title: Justice Department to Conduct Election Monitoring for Massachusetts Primary Election

body_text: Today, the Civil Rights Division is monitoring polling sites in Massachusetts for the Commonwealth’s primary election to ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law. “Monitoring is an essential duty for the Civil Rights Division during election season,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Nonpartisan, nondiscriminatory monitoring efforts promote transparency, accountability, and most importantly trust in our federal elections.” The DOJ, through the Civil Rights Division, enforces federal voting laws which protect the voting rights of all eligible citizens. The DOJ regularly deploys staff from the Civil Rights Division and other Department offices to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in communities across the country. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is providing personnel to assist in the effort. The DOJ is monitoring polls in Boston, New Bedford, and Lowell with 12 monitors. Thus far the DOJ has deployed over 80 monitors across eight states and over 200 polling locations this primary season. By comparison, during the 2022 midterms the DOJ sent monitors to nine states during the primary season. The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces various federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights Acts. From now through the general election on Nov. 3, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available to receive questions and complaints from the public related to federal voting rights laws. If you have a question or complaint or would like to request election monitoring in a particular jurisdiction, please contact the Voting Section at VEM@usdoj.gov.


title: Honeywell Aerospace Inc. Agrees to Pay Over $2M to Settle False Claims Act Allegations of Failing to Comply with Cybersecurity Requirements in a U.S. Department of Defense Contract

component: Civil Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that Honeywell Aerospace Inc. has agreed to pay $2,042,518 to resolve allegations that it is liable under the False Claims Act for failing to comply with cybersecurity requirements in a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense. Honeywell Aerospace, a corporation headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, provides aerospace products and solutions to government and commercial customers. Prior to June 29, when Honeywell Aerospace became a standalone public company, it was a business segment of Honeywell International Inc., of Charlotte, North Carolina. “Government contractors that obtain defense information in administering their contracts must follow required cybersecurity standards,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will continue to investigate potential violations of these cybersecurity requirements to protect this critical information.” “Cybersecurity requirements and standards for federal contractors are in place for a reason: to protect government systems and prevent unauthorized access to government data,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina. “Companies that seek and profit off of government contracts have an obligation to ensure sensitive data is protected.” The settlement resolves allegations that from April 2020 through December 2023, a business unit of Honeywell International Inc. submitted false claims for payment by failing to comply with cybersecurity requirements specified in National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-171, with respect to one of Honeywell’s networks, as required by the contract and regulation. The allegations resolved by this settlement arose from a whistleblower lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act under which private citizens can sue on behalf of the government and share in any recovery. The settlement in this case provides for the whistleblower, Rachel Tenney, a former employee of Honeywell, to receive $375,823 as her share of the settlement. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Department of Justice Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service. The matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Greg Pearson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Holly Snow for the Western District of North Carolina. The lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. Rachel Tenney v. Honeywell International Inc., Civil Action No. 3:22-cv-129 (W.D.N.C.). The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Getaway Driver in Multiple Memphis Bank Robberies Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison after Trial

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal judge in Memphis, Tennessee, today sentenced Courtney Trenell, 34, of Memphis, to 15 years in prison for aiding and abetting two bank robberies and joining a conspiracy to rob six banks. Eight men were indicted in this case, with Trenell and three co-defendants being convicted in jury trials and the others pleading guilty. “This defendant took part in two separate bank robberies as part of a violent robbery crew,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The series of bank robberies committed by these eight defendants threatened the lives of hardworking Americans and terrorized bank employees and customers. Those who commit these dangerous robberies will be prosecuted, regardless of their role.” “This is precisely the type of violent offender that threatens lives and public safety in Memphis,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “Armed bank robberies are brazen and disturbing acts of violence that terrorize our community and must be met with significant sentences such as this one. Trenell is a dangerous offender who has sown violence and greed and will now reap the full measure of consequences for his criminal conduct.” “This sentence demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to working with our partners to bring to justice those who resort to bank robbery for criminal profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “We will continue to dedicate the necessary resources to pursue those who terrorize our communities and will not rest until offenders are held accountable for their actions.” Evidence at trial proved that between April 2023 and December 2023, Trenell joined a conspiracy to rob banks throughout Memphis. Trenell drove a getaway car to aid co-defendants in orchestrating and escaping the robberies of Bank of Bartlett and First Horizon Bank branches, which are located across the street from one another, on Oct. 20, 2023. The defendants robbed each bank at the same time to confuse and evade law enforcement. A jury convicted Trenell of two counts of aiding and abetting a bank robbery and one count of joining a conspiracy to rob banks after an eight-day trial in July 2025. Trenell’s trial co-defendants, Devins Hinds, 36, and Joshua Cribbs, 33, both of Memphis, were also found guilty of joining a conspiracy to rob banks in Memphis and robbing specific banks. Hinds was found guilty of additional firearm offenses as well. In a January 2026 trial, a separate jury found defendant Mario Patterson, 45, of Memphis, guilty of robbing three banks in the same conspiracy as Trenell and other defendants. Last year, Hinds and Cribbs were sentenced to 194 months and 144 months in prison, respectively. Another co-defendant, Robert Haley, 45, pleaded guilty before trial and was sentenced to 204 months in prison in December 2025. Three additional defendants, Monterrio Trenell, Travis Drain, and Mario Patterson, await sentencing later this year. The FBI and the Memphis Police Department investigated the case. Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory A. Wagner and Tony Arvin for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case. This case is part of the Safe Streets Task Force’s efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee, and surrounding areas. This case is also part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee, and surrounding areas. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence.


