title: Kentucky Woman Charged with Vandalizing World War II Memorial on D.C.’s National Mall

body_text: farris_mellisa_-_complaint.pdf WASHINGTON – Melissa Farris, 41, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was charged by criminal complaint this morning in connection with vandalizing the Atlantic Theatre Pavilion of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Defacing the World War II Memorial is a disgusting act and an insult to the Americans who fought and died for our country,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This memorial stands in honor of the 16 million veterans who served, the millions who supported the war effort, and the more than 400,000 heroes who never came home. Vandalizing a monument dedicated to their sacrifice is a shameful attack on the legacy of our nation. We will not tolerate this kind of criminal activism, and we will ensure that anyone who desecrates a veterans’ memorial is held fully accountable.” Farris, aka “Melissa Lovewell,” is charged with Willfully Injuring or Committing a Depredation against Property of the United States and with Destruction of a Veterans’ Memorial. According to the criminal complaint, U.S. Park Police were called about 2 p.m. on August 13 for a report of a disorderly person. A witness told officers that they had observed a woman spray painting graffiti on portions of the Atlantic Theatre Pavilion of the World War II Memorial at the eastern end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. A United States Park Ranger arrived at the scene and observed foam in the fountain area of the Atlantic pavilion. Multiple people were gathered around the balcony watching a woman shooting video of herself. The woman fled when she became aware of the Ranger’s presence. Orange-colored paint had been sprayed onto the wall with the words: “Clean Hands Dirty $.” Additionally, green-colored paint was also sprayed onto the wall just under the orange spray paint, and pink-colored paint was splattered on the ground. In a trash can near the north entrance of the balcony, law enforcement recovered a white sign with painted letters. The paint used on the sign appeared to match the paint that was used to vandalize the northern entrance balcony. A witness had taken a photo of the woman defacing the Memorial. One U.S. Park Police officer recognized her as someone police had arrested on August 10 for unlawfully camping on federal property near 18th Street NW and Virginia Ave. NW, just a few blocks away from the World War II Memorial. On August 10, as she was arrested by Park Police, she had live streamed the event over her Facebook and Instagram social media accounts on which she identified herself as “Melissa Lovewell.” In a review of Farris’s public social media accounts, investigators discovered that she had recorded multiple livestream videos on August 13. In one recorded video, she allegedly admitted to damaging the World War II Memorial. Before Farris defaced the World War II Memorial, she had allegedly recorded and posted a video in which she stated, “I am cognitively aware and executively (sic) of the choices I am making and I am doing so to push my whistleblower case into the courtroom . . . someone has to make choices that are different and I am accountable for my actions. I am going to make these choices today and I will step foot into the courtroom, and I will wait to be arrested . . . I am accountable for the things that I do and the choices that I make and our government needs to be accountable for their choices too.” The Memorial honors the 16 million American service members who served during World War II, the millions more who supported the war effort from the home front, and the more than 400,000 Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice during the war. The Memorial contains two main pavilions, the Atlantic and Pacific pavilions, named for the two main theaters of the war. Over four million tourists pay their respect at the memorial annually. A witness took this photograph of a woman defacing the World War II Memorial on August 13, 2026. The vandalized World War II Memorial on August 13, 2026. Foam in the fountain of the World War II Memorial. Charges in a complaint are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 26mj140


title: D.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Deadly Arson Spree

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – D’Aundrey Scott, 32, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today, for several arsons, which killed one victim, Darryl Finney, caused injuries to another victim, Charles Newton, and damaged the homes of two others in May 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “D’Aundrey Scott’s actions were shocking, deliberate, and devastating,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “He set multiple fires across Northeast Washington, killing Darryl Finney, injuring Charles Newton, and endangering the lives and homes of others in the community. This was a calculated spree of violence that inflicted immeasurable harm. Today’s conviction ensures that Scott will be held fully accountable for the destruction he caused, and our communities are safer as a result.” Scott pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of second-degree murder, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of arson and one count of felony destruction. This was an 11c plea to a range of 15 to 35 years of imprisonment. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelmen scheduled sentencing for October 23, 2026. According to the government’s evidence, on May 13, 2020, Scott went on an arson spree. On May 13, 2020, at approximately 12:23 a.m. The defendant approached the first victim, Charles Newton, who was lying on the sidewalk in the 1300 block of H Street Northeast, Washington, D.C. The defendant ignited a small, flammable object and threw that burning object onto Mr. Newton. Mr. Newton was able to kick it off before his clothing ignited. At approximately 1:04 a.m., Scott approached the second victim, Darryl Finney, who was sleeping on the sidewalk in the 900 block of H Street Northeast, Washington, D.C. The defendant ignited a small, flammable object and tossed it onto Mr. Finney. The defendant then splashed an ignitable liquid onto Mr. Finney. The defendant’s actions caused Mr. Finney and his personal effects to catch fire. Mr. Finney, who was engulfed in flames, managed to get up and walk toward H Street, where the Metropolitan Police Department and D.C. Fire and EMS responded to assist. Mr. Finney suffered burns to multiple parts of his body, and despite treatment at MedStar Washington Hospital Center he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead on May 15, 2020. An autopsy was conducted by the D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, which concluded Mr. Finney’s cause of death to be complications from thermal injury and his manner of death to be homicide. After the defendant set the two men on fire, at approximately 1:25 a.m., the defendant poured an ignitable liquid onto the porch, steps, and walkway of the house at 1403 Morse Street Northeast, Washington, D.C. The defendant then ignited the liquid, scorching the porch and steps and causing discoloration to the concrete. Finally, at approximately 1:28 a.m., Scott ignited a fire on the porch of the house at 1431 Morse Street Northeast, Washington, D.C., damaging the exterior of the house and porch furniture belonging to the homeowner. Scott was arrested on May 19, 2020, and has been in custody since. Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey Merikas and was initially investigated by Assistant United States Attorney Ariel Dean. 2020 CF1 004775


title: D.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Beating Two-Year-Old Child to Death

