title: Bellevue, Washington, tax preparer who falsified tax returns sentenced to 18 months in prison

body_text: Seattle – A 65-year-old Bellevue, Washington tax preparer was sentenced to 18 months in prison late yesterday in U.S. District Court in Seattle for three counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false tax returns, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Thanjavur Manavalan, the owner and operator of Mano Accounting Services, was convicted following an eight-day jury trial in March 2026. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Lauren King said, Manavalan showed “complete disrespect for the law.” This was a “long standing fraud scheme that ended only when the IRS showed up at your front door.” “This defendant lined his pockets and grew his business by filing fraudulent tax returns on behalf of his clients,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “He cheated the tax system out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. My office is committed to going after fraud wherever it occurs, especially for those who expand their business through lies and deception.” “Mr. Manavalan’s actions were deliberate and violated the trust placed in him by his clients and community,” said Carrie Nordyke, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Seattle Field Office. “The sentencing reflects the seriousness of his conduct and underscores our commitment to holding tax professionals accountable for their choices.” According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, Manavalan falsified a variety of items on clients’ tax returns, including charitable contributions, proceeds and initial price (basis) of investments sold, business losses, rental income, and private loans. Manavalan’s tax preparation business attracted clients who worked in the tech field, many of whom were originally from India, and they testified that they trusted Manavalan to compute and file their taxes correctly. Prosecutors noted that Manavalan’s tax prep business filed thousands of returns and grew substantially over the course of the fraud scheme. By saving his clients money on their taxes, Manavalan developed a reputation that helped build his business, helping his firm’s year-over-year growth spike from about fifty additional tax returns to almost 300. He was paid per return, so the business growth meant he earned more money. The trial detailed more than a dozen tax returns for tax years 2018-2020 alleged to contain false and fraudulent information. Judge King found that the total tax loss to the U.S. Treasury exceeded $250,000. In asking for a two-year prison sentence, prosecutors wrote to the court, “This is not a story of greedy taxpayers flocking to a naïve preparer, or inexperienced staff mis-categorizing information, or innocent mistakes by Manavalan, or some combination of those excuses. Manavalan deliberately falsified the fifteen returns as part of his broader scheme to improve client results, and thus his bottom line.” In addition to restitution of $115,672, Manavalan was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine. Judge King ordered him to be on one year of supervised release following his prison term. Manavalan has owned and operated Mano Accounting Services since 2004. He has indicated he is closing his business. The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David T. Martin and Carolyn Forstein.


title: Ross Township Resident Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Production and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Ross Township, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 15 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, on his convictions of production and possession of material depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Chief United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Ralph Talerico, 46, on July 15, 2026. According to information presented to the Court, in and around June through July 2023, Talerico produced videos of two children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Additionally, on or about June 6, 2024, Talerico possessed videos and still images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, some of whom were prepubescent and under 12 years of age. Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and Homeland Security Investigations for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Talerico. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ 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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: New Castle Resident Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on July 15, 2026, to charges of trafficking fentanyl and cocaine base, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Akeem Evans, 30, pleaded guilty before Senior United States District Judge David Stewart Cercone to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, a quantity of fentanyl on March 13, 2024, and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine base on September 12, 2024. Judge Cercone scheduled sentencing for November 13, 2026. The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both on each of the two counts. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, New Castle Police Department, and Lawrence County Drug Task Force conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Evans.


title: Homestead Resident Charged with Distributing Videos Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of Minors Following International Child Sexual Abuse Material Investigation

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Charles John Beanner, 52, a resident of Homestead, Pennsylvania, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with distribution of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Beanner was arrested on the complaint yesterday by agents with Homeland Security Investigations. According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, an investigation by Swedish officials and Homeland Security Investigations identified Beanner among a group of individuals both in the United States and overseas who were sharing videos depicting the sexual exploitation of minors. The complaint charges Beanner with, on April 12, 2024, and March 26, 2026, knowingly distributing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including some videos that depicted the sexual assault of minors as young as six months old. The investigation by the Swedish government resulted in the arrests of Swedish suspects involved in the sexual exploitation. The United States has filed a request for detention of the defendant pending trial, asserting that he is a danger to the community and should be held without bail. A hearing on the government’s motion has been scheduled for July 21, 2026. Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the criminal complaint against Beanner. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ 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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. A criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Prior felon facing new felony charge following incident at large street party

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Anthony Dean, 24, of Buffalo, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of a weapon, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. According to the criminal complaint, on July 15, 2026, at approximately 10 p.m., Buffalo Police and the FBI responded to a large, unruly street party at Eddie Dawson Park on Roetzer Street in Buffalo. When officers and agents arrived, they were met with a large crowd of individuals in the street. One law enforcement officer observed Dean reach towards his waist band with his right hand and retrieve a firearm as he turned away from the responding officers to flee the scene. An officer announced “gun,” and began chasing Dean on foot, accompanied by multiple other officers. As Dean was apprehended, he was observed throwing the firearm in the direction of a responding New York State Police trooper, striking the trooper in the leg with the firearm. The recovered firearm was a loaded semi-automatic handgun. Dean was convicted of a felony in Erie County Court in April 2024 and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. Dean made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Michael J. Romer and was held pending a detention hearing on July 21, 2026. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Erika Shields, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis II. 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: Ohio woman pleads guilty to meth charge

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Celina Serva aka Ce Ce, 27, of Akron, OH, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, which carries a maximum penalty of life, and a $10,000,000 fine. On or about April 3, 2025, law enforcement observed a vehicle, driven by Serva, arrive in the driveway of a house known for drug activity. Serva got out of the vehicle and approached the front door. When law enforcement pulled in behind her vehicle, Serva immediately returned to her vehicle and threw a bag back inside the vehicle. Four children and Serva’s mother were inside the vehicle at the time. Law enforcement executed a federal search warrant on the vehicle and recovered 960 grams of methamphetamine inside the bag Serva had thrown into the vehicle. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division, the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone, the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Forster and the Ellicott Police Department, under the direction of Chief Daniel Ingrao. Sentencing is scheduled for January 11, 2027, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Sinatra. # # # #


title: Buffalo business owner charged with bank fraud for defrauding customers  out of more than a million dollars

