items.” “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service routinely seeks prosecution of individuals like Anthony Sanborn, who misused funds that were designated to provide financial relief during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. “Postal Inspectors, alongside our federal partners, uncovered a scheme where Sanborn spent over a quarter of a million dollars of the funds on personal expenses. We will continue to support and collaborate with our federal law enforcement partners to stop those who are engaged in these types of schemes.” Sanborn owned and operated Win Win Win, a company that did business as Concord Casino. Sanborn applied for and obtained $844,000 in Economic Injury Disaster Loan funding from the Small Business Administration. In applying for the loans, Sanborn certified that he would use the loan proceeds solely as working capital for Win Win Win. However, Sanborn misused $255,232.72 of the funds on personal expenditures. For example, on January 18, 2022, Sanborn used $48,750 of EIDL funds to purchase a 2006 Porsche Cayman. The charge of Theft of Government Funds carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. 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. The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigations, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (‘Fraud Division’). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to Decade in Prison

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – An Ohio man who transported methamphetamine to Wetzel County, West Virginia will spend 10 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Kyle Thomas Bryan, 33, of Warren, Ohio, was sentenced to 120 months today for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. On January 6, 2025, the Marshall County Drug Task Force acted on information from a confidential informant regarding an alleged drug delivery involving Bryan, who was reportedly traveling from Warren, Ohio, to deliver a substantial quantity of methamphetamine. Later that day, Bryan notified the informant that he had arrived in a black Ford F-150 at the residence in Wetzel County. Task Force officers responded and approached the vehicle. Bryan exited the front passenger seat and was found with a glass pipe containing suspected methamphetamine. A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered nearly half a pound of methamphetamine inside a green bag on the floorboard, as well as a clear plastic bag hidden beneath the front passenger seat. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. Investigative agencies include the Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; and the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration. U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.