body_text: WASHINGTON – Dasean Matthews, 27, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today for repeatedly beating 2-year-old Mars Jones, causing his death in October 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Matthews pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder. Sentencing is scheduled for February 1, 2027, before Superior Court Judge Jason Park. “The senseless crime of an innocent two-year-old child being beaten to death has no place in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This conviction reflects our unrelenting commitment to securing justice for victims of violent crime, and we will continue to pursue those who commit especially heinous acts such as this.” According to the government’s evidence, on October 13, 2022, two-year-old Mars, Matthews, and co-defendant Monet Jones (Mars’ mother and defendant Matthews’s romantic partner) drove to a Dunkin Donuts just before noon. While in the Dunkin Donuts, video evidence shows Matthews striking the young child with a closed fist in the upper body causing Mars to fall and slam against a metal railing. Later that day, while in a parking garage, video evidence shows Matthews grabbing Mars by the neck of his clothing, swing him by the clothing, and minutes later, strike Mars in the upper body or face, causing the young child to again fall to the floor. Later the same day, while alone in a vehicle with Mars, video evidence shows defendant Matthews repeatedly strike the young child so forcefully that the vehicle shakes from the impact of the blows. Immediately thereafter, Matthews delivers an unconscious and bloody baby Mars to co-defendant Jones and then flees the scene. An autopsy determined that Mars died from complications of inflicted head trauma. Matthews was arrested on November 4, 2022, and remains in custody. Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case was investigated by the Special Victims Unit of the Homicide Section at the Metropolitan Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emma McArthur and Shauna Payyappilly. 2022 CF1 006566


title: 21-Year Sentence Handed Down for Fatal Bar Shooting

body_text: WASHINGTON – Robert Lowe, 42, of Montgomery Village, MD, was sentenced today to 21 years in prison for murdering 43-year-old Kenneth Goins in April 2024 at a Northwest D.C. bar, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Robert Lowe chose to turn a barroom confrontation into a deadly encounter, attacking Mr. Goins from behind and ultimately taking his life,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This senseless violence tears families apart and endangers everyone around it. Today’s 21‑year sentence reflects the gravity of his actions and the commitment of our office to hold armed offenders fully accountable.” Lowe was found guilty on May 5, 2026, on one count each of second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm (prior felony conviction). The Honorable Todd Edelman sentenced Lowe to the prison term to be followed by five years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, in the early morning hours of April 27, 2024, Lowe went to the Desperados Burger and Bar, in the 1300 block of U Street, NW. The victim, Kenneth Goins, was at the bar enjoying himself. At some point, the defendant came up behind Mr. Goins and struck him in the back of the head. Then the two men began to fight. In the ensuing fight, the defendant shot Mr. Goins, striking him once in the abdomen. The defendant then fled the bar, got on his motorcycle, and drove away. Unfortunately, after efforts from responding officers and EMS, Mr. Goins succumbed to his injuries. Lowe was arrested on May 22, 2024, and has been in custody since. Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll acknowledged the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie Dinan and Tamara Rubb, who prosecuted the case. 2024 CF1 004974


title: Former Police Officer Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Court for Child Exploitation Offense

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that OTILIO GREEN, 44, of Hamden, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 72 months of imprisonment and seven years of supervised release for a child exploitation offense. According to court documents and statements made in court, between January and March 2025, Synchronoss, a cloud storage provider for Verizon Wireless, submitted eight CyberTipline reports documenting 43 images and five videos of suspected child pornography uploaded to an account associated with Green. A subsequent court-authorized search of Green’s cloud storage account revealed additional images and videos of suspected child sex abuse material. The investigation further revealed that, for at least two years prior to his arrest on April 4, 2025, Green used the Telegram app, which he accessed through a hidden folder on his cellphone, and other online platforms to communicate with others to receive numerous sexually explicit images and videos depicting children. At the time of the offense, Green was employed as an officer with the Yale University Police Department. Judge Shea ordered Green to pay $5,000 pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015, and $5,000 pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018. On February 27, 2026, Green pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography. Released on a $200,000 bond, he is required to report to prison on September 14. This investigation was conducted by HSI New England, the Connecticut State Police, and the Connecticut Center for Digital Investigations, with the assistance of the Hamden Police Department and the Yale Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford with the assistance of Law Student Intern Noah Sullivan. U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of New Haven for its assistance in the prosecution of this case. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .


title: District of Arizona Charges 268 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from Aug. 8 through Aug. 14, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 268 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 122 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 124 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 17 cases against 22 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Recent matters of interest include: United States v. Martin Alberto Cota Jr.. Cota was charged by criminal complaint on Aug. 10, 2026, with one count of Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit. On Aug. 8, 2026, BPAs observed a vehicle traveling east on State Route 82. Records checks revealed that the vehicle had a cancelled registration and had entered the United States through the Nogales Port of Entry with one occupant. BPAs now observed two occupants in the vehicle. BPAs initiated a vehicle stop but the driver rapidly accelerated. Approximately three miles later, the driver abruptly pulled to the side of the road where a subject exited from the passenger's side. The driver then continued traveling east on State Route 82 before eventually pulling into a gas station. BPAs took the driver, Cota, into custody. Other BPAs in the area apprehended the subject who had exited the vehicle earlier. The subject was determined to be a citizen of Mexican, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-2269] United States v. Marcelino Iganacio Mendoza-Santos. On Aug. 10, 2026, Marcelino Iganacio Mendoza-Santos was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On Aug. 7, an Arizona Department of Public Safety Trooper stopped Mendoza-Santos for speeding. Border Patrol assisted with the stop and determined that Mendoza-Santos’ four passengers were citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-1648] The cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-137_August 14, 2026 Immigration Enforcement # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Laundering Health Care Fraud Proceeds for Transnational Criminal Organization

component: Criminal - Criminal Fraud Section

body_text: An Ohio man pleaded guilty yesterday to laundering approximately $3.4 million in illicit health care fraud proceeds through multiple regional banks on behalf of a transnational criminal organization (Organization). According to court documents, Eldar Zarbavel, 45, of Pepper Pike, Ohio, was a money launderer for the foreign-based Organization that spearheaded the largest health care fraud case ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice, as uncovered by Operation Gold Rush . The Organization, based in Russia and elsewhere, orchestrated a multi-billion-dollar health care fraud and money laundering scheme to target, exploit, and steal from Medicare and private health insurance companies. To date, 35 individuals have been charged as part of Operation Gold Rush. Zarbavel is the 16th individual to be convicted for his role in the scheme. As alleged in charging documents, the Organization exploited the United States’ financial system by depositing insurance reimbursement checks from the fraud. The health care fraud proceeds were particularly susceptible to laundering because they originated from legitimate sources — Medicare and established private insurance carriers — giving the funds the initial appearance of legitimacy. To gain access to the United States’ financial system, the Organization deployed a range of tactics to circumvent internal controls at multiple banks and in some cases coordinated directly with associates employed at the banks. As further alleged, to open financial accounts, the Organization armed its nominee owners with false sale documentation and false corporate registration documents. This documentation falsely reflected that the nominee owners maintained beneficial ownership and control of various fraudulent durable medical equipment (DME) companies. This disguised the true beneficial ownership and control of the companies and the financial accounts. Upon opening the financial accounts, the Organization funneled fraud proceeds from Medicare and other legitimate health care insurers into the accounts as seemingly “clean” money. From there, the Organization siphoned off the funds to shell companies and various banks overseas. Zarbavel facilitated a critical element of the transnational scheme by opening bank accounts in Northeast Ohio for Royce Medical Supply LLC, a Florida-based DME company. Between July 2022 and July 2024, the Organization submitted $1.42 billion in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and other health insurers through this DME company. While the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services suspended reimbursement on nearly all of these claims, some claims were paid. Between June and July of 2024, Zarbavel, at the direction of members of the Organization, facilitated the deposit, transfer, and withdrawal of approximately $3.4 million in fraud proceeds for the benefit of the Organization. Zarbavel pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 16. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; Miranda L. Bennett, Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan of the FBI Detroit Field Office made the announcement. HHS-OIG and FBI are investigating the case. Assistant Chief Shankar Ramamurthy, Acting Assistant Chief Sara E. Porter, and Trial Attorneys Brant Cook and Leonid Sandlar of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are 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. The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: ENRD Statement After Return from APEC Forestry Ministerial in China