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jason Knobloch, 56, of Lancaster, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with bank fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. According to the criminal complaint, since February 2021, Knobloch and others have been carrying out a scheme involving the fraudulent sales of forklifts and other similar equipment, claiming to sell these items through various companies that they controlled. The companies included KJJK Equipment Sales d/b/a Kelly Lift Equipment and Clover Lift Equipment d/b/a Lifts 4 Less. Victims conducted online searches for equipment and would either contact, or be contacted by, employees of Knobloch’s companies. Cost negotiations were conducted and once an agreement was reached, victims were provided with payment instructions. However, after ordering and paying for the equipment, it was either never delivered or, in rare instances, equipment of lesser value was sent instead of what was actually ordered. When victims contacted Knobloch’s businesses regarding their orders, they were initially given various excuses about why the equipment had not been delivered. Eventually, the companies stopped responding to victim emails and phone calls altogether. In the rare instance equipment was delivered, serial numbers for the delivered equipment did not match the serial numbers for the ordered equipment and the hours on the delivered equipment were much higher than what was advertised. Partial and full refunds occurred occasionally, but typically only after the company was confronted and advised that legal action was forthcoming. In total, Knobloch and his co-conspirators have defrauded approximately 32 victims, resulting in more than a million dollars in fraud loss. The investigation also identified additional fraud attempts in which Knobloch sought to deposit checks utilizing customers’ bank account information without the customers’ knowledge and consent and long after the victims first attempted to purchase equipment. For example, in December 2021, the owner of Plumb Level and Square sent a $59,900.00 check to Lifts 4 Less, which was cashed on December 21, 2021, but the equipment was never delivered. In August 2022, approximately eight months later, the owner stated that an attempt was made to cash a check, made out to Knobloch, utilizing the owner’s bank account information. Another attempt to deposit $59,900.00 utilizing the banking information of Plumb Level and Square was made in September 2022. Several more similar attempts were made to deposit checks totaling $27,000.00, $22,600.00, and $28,400.00, utilizing customers’ bank account information without their knowledge. Impacted financial institutions included Bank of America, Citizens Bank, and Good Neighbors Federal Credit Union. Knobloch was ordered released on home confinement following a detention hearing this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A. C. Penrose. The complaint is the culmination of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr. 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: Alabama man pleads guilty to his role in international drug trafficking ring involving pharmaceuticals

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Leeladhar H. Tandel, 44, of Mobile, AL, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. Between July 2024 March 2025, Tandel conspired with others to sell Tapentadol, Alprazolam, Clonazepam, Carisoprodol, and Zolpidem. During the conspiracy, MEDDZONLINE.COM, PHARMACYSTORESONLINE.com, and related websites were part of a larger organized drug trafficking organization operating domestically and internationally using similar versions of the same website under different domain names. After orders were received, the organization sent bulk shipments of drugs via international mail to a US based bulk re-shipper. The drugs were then sent to smaller re-shippers, who were paid for each package they mailed out to customers. Tandel was a smaller re-shipper. In June 2024, the DEA Buffalo District Office became aware of Tandel operating in the Mobile, Alabama region. On June 6, 2024, DEA Buffalo conducted an undercover purchase of 60 Zolpidem pills at a cost of $489.60 on PHARMACYSTORESONLINE.com. In May 2025, law enforcement recovered 40 packages that had originated in Summerdale, AL, which had previously been mailed out by Tandel. The packages included nine parcels containing 1,620 suspected Tramadol pills; 14 parcels containing 2,100 suspected Zolpidem pills; 13 parcels containing 2,100 suspected Alprazolam pills; and four parcels containing 1,080 suspected Tapentadol pills. The packaging was indicative of shipments being mailed out to customers of the online websites. Labels showed the scope of customers spanning the entire country and individuals such as Tandel played a key role in aiding the online websites to provide controlled substances to their customers in the USA. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of 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 Buffalo comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Emergency Removal Operations, Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Diplomatic Security Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division. Additional assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Offices in St. Louis, MO, Atlanta, GA, and Mobile, AL. Sentencing is scheduled for October 8, 2026, before Judge Arcara. # # # #


title: North Carolina Business Owner Sentenced to Prison for Employment Tax Crime

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A North Carolina woman was ordered to serve a year and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release for her willful failure to account for and pay over almost $1 million in employment taxes on behalf of her business, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. According to court documents and statements made in court, Brenda Wymer owned and operated Haven Home Care, Inc. (HHC), a North Wilkesboro, North Carolina company that provided home healthcare services. Wymer exercised control over HHC’s business and financial affairs and was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare, and federal income taxes from HHC’s employees and paying over those funds to the IRS. The timely payment of these taxes is critical to the functioning of the U.S. government because, among other things, they are the primary source of funding for Social Security and Medicare. The federal income taxes that are withheld from employees’ wages also account for a significant portion of all federal income taxes collected each year. Between 2015 and 2024, Wymer caused HHC to withhold taxes from her employees’ paychecks but did not file tax returns accounting for these withholdings and did not pay this money to the IRS. Instead, she kept those tax funds for herself and her business. Wymer pleaded guilty to one count of willful failure to account for and pay over trust fund taxes. In total, Wymer caused a tax loss to the IRS of more than $973,000. In addition to her prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Matthew E. Orso for the Western District of North Carolina ordered Wymer to pay $973,727.04 in restitution to the United States. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Daniel Lipkowitz of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley of the Western District of North Carolina are prosecuting the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Liberty, Missouri Man Sentenced for Attempted Production, Receipt, and Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Liberty, Mo. man was sentenced in federal court today for attempted production of child pornography, and receipt and possession of child pornography. Trevor Scott Teegarden, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Beth Phillips to 188 months in federal prison without parole. The Court also ordered Teegarden to serve a 15-year term of supervised release following his incarceration. Teegarden will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life. Teegarden pleaded guilty on Jan. 29, 2026, to attempting to produce, receiving, and possessing child pornography. According to court documents, Teegarden engaged in explicit sexual communications with a person Teegarden believed to be a 14-year-old child but was an undercover law enforcement officer. On June 28, 2024, Teegarden requested a nude image of the alleged minor and expressed an interest in meeting with the purported 14-year-old child to engage in sexual conduct. A federal search warrant was executed at Teegarden’s residence in Liberty, Mo., and additional images of child pornography were discovered in his possession. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' 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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: Barry County Man Sentenced to 96 Months for Drug Trafficking and Illegally Possessing Firearm