title: Former Texas Tech Professor Pleads Guilty to Running Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: Note: As a courtesy to the public, a copy of the Factual Resume is attached. An official copy of this court document can be obtained (irrespective of any markings that may indicate that the document was filed under seal or otherwise marked as not available for public dissemination) on the Public Access to Court Electronic Records website at https://pacer.uscourts.gov . A former Texas Tech marketing and supply chain professor pled guilty today for his leadership role in a fentanyl distribution conspiracy, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Daniel Taylor, 51, of Lubbock, Texas, was charged in February 2026 with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. On July 1, 2026, he pled guilty to conspiring to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. During the entire scope of the conspiracy, Taylor was employed as an assistant professor of marketing and supply chain management at the Texas Tech University Rawls College of Business. He admitted in court documents that his educational background and expertise in supply chain management helped to further or advance his fentanyl distribution network. “Taylor utilized his education and background in supply chain management to build and operate his own supply chain of dangerous narcotics in the Lubbock area, primarily dealing out of the Executive Inn,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “With his pink flamingo and ghost branding of fentanyl, he also drugged prostitutes to fuel his own sexual desires. I expect—and we will certainly be asking for—a severe prison sentence to hold him accountable for the harm he caused our community.” “This defendant exploited the knowledge and credibility he gained as a university professor to build a fentanyl trafficking operation that put lives at risk throughout the Lubbock community,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph B. Tucker of the DEA Dallas Field Division. “DEA and our law enforcement partners remain committed to identifying and dismantling the criminal networks responsible for distributing fentanyl, and we will continue pursuing those who profit from this deadly poison.” According to court documents, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Caprock High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force began investigating Taylor and others in June 2025, after receiving information that a Texas Tech professor named “Dan” was distributing fentanyl powder in Lubbock. In January 2026, agents were conducting surveillance on Taylor when they observed him leave his residence with a female. They followed Taylor and the female as Taylor drove (them) to the Executive Inn in Lubbock. At the Executive Inn, Taylor and the female picked up a second female. Agents learned that, while this second female was in custody in September 2025, Taylor created an account through the jail electronic messaging system and used it to put money on her jail account and to arrange to pick her up upon her release from jail. Shortly thereafter, agents obtained a court order to place a GPS tracking device on Taylor’s vehicle. On January 12, 2026, agents and watched Taylor leave his residence and travel to a convenience store off Frankford Avenue. Inside the store, Taylor made contact with the female he previously picked up at the Executive Inn, who followed Taylor outside and entered Taylor’s vehicle for less than a minute before exiting and returning to her vehicle, some of which is depicted below: Agents believed they had witnessed a narcotics transaction and conducted a traffic stop on the female’s vehicle. As a Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office deputy approached the vehicle, the occupants began telling the deputy that there was a male in the back seat experiencing a drug overdose. Paramedics arrived and transported the individual to the University Medical Center (UMC) hospital in Lubbock. The individual required endotracheal intubation and was intubated for approximately three days. The individual’s treating physician stated that he was experiencing imminent, life-threatening deterioration as a result of an opioid overdose. Subsequent investigation revealed that Taylor had just distributed two different types of fentanyl powder to the female: white fentanyl powder, marketed as “ghost,” and a pink powder that the DEA laboratory determined to be a combination of fentanyl and bromazoloam, a benzodiazepine that was emergency scheduled by the DEA as a Schedule I controlled substance in March 2026. Taylor marketed the pink powder as “pink flamingo.” The individuals in the vehicle began consuming the drugs immediately after obtaining it from Taylor, causing the individual’s overdose. On February 17, 2026, agents were conducting surveillance on Taylor when they observed another female leaving his house with fentanyl powder. Agents obtained a search warrant for Taylor’s residence, where the found a station containing a heat-sealer, multiple clear and pink plastic baggies, and a handwritten note describing the recipe for “flamingo,” which was indicated to be 60% “ghost” fentanyl powder and “8mg bromazoloam per point (appx. 2 Xanax bars). Inside a Pelican case, agents found numerous containers of suspected fentanyl powder, baggies with stickers of scissors on them containing a white powdery substance. Agents also located a pink container with several doses of Narcan. Flamingo-related paraphernalia, including small flamingo stickers, keychains, and pink envelopes. Inside the kitchen, agents found a sign with cartoon flamingos holding cocktails. Various items were seized during the execution of the search warrant, some of which are depicted below: The drugs were analyzed by the DEA laboratory and confirmed Taylor’s possession of various quantities of fentanyl, bromazoloam, cocaine base (also known as crack cocaine), methamphetamine, ketamine, and 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Inside Taylor’s home office, agents observed that his computer monitor displayed a photograph of a young adult female dressed in lingerie and posing on Taylor’s bed. Subsequent investigation revealed that Taylor was providing fentanyl powder to prostitutes in exchange for sex. Three different cooperating sources independently stated the following: that females would arrange to meet with Taylor at his residence through text messaging applications. Upon their arrival, Taylor would have a small quantity of fentanyl powder, and sometimes methamphetamine, out on his kitchen counter. The women would consume the narcotics and would then be directed to shower in Taylor’s bathroom, where he would often have a gift basket that included lingerie, a toothbrush, a razor, and perfume. The women would shower and put on the lingerie, and Taylor would often photograph the women in the lingerie before having sex with them. Taylor would then provide the women with additional fentanyl powder, and occasionally cocaine, methamphetamine, or MDMA, and they would leave. In total, Taylor admitted to distributing fentanyl powder to three different prostitutes several times a week for at least two years, and that he had been selling “pink flamingo” fentanyl powder for approximately eight months. Taylor was told by the women that the ghost fentanyl powder was causing people to overdose. Taylor then started mixing ghost with bromazoloam and would mix the substances with water and red food coloring, which would turn the powder pink. Taylor chose to call and market the substance as “pink flamingo.” Taylor would put cartoon flamingo stickers on his product and conceal the narcotics inside different types of snack and candy packaging and would heat-seal the packages to make it look as though the packages had never been opened. Taylor referred to the prostitutes as his “flamingo fam” and that he had a plan to purchase a house for himself and the prostitutes to all live together. Confidential sources confirmed that several individuals had overdosed on fentanyl supplied by Taylor and had to be administered Narcan. On one occasion, a prostitute overdosed on fentanyl at Taylor’s house, and Taylor had to administer two doses of Narcan to revive her. In total, Taylor admitted to causing at least eight overdoses on fentanyl powder he had supplied. On one coconspirator’s phone, agents found a video taken in 2025 of an adult male appearing to suffer from a drug overdose. During the recording, the camera panned to drugs and drug paraphernalia on a table, including a clear plastic baggie with a flamingo sticker, as depicted below: Taylor remains in federal custody pending sentencing before United States District Judge James Wesley Hendrix. The date for the sentencing hearing is currently pending. Taylor faces a statutory maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison and a $5,000,000 fine. This investigation was a joint operation of the Texas Anti-Gang Center and the Caprock Hi-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. This group is composed of agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lubbock Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Rancourt is prosecuting the case. daniel_taylor_press_release_factual_resume_attachment.pdf