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Note: View PDAAG Gustafson's remarks here . View a video on the event here . Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) issued the following statement following his service as the head of the United States’ delegation for a Ministerial Meeting on Forestry, part of a 2026 senior officials’ meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in China. In addition to ENRD, the U.S. delegation included the State Department, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. United States’ delegation to the 2026 APEC Ministerial Meeting on Forestry. “I was glad to serve as the head of the U.S. delegation to the APEC Ministerial on Forestry. The United States achieved some key successes at this meeting. We negotiated a joint ministerial statement that reflected the U.S. priorities in balance with the priorities of the other APEC members. “I also highlighted the United States’ commitment to fighting illegal timber trafficking, the subject of President Trump’s Executive Order 14223. As evidence of our commitment, I described recent guilty pleas we secured from a yacht builder and paper products manufacturer who profited from illegal forest products. The illegal timber trade hurts American businesses by creating an uneven playing field. We are resetting of our global relationships to put America first. And we are working with our partners in APEC to break down barriers for business; support job growth; and boost fair, legal, and reciprocal trade, including in the wood products industry. “ENRD stands ready to prosecute environmental crimes, and we co-chair an interagency group focused on improving timber trafficking investigations. Our Division is also part of a Trade Fraud Task Force to help us work across the government to prosecute smugglers and those who would try to evade tariffs and duties. We have recently reached historic agreements and brokered partnerships with nations and APEC members to support enforcement efforts. “Thus, while we acknowledge the prevalence of illegal timber trafficking, the United States is leading an increasingly robust response to fight these crimes. My participation at APEC highlighted these encouraging developments and solicited continued engagement from our trading partners in the investigation and prosecution of timber trafficking.”


title: Amazon Agrees to $2.25 Million Settlement and Injunction to Resolve Alleged Violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act

component: Civil Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that a federal court has entered a stipulated order against Amazon.com Inc., in a case investigated and referred to the Department by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The order resolves allegations that Amazon violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and it requires Amazon to pay a $2.25 million civil penalty and follow practices that protect consumers whose identities have been stolen. In a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the government alleged that Amazon violated FCRA by failing to provide identity theft victims with requested records of transactions involving people believed to have fraudulently used those victims’ identification, and by failing to provide those records within 30 days of a request. The court’s stipulated order resolving the case imposes a $2.25 million civil penalty and requires Amazon to provide its records of transactions alleged to have been the result of identity theft to victims who request them, free of charge within 30 days of the request, subject to verification of the victim’s identity and claim of identity theft. Amazon must also post a notice to its website informing identity theft victims of how they can request those records. “Consumers whose identities have been stolen should not face unnecessary red tape when they investigate how their identities were misused and seek to clear their names,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will continue working with the Federal Trade Commission to protect identity theft victims.” The United States is represented in this action by Assistant Directors Lory D. Alexander and Zachary A. Dietert from the Enforcement Section of the Civil Division’s Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch, in coordination with staff from the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. For more information about the Enforcement & Affirmative Litigation Branch and its enforcement efforts visit www.justice.gov/civil/enforcement-affirmative-litigation-branch .


title: Casper man Sentenced for his role in drug trafficking organization

component: USAO - Wyoming

body_text: Another defendant in a trafficking ring was recently sentenced. A total of seven individuals were arrested in the Shrove et al case, stemming from a months-long investigation in 2025. Gregory Keith McCoy, 56, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Aug. 10 in Casper. According to federal court documents, the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI), with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and multiple state and local agencies, investigated a drug trafficking organization operating in Wyoming and Colorado. Investigators identified McCoy as one of the conspirators selling large quantities of methamphetamine in and around Natrona County. Law enforcement attempted to stop McCoy near Sinclair on Sept. 24, 2025, after a drug-detection dog alerted to the presence of controlled substances in his vehicle and a passenger exited McCoy’s vehicle. McCoy fled, leading officers on a high-speed pursuit that spanned more than 70 miles and reached speeds of up to 130 mph. During and after the pursuit, law enforcement recovered approximately 1,020 grams of methamphetamine, 67.5 grams of heroin, 13.2 grams of fentanyl pills, less than 1 gram of LSD, and 50.6 grams of marijuana from the vehicle and from items discarded from the vehicle during the pursuit. Investigators subsequently linked McCoy to the broader drug conspiracy through correspondence and financial records. "McCoy thought a desperate, 130-mile-per-hour chase could save him from the consequences of his crimes. He was wrong.” Said U.S. Attorney Darin Smith. “Today's sentence stands as a stark reminder that the rule of law is neither outrun by speed nor deterred by desperation. Our multi-agency task forces will hunt down, dismantle, and lock up the trafficking networks polluting our communities. Justice will prevail." A federal complaint was filed Jan. 23, and he was transferred to federal custody on Jan. 26. McCoy pleaded guilty on May 19. The DCI, with assistance from the DEA, HSI and multiple state and local law enforcement agencies in Wyoming and Colorado, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Case No. 26-00046


title: Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office Recent Sentencings