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Purdy, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court for trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin, and illegally possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Dennis E. McMullen, 69, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Brian C. Wimes to eight years in federal prison for possessing fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin with the intent to distribute, and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, followed by five years of supervised release. McMullen pleaded guilty to the offenses on Sept. 29, 2025. On July 30, 2024, investigators with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team (ODET), and Barry County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) executed a search warrant on McMullen’s residence following a controlled purchase of fentanyl from McMullen. Investigators searched the residence and discovered various controlled substances, paraphernalia, and a firearm. In the kitchen, investigators seized plastic baggies containing suspected controlled substances, including a baggie located inside a plastic tub of candy, an additional white rock-like substance, and scales. In the residence’s upstairs bedroom, investigators located a Jennings model J-22 .22 caliber pistol, several boxes of ammunition, and two additional baggies of a white powder-like substance. Investigators also located a bag of a white powder-like substance from the console area of a vehicle parked outside. The suspected controlled substances were sent to a DEA laboratory for analysis, which resulted in the following substances being identified: 8.1 grams of fentanyl and lidocaine; 2.007 grams of fentanyl (found in the tub of candy); 2.169 grams of fentanyl; 2.501 grams of fentanyl and lidocaine; 5.2 grams of fentanyl, lidocaine, and acetaminophen; 31.874 grams of cocaine; .087 grams of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, lidocaine, and xylazine; and .754 grams of fentanyl, lidocaine, and acetaminophen. According to court documents, McMullen has a criminal history that extends back decades, including prior felony convictions for forgery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, money laundering, and solicitation to kill a federal witness. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Wyatt A. Cross and Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team, and the Barry County, Mo. Sheriff’s Office. Project Safe Neighborhoods 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: Defendants Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm and Drug Trafficking Offenses in Tallulah, Monroe, and Shreveport

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

body_text: SHREVEPORT– United States Chief District Court Judge Terry A. Doughty recently sentenced defendants who resided in Tallulah, Monroe, and Shreveport to federal prison for firearm and drug trafficking offenses. All defendants previously pled guilty to their respective charges. “The Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative lies at the heart of our Office’s mission to keep our Louisiana communities safe from senseless violence and illicit drugs, and these three cases reflect our Office’s commitment to that work across North Louisiana,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Our Office tirelessly works alongside our federal and state partners to prosecute cases like this across the Western District’s 42 parishes, ensuring that our communities’ biggest disruptors are held accountable for firearm and drug trafficking crime.” On July 7, 2026, Henry Holloway , 34, of Tallulah, was sentenced to over five years in federal prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Possession of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime. Louisiana State Police (LSP) conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for having an illegal tint in which Holloway was a passenger. The trooper detected the odor of marijuana and then searched the vehicle. Holloway admitted to possessing a recovered backpack that contained approximately 172 grams of marijuana, 15 grams of cocaine, 2 bottles of Promethazine, sandwich bags, a digital scale, and a firearm loaded with an extended magazine. On July 7, 2026, Terrance Long , 52, of Monroe, was sentenced to over eight years in federal prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances and Possession of a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Offense, with three years supervised release after his sentence is served as to count one and five years supervised release on count four. When officers executed a search warrant at Long’s residence, investigators located a black pouch containing multiple individually wrapped bags of crack cocaine weighing approximately 15 grams and a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun. Long admitted that the narcotics in the residence belonged to him and that he had participated in the distribution of crack (base) cocaine. Long also admitted he had kept the firearm in his home despite knowing that, due to multiple prior felony convictions, he was prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm. On July 8, 2026, Chamorea Bell , 30, of Shreveport, was sentenced to over nine years in federal prison for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon and three years of supervised release following his sentence. Bell was pulled over in Shreveport for a traffic violation. The officer smelled marijuana and proceeded to search Bell’s vehicle. This led to the discovery of a small amount of marijuana and a firearm, which, due to a prior felony conviction, Bell was prohibited from possessing. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Louisiana State Police (LSP), the Shreveport Police Department (SPD), the Madison Parish Sheriff’s Office (MPSO), and the Monroe Police Department (MPD) investigated these cases. The Henry Holloway case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheyenne Wilson with the assistance of Legal Assistant Amanda Morgan. The Terrance Long and Chamorea Bell cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Crichton with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Emily Favrot. These cases were prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders, and other stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. PSN is coordinated by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the 94 federal judicial districts throughout the 50 states and U.S. territories. You may find a copy of these press releases (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer under their respective Case Numbers: Henry Holloway — 3:25 cr 00268 Terrance Long — 3:25-cr-00295 Chamorea Bell —5:25-cr-00344 ### Public Affairs United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Louisiana USALAW-News@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Twitter @USAO_WDLA


title: Shelburne Man Charged with Four Counts Of Bank Fraud

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: BURLINGTON – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on July 2, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Myrkel Latroy Staley, 43, of Shelburne, Vermont, with bank fraud. Staley entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment on July 14, 2026 before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle ordered Staley released on conditions. According to the indictment, between June 2021 and March 2023, Staley devised a scheme to defraud TD Bank by submitting fraudulent documents in connection with a mortgage loan on a property in Shelburne, Vermont and a home equity loan on the same property. To obtain the loans, Staley submitted fraudulent tax returns to TD Bank. He also fraudulently obtained $283,000 from another person and used those funds to pay for the downpayment on the Shelburne property. To legitimize the source of funds for the downpayment on the property, Staley submitted additional fraudulent documents to the bank. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Staley is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Staley faces up to 30 years and a $1,000,000 fine, or both, if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the FBI, the United States Secret Service and the IRS-Criminal Division. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Wendy L. Fuller. Staley is represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq.


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

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jonathan Wayne Vickers, 35, of Summersville, was sentenced today to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 13, 2024, a law enforcement officer responded to a reported ATV crash in Nicholas County and encountered emergency responders treating Vickers, the ATV’s operator who was injured in the crash. While Vickers was being treated, a SCCY Industries model CPX-2 9mm pistol fell from his person onto the gurney. As part of his guilty plea, Vickers admitted that he possessed the firearm. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Vickers knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for burglary and grand larceny on February 10, 2021, and conspiracy to commit breaking and entering on March 12, 2015, both in Nicholas County Circuit Court. Vickers has a criminal history that includes two additional prior felony convictions United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Nicholas County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the assistance provided by the Nicholas County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-185. ###


title: Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Samuel Jermaine Caples, also known as “EJ,” 25, of Pontiac, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 9, 2026, Caples sold approximately 216.7 grams of 100 percent pure methamphetamine to a confidential informant at a Huntington residence in exchange for $1,600. As part of his guilty plea, Caples admitted that he conducted the transaction after the confidential informant arranged it with another individual. Caples further admitted that he sold a mixture containing approximately 30.18 grams of methamphetamine in exchange for $450 on December 2, 2025, and sold approximately 7.11 grams of fentanyl in exchange for $800 on January 14, 2026. Each transaction took place in Huntington. Caples is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff's Office. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams and third-year law student intern Chloe A. Bailey are 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-43. ###


title: Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Dylan James Pettyjohn, 21, of Huntington, was sentenced today to one year and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for selling a firearm to a convicted felon. According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 23, 2025, Pettyjohn sold a Calwest model J-22 .22-calier pistol to a confidential informant for $150. As part of his guilty plea, Pettyjohn admitted that he conducted the transaction after arranging it beforehand, that the confidential informant told him he was a convicted felon during the transaction, and that the transaction occurred at the Huntington residence of Erin Leigh Keeney. Pettyjohn further admitted that he sold a Glock model 34 9mm pistol for $600 on May 13, 2025, and a Just Right Carbines model JR Carbine 9mm rifle for $650 on May 22, 2025, to the same confidential informant in Huntington. Pettyjohn and Keeney are among seven individuals indicted following a federal investigation of drug trafficking in the Huntington area. All seven defendants pleaded guilty. Keeney, 42, of Huntington, is scheduled to be sentenced on September 28, 2026, after pleading guilty to distribution of carfentanil. 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 imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-158. ###


title: Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime and Supervised Release Violation