title: Cleveland Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Possessing Meth and Crack with Intent to Distribute

body_text: CLEVELAND – A 28-year-old Cuyahoga County man has been sentenced to federal prison for possessing distribution amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine base, more commonly known as “crack.” Haroon Gaines, 28, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 170 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher Boyko after being convicted by a federal jury in March 2026 of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Cocaine Base. According to court documents, Gaines was discovered unconscious in the hallway of the La Quinta Inn in Independence, Ohio. Law enforcement responding to the scene found distribution amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine base “crack” in his pockets. According to investigators, the drug amounts found equated to about a two-month supply of methamphetamine and 200 user doses of crack cocaine. Testimony and video footage evidence presented at trial revealed that Gaines was driving in donuts in the parking lot outside of the hotel, knocking on hotel patrons’ doors, and then eventually passed out on the third-floor hallway. In total, investigators seized: 45.76 grams of methamphetamine (with 92% purity) 20.2 grams of cocaine base A Smith & Wesson, Model M&P, .22 caliber rifle, with magazines and ammunition This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Independence Police Department. The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Brenna L. Fasko and Paul E. Hanna.


component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: Oswego County Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography UTICA, NEW YORK – Robert J. Stachura, age 56, of, Oswego, New York, pled guilty on June 10, 2026, to receipt of child pornography. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. In June 2015 , after pleading guilty in the Northern District of New York to using the internet to attempt to entice minors to engage in unlawful sexual contact with him and possessing child pornography, Stachura was sentenced to serve concurrent terms of 135 months in prison, to be followed by 20 years of supervised release. Stachura’s term of supervised release began in December 2023. In March 2025, Stachura admitted to the United States Probation Office to possessing an unreported internet-capable cellular phone, in violation of his conditions of release. The phone was found to contain videos and images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). “This repeat offender has once again been brought to justice thanks to the relentless efforts of the FBI’s Special Agents,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone. “After his release, the defendant chose to continue engaging in this abhorrent conduct, showing a complete disregard for the law and a disturbing willingness to reoffend. He now faces up to 40 years in federal prison. My office, working alongside our partners at the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, will aggressively pursue anyone involved in this behavior. We will not hesitate to bring charges, and we will do everything in our power to ensure that individuals who threaten our communities are removed from our streets.” “Mr. Stachura was barely out of federal prison before falling back into his sickening cycle of behavior. As he heads back to federal prison for up to 40 years, the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force will continue to prioritize aggressively investigating these depraved individuals who are harming our children,” said Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation As part of his June 2026 guilty plea, Stachura admitted that in March 2025, he received 8 videos and 2 images of CSAM. The receipt charge carries a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in federal prison and maximum sentence of 40 years. Stachura also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. Stachura is already a registered sex offender based on his 2015 convictions and will have to continue his registration requirements upon his release from prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Sentencing is currently scheduled for October 14, 2026, in Utica, New York before Senior United States District Judge David N. Hurd. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Albany Division Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, the New York State Police, and the United States Probation Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney A.J. Vickey is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: NEWLY NATURALIZED CITIZEN SENTENCED FOR ASSAULTING FEDERAL AGENT WITH VEHICLE