body_text: Child Sexual Assault Material Tynan LeShawn Addison , 19, of Ethete, Wyoming, was sentenced to 81 months’ imprisonment, with five years of supervised release to follow, for sexual abuse. Addison was ordered to pay $2,105.75 in restitution to the victim. According to court documents, in September of 2025, a victim reported being sexually assaulted by Addison. The mother of the victim took her to a clinic to be examined where examiners determined the victim had injuries associated with a sexual assault. The FBI investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry Jacobson prosecuted the case. Addison was indicted on Nov. 19, 2025, and pleaded guilty on May 8. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on July 29 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00162 Assault Dakota Fletcher , 22, of Ethete, Wyoming, was sentenced to time served and two years of supervised release for assaulting a federal law enforcement officer. According to court documents, on Oct. 5, 2025, BIA officers were dispatched to a residence where Fletcher was intoxicated, and reportedly suicidal. Fletcher had left the scene by the time officers arrived. Officers later responded back to the residence where they located Fletcher fighting and struggling with several people. While trying to break up the disturbance and gain control of Fletcher, Fletcher kicked at and punched one of the officers. The BIA and FBI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Fletcher was indicted on Nov. 19, 2025 and pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Aug. 6, 2026. About the United States Attorney’s Office The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include: Project Safe Childhood Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious. Operation Take Back America 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. It also streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Victim Witness Program The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to ensuring victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect. To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime


title: Fluvanna County Pharmacist Charged with Stealing Prescription Opioids

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A federal grand jury indictment was unsealed today charging a Fluvanna County pharmacist with diverting liquid hydromorphone for his own use and replacing it with water. According to the indictment, Joshua Joseph Walden, 52, who previously worked at Jefferson Pharmacy in Palmyra, Virginia, is charged with one count of tampering with consumer products and attempt to tamper with a consumer product, two counts of theft of pre-retail medical products, and one count of acquiring a controlled substance by fraud. Walden worked as a pharmacist from in or before July 2023 until he resigned in February 2025, according to court records. Throughout the course of his employment, Walden stole liquid opioids and amphetamines, and further tampered with prescription medications with reckless disregard for the risk that another person would be placed in danger of death or bodily injury. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Virginia State Police are investigating the case. First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci for the Western District of Virginia made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher B. Browne is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Houston Woman Convicted for Smuggling 98.26 Kilos of Methamphetamine into the United States

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – A federal jury in Del Rio convicted a Houston woman on four counts of trafficking methamphetamine into the U.S. from Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on Dec. 16, 2025, Maria Lucio, 67, hired a transportation company to import 14 vinyl rolls containing 98.26 kilograms of methamphetamine, while she entered the United States in another vehicle at the Del Rio Port of Entry. Evidence extracted from Lucio’s cell phone revealed that she had personally imported similar vinyl rolls on several other occasions and kept unindicted coconspirators informed of her travel while in possession of the rolls. In a trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Ivan L. Lemelle, a federal jury found Lucio guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to import methamphetamine, and one count of importation of methamphetamine. Each count carries a penalty of 10 years to life in federal prison and up to a $10 million fine. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daisy Gonzalez and William Golden 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: Eagle Pass Felon Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Possession

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – A convicted felon from Eagle Pass was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 12 years in prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. According to court documents, on Sept. 13, 2024, Gerard Santellano aka Papilla, 36, was found in possession of a .380 pistol during a lawful traffic stop and identified as the shooter in an attempted murder the week prior. Santellano was arrested during the traffic stop and, due to a 2013 felony conviction for second-degree robbery, he was federally indicted on Oct. 9, 2024. A federal grand jury charged him with two counts of felon in possession of a firearm. Santellano pleaded guilty to one count on Dec. 16, 2024. On Aug. 6, U.S. District Chief Judge Alia Moses sentenced Santellano and fined him $2,000. Santellano must also forfeit the pistol along with any related ammunition and firearm accessories. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner prosecuted the case. ###


title: Cedar Park Man Found Guilty of Producing Child Pornography

body_text: AUSTIN, Texas – A federal jury convicted a Cedar Park man for four counts related to the production and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Scott Joseph Kopas, 55, was initially the subject of an FBI investigation into online child pornography activities. Upon executing a search warrant at Kopas’s Cedar Park residence and a hotel in Hawaii where he was vacationing, FBI agents recovered several computers and digital devices. The computer evidence introduced at trial revealed that Kopas produced CSAM using several hidden cameras in bathrooms and a bedroom in the residence. The CSAM depicted two minor females undressing and showering. Kopas created additional CSAM depicting the minors by editing their faces onto numerous images of nude adults and children. In addition to the CSAM he produced, Kopas possessed hundreds of thousands of images and videos of CSAM. Furthermore, evidence presented at trial included photos of three child sex dolls found in Kopas’s bedroom closet, along with evidence proving that Kopas purchased them from a Chinese company. The evidence also showed that a few years before the search of his residence, a camera was found hidden in a minor female’s bedroom. The camera was turned over to police by the victim, and in an unrelated civil deposition, Kopas admitted to installing the camera. On Wednesday, Kopas was convicted of three counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled. “We take every case involving children incredibly seriously and this trial is no exception,” said U.S. Attorney Simmons. “I appreciate the investigative work of our partners at FBI here in Texas and Hawaii, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Honolulu for their assistance. Americans may not realize how much teamwork and resources go into a successful trial—from Assistant U.S. Attorneys and legal assistants to litigation support specialists and victim witness specialists—but the American people can take confidence in the fact that we have some of the best public servants this country has to offer pushing back against this and so many other forms of darkness in a consistent and concerted effort to make our country one where Americans can live their lives, enjoy the blessings of liberty, and pursue happiness.” “Children are our nation’s most valuable asset,” said FBI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Daniel Faith. “The FBI is dedicated to defending children from sexual exploitation by holding child pornography producers and consumers accountable.” FBI San Antonio investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii and FBI Honolulu provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Devlin and Kiera Kilday are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. 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 www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Moore Woman Sentenced to Serve Statutory Maximum of 30 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – MEGAN KYLIE ROBINSON , 27, of Moore, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to serve 360 months in federal prison, the statutory maximum, for production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. “Sexual exploitation of children is one of the most depraved criminal acts in society that preys on the most vulnerable victims among us and decimates their lives,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. “The 30-year sentence in this case demonstrates that the detestable wickedness of child sex predators will be met with severe consequences. I commend the commitment and fortitude of law enforcement personnel and prosecutors who diligently work on these difficult and contemptible crimes.” “Exploiting innocent children is a level of depravity that defies comprehension,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “This sentence sends an uncompromising message: those who profit from the abuse and suffering of children will face the harshest consequences available under federal law. The FBI and our partners will never relent in our mission to protect the most vulnerable and ensure predators are removed from our communities.” According to public records, the investigation began after the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a tip concerning an individual in Arizona. During the FBI’s investigation of that individual, agents uncovered communications with Robinson indicating that she was distributing child pornography in exchange for payment. Between October 15, 2024, and September 30, 2025, Robinson used minors who were four and three years old to produce child pornography, creating more than 800 images that she sold and distributed online to obtain money to buy drugs. On January 6, 2026, Robinson was charged by Superseding Information with production of child pornography. Robinson pleaded guilty on February 9, 2026, and admitted she produced child pornography using two children, which she distributed online for Cash App payments. She further admitted that she used these payments to buy Kratom. At a sentencing hearing on August 10, 2026, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Robinson to serve 360 months in federal prison, the statutory maximum, followed by five years of supervised release. In imposing the sentence, Judge Wyrick particularly noted the nature and seriousness of the offense, which involved two minors. This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office and the Moore Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Hale prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Washington State man pleads guilty to charge involving bitcoin scheme