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Daniel Legette, also known as “Bam,” 50, of Huntington, was sentenced today to eight years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of quantities of fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack,” and violating supervised release. According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 21, 2025, Legette sold approximately 0.65 grams of fentanyl and 0.42 grams of crack to a confidential informant in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Legette admitted that he conducted the transaction and arranged it beforehand. At the time of this offense, Legette was serving a term of supervised release following his conviction for possession with intent to distribute a quantity of crack in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on March 22, 2021. Today’s sentence includes two years in prison for committing a crime while on supervised release. 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 imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams 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. 3:25-cr-186. ###


title: Charleston Man and Woman Plead Guilty to Roles in Drug Conspiracy

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, Kelvin Rydele Myles, also known as “D,” 49, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl and Kristina Renea Clark, 37, of Charleston, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the distribution of fentanyl. Myles and Clark admitted to their roles in a conspiracy that distributed fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack,” within the Southern District of West Virginia. According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 14, 2024, Myles sold approximately 2.9 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant while under a train trestle on Charleston’s West Side. As part of his guilty plea, Myles admitted that he conducted the transaction. Myles further admitted that he conducted multiple additional drug transactions. Myles sold approximately 3.28 grams of fentanyl on March 19, 2024, approximately 3.43 grams of fentanyl on March 22, 2024, and approximately 3.7 grams of fentanyl and 1.2 grams of cocaine on December 8, 2025. Each transaction occurred on Charleston’s West Side. Myles also sold approximately 5.1 grams of fentanyl on December 11, 2025, in South Charleston. All four transactions were with a confidential informant. On May 3, 2024, Clark sold approximately 3.49 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in the driveway of a residence on Charleston’s West Side. As part of her guilty plea, Clark admitted that she conducted the transaction after a co-conspirator arranged it beforehand. Clark also admitted to additional drug transactions. Clark sold approximately 3.45 grams of fentanyl on April 16, 2024, and approximately 3.48 grams of fentanyl on July 10, 2024. Both transactions occurred on Charleston’s West Side. Each was with a confidential informant and was arranged beforehand by a co-conspirator. On September 17, 2024, Clark worked with two co-conspirators to sell approximately 3.51 grams of fentanyl and 2.81 grams of crack to a confidential informant at a residence on Charleston’s West Side. Clark brought the crack and some of the fentanyl from her residence to complete the transaction after one of her co-conspirators did not have enough of the drugs the confidential informant wanted to purchase. On October 7, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Clark’s residence on Charleston’s West Side and seized 3.62 kilograms of fentanyl, 562 grams of cocaine, and six firearms from Clark’s bedroom. As part of her guilty plea, Clark admitted that she possessed the seized drugs and intended to distribute them and possessed the seized firearms in connection with her drug distribution intentions. On December 16, 2025, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop in Hurricane of a vehicle driven by Myles in which Clark was a passenger. Officers searched the vehicle during the traffic stop and seized two vacuum-sealed bags in the vehicle’s trunk that weighed approximately 760 grams and contained fentanyl. As part of their guilty pleas, Myles and Clark each admitted that they knew the fentanyl was in the trunk and that they intended to distribute it within the Southern District of West Virginia. Myles and Clark are scheduled to be sentenced on October 29, 2026. Each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. Myles and Clark each admitted to participating in the drug conspiracy between February and October 2024. They are among five defendants indicted by a federal grand jury following an investigation of drug trafficking in the Charleston area. The indictment remains pending against the other defendants. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Charleston Police Department-Special Enforcement Unit, and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin and former Assistant United States Attorney Alexander A. Redmon have prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-18. ###


title: U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz statement on the shooting and death of Lorenzo Salgado

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: Link to Video "My name’s Aaron Reitz. I’m the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, and I want to provide a statement on the shooting and death of Lorenzo Salgado here in Houston. I want to assure the public that the appropriate law enforcement agencies are looking into this matter. That includes my office, the FBI, DHS, and other state and local partners. Based upon preliminary information my office has been provided to date, and without drawing any final conclusions while the investigation is ongoing, here’s what we have reason to believe happened: On the morning of Tuesday, July 7th, federal officers were investigating two Guatemalan men known to be driving a white van. These men had previously evaded arrest and were potentially subject to deportation. While looking for the suspects’ white van, officers received a report of a similar van in the area. The officers’ two vehicles—each with two officers inside—turned on their police lights and attempted to pull over the van and the men that fit the suspects’ description. The aliens then fled, conducting a rapid U-turn and hopping a median to get away. The agents chose not to pursue. Later that morning, the agents came across the van again. And again, the illegal aliens attempted to flee, but this time the agents successfully surrounded the vehicle. At some point, two of the four officers got out of their vehicles and instructed the non-compliant aliens to put the van in park. Preliminary information indicates the driver shifted the van into reverse, then forward again, while an officer was partially inside the van or immediately next to it. During this confrontation between federal agents and a group of illegal aliens attempting to flee, one of the officers fired a single shot. The round struck Lorenzo Salgado. The other federal officers on scene immediately began rendering first aid to preserve Mr. Salgado’s life. Yet sadly, as we know, Mr. Salgado later died at the hospital. Meanwhile, officers saw in plain view several small bags of a white, crystal-like substance inside the van. As a result, just yesterday the FBI executed a search warrant on the van in connection with possible narcotics trafficking and drug offenses. I want to reiterate: This assessment is based on preliminary information given to my office. We draw no decisive conclusions and believe federal law enforcement will conduct a thorough investigation. We are doing everything we can to seek the truth and do the right thing. In the meantime, I encourage the public to give the FBI and DHS the opportunity to investigate. Let the justice system work. And pray for safer communities in which law, order, and justice prevail.”


title: Father whose toddler fatally shot himself charged federally for illegally possessing firearm as previously convicted felon

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A previously convicted felon whose toddler died by gunshot wound from an unsecured gun now faces a federal charge for illegally possessing a firearm. Deshawn Levelle Butler, 35, of Columbus, was arrested by federal agents earlier today and appeared in federal court in Columbus at 1:30pm. “As a previously convicted felon, Butler was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition at the time of this incident,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Nothing can bring back the toddler who tragically died at the hands of Butler’s weapon, but we will use every federal tool at our disposal to ensure justice is accomplished in this matter.” According to charging documents, on July 11, Columbus police officers responded to a report of a shooting on Quinby Drive in Columbus. When officers arrived, they located a 21-month-old child suffering from an apparent gunshot wound and were told the child had accidentally shot himself. The victim was transported to Mount Carmel East Hospital and later pronounced deceased. An affidavit details that Butler was allegedly with the child during the shooting and had fled the scene prior to law enforcement officials’ arrival. Butler turned himself in the next morning to Columbus police headquarters, where he allegedly told officers his son had discovered Butler’s 9mm handgun in an open safe in a bedroom. Butler was previously convicted of aggravated burglary and, as a result, is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Butler also had outstanding warrants for misdemeanor domestic violence charges. Possessing a firearm as a convicted felon is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Geraghty is representing the United States in this case. A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Cincinnati man sentenced to life in prison for ordering murder of family member, running drug conspiracy

body_text: CINCINNATI – A local man who ordered the murder of his own uncle during the summer of 2021 was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to life plus a mandatory consecutive 10 years in prison. Jamal Binford, 34, of Dallas and Cincinnati, was convicted following a jury trial in February 2025. “The evidence at trial proved that Binford ordered the cold-blooded execution of his own uncle and he did so simply to protect his drug trafficking organization,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “The defendant may not have pulled the trigger, but he ordered the execution and is equally responsible for the murder. A sentence of life in prison reflects the seriousness of Binford’s offenses and is just punishment.” According to court documents and trial testimony, Binford purported to manage two co-defendants as boxers, presenting himself as a successful boxing promoter aiding young men he wanted to help off the streets. Binford sold young boxers on the dream of becoming pro fighters. Instead, used them as his soldiers in his drug trafficking enterprise. Between May and November 2021, Binford sold kilograms of fentanyl and cocaine and hundreds of pounds of marijuana. To protect his drug trafficking operation, he ordered co-defendants Antwan Coach, Jr., 23, of Cincinnati, and Markel Hardy, 24, of Cincinnati, to murder his own uncle, Deonte Nuckols. As the government outlined at trial, Binford paid the two other men $2,000 total to kill Mr. Nuckols, who had had been texting Binford that day about Binford paying a drug debt. Binford also assisted the co-defendants after the July 2021 robbery and murder of Kamar Williams in North College Hill. Mr. Williams was robbed of marijuana and a firearm and shot to death. Binford helped Hardy flee the scene. Binford was found guilty at trial of participating in the narcotics conspiracy, being an accessory after the fact, murder in connection with the drug trafficking conspiracy, use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and use of a firearm to commit murder. Binford was arrested in February 2023 at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Cincinnati Interim Police Chief Adam Hennie; North College Hill Interim Police Chief Craig Chaney; and St. Bernard Police Chief Michael Simos announced the sentence imposed today Senior by U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division also aided during the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley N. Brucato and Frederic C. Shadley represented the United States in this case. # # #


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Hosts Federal Fraud Forum and Announces Creation of Fraud Task Force in Southern District of Indiana

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS – United States Attorney Thomas E. Wheeler II and federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office convened a forum of 20 federal law enforcement agencies to discuss enhanced collaboration and whole-of-government strategies to eliminate fraud and theft from taxpayer-funded programs in Indiana. U.S. Attorney Wheeler also announced the creation of the Southern District of Indiana (SDIN) Fraud Task Force—consisting of federal prosecutors and special agents, forensic accountants, analysts, and others from federal law enforcement agencies—which, through data-sharing and investigative cooperation, will detect, investigate, and prosecute those who defraud and steal from taxpayers. This Task Force will further strengthen federal partnerships by formalizing coordination processes and refocusing joint efforts to prioritize federal resources for identifying, investigating, and prosecuting fraud involving taxpayer-funded programs, cybercrime, and predatory schemes targeting citizens across Indiana. These efforts are part of the nationwide initiative to combat fraud led by the White House and Department of Justice. On March 16, 2026, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 14395 , directing federal agencies to coordinate and accelerate a comprehensive strategy to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse within federal benefit programs, to be led by the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance. In 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has already secured federal charges or prison sentences and restitution orders against 19 individuals for fraud-related crimes. Most recently, eight defendants were sentenced for their roles in a $1.2 million travel insurance kickback scheme. In a separate case, Shayna Williams pleaded guilty to orchestrating a $500,000 elder fraud scheme. Hoosiers should expect to see an increase in similar investigations and prosecutions as federal agencies expand their coordinated efforts. “Today’s forum is a major step in reaffirming our commitment to rooting out fraud in Indiana. This is also designed to provide a framework for a consistent approach to these important matters on the federal side as we continue our strong working relationships with our state and local partners to strengthen a whole-of-government approach,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Fraudsters should be aware—the federal government is watching at every level. We will leverage the full resources of law enforcement to find you, uncover your schemes, and ensure you are held accountable for every penny.” U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked the following federal agencies for their participation in the Federal Fraud Forum and their collaboration and commitment to the SDIN Fraud Task Force: Air Force, Office of Special Investigations AMTRAK, Office of Inspector General (hereafter “OIG”) Department of Commerce, OIG Department of Education, OIG FBI Indianapolis Homeland Security Investigations Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigations U.S. Department of Commerce, OIG U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, OIG U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, OIG U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards U.S. Department of Labor, OIG U.S. Department of Transportation, OIG U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, OIG U.S. Postal Inspection Service U.S. Postal Service, OIG U.S. Secret Service U.S. Small Business Administration, OIG U.S. Social Security Administration, OIG U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs . ###


title: Iowa City Man Sentenced to Over 19 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Charges

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Iowa City man was sentenced on July 15, 2026, to 235 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, and use of a communication facility in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Richard Allen Tuan Casey, 37, sold controlled substances between at least early 2024 through May 2025. Two days before his arrest, Casey traveled to a Walmart parking lot in Ames to pick up 30 pounds of methamphetamine in exchange for more than $70,000. Following multiple controlled buys of methamphetamine by a confidential informant, law enforcement arrested Casey. During a search of Casey’s property, law enforcement located 22 of the 30 pounds Casey had picked up two days prior, along with a loaded pistol, drug packaging, drug paraphernalia, and cocaine. In February 2026, a jury found Casey not guilty of two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, following his January 2026 guilty plea to the four drug trafficking charges. After completing his term of imprisonment, Casey will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Johnson County Drug Task Force investigated the case.