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Ruben Dario Loja Castro, age 33, of Irvington, New Jersey, was sentenced to 12 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release, following a guilty plea earlier this year to resisting, impeding, and assaulting a federal officer engaged in official duties and inflicting bodily injury with his vehicle during a lawful traffic immigration enforcement stop along Interstate 90 on October 1, 2025. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Anthony Patrone, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement. According to the plea and documents previously filed in the case, on October 1, 2025, law enforcement officers with HSI and other federal agencies conducted an immigration enforcement operation targeting an illegal alien residing in Albany who had recently been charged with rape of a minor. The agents observed the suspected individual exit a building in Albany and enter a car being driven by Loja Castro, a native of Ecuador who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in January 2025. Agents followed the car and pulled it over as it traveled westbound on Interstate 90. Loja Castro refused to comply with the agents’ repeated requests that he turn off the ignition and provide identification for his passengers. As agents attempted to gain access to the vehicle, Loja Castro suddenly put the car into gear, slammed it back and forth into law enforcement vehicles, and then swerved in the direction of an HSI special agent who had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit by the car. Loja Castro then fled the scene at a high rate of speed on Interstate 90. The agent suffered a sprained right wrist and other injuries. Loja Castro was located and arrested later that day, and has been detained ever since. Following his release from prison, Loja Castro will be required to serve 1 year of supervised release. “Mr. Loja Castro had the opportunity to live the American dream. After receiving his citizenship in 2025, he was on the right path to enjoy the freedom and opportunity that all Americans hold dear. Things took a turn when he began associating with a criminal illegal alien and alleged child rapist,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone. “When law enforcement attempted to apprehend his associate, Mr. Lojas Castro put innocent lives at risk and defied lawful commands from federal agents. He has now come to understand the responsibility that comes with being an American citizen. In America, actions have consequences, and anyone who chooses to resist, impede, or assault a federal agent will be pursued without hesitation and brought to justice.” HSI Buffalo Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone said “By his own admission, Ruben Dario Loja Castro used his vehicle as a weapon against HSI special agents who were placing their lives on the line for the sake of protecting the public. Attacks and attempted assaults on law enforcement will never be tolerated. I commend HSI Albany, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York and our invaluable law enforcement partners for placing the safety of our neighborhoods, our roadways, and the people above all else.” HSI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark prosecuted the case.


title: Chinese National Sentenced to Prison for Money Laundering Conspiracy  Involving $2.2 Million in Walmart Gift Cards

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jun Wang, age 64, a Chinese national and lawful permanent resident of the United States, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison following his trial conviction for participating in a money laundering conspiracy. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. Evidence presented during the bench trial in December 2025 proved that, between June 2019 and June 2021, Wang redeemed $2,285,039.81 in gift cards originally purchased by defrauded victims throughout the United States (including in the Northern District of New York). Wang, who received the gift card information electronically from co-conspirators overseas, used the fraud proceeds to buy other gift cards at Walmart and Sam’s Club stores in Florida to disguise the source and nature of the funds. To try to evade detection and disguise the volume of his gift card redemptions, Wang often used different registers within the same store and frequently drove from store to store to redeem gift cards, sometimes visiting several Walmart stores on the same day. Wang often redeemed gift cards just hours, and sometimes minutes, after they were purchased by victims. Multiple victims testified at trial about the gift cards they purchased after being scammed online or over the phone. Although the trial evidence proved that Wang’s role in the scheme was to redeem gift cards purchased by victims he never interacted with directly, he admitted to an FBI agent in a secretly recorded conversation that “[w]e all know” about the fraud, which is “[e]asy to know.” In relation to one elderly victim, Wang explained on the recording, “[t]he only loser is the lady,” and, “[o]ther than this lady, everybody’s happy.” As part of his sentence, Wang was also ordered to pay a forfeiture money judgment of $2,285,039.81 and to pay restitution in the amount of $275,634.27 to identified victims. Following his release from imprisonment, Wang will serve 3 years of supervised release. Because his offense of conviction is an aggravated felony, Wang also faces deportation to China upon release from imprisonment. “Mr. Wang preyed on vulnerable victims to enrich himself and his co-conspirators to the tune of $2,285,039.81, and on recoding boasted about defrauding senior citizens,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated. “My office is committed to aggressively pursuing all acts of fraud to protect the American people from defendants like Mr. Wang and ensure justice for the victims who were defrauded.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated, “Mr. Wang once joked that everyone was happy in his scheme and the only person who lost anything was his elderly victim. With this sentence, the tables have turned, and he has now lost his freedom. Fraud is one of the most pervasive threats facing our communities today, but the FBI is relentless in our mission to aggressively investigate and bring to justice anyone responsible for stealing from hardworking Americans.” FBI investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael F. Perry and Tamara B. Thomson prosecuted the case. On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. ###


title: Wabash Man Sentenced to 10 Months in Prison For Interstate Communication of Threats to Injure

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Kayden Bell, 20 years old, of Wabash, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to making an interstate communication with a threat to injure, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Bell was sentenced to 10 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. “The Defendant’s threats to people of Jewish heritage and law enforcement were illegal and stood in direct opposition to our community’s core values. He sought to intimidate them, and his words have earned him a trip to prison and two years of supervised release when he is finished. Thanks to the combined efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Wabash Police Department, and the Wabash County Prosecutor’s Office led by William C. Hartley, AUSA Lydia T. Lucius was able to bring the case in federal court,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred. "Threats intended to intimidate individuals because of their religion or to target law enforcement officers strike at the safety of our communities," said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “"The FBI takes all threats seriously and will aggressively pursue those who use interstate communications to intimidate, terrorize, or incite violence against others.” According to documents in the case, between August and October of 2025, Bell posted threatening posts on social media targeting Jewish individuals and law enforcement. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Wabash Police Department and the Wabash County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.