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Christopher Rankin, 40, of Washington State, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer to transmitting a program, information, code, or command to a protected computer and causing damage, which carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison, and a fine of $100,000. In July 2021, Rankin was hired by a bitcoin mining company located in Niagara Falls, NY. Bitcoin mining is the process of validating bitcoin transaction information on the ledger of transactions on which bitcoin is based. The company connected to mining pools, which consist of multiple miners who combine their computing power and split the resulting profits. Rankin accessed, without authorization, 100 computers used by the company and manually reset the computers, directing them to a mining pool that he created. Rankin then sent bitcoin from the fraudulent mining pool to bitcoin wallets that he controlled. While doing so, Rankin put the computers in “high-performance” mode, causing damage to the computers by severely limiting their lifespan, and impairing the integrity and availability of information contained on the computers. Rankin’s actions led to the company losing 1.06683386 BTC bitcoin, which, at the time of offense, amounted to $53,315.75 being stolen by Rankin. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly. The plea is the result of an investigation by the United States Secret Service, Buffalo Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charles T. Perras. Sentencing is scheduled for November 17, 2026, before Judge Roemer. # # # #


title: Buffalo man arrested, charged with stealing postal key

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Kaevon Raymere Leonard, 33, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with unauthorized possession of U.S. postal service key, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. According to the criminal complaint, in July 2024, a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier was robbed of their arrow key at gunpoint while working their delivery route in Buffalo. The arrow key is used to access several hundred USPS blue collection boxes located within Buffalo and surrounding towns and cities. Soon after the robbery, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, financial institutions, and local law enforcement started receiving numerous complaints from individuals and businesses, claiming they mailed envelopes containing checks from Buffalo metro-area blue collection boxes, which were stolen, altered and cashed, rather than delivered to their intended recipients. In addition, law enforcement also identified individuals, including Leonard, posting pictures of USPS arrow keys on social media. In July 2024, a picture was posted to a Facebook account showing Leonard holding an arrow key attached to a USPS issued chain, which letter carriers use to secure the arrow key to their belt loops. A caption below the picture states, “Willing to die behind this metal it’s a trophy takes alot to understand me if you know me #vizagangceo.” On August 22, 2025, another image of Leonard was posted to his Facebook account showing an arrow key attached to his belt loop with a carabiner. On September 23, 2025, a search warrant was executed at Leonard’s North Park Avenue residence. During a search of Leonard’s person, investigators recovered a USPS arrow key, which was attached to his belt loop with a carabiner. The arrow key included the same serial number of the arrow key stolen from the letter carrier in July 2024. Investigators also recovered additional evidence of Leonard recruiting check cashers, also known as “mules,” on social media, and possessing stolen mail and checks. Leonard made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and released on home detention. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Acting Inspector-in-Charge Justin Page, Boston Division. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Bangladeshi man pleads guilty to his role in fraud conspiracy

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Iftekhar Latif Nieon, 24, of Bangladesh, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. In 2025, Nieon conspired with others to commit wire fraud against three victims, including: In March 2025, Nieon’s co-conspirators obtained the credit card information of a 68-year-old woman residing in the Western District of New York and placed an unauthorized charge on the card for “virus protection software.” The woman noticed the unauthorized charge and called a number that she believed belonged to the “virus protection software company.” Co-conspirators answered the call and fraudulently represented that they were “representatives” of the “virus protection software company,” and that she needed to give the “representative” remote access to her computer so that the “representative” could process a refund. The woman did so but, instead of processing a refund, the co-conspirator transferred $20,000 from her savings account to her checking account, without her knowledge or permission. The “representative” executed the transaction in a way that made it appear as if the “representative” had accidentally deposited a $20,000 refund into the checking account. The “representative” then falsely represented that the woman had to “return” $19,500, instructing her to withdraw the funds in cash and meet Nieon at a particular location, which the woman did. In April 2025, a 73-year-old man residing in the Western District of New York received an email from a co-conspirator who falsely claimed to be from “Geek Squad.” The man was told that his “Geek Squad subscription” was going to be renewed within 12 hours and that he was going to be charged $329.99 unless he contacted “Geek Squad” at a particular number. The man called the number and received a return call from a co-conspirator, who falsely identified him or herself as a “Geek Squad supervisor” and advised the man that he would be refunded $440. The man was then told that $30,000 was accidently refunded to his account and that he needed to give back $28,000 of the refund. The man checked his account and confirmed there was a “pending” $30,000 deposit. At the instruction of a co-conspirator, the man withdrew $28,000 in cash and turn it over to Nieon and a co-conspirator at a particular location. The following day, the man checked his account and realized that the $30,000 deposit never cleared. Also in April 2025, a co-conspirator called an 82-year-old man in Ohio, falsely identified him or herself as a representative of PayPal, and claimed that there was an “error” in his account. The man was instructed to withdraw $15,000 from his account and give it to Nieon at a particular location. The man complained but met Nieon at a predetermined location and gave him $14,500. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGurire. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation New York, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr., the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, and the Pepper Pike, Ohio Police Department, under the direction of Chief Karl Dietz. Sentencing is scheduled for November 30, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Wolford. # # # #


title: Adult entertainment clubs agree to pay $354,176 to resolve allegations related to pandemic loan eligibility