title: July term of the Federal Grand Jury returns indictments for firearms and immigration charges

body_text: SAVANNAH, Georgia: Multiple defendants have been indicted by the July term of the federal Grand Jury in the Southern District of Georgia for firearms offenses and immigration violations. Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, announced the indictments. Those facing federal charges include: Robert Lee Jones , 22, of Richmond County, indicted for Illegal Possession of a Machinegun and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Steven Allan Darby , 39, of Richmond County, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Tavis Tallent , 26, of Richmond County, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Raheem Kirkland , 30, of Savannah, indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Luis Alvarado-Pavedes , 18, of Honduras, indicted for Illegal Possession of a Machinegun and Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien. Statutory penalties for illegal possession of a machinegun can result in up to 10 years in prison. Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon or illegal alien may result in up to 15 years in prison and each may also be accompanied by significant financial penalties and up to three years of supervised release. In addition, six men are charged with Re-entry After Removal or Deportation, a charge applied to an illegal alien present in the United States after at least one prior removal: Juan Capulin-Martinez , 52, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., arrested in Camden County. Juan DeSantiago-Castillo , 40, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., arrested in Atkinson County. Juan Carlos Martinez-Perez , 41, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., arrested in Bulloch County. Francisco Javier Mendez-Villa , 32, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., arrested in Camden County. Hector Ezquivel Mireles , 35, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., arrested in Camden County. Juan Miguel Osorio Rojas , 40, a citizen of Mexico illegally in the U.S., arrested in Glynn County. Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. The cases listed above have been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and local law enforcement agencies. These cases are being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karl I. Knoche, Kelsey L. Scanlon, Makeia R. Jonese, Lauren C. Olsen, Henry W. Syms Jr., and Matthew A. Breedon.


title: Ten-Time Felon Sentenced to Decade in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Illegal Gun Possession

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Ten-time felon Robert Stokes of San Diego was sentenced in federal court today to 10 years in prison for his latest crimes: Trafficking PCP and methamphetamine and illegally possessing multiple firearms as a convicted felon. According to court records, on August 28, 2025, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Narcotics Task Force and the San Diego Police Department were conducting proactive patrols in Logan Heights when they observed what appeared to be a drug sale involving Stokes and another individual. Officers stopped Stokes’ Jeep and found 67 small vials of PCP and several baggies of methamphetamine inside. That seizure led investigators to identify two RVs Stokes owned in Julian, California. On September 18, 2025, law enforcement searched the RVs and recovered more than a kilogram each of PCP and methamphetamine, along with digital scales and six loaded firearms, including rifles and a handgun equipped with a suppressor. Stokes was not present during the RV search. But within hours, investigators found him in Southeast San Diego driving another vehicle carrying additional PCP and methamphetamine packaged identically to the drugs seized during the August 28 traffic stop. Stokes pleaded guilty to the most recent charges in April. The defendant is prohibited from possessing firearms because of his nine prior felony convictions. Court records show his criminal history in San Diego County includes burglary, robbery and drug crimes. “Four decades of crime. Ten felony convictions. Finally, after this federal conviction, one problem solved,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “Drug trafficking and the illegal possession of firearms are a dangerous combination that threatens the safety of our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge James Nunnallee. “For decades, the defendant has engaged in criminal activity that put lives at risk. DEA and our law enforcement partners remain committed to holding violent and repeat offenders accountable and protecting the communities we serve.” “A combination of proactive police work, investigative follow-up and great prosecution is keeping San Diego communities safer,” said San Diego Police Deputy Chief Shawn Takeuchi. “This sentence keeps someone who was committed to criminal activity off our streets for a long time. We are grateful for the continued collaboration between local, state and federal law enforcement here in San Diego to hold criminals accountable.” DEFENDANT Case Number 25-CR-4665-JES Robert Thomas Stokes Age: 62 San Diego, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Possession with intent to distribute 1 or more kilograms of PCP — 21 U.S.C. §841(a)(1) Maximum Penalty: Life in prison and $10 million fine Possession with intent to distribute 50 or more grams of methamphetamine — 21 U.S.C. §841(a)(1) Maximum Penalty: Life in prison and $10 million fine Felon in Possession of a Firearm — 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(1) Maximum Penalty: Fifteen years in prison and $250,000 fine INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Drug Enforcement Administration San Diego Police Department 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 gun violence and other violent crime, 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN. This investigation 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 San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and INTERPOL, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.


title: Chula Vista Woman on Supervised Release for Fraud Admits New Forgery and Fraud Crime

body_text: SAN DIEGO – While on supervised release for two prior federal fraud convictions, Ashleigh Lynn Chavez pleaded guilty today in federal court to yet another fraud, admitting she used forged letters purportedly from her former attorney and former employer to obtain employment with a San Diego-area company. According to court documents, Chavez, 42, submitted six letters by email as part of a job application in November 2024, after she had been terminated from a human resources position at a local nonprofit organization when her criminal convictions were discovered during a background check. Among the documents Chavez submitted was a forged letter falsely attributed to the attorney who had represented her in a prior federal criminal case. The fabricated letter, supposedly sent by the attorney to Chavez, falsely claimed that Chavez had been exonerated and the prosecution had agreed to dismiss all charges against her. The letter advised Chavez not to share any court records on her cases because they were supposedly sealed. Chavez also submitted a forged recommendation letter purportedly signed by the chief executive officer of the nonprofit organization that had fired her weeks earlier. The letter praised Chavez's volunteer work for the nonprofit and recommended her for employment. When contacted by law enforcement, both Chavez's former attorney and former employer confirmed that they had not written the letters and that the signatures on the documents were forged. As part of her plea agreement, Chavez admitted that the fraudulent letters caused the company to hire her and that she remained employed there from December 2024 through March 2025. In March 2021, Chavez was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for conspiring to embezzle more than $160,000 from a former employer. In July 2022, Chavez received an additional 24-month sentence after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice for forging medical letters that falsely claimed she had been diagnosed with cancer and causing those forged letters to be submitted to a federal judge. Chavez was released from federal custody onto supervised release in both cases in November 2023. Chavez is scheduled to be sentenced on October 8, 2026, at 9 a.m. by U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Battaglia. DEFENDANT Case No. 26-cr-02598-AJB Ashleigh Lynn Chavez Age 42 Chula Vista, CA aka “Ashleigh Lynn Coulson” aka “Ashleigh Chavez Coulson” SUMMARY OF CHARGES Obstruction of Justice – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1343 Maximum penalty: Twenty years in custody and a $250,000 fine. INVESTIGATING AGENCY Federal Bureau of Investigation


title: U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal Announce Results of Community Safety Sweep to Arrest Fugitives and Violent Offenders in Operation Repeat Offender Project