title: American Citizen who Worked as an Agent for the PRC Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Thomas Weir Pauken II, 51, an American citizen who lived and worked in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), was sentenced today to two years in prison and 36 months of supervised release with no overseas travel for acting as an agent of a foreign government within the United States. “Pauken exploited his U.S. citizenship and corresponding ability to travel to the U.S. without restriction in order to support Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) operations, recruiting, and gathering of sensitive information from potential assets,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Pauken betrayed his country for money. The National Security Division is committed to holding accountable anyone who aids or abets Chinese espionage efforts.” “Thomas Pauken knowingly assisted a foreign adversary in actively subverting the government of the United States for his own financial gain,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Theophani K. Stamos for the Eastern District of Virginia. “This was not an isolated act; Pauken continued his course of conduct to aid China for seven years. It is unconscionable that an American citizen would not only undermine the interests of the United States, but also facilitate others in doing so.” “Thomas Pauken admitted to working at the direction of China’s Ministry of State Security to attempt to infiltrate U.S. political circles while also providing new recruitment targets for his Chinese handlers,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “This case illustrates the lengths to which the Chinese Communist Party will go to undermine our democratic institutions, and it also demonstrates the FBI’s resolve to defend the homeland from threats to our national security. The sentencing provides a clear warning: anyone operating as an agent of a foreign government against the U.S. will be found by the FBI and held accountable.” According to court documents, from at least 2019 until February 2026, Pauken worked at the direction and control of people he knew worked for the PRC, including a person he met in 2017 identified as “Cathy.” Cathy provided Pauken with taskings, including meeting with potential intelligence assets, providing them with devices such as a laptop and cellphone to communicate with Cathy, providing taskings for the assets on what information was required, and providing Cathy with reports from the assets. Pauken received at least $100,000 for his work with Cathy. Cathy also paid for Pauken to travel several times between 2019 through 2025 from China to meet with individuals in the United States who could provide Pauken, and ultimately Cathy and the MSS, with information. Pauken worked for two other people in China whom he met in 2017 and knew as “Richard” and “William.” They told Pauken that reports he wrote for them went to Japan, but Pauken believed they worked for the PRC government. Pauken also sold reports to a group of Chinese individuals from Wuhan who sought information about technology and the U.S. Department of Justice. The Wuhan clients wanted Pauken to find an expert to help them engage in cyber espionage. The FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office investigated the case with the assistance of the FBI Washington Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gavin R. Tisdale the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Eli Ross of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence & Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Sauk County Woman Sentenced to Prison for Straw Purchasing Firearm

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jade McClaren, 42, Rock Springs, Wisconsin, was sentenced last week by U.S. District Judge William Conley to one year and one day in federal prison for lying on a form during the purchase of a firearm. McClaren pleaded guilty to this charge on April 20, 2026. “Straw purchasing” is when a gun buyer lies to a firearms dealer to purchase a gun for someone else. Most often straw purchases occur either because the straw buyer can pass the required background check and the actual buyer cannot, or because the actual buyer wants to avoid having their name associated with the gun transaction. Straw purchasing is a serious threat to public safety because it undermines background check laws and contributes to the illegal gun market. On June 2, 2026, McClaren purchased a handgun from a gun store purporting to be the actual purchaser of the handgun. She later admitted that she was really purchasing the handgun for Brandon Bent, an individual she knew could not legally purchase a firearm. Bent has been charged in Sauk County with first degree intentional homicide. The case against him remains pending and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. At McClaren’s sentencing, Judge Conley agreed with the government’s argument that this was the worst-case and most tragic outcome of a straw purchase. Judge Conley found that McClaren knew Bent was a danger and she still made the decision to buy a gun for him. Judge Conley concluded that the sentence must reflect the consequences of the straw purchase and sentenced McClaren to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. “Straw purchasing of firearms puts guns into the hands of people who are prohibited from owning them, increasing the risk of violent crime. It also undermines community safety by making it harder for law enforcement to track and prevent illegal firearm trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Elgersma. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with ATF and local law enforcement to reduce gun violence by holding accountable not only those who use firearms during crimes, but also those who illegally supply guns to offenders.” The charge against McClaren was the result of an investigation conducted by the Lake Delton Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case. Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 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.


title: Seattle data analytics company to pay more than $1 million to resolve claims that it improperly received a COVID Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A Seattle data analysis company has agreed to pay $1,012,876 to resolve allegations it improperly received a Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan in 2021, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Headset Inc. received a PPP loan in February 2021 and had the loan forgiven in August 2021. In May 2024, Sidesolve LLC filed a qui tam lawsuit alleging Headset Inc. was ineligible for the PPP loan due to its work in the marijuana industry, an industry which is illegal under federal law. Sidesolve, as the relator in this case will receive ten percent of the total Headset pays to the government, as well as $20,000 for attorney fees and costs. Under the terms of the settlement, Headset paid $100,000 of the settlement within 30 days of when the settlement was signed in early August 2026 and will pay the remaining $900,000+ over four years, concluding in August 2030. Headset does not admit wrongdoing, but in order to avoid the risks of litigation is choosing to resolve this matter with the monetary payments. This civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The settlement was negotiated for the United States by Assistant United States Attorney Matt Waldrop.


title: Bellingham, Washington woman gets ten-month prison term for scheme to kidnap her son

body_text: Seattle – A 32-year-old Bellingham woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to ten months in prison for making a false statement in an application for a passport as part of her scheme to kidnap her 4-year-old son and travel to Panama, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Talisa Manuella Munoz, failed to return the boy to his father as required by the final parenting plan. She secretly flew to Panama after using false documents to get the child a passport. She was arrested in Panama and ultimately extradited to the U.S. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge John H. Chun said. “This is something you just can’t do. You can’t take the law into your own hands.” According to records filed in the case, Munoz was supposed to return the child to his father on September 8, 2025, following a weekend visitation. When the child was not returned, the father reported it to law enforcement, and the FBI opened an investigation. Law enforcement determined that months before leaving, Munoz had falsely claimed on her son’s passport application that she had no way to find or know the father. She submitted a birth certificate that said “none named” where the father’s name should be. The investigation revealed that Talisa Manuella Munoz schemed with her family for months to take the child to Panama and flew out of Seattle on or about September 7, 2025. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) and the U.S. Embassy in Panama City worked with law enforcement in Panama to arrest and secure the extradition of Talisa Manuella Munoz. She was returned to the Western District of Washington on January 8, 2026. Her young son was reunited with his father. In preparation for sentencing the boy’s father told the probation office that enduring the kidnapping of his son “was the worst thing of [his] entire life.” Judge Chun set a restitution hearing in November to determine the amount of restitution Munoz owes to the child’s father. The case was investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.


title: Jeannette Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening to Murder Federal Law Enforcement Officers

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Jeannette, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to making threats to murder U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents, and a special agent and two task force officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced. Dale Ankney, 72, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand to three counts of retaliating against federal law enforcement officers by threat. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that a review of Ankney’s publicly available social media account revealed posts in which Ankney advocated acts of violence against federal law enforcement, specifically, ICE and IRS agents. On June 17, 2026, an FBI special agent and two FBI task force officers attempted an interview of Ankney at his residence. After displaying FBI credentials, identifying themselves as associated with the FBI, and indicating that they wanted to speak to Ankney regarding his threatening statements online, Ankney became agitated and instructed the FBI to leave, including telling the agents “I will cap your ass.” as they returned to their vehicle. The following day, the FBI arrested Ankney at his residence on a federal criminal complaint. Ankney waived his rights and clarified that “cap” meant that he was threatening to shoot the FBI. In conjunction with the arrest, the FBI executed a federal search warrant upon Ankney’s residence, from which they seized 21 firearms, two firearm silencers, firearm magazines, and ammunition. Judge Wiegand scheduled Ankney’s sentencing for January 7, 2027. The law provides for a maximum total sentence on each count of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Ankney.