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that two locations of Mustang Salley’s Spirit and Grill, 5111 Genesee Street, Inc., and 414 W Ridge Rd, Inc., have agreed to pay $354,176 to resolve allegations arising under the False Claims Act (FCA), that the clubs fraudulently obtained funding through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs, through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), for which they were not eligible. This action is part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. Under SBA rules, “Businesses which: (1) Present live performances of a prurient sexual nature; or (2) Derive directly or indirectly more than de minimis gross revenue through the sale of products or services, or the presentation of any depictions or displays, of a prurient sexual nature,” are not eligible to receive funding through the EIDL program or PPP.” Although the clubs were adult-entertainment businesses that presented nude and semi-nude erotic dancing, they certified in their PPP and EIDL applications that they were eligible to receive funding, and as a result received $177,088 in 2020 and 2021. The United States alleged, that the clubs violated the FCA by falsely certifying their eligibility for funding. The civil settlement also resolves pending civil forfeiture litigation in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, captioned United States v. One 2017 Bentley Mulsanne, 23-cv-941-JLS. In that action, the United States was seeking the forfeiture of a vehicle that it contends was proceeds of and traceable to the clubs’ PPP and/or EIDL proceeds. “PPP and EIDL funds were meant for eligible businesses to help them through the depths of the Covid pandemic,” stated U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “This settlement demonstrates my office’s commitment to ensuring that taxpayer funds are used for the purposes they were intended and by the businesses for which they were intended.” 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. The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, Buffalo Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charles T. Perras, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr., and the United States Attorney’s Office. # # # #


title: Youth Coach Sentenced to Prison for Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Nathaniel Willard Byrd, 38, a youth coach from Hudson, N.C., was sentenced to 121 months in prison today for receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, Byrd will serve 30 years of supervised release. “Of all people who should not be fueling the trade of videos depicting the torture of children, a youth coach should be at the top of the list,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “We will be vigilant to prosecute those that harm our children, particularly those we entrust with their care.” According to court documents and the sentencing hearing, law enforcement determined that an internet user, later identified as Byrd, was storing CSAM to a cloud-based account. Some of the CSAM included videos depicting children between two and 12 years old engaged in sex acts, including the torture of an 18-month-old child. On October 30, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Byrd’s residence and seized his cellphone. During an interview with investigators, Byrd admitted that he downloaded CSAM. A forensic review of the cellphone revealed that the phone contained the BitTorrent app, a peer-to-peer file-sharing application, and that Byrd possessed more than 1,300 files depicting the sexual abuse of children, 278 of which were videos. Some of the CSAM had been downloaded using the BitTorrent app. In December 2025, Byrd pleaded guilty to receiving CSAM. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility. In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked Homeland Security Investigations, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Boone Police Department, and the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Spaugh of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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: Convicted Felon Involved in Shootout that Struck School Bus Sentenced to Prison

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Paris Alonzo Lewis-Bynum, 21, a previously convicted felon from Charlotte, was sentenced to nine years in prison today for illegally possessing a firearm and using a firearm to further drug trafficking activities, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. According to court records, Lewis-Bynum was convicted in 2023 for speeding to elude arrest. As a result of that conviction, he is not permitted to possess a firearm. Court records show that on December 2024, at approximately 3:50 p.m., a shootout occurred near the intersection of W.T. Harris Blvd. and Albemarle Rd. in Charlotte. A school bus full of students was struck multiple times by projectiles from the shooting. Investigators determined that Lewis-Bynum was involved in the shootout, and he was arrested on December 16, 2024. In addition to illegally possessing the firearm, law enforcement determined that Lewis-Bynum was involved in drug trafficking activities in the area. “Lewis-Bynum is the type of repeat offender that my office prioritizes for federal prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “It is a miracle that none of the children on the school bus were seriously hurt or killed during the shooting. We will not stand idly by when people put our children in danger.” Lewis-Bynum is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility. In making the announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their work on this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.


title: Charlotte Man Sentenced for Cyber Extortion Scheme that Targeted International Technology Company

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man was sentenced to prison today for carrying out an extensive cyber extortion scheme against a D.C.-based international technology company, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Cameron Curry, 27, was ordered to serve 24 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release. In March 2026, a federal jury convicted Curry of six counts of transmitting or willfully causing interstate communications with the intent to extort a victim company. According to filed documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, Curry was contracted to work as a data analyst for approximately six months with the victim company. In that capacity, Curry had access to the victim company’s data files and other personnel and corporate information. Trial evidence established that Curry misused his position to access the victim company’s personnel and other sensitive corporate records, which he then used to carry out the cyber extortion scheme. Curry hatched his extortion scheme after he learned that his contract was not going to be renewed and that he would no longer be employed by the company. According to evidence presented at trial, from December 11, 2023, to January 24, 2024, Curry, identifying himself online as “Loot,” sent over 60 email messages to company employees and executives, threatening to disclose sensitive information unless he was paid $2.5 million dollars in cryptocurrency. Trial evidence further established that the email messages contained threats to disclose sensitive corporate information and employee data, including employees’ personally identifiable information (PII), as well as threats to harm the reputation of the victim company by reporting a breach of its information and publishing the information publicly if the victim company failed to pay him via cryptocurrency. On January 24, 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant at Curry’s residence, seizing various electronic devices. A forensic analysis of the evidence revealed that Curry was committing the extortion scheme under the “Loot” alias. In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney Ferguson commended the FBI’s Washington Field Office, which conducted the investigation, and the FBI Charlotte Field Office, which provided significant assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Warren of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Lucas of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Columbia prosecuted the case.


title: Former Escrow Officer Sentenced to Prison for Bank Fraud

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Cameron, Mo., woman was sentenced in federal court for bank fraud in relation to an embezzlement scheme committed between December 2018 and February 2024. Tracy L. Kellerstrass, 52, former escrow officer for Cameron Title Company, was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison without parole. Following her release from prison, Kellerstrass will serve a three-year term of supervised release. She will also be required to pay restitution for her theft of $460,415.84. This successful prosecution is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. Kellerstrass previously pleaded guilty to bank fraud on March 24, 2026, and admitted to forging another employee’s signature on numerous company checks and presenting them for deposit into her personal bank account. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Brown It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. National Fraud Enforcement Division 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: Three Shreveport-Bossier Men Sentenced for Firearm and Drug Offenses as Part of Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative

body_text: SHREVEPORT – Three Shreveport and Bossier-area defendants received sentences ranging from six to 15 years in federal prison in separate cases for firearms and narcotics offenses. These three cases are part of the Department of Justice’s ongoing law enforcement efforts under the national Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working alongside our federal and state partners in the Shreveport and Bossier area to get violent criminals and drug traffickers off our streets, and these three significant sentences reflect the fruits of those efforts,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Our Office looks forward to continuing that work in Shreveport and Bossier to make those communities safer places.” On August 7, 2026, United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr., sentenced Santana Powell , 33, of Shreveport, to 180 months in federal prison following his guilty plea to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. According to court documents, on March 26, 2023, Powell knowingly possessed a Del‑Ton Inc. DTI‑15 pistol. Images recovered from his cell phone showed him holding the firearm. Powell was prohibited from possessing any firearm due to a prior felony conviction. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Foster with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Emily Favrot. On August 6, 2026, United States Chief District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced Marvin Morris , 21, of Shreveport, to a total of 100 months in federal prison following his guilty plea to a two‑count indictment involving Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana. According to court documents, on December 8, 2025, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents assisted in executing a Bossier arrest warrant for Morris . Officers stopped a vehicle in which Morris was a passenger and located a concealed AR‑style Diamondback pistol in his overalls. Inside his backpack, officers found four bags of marijuana weighing 38 grams, packaging materials, and a digital scale. Morris was prohibited from possessing firearms. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Crichton with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Emily Favrot. On August 6, 2026, Judge Hicks also sentenced Demichael Crosby , 27, of Shreveport, to 72 months in federal prison following his guilty plea to Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. According to court documents, on July 14, 2025, Bossier City Police (BCP) responded to a domestic disturbance at an apartment complex. Officers encountered Crosby inside his vehicle and detected an overwhelming scent of marijuana. Officers determined Crosby had outstanding warrants in both Texas and Louisiana and a prior conviction for assault and battery which prohibited him from possessing a firearm. After his arrest, Crosby consented to a vehicle search. Officers recovered 2,664 grams of marijuana, packaging materials, scales, and a loaded stolen Glock pistol in the trunk. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robbie Moody with assistance from Legal Assistant Amanda Morgan. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcements. These cases were investigated by ATF and BCP. These cases were prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America (TBA), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s agencies, and coordinates efforts with state and local law enforcement and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF), ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities . Learn more about PSN at https://www.justice.gov/psn . You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla . Related court documents and information may be found at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer under Case Numbers 5:24‑CR‑00237 (Santana Powell); 26‑00045 (Marvin Morris); and 5:26‑CR‑00038 (Demichael Crosby). ### CONTACT: Public Affairs USALAW-News@usdoj.gov United States Attorney’s Office www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Western District of Louisiana (337) 262-6704 X: @USAO_WDLA Facebook: USAOWDLA


title: Two Charleston Women Plead Guilty to Federal Drug Crimes

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, Tanisha Constance Brown, 36, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl and Tiffany Sloan-Combs, 40, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Brown and Sloan-Combs admitted to their roles in a conspiracy that distributed fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack,” in the Charleston area. Sloan-Combs also pleaded guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in a separate case. According to court documents and statements made in court, Brown and Sloan-Combs each admitted that they participated in the conspiracy’s distribution of fentanyl between September 2025 and April 2026. Brown lived with a co-conspirator who obtained the fentanyl and worked with her to sell it. Brown and the co-conspirator generally prepared the fentanyl at their Charleston residence, keeping some of the fentanyl there and the rest at a stash location in South Charleston. Sloan-Combs sometimes mixed the fentanyl with non-controlled substance cutting agents at Brown’s request before its distribution to customers and prepared bags containing certain quantities of fentanyl for Brown to distribute to customers. Brown distributed quantities of fentanyl to others in the Charleston area with the understanding that several of her customers redistributed the fentanyl to third-party customers. Sloan-Combs re-distributed some of the fentanyl she acquired as part of the conspiracy to third parties while also using some of it. As part of her guilty plea, Brown further admitted that she participated in the conspiracy’s distribution of crack between March 2026 and April 2026. Brown facilitated transactions between a male co-conspirator who supplied the crack and a female co-conspirator who typically used it. These transactions typically took place at or near the male co-conspirator’s Charleston residence. In the separate case, Sloan-Combs admitted that she sold approximately 4 ounces of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $1,300 on May 23, 2023, inside a convenience store restroom in Charleston. Brown and Sloan-Combs are scheduled to be sentenced on December 9, 2026. Brown faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. Sloan-Combs faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 60 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $6 million. Brown and Sloan-Combs are among eight individuals indicted following a federal investigation of fentanyl trafficking in the Charleston area. On July 22, 2026, lead defendant Antonio Andre Smith, also known as “Bro,” 50, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and co-conspirator Jerry Lucilo Grass, 41, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Smith and Grass, both of Charleston, are scheduled to be sentenced on November 19, 2026. Two other defendants pleaded guilty to charges separate from the main indictment, which remains pending against the other defendants. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy B. Wolfe and Amy L. McLaughlin are prosecuting the cases. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:26-cr-51 (Smith et al.) and 2:26-cr-25 (Sloan-Combs). ###


title: Inmate Pleads Guilty to Possessing Drugs at FCI Beckley

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Travis Jerome Darden, 45, an inmate, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, to possession of contraband in a federal correctional institution. According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 21, 2025, Darden was an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Beckley when a staff member conducted a random pat search on Darden and recovered approximately 1 ounce of suspected methamphetamine and approximately 9 grams of suspected cocaine in individually wrapped packages. Darden is scheduled to be sentenced on December 4, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:26-cr-59. ###


title: Fayette County Man Sentenced to More than 12 Years in Prison for Federal Drug Crimes

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – William Joseph Kessler III, 45, of Beckwith, was sentenced today to 12 years and seven months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for one count of distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl and one count of distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 25, 2024, Kessler sold a total of 18 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant over the course of two transactions, one in Raleigh County and the other at Kessler’s residence in Beckwith. On June 26, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Kessler’s residence and seized approximately 36 grams of fentanyl, 263.4 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl and ketamine, 45.7 grams of methamphetamine, a CZ Model P-10s 9mm pistol, and $4,603. The seized currency included $505 of prerecorded money exchanged during the controlled buys. Kessler has a criminal history that dates back to 2004 and includes two prior felony convictions for drug trafficking. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Central Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Amy L. McLaughlin prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-146. ###


title: Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Drug Conspiracy

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Carlos Alvin Myles, also known as “Choppa,” 38, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 12, 2024, Myles sold approximately 3.42 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant at a residence on Charleston’s West Side. As part of his guilty plea, Myles admitted to conducting the transaction. Myles further admitted that the transaction was part of a conspiracy to distribute drugs in and around the Southern District of West Virginia, and that he participated in the conspiracy between February and May 2024. Myles is scheduled to be sentenced on January 7, 2027, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. Myles is among five defendants indicted by a federal grand jury following a federal investigation of drug trafficking in the Charleston area. Two co-defendants previously pleaded guilty. The indictment remains pending against the other defendants. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department-Special Enforcement Unit, and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin and former Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon have prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-18. ###


title: Previously convicted felon arrested as part of Cincinnati violent crime reduction initiative pleads guilty to gun crime

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati man who was arrested in March as part of a federal, state and local violent crime reduction initiative pleaded guilty in federal court here to illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Austin Fowler, 46, has previous convictions for aggravated robbery, drug possession, drug trafficking and weapons under disability. According to court documents, Cincinnati police officers were conducting an investigation into a high-crime area in November 2025 when they saw Fowler commit a pedestrian violation. When an officer attempted to contact Fowler, Fowler ran and attempted to jump a fence to avoid capture. The defendant was apprehended and had a loaded pistol in his jacket pocket. Fowler was arrested on March 9 and remains in custody pending sentencing. Possessing a firearm or ammunition as a previously convicted felon is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie announced the guilty plea entered on Aug. 12 before Senior U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorney Ashley N. Brucato is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Grand jury indicts Butler County sex offender for sex crimes involving 10-year-old

body_text: CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has indicted a Butler County registered sex offender who allegedly committed aggravated sexual abuse against a 10-year-old victim. Adam Kendel, 43, of Fairfield Township, was arrested on related local charges in April. He was indicted federally in late July and taken into federal custody on Aug. 12. Kendel is due to appear in U.S. District Court on Aug. 18 for a detention hearing. According to charging documents, on Feb. 28, Kendel crossed a state line with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor when he allegedly traveled from Ohio to Kentucky to engage in sexual conduct with the child victim. The indictment also alleges that, from August 2025 through March 2026, Kendel coerced and enticed the 10-year-old Kentucky girl to engage in sexual activity and produce child pornography. The final count in the indictment charges Kendel with committing new sex crimes while already registered as a sex offender. Aggravated sexual abuse is punishable at least 30 years and up to life in prison. Coercion and enticement carries a potential penalty of at least 10 years and up to life in prison. Committing these crimes while registered as a sex offender adds a mandatory 10-year prison sentence to any other sentence imposed. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and the Ashland, Kentucky, and Fairfield Township police departments announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle J. Healey and Ryan A. Keefe are representing the United States in this case. An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. # # #


title: Delaware County man sentenced to nearly 27 years in prison for crimes involving bulk narcotics hauled in vehicle to Polaris Fashion Place

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A defendant convicted at trial in February of six counts of drug and gun crimes related to 28 kilograms of drugs found stashed in hidden compartments of a vehicle being hauled from California to Polaris Fashion Place was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 322 months in prison. The case against Terrance Colvin, 39, of Columbus, Ohio, involved 27 kilograms of narcotics. According to court documents and trial testimony, in May 2024, local HSI agents were notified by HSI Albuquerque that the New Mexico State Police stopped a commercial car hauler. One of the vehicles was to be delivered to Polaris Fashion Place in Delaware County. That vehicle had two hidden compartments and inside, investigators discovered 21 kilograms of methamphetamine and six kilograms of cocaine. Federal and local law enforcement officials arranged for the controlled delivery of the vehicle to the Polaris mall parking lot. Colvin took an Uber to Polaris Fashion Place to retrieve the vehicle upon delivery and drove the vehicle to his apartment in the 801 Polaris Apartments. Colvin parked the vehicle in a private parking garage next to a 2015 Cadillac Escalade and accessed the hidden compartments to transfer the narcotics, which law enforcement had primarily replaced with sham narcotics, into a duffel bag before being apprehended by law enforcement. In a subsequent search of Colvin’s apartment, agents discovered and seized additional bulk amounts of narcotics, including fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine. They also seized three loaded firearms. As a previously convicted felon, Colvin is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. His criminal history includes arrests and convictions for various narcotics and weapons-related charges, kidnapping, receiving stolen property, driving under the influence, obstructing justice and disorderly conduct. Colvin was originally indicted in June 2024. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; and officials with the Delaware County Drug Task Force announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin W. Kelley represented the United States in this case. # # #


title: Dayton man pleads guilty to robbing local bank

body_text: DAYTON, Ohio – A Dayton man arrested three hours after he robbed a local bank pleaded guilty to the charge of bank robbery in federal court today. John Donald Butler, 62, was indicted in the Southern District of Ohio in April. He has more than 20 prior federal bank robbery convictions for robberies he committed in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina. According to court documents, on March 30, Butler entered the Key Bank on Miamisburg Centerville Road in Dayton at approximately 2:45pm dressed as a construction worker. During the robbery, Butler passed a note to the bank teller and verbally ordered the teller to empty the top drawer, threatening the teller not to include dye packs with the cash. After receiving more than $9,000 in cash, Butler fled the scene. Law enforcement responded quickly to the scene and obtained security images of Butler, who had nothing covering his face during the robbery. Officials also used license plate readers to track Butler’s vehicle before and after the robbery. Approximately three hours after the robbery, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on Butler and arrested him. Cash, drugs and the robbery note were all subsequently located on Butler’s person or in his vehicle. Bank robbery is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Moraine Police Chief Craig Richardson announced the guilty plea entered today before Senior U.S. District Judge Walter H. Rice. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth L. McCormickis representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Bellefontaine husband & wife plead guilty to federal narcotics crime

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A couple from Logan County pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a narcotics conspiracy involving bulk amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the mail. Justin Salsburey, 44, pleaded guilty today, and Ruthann Rankin, 39, pleaded guilty last week. According to court documents, in early November 2025, the Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force received information from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office that Salsburey was receiving parcels of bulk narcotics at his residence in Bellefontaine and that his wife was involved in the narcotics trafficking. Further investigation revealed that between August 2024 and December 2025, the husband and wife received in the mail approximately 260 parcels from throughout the United States. Law enforcement surveillance showed Salsburey and Rankin retrieving the parcels and then placing drugs in a cooler on their porch for pickup. Salsburey also drove to a Post Office in Dublin to mail fentanyl and methamphetamine pills out to customers. For example, he sent 52 parcels from addresses in Bellefontaine to a man in Middleburg Heights. When law enforcement officials conducted a search warrant at the couple’s residence, they discovered bulk fentanyl and methamphetamine pills, suspected steroid virals and 12 firearms. Rankin told authorities she assisted Salsburey in selling steroids and “Adderall” pills and that her husband started selling steroids and progressed to other drugs. Salsburey and Rankin each pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine and at least 40 grams of fentanyl, which carries a potential penalty of at least 10 years and up to life in prison. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; David Cunningham, Acting Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Logan County Sheriff Randall J. Dodds announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Pakiz and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Omaha Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Charge

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

body_text: COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – An Omaha man was sentenced on August 11, 2026 to 10 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. According to public court documents, Courtney Derrell Bennett, 54, was arrested in Council Bluffs by the United States Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force. Bennett had an outstanding arrest warrant from Douglas County, Nebraska, for terroristic threats. At the time of his arrest, Bennett possessed a loaded revolver that had been reported stolen from an Omaha business eight days before Bennett’s arrest. Bennett is prohibited from possessing firearms because he is a felon. Bennett has prior convictions for escape from custody, attempted burglary in the second degree, theft in the first degree, eluding a peace officer, robbery in the second degree, and attempted arson. After completing his term of imprisonment, Bennett will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The United States Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Council Bluffs Police Department investigated the case. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.