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons, United States Marshal Dan Satterlee, and Sioux Falls Chief of Police Jon Thum, along with representatives of other law enforcement agencies, held a joint press conference at the Sioux Falls Police Department on Thursday, July 16, 2026, to announce the overall impact of a local three-day Homeland Security Taskforce, Operation Repeat Offender Project. Operation Repeat Offender Project was a collaborative federal, state, and local law enforcement operation in Sioux Falls and the surrounding area conducted the week of July 6, 2026, that targeted fugitives, parole absconders, gang members, and their associates. The operation resulted in the arrest of 35 individuals, 11 of whom received additional new felony state charges. “With surgical precision, this successful joint operation, conducted by a team of dedicated law enforcement officers risking their lives, has removed dangerous fugitives from our community and returned them to where they belong—behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “These operations highlight the great work that goes on every day in South Dakota. Partnerships between federal, state, and local agencies are the backbone to South Dakota’s law enforcement efforts and continue to keep our communities as safe as possible,” said U.S. Marshal Satterlee. “Deputy U.S. Marshals and our task force partners carry out this dangerous work on a daily basis throughout the state and will continue to do so for a safer South Dakota.” “The success of this three-day operation highlights the power of collaboration among local, state, and federal agencies,” said HSI St. Paul Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy. “By joining forces as a unified law enforcement community, we are able to deliver meaningful results and advance our shared mission of safeguarding the public. This operation is a clear demonstration of our unwavering commitment to public safety.” “We continue to demonstrate within our community that we are strongest when collaborating together. This joint law-enforcement operation is another classic example of how effective we can be when we join forces. When law-enforcement works well together, it has a direct positive result to public safety within our communities, and I am incredibly proud of our combined effort,” said Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum. Operation Results: 35 targeted and collateral individuals arrested: Of those arrested, 11 received new felony state charges. These charges include Possession of Controlled Substance, Weapons Possession, and Aggravated Eluding. A total of 55 outstanding warrants cleared. 8 Parole Absconders Arrested. 2 firearms seized 34 grams of methamphetamine seized. 9.7 grams of fentanyl seized. (close to 5,000 lethal doses of fentanyl). Agencies that assisted with the Repeat Offender Project: United States Attorney’s Office U.S. Marshals Service Homeland Security Investigations Sioux Falls Police Department South Dakota Highway Patrol South Dakota Department of Corrections / Parole Services Brandon Police Department South Dakota Fusion Center Beadle County Sheriff’s Office Moody County Sheriff’s Office


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on July 14, 2026. Anthony Little Hoop, age 36, was sentenced to 2 years and 4 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund . Little Hoop was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2026. He pleaded guilty on May 7, 2026. Little Hoop was convicted of Sexual Abuse in United States District Court, District of South Dakota in September 2012. As a result of his conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and update his registration within three business days of relocation or change in employment or student status. In November 2025, Little Hoop updated his sex offender registration to reflect that he was residing at a residence in Sioux Falls. Little Hoop left that residence in December 2025 and did not update his registration. An arrest warrant was issued, and on March 11, 2026, Little Hoop was arrested in Sioux Falls. This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Zachrison prosecuted the case. Little Hoop was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Sioux Falls Crypto Investor Indicted for Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, Bank Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man on charges of Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, Bank Fraud, and Aggravated Identity Theft. Benjamin Paul Wiener, age 43, was indicted last month on 29 counts. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on July 10, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction for Wire Fraud and Money Laundering is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both imprisonment and a fine, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered. The maximum penalty upon conviction for Bank Fraud is up to 30 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, or both imprisonment and a fine, up to 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered. The maximum penalty upon conviction for Aggravated Identity theft is a mandatory minimum consecutive term of two years’ imprisonment in addition to any term of imprisonment imposed for any other counts of conviction. According to the indictment, Wiener devised a fraud scheme to obtain money and digital currency from victims who invested with Wiener’s companies. Wiener made materially false statements and fraudulent representations to induce his victims to invest money with his companies. His fraud scheme has negatively impacted dozens of victims throughout the region, including in South Dakota and Minnesota. After obtaining funds from his victims, Wiener then allegedly moved victims’ funds to conceal and disguise the location, source, ownership, and control of the funds. In other words, as alleged in the indictment, Wiener laundered the fraud proceeds through and into various financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges to cover his conduct and to control and expend the funds on personal expenses. In furtherance of this scheme, as alleged, when victims’ funds became depleted or a certain investor requested the return of their investment, Wiener would seek new investors to then use new funds to use on personal expenses and to pay back previous investors. As a result of Wiener’s conduct, the government alleges the estimated total loss is approximately $20 million. Wiener allegedly used the following entities to perpetrate the fraud scheme and money laundering activities: Benaiah Capital LLC; Benaiah Holdings, Inc.; Benaiah Digital Fixed Income LP; Benaiah Digital LP; Benaiah Management Company, Inc.; Benaiah Enterprises, LLC; Aslan Management, LLC; and Runway Four10. In addition, the indictment alleges Wiener defrauded a financial institution located in Sioux Falls. In April 2025, as alleged, he secured a line of credit for $1,000,000 by falsifying to the bank various documents, information, and correspondence. To do so, he utilized, without authority, another individual’s personal identifying information. As with any indictment, the charges are merely accusations, and Wiener is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. The investigation is being conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the FBI, and the United States Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case. Wiener was released on bond pending trial. A trial date of September 15, 2026, has been set.


title: Sumter County Men Sentenced to More than 17 years in Federal Prison for Armed Drug Conspiracy

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Three Sumter County men have been sentenced to a combined 205 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and fentanyl. Zuri Laxenda Cokley, 23, of Sumter Jashai Dyrell Mellette, 26, of Sumter Denetrick Devontae Holland, 24, of Sumter According to facts presented in court, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, launched an investigation in 2023 after receiving a tip that the men were operating a stash house containing large quantities of various narcotics. Agents determined that Cokley was managing the drug operation and that Mellette and Holland used the stash house to sell narcotics. Agents utilized confidential informants to conduct controlled purchases of fentanyl and crack cocaine from the residence. Cokley, Mellette, and Holland each sold informants fentanyl and crack cocaine during those transactions. On Aug. 31, 2023, agents executed a search warrant at the property. During the search, investigators recovered 45 grams of fentanyl, 109 grams of crack cocaine, 415 grams of marijuana, digital scales, packaging materials, cash, a stolen pistol, and a semiautomatic firearm. Cokley and Mellette were present and arrested at the scene. Cokley was released on bond in October 2023 but continued distributing narcotics. In April 2024, he sold additional fentanyl to an informant while on bond. He was arrested again in June 2024 and charged with distribution of a controlled substance. All three defendants had prior criminal histories. Cokley had multiple prior drug‑related convictions and convictions for failure to stop for blue light, driving under suspension, and hit-and-run resulting in property damage and minor injury. Mellette had prior convictions for failure to stop for a blue light, driving under suspension, unlawful distribution to a minor, and public disorderly conduct. Holland had multiple convictions for assault and battery, possession of marijuana, and unlawful firearm possession. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Cokley to 78 months’ imprisonment, Holland to 70 months’ imprisonment, and Mellette to 57 months’ imprisonment, each to be followed by a three-year term of court ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case. ###


title: South Carolina Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Racially Motivated Shooting

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. —The Justice Department announced that Jonathan Andrew Felkel, 34, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Columbia, South Carolina to nine years in federal prison for violating the housing rights of his black neighbor, J.M., in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 3631. “Today, we have delivered justice for Jonathan Andrew Felkel’s disturbing, racially motivated attack on the victim,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Hate crimes not only harm individuals, but undermine the fabric of our communities. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute such cases to restore safety and confidence in our neighborhoods.” “Racially motivated violence will not be tolerated in South Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “The defendant’s violent actions last July caused irreparable harm,” said Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “It is our hope that the victim and this community can begin to heal, knowing that we remain fully committed to their safety. Anyone who commits a crime motivated by race or by any other class under the Fair Housing Act will be met with the full weight of the justice system.” “It’s sad that we’ve got individuals, like Felkel, who have hate in their heart,” said Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott. “Today, justice was served. Our partnership with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office shows that crimes like this are not going to be tolerated.” At his earlier plea hearing, Felkel admitted that on July 17, 2025, he was driving into the community where both he and J.M. lived when he fired a gun and shouted at J.M., “You better keep running, boy!” while J.M. was standing at the community gate. During the investigation, Felkel admitted to law enforcement officers that he believed black people were committing crimes in his neighborhood, that he had assumed J.M. was a criminal due to his race, and that he had hoped to convey to J.M. that he should “leave” and “not be around this area.” The FBI Columbia Field Office and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle Klein and Lamar Fyall of the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Sarah Armstrong of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case. ###


title: Department of Justice Awards $1.1 Million to  Modernize Rhode Island Criminal History Record Systems

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded $1,121,422 to the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety through the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ Fiscal Year 2025 Consolidated National Criminal History Improvement Program. Rhode Island’s criminal justice agencies will use the funding to modernize technology, strengthen criminal history reporting, and improve the quality of criminal history records relied upon by law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, courts, and for firearm background checks. “ Maintaining accurate criminal history records requires ongoing coordination among our state and local criminal justice partners,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “This funding will support those collaborative efforts and help ensure information used throughout Rhode Island’s criminal justice system remains reliable, complete, and current.” "A modern and secure criminal records system is essential to protecting public safety and ensuring justice is administered efficiently," said Colonel Darnell S. Weaver, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Director of the Department of Public Safety. "This funding will allow us to update our technology, strengthen the integrity of our criminal history records, and ensure compliance with the FBI's Next Generation Identification standards. These investments will help us make better-informed decisions while improving service to the public.” Planned initiatives include replacing outdated Livescan fingerprinting equipment, reducing criminal history record backlogs, enhancing the security and reliability of the Rhode Island Law Enforcement Telecommunications System, strengthening reporting to state and federal criminal justice databases, and supporting compliance with FBI Next Generation Identification standards.


title: Convictions through Guilty Pleas in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (July 7 through July 11, 2026)

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of July 7 through July 11, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations—including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations. Convictions through Guilty Pleas: On July 7, 2026, Jacier Collazo-Cruz pleaded guilty to drug and firearm charges in case 23-353 (GMM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with participating in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated out of various public housing projects in and near Manatí, PR including the Enrique Zorilla Public Housing Project. Defendant was arrested on September 22, 2023. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 5, 2026. AUSAs Andres Orr and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 10, 2026, Joe Mercado pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to import approximately 340 kilograms of cocaine into the United States in Criminal Case 25-144 (CVR). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to import cocaine; importation of cocaine; conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine; and possession with intent to distribute cocaine- all in excess of 5 kilos of cocaine. Defendant was arrested on March 31, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for October 9, 2026. AUSA Luis A. Valentín is in charge of the prosecution of the case. Sentencings: On July 9, 2026, Vicente González pleaded guilty and was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Antongiorgi-Jordán to time served for stowing away on a vessel and improper entry by an alien. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on June 3, 2026, in Criminal Case 26-233. SAUSA Cody A. McKinney oversaw the prosecution of the case. On July 9, 2026, Julio Linarez-Cabrera was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Aida Delgado-Colón to 30 months of imprisonment and a supervised release term of five years for conspiracy to import approximately 150 kilograms of cocaine. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on November 6, 2024, in Criminal case 24-416 (ADC), and pleaded guilty to the charge(s) on April 8, 2026. AUSA Luis A. Valentín is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 9, 2026, Camilo Mieses-Guerrero was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll to a term of 36 months of imprisonment for aiding and assisting entry of an aggravated felon to the United States. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 18, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-387 (SCC), and pleaded guilty on April 15, 2026. SAUSA Steven Liong-Rodríguez is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 9, 2026, Rafelín Zorrilla-Delgado was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll to a term of 15 months of imprisonment for aiding and assisting entry of an aggravated felon to the United States. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 18, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-387 (SCC), and pleaded guilty on April 9, 2026. SAUSA Steven Liong-Rodríguez is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 9, 2026, Antonio Matrillé-Tejada was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll to a term of 18 months of imprisonment for aiding and assisting entry of an aggravated felon to the United States. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 18, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-387 (SCC), and pleaded guilty on April 9, 2026. SAUSA Steven Liong-Rodríguez is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 10, 2026, Daniel Morla-Reyes, a.k.a “Bebe/Bebe Murales/El Domi,” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gina Méndez-Miró to 173 months and 21 days for his participation in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated out of various public housing projects in and near Manatí, PR including the Enrique Zorilla Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 20, 2023, in Criminal Case 23-353(GMM), and pleaded guilty on March 31, 2026. AUSAs Andres Orr and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On July 10, 2026, Michael Mercedes-Vázquez pleaded guilty and was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Silvia L. Carreño-Coll to time served for stowing away on a vessel and improper entry by an alien. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on June 3, 2026, in Criminal Case 26-232. SAUSA Cody A. McKinney oversaw the prosecution of the case. These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department. ###


title: Ontario Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Narcotics

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—An Ontario, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison last week for distributing methamphetamine. Cody Bernal Carroll, 31, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison and four years of supervised release. According to court documents, in January 2023, law enforcement learned Carroll was distributing controlled substances. On February 9, 2023, Carroll sold a half a pound of methamphetamine, and, on February 23, 2023, he sold approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine. Pursuant to a search warrant at Carroll’s residence, investigators seized multiple firearms, including machine guns. On October 5, 2023, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a three-count indictment charging Carroll with distribution of methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm. On March 10, 2025, Carroll pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement. ATF and FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force, Ontario Police Department, and Oregon State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa E. LeRitz prosecuted the case.