title: Incarcerated Ambridge Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Machinegun and is Sentenced to Five Years of Prison

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Ambridge, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on August 27, 2026, to one count of possession of a machinegun and was sentenced to 60 months of incarceration on his conviction, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Senior United States District Judge David S. Cercone imposed the sentence on Nasean Hunt, 21. According to information presented to the Court, on July 9, 2023, Hunt was found in possession of a loaded Glock 17 pistol equipped with a “switch” or auto-sear that rendered the semi-automatic handgun capable of fully automatic fire. Hunt had gunshot residue on his hands at the time of his apprehension. Hunt is already serving a sentence of 15 to 40 years of imprisonment for a conviction in Beaver County for conspiracy to commit murder of the third degree in connection with his possession of the machinegun on this date. Hunt’s federal sentence will run concurrently with the sentence he currently is serving. Assistant United States Attorney Barbara K. Doolittle prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Ambridge Borough Police Department, and the Beaver County Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Hunt.


title: Oklahoma City Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison Following 40-Pound PCP Seizure

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – DEANGELO DEMANES HAWKINS , 51, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 216 months in federal prison for possession of PCP with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to public records, on September 16, 2025, an officer with the Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD) conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Hawkins. During the stop, officers learned Hawkins did not have a valid driver’s license and had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Hawkins was taken into custody, and during the subsequent search of his vehicle, officers recovered cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and more than $23,000 in cash. Further investigation into Hawkins led to the execution of search warrants at two Oklahoma City residences associated with him, where law enforcement recovered large quantities of methamphetamine, ecstasy, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, along with six firearms. Notably, law enforcement seized 40 pounds of PCP, which represents tens of thousands of individual doses of PCP. Public records further reflect that Hawkins has a lengthy criminal history, with previous felony convictions in Oklahoma County District Court that include: possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in case number CF-1993-3791; possession of crack cocaine in case number CF-2008-2252; possession of ecstasy and a firearm in case number CF-2010-1500; and manufacturing methamphetamine and cocaine, possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in case number CF-2010-3730. On November 18, 2025, a federal grand jury charged Hawkins with possession of PCP with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of firearms. Hawkins pleaded guilty on March 9, 2026, and admitted he knowingly possessed PCP that he intended to distribute and he possessed firearms despite his previous felony convictions. At a sentencing hearing on August 27, 2026, U.S. District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti sentenced Hawkins to serve 216 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, Judge DeGiusti noted Hawkins’s extensive criminal history and the substantial quantity and variety of highly dangerous drugs he intended to distribute into the community. This case is the result of an investigation by the Oklahoma City Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bow Bottomly prosecuted the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Prior felon arrested on gun and drug charges

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Steven S. Butler, 42, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. According to the criminal complaint, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the Buffalo Police Department’s Gang Intelligence Unit have been investigating Butler, who was suspected of distributing large quantities of cocaine. On August 24, 2026, investigators executed a search warrant at the restaurant “Ike and BG’s,” at 1646 Genesee Street in Buffalo, which is owned and operated by Butler and used to store and distribute large quantities of narcotics. During the search they seized quantities of suspected cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and approximately $169,553.00. Butler was taken into custody following the search. A second search warrant was executed at Butler’s residence on Old Post Road in Lancaster and on his vehicle on August 25, 2026. During that search, investigators seized seven handguns, and approximately $102,506 in cash. Butler was previously convicted of felony charges in 2004, 2008, and 2013, and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. Butler made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroder, Jr. and was detained. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis A. Testani. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis, II and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Erika Shields. 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: Six Indicted After Homeland Security Task Force Investigation

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Six individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. Brandon A. McAfee, 40, of Lee’s Summit, Mo., and Arthelle McClain, 70; Joe F. Fuller, Jr., 44; Shelia M. M. Gordon, 64; Anthony S. S. Conaway, 48; and Marshall D. Jackson, 49, of Kansas City, Mo., were charged in a 16-count indictment that was returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. on Aug. 25, 2026. That indictment was unsealed and made public last week with arrests and initial court appearances for five of the defendants. The federal indictment alleges the defendants conspired with one another to distribute fentanyl and cocaine between November 2025 and August 2026. Jackson is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Investigators recovered approximately 3,533 grams of cocaine, 1,555 grams of fentanyl, 1,049 grams of carfentanil and fentanyl, 237 grams of unknown pills, 555 grams of MDMB-4EN-Pinica, 55 grams of diphenidine, 364 grams of marijuana, 198 grams of tetrahydrocannabinol, and phencyclidine during last week’s arrest operation. Additionally, investigators recovered nine total firearms, one of which had an obliterated serial number, another was stolen, and one was equipped with a machinegun conversion device, also known as a “switch.” The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Jennings. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force, the Saint Joseph Police Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Homeland Security Task Force This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.


title: Kansas City Man Charged with Unlawfully Possessing Ammunition

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man has been charged by criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of ammunition. Daron L. Fry, 21, appeared in federal court on a criminal complaint signed by United States Magistrate Judge Jill A. Morris. According to court documents, on or about Aug. 25, 2026, Fry was arrested on multiple outstanding Kansas City municipal warrants, after which Fry consented to a search of his bedroom. During the search, officers found nineteen rounds of .40 caliber ammunition in the nightstand drawer inside that bedroom. Officers also located an AR-style pistol and what appeared to be a 3D printed auto sear—a device that functions to convert a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic one. The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. Under federal statutes, Fry is subject to a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department Project Safe Neighborhoods This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Aunt and U.S. Airman Nephew Arrested in Immigration Fraud Scheme

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An aunt and nephew from Colorado were arrested over the weekend for their involvement in an immigration fraud scheme. Myra Paule Schulenburg, 46, was charged by a federal grand jury with conspiracy to commit immigration fraud. Her nephew, John Paule Rivera, 30, was charged with conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, making false statements under oath on immigration documents, making false statements to a federal agency, unlawfully procuring citizenship, and misuse of citizenship evidence. Schulenburg, a Colorado resident, was born a citizen and national of the Philippines and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen. Rivera entered the United States on a J1 exchange visitor visa in March 2017. A few months later, Schulenburg submitted a petition with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) claiming to be Rivera’s mother so he could become a lawful permanent resident (commonly known as having a “green card”). They attached an altered birth certificate from the Philippines as proof of their relationship. The petition and altered birth certificate were submitted to the USCIS National Benefits Center in Lee’s Summit, Mo. to be processed. Schulenburg’s petition was approved and Rivera became a lawful permanent resident. After becoming a lawful permanent resident, Rivera joined the U.S. Air Force. He would not have been able to join the Air Force if not for his fraudulently obtained lawful permanent resident status. Because he was serving in the Air Force, Rivera was able to apply to become a naturalized U.S. citizen without having to wait the amount of time usually required. Rivera applied to become a naturalized U.S. citizen while stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. In his application, Rivera specifically denied ever giving any U.S. Government officials information or documentation that was false, fraudulent, or misleading, or lying to them to gain immigration benefits while in the United States. He signed that application for naturalization under penalty of perjury and submitted it to the USCIS National Benefits Center in Lee’s Summit to be processed. With that false testimony, Rivera’s application was approved and he became a U.S, citizen upon taking the naturalization oath on Oct. 11, 2022, in Springfield, Mo. After becoming a U.S. citizen, Rivera submitted a petition with USCIS on behalf of his actual mother so she could become a lawful permanent resident. He attached his authentic birth certificate from the Philippines as proof of their relationship. That petition and birth certificate were submitted to the USCIS National Benefits Center in Lee’s Summit to be processed. Rivera’s petition was flagged and resulted in the investigation that led to these arrests. The charges contained in the indictment are simply accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury who will be responsible for determining whether the defendants are guilty or not. Under federal statutes, Schulenburg is subject to a sentence of up to five years in prison on the conspiracy charge. Rivera is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in prison on some of the immigration charges and faces the possibility of being denaturalized. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Michael J. Nichols. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Office – Homeland Security Investigations, the USCIS National Benefits Center, and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations.


title: Venezuelan Man Sentenced to Prison for Attacking CBP Officer

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Carlos Cadena Duran, 26, a citizen of Venezuela, was sentenced by United States District Judge Robert J. Jonker to 9 months in prison for assaulting, resisting, and impeding federal officers in the performance of their official duties. On November 26, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers transported Cadena Duran from Detroit to the Calhoun County Jail. Although restrained, Cadena Duran managed to unbuckle his seatbelt and began banging his head, legs, and torso on the barrier between the front and back seats of the vehicle. As the officers attempted to secure Cadena Duran to prevent him from hurting himself, he threatened the officers. Cadena Duran kicked and attempted to headbutt one of the officers, then grabbed and pulled the officer’s belt buckle. Cadena Duran first entered the United States by crossing the Texas border illegally in 2023. He was taken into DHS custody on November 21, 2025, when he was encountered by CBP officers while reentering the United States on the Ambassador Bridge. Upon completion of his sentence, he will be brought before an immigration court for removal proceedings. U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said, “This case provides another example of the danger our immigration officers must face every single day. My office will support their work by bringing assault charges whenever this danger escalates into violence against them.” “CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility remains committed to supporting and protecting the law enforcement professionals who carry out CBP’s mission every day, often under challenging and unpredictable circumstances,” said Special Agent in Charge Robinson Colombini, CBP Office of Professional Responsibility. “Assaults on federal officers will not be tolerated, and OPR will continue to work closely with our federal partners to ensure these incidents are thoroughly investigated and appropriately addressed. We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan and our partners for their continued commitment to pursuing accountability in cases involving violence against our law enforcement personnel.” CBP Office of Professional Responsibility - Detroit investigated this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Daniels prosecuted it.


title: Burlington, Vermont Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Trafficking Fentanyl and Cocaine

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: RUTLAND – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on August 27, 2026, Christopher Dezotelle, 43, most recently of Burlington, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 72 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 4-year term of supervised release. Dezotelle previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine base and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. According to court records, Dezotelle, a life-long Vermonter with an extensive criminal history, conspired to distribute narcotics around Burlington, Vermont, between May 2024 and June 2024. A confidential informant working with law enforcement made recorded controlled purchases from Dezotelle and his coconspirator during law enforcement’s investigation. These sales involved fentanyl and cocaine base. The investigation culminated in a search of Apartment 3 at 95 Grant Street in Burlington. Inside the apartment, law enforcement found approximately 259 grams of fentanyl, 92 grams of powder cocaine, 22 grams of cocaine base, and smaller amounts of other controlled substances, including methamphetamine. Law enforcement also seized $4,406 in cash. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Burlington Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua L. Banker. Dezotelle was represented by Chandler Matson, Esq.


title: Uintah County Man Sentenced to Over 12 Years’ Imprisonment After Supplying Fentanyl that Resulted in Death

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY , Utah – A Uintah County man was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison after distributing fentanyl that caused the death of another individual. The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Howard C. Nielson Jr., comes after Jerod Arthur Young, 50, of Fort Duchesne, Utah, pleaded guilty on March 26, 2026, to distribution of fentanyl. In addition to his term of imprisonment, he was ordered to serve three years of supervised release According to court documents and statements made at Young’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, on November 15, 2023, in Fort Duchesne, Young intentionally sold fentanyl to a victim for profit, which resulted in her death. During the investigation, law enforcement determined from the victim’s phone that she communicated with Young and engaged in a financial transaction with him around the time of her death. The pill near her body when she was found deceased tested positive for fentanyl, and a medical examiner determined that the cause of the victim’s death was fentanyl toxicity. As stated in court documents, Young voluntarily called law enforcement while in treatment and stated he believed he was the person that sold the victim the pills that killed her. Young has a criminal history of drug trafficking convictions (1997, 2015, 2023), the latter of which was pending, and he was on pretrial release when he sold deadly fentanyl to the victim. “No measure of justice can erase the loss of a life,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak for the District of Utah. “However, we hope Young’s lengthy prison sentence sends a strong message to those who push dangerous drugs into our communities, and that it offers the victim’s family a starting point for healing after such a tragic loss.” “Behind every fentanyl death is a loved one whose life is forever changed,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI. “We will not lose sight of the human cost of this epidemic and will work with our partners to bring those who traffic this poison into our communities to justice.” The case was investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office’s Vernal Resident Agency. Assistant United States Attorney Sam Pead of The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted 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 .


title: Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl and Gun Crimes

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Wesley Tramaine Cornish, 22, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 6, 2026, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Huntington residence where Cornish was staying and seized approximately 37.77 grams of fentanyl, a loaded Glock model 19 9mm pistol, and a loaded Taurus model G2C 9mm pistol. As part of his guilty plea, Cornish admitted that he possessed and intended to distribute the seized fentanyl and possessed the seized firearms to protect himself and the seized fentanyl while distributing fentanyl from the residence on other occasions. Cornish further admitted to selling approximately 23.81 grams of fentanyl on March 4, 2026, and approximately 26 grams of fentanyl on March 10, 2026, each time to a confidential informant in Huntington. Cornish also admitted to selling approximately 21.57 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in exchange for $1,200 on December 16, 2025. Cornish is scheduled to be sentenced on January 19, 2027, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl, a consecutive mandatory minimum term of at least five years and up to life in prison for possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1,250,000. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Huntington Police Department, and the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), 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. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-22. ###


title: Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Cecil Monroe Bowman, 72, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 2, 2026, law enforcement officers had an arrest warrant for Bowman and encountered him with a vehicle in a Huntington gas station parking lot. A K9 unit alerted to the vehicle, and officers seized a quantity of a methamphetamine mixture from the vehicle during a subsequent search. Bowman is scheduled to be sentenced on December 14, 2026, 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. At the time of this offense, Bowman was serving a term of supervised release following his conviction for possession with the intent to distribute heroin in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on June 28, 2021. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor 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. 3:26-cr-69. ###


title: Cabell County Man Pleads Guilty to Wiretapping after Recording Teen Exchange Student with Hidden Cameras

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Darrel Lee Wells, 59, of Barboursville, pleaded guilty today to wiretapping. Wells admitted that he recorded a 17-year-old female foreign exchange student living at his residence using hidden cameras he installed. According to court documents and statements made in court, between in or about January 2022 and on or about April 4, 2022, Wells purchased at least two concealable cameras online, had them shipped in interstate commerce to his Barboursville residence, and secretly installed them in his residence. As part of his guilty plea, Wells admitted that he installed one hidden camera designed to look like a towel hanger on a bathroom door aimed at the shower and a second hidden camera that was also a USB block charger in a bedroom. The hidden cameras captured and recorded both video and audio. Wells further admitted that he used the hidden cameras to record and save images and videos of a 17-year-old female foreign exchange student who was living at this residence at the time. Wells admitted that he recorded the girl in both her bedroom and the bathroom, that her nude breasts were exposed in some of the images, and that she was wearing only a towel in others. Wells saved these images and videos to several Micro SD cards, a USB drive, and a laptop hard drive. Wells also created videos of the female victim in both the bathroom and her bedroom that captured her speaking aloud. Wells is scheduled to be sentenced on December 14, 2026, and faces a minimum of two years and six months and up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Wells must also register as a sex offender. A federal grand jury indicted Wells in May 2025. Wells pleaded guilty today to an information charging him with a felony in lieu of the indictment. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is prosecuting the case. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 3:26-cr-96 and 3:25-cr-106 (indictment). ###


title: Beckley Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Crime

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Deandre Jomar Harris, also known as “Dre,” 33, of Beckley, was sentenced on Friday, August 28, 2026, to three years and two months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 10, 2024, Harris sold approximately 7.22 grams of a substance containing fentanyl to a confidential informant. As part of his guilty plea, Harris admitted that he conducted the transaction and that it occurred in the confidential informant’s vehicle while it was parked near Harris’ residence in Beckley. Harris further admitted to selling quantities of a substance containing fentanyl totaling approximately 38.4 grams over the course of four transactions between September 11, 2024, and September 24, 2024. Harris sold the fentanyl substance each time to the confidential informant, and each transaction occurred in the confidential informant’s vehicle near Harris’ residence. Harris has a criminal history that includes prior convictions for conspiracy to commit burglary, child neglect, and drug offenses. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department. Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Lesley C. Shamblin and Madison O. Tuck prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:26-cr-7. ###


title: Another out-of-state man heads to federal prison after cross-country narcotics deal

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 52-year-old Michigan man has been ordered to federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute 14 kilograms of cocaine. Jose Taurus Burks pleaded guilty March 31, 2025. U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has ordered Burks to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. On May 9, 2023, Walter Lee Houze drove a Volkswagen Tiguan to the Border Patrol checkpoint in Sarita. Burks was in the passenger seat. Authorities referred the vehicle to secondary inspection where a K-9 alerted to its rear cargo area. A search revealed 14.26 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside a black suitcase intermingled with clothing and laundry detergent beads belonging to Houze. Burks admitted he was going to be paid to travel from Michigan to assist Houze in purchasing and transporting cocaine from Hidalgo County. He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Houze, 61, of Chesterfield, Michigan, was sentenced Aug. 12, 2025, to 10 years in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell prosecuted the case.


title: Columbus man pleads guilty to threatening on social media to kill federal agents

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man pleaded guilty in federal court here today to threatening on social media to kill federal immigration agents. Justin Mesael Novoa, 21, admitted to two federal crimes: threatening to assault or murder a federal law enforcement officer and making threatening interstate communications. According to charging documents, HSI received information in December 2025 regarding threats to ICE employees on the social media platform X. Investigation revealed that, in June 2025, Novoa allegedly posted: “they should blast every ice agent they find.” Later, in November 2025, Novoa allegedly posted “can’t wait to shoot these p***y ice agents and r******d maga maggots.” Novoa used the screennames “Lord of Frenzied Flame” and “Father2High.” Federal agents executed a search warrant at Novoa’s residence in December 2025 and seized multiple firearms, including two rifles, two shotguns and one handgun, as well as ammunition. Novoa also possessed two military-style helmets and a body armor vest. Novoa was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in January. A federal grand jury indicted him in February. Threatening to kill a federal officer is a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Making threatening interstate communications carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a future hearing. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jared Murphey, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Prichard is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Mexican Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Methamphetamine and Returning to the United States After Being Removed

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Gulfport, MS – An illegal alien from Mexico plead guilty today to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of returning to the United States after being removed. According to court documents, in March and April of 2026, Antonio Garza-Gonzalez, also known as Antonio Gonzalez-Garza, age 52, law enforcement conducted three controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Garza-Gonzalez at his residence in Biloxi, Mississippi. They later recovered additional methamphetamine after searching his residence. In total, agents seized approximately 27.1 grams of methamphetamine and Garza-Gonzalez admitted that he had been purchasing and reselling methamphetamine and was unlawfully present in the United States after a 2018 deportation. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 14, 2027 and faces a maximum penalty of 22 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, Matthew Wright, made the announcement. The Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, investigated the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Partners with City Attorney’s Office, SDSU Football and Aztec Link on Fentanyl Awareness Campaign #BeOnTheSafeSide

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office, San Diego City Attorney’s Office and Aztec Link today launched its fourth anti-fentanyl social media campaign, #BeOnTheSafeSide, featuring local college athletes – this time San Diego State University football players – to coincide with International Overdose Awareness Day. Starting in 2023, the social media campaigns have showcased the San Diego State University Men’s basketball and women’s soccer teams and the MESA Foundation, plus the University of San Diego women’s basketball team and the Olé Foundation. Their consistent message: Know the risks of fentanyl, know the signs of overdose and know where to get Narcan/Naloxone, and how to use it. The public service announcement can be found here . The public service announcement released today, “Be on the Safe Side,” was filmed at the Fowler Athletics Center on the SDSU campus. Players are shown looking out for their classmates in small, everyday ways before getting to the real point: fentanyl. They walk through how it hides in counterfeit pills, the signs of an overdose, including shortness of breath, skin turning purple, and being cold to the touch, and how Narcan works. The video ends with players stating: “Be on the safe side. Know the risks. Use Narcan. Call for help. Aztecs protect Aztecs.” Counterfeit pills sold as Adderall, Xanax, Percocet, or oxycodone are frequently pressed with fentanyl. A lethal dose can be as small as two milligrams. Most are bought through social media apps and pressed to look like legitimate pharmaceuticals so the person taking one has no way to know what is in it. “We don’t want students scared. We want them empowered,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “That means learning about the risks of fentanyl, recognizing the signs of an overdose, and teaching them how to respond to help someone in need.” “One pill can end a life, and the person taking it usually has no idea what is in it,” said City Attorney Heather Ferbert. “That is what makes awareness so powerful. When Aztec football players speak, young people in San Diego listen. I’m grateful to these student athletes for using their platform this way, and to Aztec Link and the U.S. Attorney's Office for partnering with us again. Prevention only works when a whole community carries the message. On International Overdose Awareness Day, we honor the families who have lost someone and recommit to making sure fewer families join them.” This year, the social media campaign was spearheaded by the City Attorney's newly launched Fentanyl and Opioid Community Understanding and Safety Program (FOCUS), which is funded through proceeds of the City Attorney’s Office’s $30 million settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family over their role in the opioid crisis, with the money dedicated to opioid addiction treatment, health care and related programs. Its education arm, the Fentanyl Education and Awareness Campaigns, combines education, athletics, and peer leadership to reach thousands of college students across San Diego, engaging higher-risk groups such as Greek life and student-athletes while providing Narcan access and overdose training. Aztecs Going Pro is San Diego State athletics four-year student-athlete development program focused on life skills education. The program is centered on three pillars: personal growth, career development and civic engagement. Aztec Link, SDSU’s name, image, and likeness collective, connects student-athletes with opportunities to build their personal brands and lend their platforms to causes in the community. That reach is the point: the players' accounts carry the message into high schools, youth leagues, and neighborhoods that public health campaigns rarely touch. The public service announcement can be viewed on @heatherferbert.ca and @SDCAnews. The campaign uses the hashtags #SafeSide and #BeOnTheSafeSide. Naloxone is an opioid overdose reversal medication, available either as a nasal spray or an injector. Many pharmacies carry naloxone. In California, naloxone can be purchased from a pharmacist without a prescription. It is also possible to get naloxone from community-based distribution programs, local public health groups, or local health departments, free of charge. A searchable map of free naloxone pickup locations across San Diego County is available at sandiegoopioidproject.com/naloxone. Free prevention resources are available at www.suopt.org , including toolkits on fentanyl, naloxone, and social media risks, fentanyl fact sheets tailored to schools, families, and young adults, counterfeit pill identification guides, information on California's Good Samaritan Law, support for families who have lost someone, and a treatment locator map. All materials are offered in English and Spanish. If you believe someone is overdosing, call 911 immediately and administer naloxone if it is


title: Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Attempting to Pay Teenage Girls for Sex

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Jose De Jesus Anguiano of San Diego was sentenced in federal court today to 168 months in prison plus 10 years of supervised release for coercing or attempting to coerce at least four children, ages 13 to 17, to engage in sexual activity in exchange for money, marijuana, or alcohol. Anguiano pleaded guilty on February 24, 2026, to one count of Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. According to his plea agreement, Anguiano also admitted similar conduct with three other minors, including that from at least April 28, 2022, through August 29, 2024, he repeatedly solicited minors for sex and on at least one occasion raped a 14-year-old girl after agreeing to meet with her to provide her with marijuana. As a part of his scheme, Anguiano would insert himself into the youth population through social media, offering to be underage girls’ hookup for “weed,” “booze” and money. Anguiano’s conduct came to the attention of the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force when, on August 29, 2024, he himself brazenly called the police. Anguiano had arranged to meet with a minor for sex in an alley. When Anguiano arrived, the minor’s trafficker held Anguiano up at gun point in an attempted carjacking. Anguiano then dialed 911 for help from the San Diego Police Department. When officers arrived on scene, they quickly put together the facts and called in the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force. “There’s an irony in a child predator calling the cops on another criminal,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon, “But more important is the justice this sentence serves. It’s a clear reminder to predators that the law is not your shield or your weapon. The law belongs to the victims.” “This sentence proves that combating the trafficking and exploitation of children remains an utmost priority for my team and me at the California Department of Justice,” said Attorney Rob General Bonta. “Crimes against children will never be tolerated in California, and I remain dedicated to holding perpetrators of child exploitation accountable. I am grateful for the hard work of my team in the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force that made securing this prison sentence possible.” In the government’s sentencing memo, prosecutors noted that Anguiano “had become so brazen in his criminal acts that he had no hesitation of harassing children into having sex with him, over several years, attempting to recruit friends or siblings, photographing one victim behind a police car, and calling the police on another victim whose trafficker car-jacked him when he arrived in an alley to pay for sex with the minor.” The mother of one of the victims submitted a statement to the court explaining that, “Sexual assault does not simply end when the assault is over. The effects can continue long after the physical event has ended. It can affect a survivor’s ability to trust, their sense of safety, their relationships, their emotional well-being, and the way they see themselves and the world around them.” At the end of her statement, the mother wrote that Anguiano “did not get to take away my daughter’s future. You hurt her. You violated her trust. You changed her. You changed me. You changed our family. You forced us to make decisions we never should have had to make…. But you did not take away her ability to heal…. [She] is still here. She is loved. She is supported. She is healing.” This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lyndzie M. Carter and Derek Ko. If you believe you or someone you know has been a victim of human trafficking, investigators ask that you contact the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. DEFENDANT Case Number 25cr01293-BJC Jose De Jesus Anguiano SUMMARY OF CHARGES Coercion and Enticement of a Minor, 18 U.S.C., Section 2422 Maximum penalty: Life imprisonment with a 10-year mandatory minimum; $250,000 fine INVESTIGATING AGENCIES San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force San Diego Police Department Chula Vista Police Department Federal Bureau of Investigation Homeland Security Investigations The San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force is a cooperative effort involving the California Department of Justice, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Highway Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, National City Police Department, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, San Diego City Attorney’s Office, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, San Diego County Probation Department, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, San Diego Police Department, Southwest Border High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California. This case is the result of the ongoing efforts of the Special Victims Unit. Formed in April 2025, the SVU is tasked with leading collaborations between federal and local law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of cases involving sex trafficking and child exploitation, civil rights, and labor trafficking. The SVU oversees the Southern District of California liaisons to the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force and Project Safe Childhood


title: Final Defendant Pleads Guilty in Hartsville Meth Trafficking Case

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

body_text: FLORENCE, S.C. — Ramsey Adam Currie, 43, of Columbia, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Currie was involved along with others in a multi-year methamphetamine conspiracy, which dated back to at least January 2019. Through the investigation, at least 12 individuals gave statements regarding Currie’s involvement in the illegal distribution of methamphetamine as well as heroin. In addition, in February 2023, officers with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at Currie’s house, and during the search, Currie attempted to flush a quantity of suspected heroin down the toilet. Officers recovered the heroin before it was flushed and seized five firearms along with ammunition from the house. Currie faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least five years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Currie after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. Two co-defendants were previously sentenced after pleading guilty for their role in the methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy. Clayton Daquon Hall, 35, of Hartsville, was sentenced to 168 months’ imprisonment. William Chad Brown, 50, of Darlington, was sentenced to 107 months’ imprisonment. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities . This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, the Hartsville Police Department, the Darlington Police Department, the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Convicted Felon in Medford Charged with Possessing Firearms, Silencers, and a Destructive Device

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: MEDFORD, Ore.—A federal grand jury in Medford returned an indictment charging a Medford, Oregon, man with possessing nine firearms while being a convicted felon, possessing unregistered firearms silencers, and possessing an unregistered destructive device. Michael Scott Beugli, 32, appeared in court today to be arraigned on a superseding indictment and to seek release. Beugli pleaded not guilty and was detained pending trial. According to court documents, on February 24, 2026, a witness saw Beugli throwing firearms out of his residence in Medford, Oregon. Beugli is a convicted felon not allowed to possess firearms. Beugli fled the premises, and law enforcement located nine guns and additional homemade silencers at Beugli’s residence. About a month after this incident, Beugli sent threatening messages to the witness. On March 25, 2026, ATF responded to an explosive device detonating in a car at the witness’s residence. Beugli was located nearby in a home with similar devices and explosive materials. Beugli had not registered any silencers or destructive devices with ATF as required by law. Beugli made his initial appearance in federal court on August 17, 2026, before a U.S. magistrate judge. He was arraigned on the one count indictment charging felon in possession of a firearm, pleaded not guilty, and ordered detained pending a jury trial scheduled to begin on September 28, 2026. If convicted, Michael Beugli faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, 3 years’ supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms is investigating the case in coordination with the Medford Police Department, the Jackson County Sherrif’s Office, the Ashland Police Department, and the Oregon State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara T. Shaw is prosecuting 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. An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico Weekly Immigration and Border Crimes Report

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies. In the four-week period ending August 28, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico: 279 individuals were charged with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326) 27 individuals were charged with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324) 214 individuals were charged with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325) 268 individuals were charged with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), violation of a military security regulation (50 U.S.C. 797) and Entering Military, Naval, or Coast Guard Property (18 U.S.C. 1382), arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico. Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for drug possession, alien smuggling, narcotics trafficking, wire fraud, assault, theft, unauthorized use of a vehicle, arson, assault and battery and prior immigration offenses. These 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. These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process. Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.


title: Couple Charged in COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits Fraud Conspiracy

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A former couple are facing federal charges for allegedly conspiring to fraudulently obtain pandemic-related unemployment benefits by using stolen and fictitious identities to submit false claims through New Mexico’s unemployment insurance system. According to the indictment, between May 2020 and October 2021, Josette V. Martin , 35, and Tommy J. Apodaca , 42, allegedly conspired to defraud the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions and the United States by fraudulently obtaining unemployment insurance benefits funded through federal COVID-19 relief programs, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, and Lost Wages Assistance. The defendants allegedly used the personal information of real and fictitious individuals to submit fraudulent unemployment claims and obtain benefits to which they were not entitled. The indictment also alleges they used the personal information of others to create fake identification documents—including fake drivers’ licenses, fake tax forms, and fake social security cards. Further, the defendants allegedly opened bank accounts and obtained debit cards loaded with unemployment funds in order to spend the fraudulently obtained benefits. Martin and Apodaca are charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. Apodaca will remain in custody pending trial; Martin was released to a halfway house subject to stringent conditions pending trial. The trial date in this case has not yet been set. If convicted, each defendant faces up to 30 years in prison and up to 5 years of federal supervision. Apodaca was already in federal custody at the time of the indictment. In April 2026, a federal grand jury separately charged him with being a felon in possession of a firearm. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jena Ritchey and Tavo Hall are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Manchester Man Sentenced to a Decade in Federal Prison for Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking

body_text: CONCORD – A Manchester resident was sentenced today in federal court for distributing over 3.7 kilograms of fentanyl and possessing with intent to distribute 1.2 kilograms of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Xavier Santana, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul J. Barbadoro to 120 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release. On May 20, 2026, Santana pleaded guilty to four counts of distributing at least 400 grams of fentanyl, three counts of distributing at least 50 grams of fentanyl, and one count of possession with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of cocaine. “Working with our law enforcement partners, we took a large-volume fentanyl dealer off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “Fentanyl has devastated communities across the country, and this sentence reflects the severity of the defendant’s crimes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to hold drug traffickers accountable.” “Removing a large-scale fentanyl trafficker like Xavier Santana from our streets—and sending him to prison for the next decade—is a decisive victory for the people of New Hampshire,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “If you think you can profit from poisoning our communities, think again. The FBI and our partners will track you down, shut you down, and put you behind bars. We will not tolerate the criminals driving the opioid crisis. Our mission is to protect our families, and we will not back down.” According to public records and statements made in court, in late 2024, law enforcement learned that the defendant was selling drugs. The FBI conducted a series of controlled buys of drugs from Santana, first with a confidential source. The source purchased about 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl from Santana. The FBI then had an undercover officer participate in additional controlled buys of fentanyl from Santana totaling over 2.5 kilograms. Sometimes law enforcement was able to purchase a half-kilogram of fentanyl at a time. In July 2025, law enforcement searched the defendant’s residence and found over 1.2 kilograms of cocaine in Santana’s bedroom. The FBI’s Major Offender Task Force led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and Cesar A. Vega prosecuted the case. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Hampshire comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, IRS, DEA, ATF, USMS, and DSS with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire.


title: Fourth Man and Rye Native Pleads Guilty for Role in International Fraudulent Market Survey Conspiracy

body_text: CONCORD – Rye man Frank Nappo, 56, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud today, admitting to participating in an international scheme to sell fabricated market survey data, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. U.S. District Judge Landya B. McCafferty scheduled sentencing for December 17, 2026. According to the public record, Op4G and Slice were market research companies based in New Hampshire and Illinois, respectively. Clients would hire the companies to conduct market research surveys. As part of their business model, Op4G and Slice maintained “panels” consisting of individuals potentially eligible to take surveys. Nappo was the Chief Executive Officer of Op4G. In 2014, conspirators decided to increase Op4G revenues by generating fabricated survey data. Nappo joined the conspiracy. To execute the scheme, the conspirators recruited “ants,” who pretended to be legitimate survey takers but instead were paid a nominal fee for completing surveys that produced false market research data. Some of the conspirators even served as “ants” and fraudulently took large quantities of surveys themselves, receiving significant payments. To evade detection, the conspirators exchanged instructions with each other and the “ants.” These instructions included directions on how to answer survey screener questions, provided parameters on how long “ants” should remain on surveys, and encouraged the use of virtual private network (VPN) services to conceal real IP addresses. Conspirators later spun off the fraudulent operations to a new company, Slice. Nappo provided bookkeeping and payroll-related services for the conspiracy and made payments for the “ants.” The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The FBI led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case. Co-defendants Frank Hayden, Daniel Harriman, and Ryan Stoudt pleaded guilty on February 2, 2026, February 24, 2026, and March 5, 2026, respectively. Co-defendants Katarina Grubljesic, Strahinja Grubljesic, and Arvind Iyer, a/k/a S. Aravindan, remain international fugitives.


title: Utica Man Sentenced for Role in Ulster County Drug Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Defendant, Allen McGraw, a.k.a “Snoop”, age 46 of Utica, New York, was sentenced on August 21, 2026 by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino to 24 months in federal prison to be followed by a term of three years of supervised release. The sentence stems from his conviction of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. McGraw previously admitted to possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine on September 25, 2024, and for being responsible for the possession with intent to distribute between 100-200 grams of cocaine as part of the drug trafficking organization. The announcement was made by First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Pete Gizas, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York; and Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa, whose office leads the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (URGENT). In April 2025, ten defendants, including McGraw, were indicted for their roles in drug trafficking organizations that distributed large quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine in and around Kingston, New York and other areas of Ulster County. The organizations are alleged to have distributed over 11 kilograms of cocaine and hundreds of grams of cocaine base. Through the execution of search warrants in Ulster County and additional enforcement actions, law enforcement seized over five kilograms of cocaine and 270 grams of cocaine base. “With this sentence another defendant has been brought to justice for their role in distributing illicit drugs within the community,” said First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III . “Drug trafficking organizations fuel violence and disrupt the very communities residents of the Northern District call home, I am proud of our law enforcement partners and the Assistant United States Attorneys who work tirelessly ensure these defendants end up in federal prison.” “Allen McGraw chose to partake in a cocaine distribution network that pushed dangerous drugs into Kingston and communities across Ulster County,” said HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas . “Drug trafficking organizations poison our communities, fuel addiction and violence, and leave families and neighborhoods to absorb the damage. HSI New York, working shoulder to shoulder with the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team and our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, will continue aggressively targeting and dismantling these networks to eradicate dangerous drugs from our communities one arrest, one seizure, and one investigation at a time.” Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa stated: “The success of these arrests is the result of strong collaboration among our local, state, and federal partners. Removing these dangerous drugs and individuals has disrupted criminal activity that threatens the safety of our community. We remain grateful for our shared commitment to pursuing justice.” The remaining defendants, all of whom are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, would face the following minimum and maximum terms of imprisonment upon conviction: Name Age Residence Minimum Term of Imprisonment Maximum Term of Imprisonment Damon Dunn, aka “Moe” 48 Tilson, New York 10 years Life Greg Tejada, aka “Bear, 48 Highland Lakes, New Jersey 10 years Life Richard Johnson 35 New York, New York 10 years Life Kevin Dunn 52 New York, New York 5 years 40 years Aidan White 23 Kingston, New York 5 years 40 years Kristine Scibelli 41 Middletown, New York 5 years 40 years Xavier Patterson, aka “Xay” 28 New York, New York 5 years 40 years Additionally, Damon Dunn, Greg Tejada, Kristine Scibelli, Xavier Patterson, and Richard Johnson are charged with Distribution of a Controlled Substance, and Aidan White and Damon Dunn are charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The charges in the indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. This case is being investigated by HSI; the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with URGENT (the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement and Narcotics Team); Federal Bureau of Investigation, and New York State Police Special Investigations Unit, Valhalla. Assistant United States Attorneys Paul DerOhannesian and Douglas Collyer are prosecuting the cases. These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.


title: Rensselaer County Man Indicted in Murder-for-Hire Plot

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Marion Lopatniuk, age 45, was arraigned in federal court August 27, 2026, before Magistrate Judge Paul J. Evangelista on a charge of using an interstate commerce facility in the commission of a murder-for-hire. A grand jury indicted Lopatniuk on August 12, 2026. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement. The indictment alleges that Lopatniuk used phone lines from Rensselaer County Correctional Facility to offer an upfront payment of $1,200 for the murder of a man with whom he was acquainted. As part of the plot, it is alleged Lopatniuk also agreed to distribute drugs and commit other murders to forgive the debt he would incur for having the victim killed. The intended victim was not harmed and the FBI arrested Lopatniuk on July 2, 2025. Lopatniuk has been in custody since his arrest. “As alleged, this defendant was brazen enough to offer upfront payment in a murder‑for‑hire scheme, even going so far as to offer to commit additional murders as payment,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarcone. “As a result of his plot, Lopatniuk now faces up to 10 years in federal prison. Thanks to the swift work of our partners at the FBI, the scheme was stopped before any harm could come to the intended victims.” “The allegations against Mr. Lopatniuk illustrate his disturbing plot to arrange a murder, but his plans didn’t stop there,” said Craig Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albany Field Office. “According to the indictment, he also intended to carry out additional acts of horrific violence to forgive the debt his sinister plan would incur. Thankfully, the FBI stopped this evil scheme before any part of it could come to fruition, and now he’s facing serious federal charges that could send him to prison for a substantial amount of time.” Lopatniuk faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years on the charge. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. FBI investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer is prosecuting the case.