title: Man Sentenced to Six and a Half Years in Prison for Extorting Money From Chicago Restaurateur

body_text: CHICAGO — After being convicted by a federal jury, a man has been sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison for threatening and assaulting a Chicago restaurateur to collect a debt. JAWAD FAKROUNE loaned approximately $405,000 to the restaurateur to develop and open a new restaurant in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago and to pay certain taxes. In November 2024, Fakroune began to threaten the restaurateur about repayment of the loan. On the evening of Nov. 25, 2024, Fakroune confronted the restaurateur and threatened him over the manner and nature of the repayments. Fakroune choked, kicked, and punched the restaurateur, while continuing to demand money and repeatedly threatening the lives of the restaurateur and his family. A jury in federal court in Chicago earlier this year convicted Fakroune, also known as “Angelino Escobar” or “Anjelino Escobar,” 46, on both extortion counts against him. On June 30, 2026, U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah sentenced Fakroune to 78 months in federal prison. Fakroune is a foreign national who recently resided in the Chicago area. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Lucas Rothaar, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Marta Grijalva, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago. “The offenses of conviction reflect defendant’s violent nature, danger to the community, and lawlessness,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Hennessy and Richard M. Rothblatt argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Business disputes are resolved in courts of law—not through violent confrontations in public restaurants.”


title: Foreign National Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Federal Prison for Conducting “Tech Support” Fraud Scheme That Victimized Senior Citizens in United States

body_text: CHICAGO — A foreign national has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for conducting a “tech support” fraud scheme that victimized senior citizens in the United States. While residing in his native India in 2020 and 2021, KARTIK SAINI and co-schemers falsely represented to individuals in the United States that they were tech support or security employees of large companies, such as Google, Apple, or Citibank. Saini or a co-schemer falsely informed the victims that their computers had been hacked and that their bank accounts had been compromised. Saini or a co-schemer then convinced the victims to transfer significant funds to various bank accounts, claiming the companies would safely hold the money while the purported cyber hack was investigated by law enforcement. In reality, those bank accounts were controlled by Saini and his co-schemers, who used the accounts to steal the victims’ money. In addition to the tech support fraud, Saini also convinced some of his victims to transfer cryptocurrency or gift cards to him or his co-schemers. In all, Saini defrauded at least four victims with an intended loss of more than $1.2 million. One of the victims, a Chicago resident, suffered a loss of more than $746,000, which reflected a large portion of her retirement savings. Saini, 33, was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on Aug. 26, 2024, where he arrived from India. He pleaded guilty in federal court in Chicago in March 2026 to a wire fraud charge. On June 25, 2026, U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey sentenced Saini to six years and a month in federal prison and ordered him to pay full restitution to his victims. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Lucas Rothaar, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. “Defendant’s scheme caused significant financial loss and emotional trauma to victims,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Shih argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “A significant sentence of incarceration will send a message to those would-be participants in these types of schemes, including those located in India, that those who defraud American citizens from abroad will face a meaningful term of imprisonment.”


title: Undercover Operation Leads to Child Exploitation Conviction of Tallahassee Man

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Chandler Brittain Smith, 27, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of distribution of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to minors. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The threats our kids face online are growing, but our excellent state and federal law enforcement partners are committed to catching the predators seeking to sexually exploit and victimize children using the internet. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these sick individuals to ensure they are kept behind bars, off the internet, and away from our kids.” Court documents reflect that in November 2025, Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Tallahassee Police Department conducted an undercover operation in Leon County focused on identifying individuals using the Internet to sexually exploit children. During the operation, law enforcement acted in an undercover capacity on an online social media platform posing as a minor child. Records show that over a two-day period the defendant sent the undercover investigator multiple sexually explicit messages and an obscene photo in an effort to entice and persuade the fictitious child to meet him for sexual activity. On November 10, 2025, the defendant traveled to a pre-determined meeting location and he was arrested. Smith faces a minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment on the attempted enticement count. Smith also faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment on the attempted transfer of obscene materials count. Sentencing is scheduled for September 18, 2026, at 2:00 pm, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker. The case is being jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Tallahassee Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. 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 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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .