title: Former Barrington Christian Academy Teacher Indicted on Federal Child Exploitation Charges

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury has returned a five-count indictment charging former Barrington Christian Academy teacher and athletics coach Sean Cassidy, 53, of Pawtucket, with coercion and enticement of a minor; falsely presenting as a federal employee; two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor; and possession of child pornography. The indictment, returned on September 2, 2026, includes two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor stemming from alleged conduct in 2011 and a charge of possession of child pornography. These charges are in addition to charges of coercion and enticement of a minor and falsely presenting as a federal employee, which were initially charged by federal criminal complaint following Cassidy’s arrest on federal charges in August. According to the federal criminal complaint previously filed in the matter, Cassidy allegedly used his position as a teacher and athletics coach to develop a relationship with a minor student and falsely represented himself as an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He also used multiple online platforms—email, messaging services, and encrypted accounts—to communicate with the minor under various fictitious identities. Cassidy allegedly directed the minor to engage in acts, including taking partially nude photographs of herself, claiming they were part of an FBI “training program.” “Children should never have to fear the adults entrusted with their safety and education. The allegations in this indictment are abhorrent and represent a profound betrayal of that trust,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “We will relentlessly pursue those who prey upon children and use every available resource to hold them accountable.” “Cassidy stands accused of a litany of crimes against children who were entrusted to his care. This is every parent’s nightmare – a trusted coach, teacher, and trainer allegedly using his trust and access to children to manipulate and eventually exploit kids,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming. “This case came to HSI’s attention through a tip from a vigilant parent through our Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force partners. HSI works around the clock with our law enforcement partners to investigate crimes against children, but we can only do this work with the help of the parents, friends, teachers, and members of the public who are ready to come forward when they see something they know is wrong.” The indictment further alleges that Cassidy sexually exploited a minor on two occasions in 2011 for the purpose of producing visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. Cassidy is also charged with knowingly possessing or accessing, with intent to view, child pornography through approximately June 1, 2026. Cassidy is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. Coercion and enticement of a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Each count of sexual exploitation of a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years and a maximum sentence of thirty years. Possession of child pornography carries a maximum sentence of twenty years, and falsely presenting as a federal employee carries a maximum sentence of three years. Cassidy was previously arrested on June 1 and July 17, 2026, on related Rhode Island state charges. The federal investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are continuing to review evidence and evaluate reports of Cassidy’s contacts with additional minors. The matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise Barton. The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from local law enforcement partners. An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Dominican Republic Citizen Extradited to the United States from the Dominican Republic to Face Drug Trafficking Charges Following a Homeland Security Task Force Initiative

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Dominican authorities extradited Fidel Antonio Knight-Cerda to the United States to face drug trafficking and money laundering charges filed in the District of Puerto Rico, announced Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The defendant was arrested in the Dominican Republic on July 8, 2026, and extradited to Puerto Rico on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. “This extradition is another important step towards the total elimination of international drug cartels and demonstrates the commitment of the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners, and the cooperation of the Dominican authorities, to work together to bring international drug traffickers to justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ramírez-Carbó. “We will continue to maximize our multi-agency efforts to disrupt and dismantle international drug cartels that poison our streets and communities with dangerous drugs by smuggling these into Puerto Rico and the continental United States.” “Today’s action underscores the FBI’s unwavering commitment to pursuing transnational criminal actors wherever they operate. Working alongside our partners, we will continue to dismantle networks that threaten the safety and stability of our communities,” said Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “This extradition demonstrates that no distance, no alliance, and no criminal infrastructure will shield individuals from accountability. We will remain relentless until every member of these organizations faces justice.” On September 7, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Knight-Cerda with international conspiracy to distribute cocaine, international distribution of cocaine, and conspiracy to commit money laundering derived from specified unlawful activity – drug trafficking. Knight-Cerda facilitated drug trafficking and money laundering activity between La Romana, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico, through cryptocurrency. According to the superseding indictment, since at least February of 2022, Knight-Cerda conspired to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine intending, knowing, and having reasonable cause to believe that it would be imported into the United States. The indictment also charges that Knight- Cerda conspired to commit money laundering derived from drug trafficking since no later than March 17, 2021. Specifically, the indictment states that on or about March 17, 2021, Knight-Cerda and another co-conspirator directed the delivery of approximately $400,000 in U.S. currency – the product of drug trafficking -- to an individual in San Juan, Puerto Rico, who converted the drug proceeds to cryptocurrency. On or about March 24, 2021, Knight-Cerda and another co-conspirator directed the delivery of approximately $2,000,000 in U.S. currency / drug proceeds to an individual in San Juan, Puerto Rico, who converted the drug proceeds to cryptocurrency. On September 2, 2026, Knight-Cerda was extradited from the Dominican Republic to San Juan, Puerto Rico following an initiative by the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Region 22, located in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, FBI Legal Attaché in Santo Domingo and law enforcement partners in the Dominican Republic provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition to the United States of Cerda. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service collaborated during the investigation and arrest of Knight-Cerda. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio L. Pérez-Alonso under the supervision of Chief María L. Montañez-Concepción from the Transnational Organized Crime Section. If convicted, Knight-Cerda faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison for the drug trafficking charges and a sentence of up to 20 years of imprisonment for the money laundering charge. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF 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. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Assault of a Federal Employee

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man pleaded guilty today for assaulting a federal employee at Pioneer Courthouse. Jett Avery Thomas, 42, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault on a federal employee causing bodily injury, aggravated assault on a federal employee with a dangerous weapon, and aggravated assault on a federal employee involving physical contact, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon. According to court documents, on the morning of July 3, 2023, Thomas threw an object at the Pioneer Federal Courthouse in downtown Portland. After a court security officer attempted to address him, Thomas climbed over the fence and charged up the front steps of the courthouse. The officer retreated into the courthouse and attempted to secure the door behind him. Before he could do so, Thomas grabbed the door, forced it open, and assaulted the officer by punching him in the head. The struggle continued outside the door, where Thomas continued assaulting the officer, striking him with a hard object and placing him in a chokehold. The officer accessed his service weapon and fired two shots into Thomas’ torso. Thomas was arrested, provided first aid, and transported to a local hospital where he underwent surgery for his injuries. The officer was also transported to a local hospital where he was treated for his injuries and later released. On August 1, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 3-count indictment charging Thomas with aggravated assault on a federal employee causing bodily injury, aggravated assault on a federal employee with a dangerous weapon, and aggravated assault on a federal employee involving physical contact. Thomas faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on December 16, 2026, before a U.S. District Court Judge. This case was investigated by the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service with assistance from the Federal Protective Service and Portland Police Bureau. It is being prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.


title: Creswell Man Charged with Assaulting a Federal Officer and Damaging Federal Property

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: MEDFORD, Ore.—A federal grand jury in Medford returned an indictment charging a Creswell, Oregon, man after allegedly assaulting a federal officer and damaging the federal building in Eugene, Oregon, last January. Trenton Alexander Van Zoeren, 19, has been charged with assault of a federal officer involving physical contact, aggravated assault on a federal employee causing bodily injury, and willfully injuring or committing any depredation against property of the United States. According to court documents, on January 14 and 21, 2026, Van Zoeren damaged a window at the Eugene federal building. On January 28, 2026, Van Zoeren assaulted a Federal Protective Service officer. Van Zoeren made his initial appearance in federal court yesterday before a U.S. magistrate judge. He was arraigned, pleaded not guilty, and ordered released pending a jury trial scheduled to begin on December 7, 2026. If convicted, Van Zoeren faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement. The FBI and Federal Protective Service are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Judith Harper is prosecuting the case. An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Illegal Alien With Two Prior Deportations and Felony Convictions Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – An illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced today by United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware to 18 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for illegally reentering the United States after having been removed from the country on two prior occasions. The government recommended a sentence of 18 months’ imprisonment. “When individuals knowingly disregard our nation's laws, repeatedly reenter the country unlawfully after being formally deported, and engage in felony criminal activity, they will face serious legal consequences,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “This 18-month sentence reflects the gravity of the defendant's persistent violations and underscores that we will prioritize the prosecution of repeat offenders who compromise public safety." According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings, on January 21, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Fugitive Operations Team arrested Victor Alfonso Cabada-Landeros in a targeted operation. Cabada-Landeros has prior felony convictions for Conspiracy to Violate Uniform Controlled Substances Act and for illegally returning to the United States after a removal. This is his second conviction for illegally reentering the United States after being deported. Cabada-Landeros was previously deported to Mexico on or about February 18, 2015, and again on or about November 9, 2019. Cabada-Landeros pleaded guilty to one count of Deported Alien Found in the United States. After serving his prison sentence, he will be deported to Mexico for a 3rd time. First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah and Salt Lake City Field Office Director Jason Knight made the announcement. The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case. Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form . This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: United States Attorney Robert Frazer Encourages Schools, Youth Organizations to Partner with DOJ on Online Child Exploitation Prevention

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – United States Attorney Robert Frazer is encouraging New Jersey schools, youth-serving organizations, athletic programs and other community groups to take advantage of free training and prevention resources available through the Department of Justice to help protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse. The call comes as the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) launches an expanded effort to engage schools and other organizations in preventing online exploitation of children. In an open letter issued this week, Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva encouraged organizations that work with children to partner with the Department on prevention and education efforts and highlighted resources available to help communities address emerging threats, including online grooming, sextortion, sadistic online exploitation and the misuse of artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit deepfake images of children. The initiative builds on prevention efforts already underway in New Jersey. Last month, our office obtained an admission of guilt by a defendant who had persuaded and enticed minors to produce and send child pornography. In addition, a defendant was sentenced to 324 months for multiple child exploitation offenses. In June, our office secured a 320 months prison sentence for a defendant who was producing child pornography. We look forward to continuing to work with the community to find and prosecute cases of child exploitation. “The digital world is evolving faster than ever, and with it come increasingly sophisticated threats to our children. By the time law enforcement becomes involved, it is often too late to prevent the harm that has already been done to a victim. The Department of Justice is providing these resources to help parents, concerned citizens, and communities recognize the warning signs, take action, and, most importantly, prevent grave harm before it occurs.” - U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer Training can be arranged virtually or in person, depending on the needs of the organization. The Department of Justice’s CEOS provides free prevention programming to schools and other organizations through in-person presentations and webinars and can help connect organizations with prevention experts. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey can also help connect New Jersey organizations with Assistant U.S. Attorneys and federal agents with experience investigating and prosecuting online child exploitation and related offenses who can provide education and outreach in their areas of expertise. Organizations interested in arranging prevention programming or learning more about available resources can contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey at USANJ.CommunityOutreach@usdoj.gov . CEOS's prevention resources are available through the Department of Justice's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section Prevention webpage . ###


title: Hooksett Man Indicted for Possessing Child Sex Abuse Material and Obscene Material

body_text: CONCORD – Hookset man Derald Solomon, 51, has been indicted by a federal grand jury, charged with one count of possessing child sex abuse materials (CSAM), commonly known as child pornography, and one count of possession of a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct that is obscene, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Solomon was arrested on August 5, 2026 by criminal complaint and will be arraigned in federal court on the indictment at a later date. According to the charging documents and the public record, in May 2025, the FBI searched Solomon’s home in Hookset after determining that a computer with an IP Address registered at that address was sharing CSAM through a peer-to-peer file sharing program. During the search, law enforcement seized Solomon’s electronic devices for further forensic analysis. That analysis revealed that, in Solomon’s browser history, he visited websites known to contain child pornography. Some of the web addresses contained words like “12yo,” “PREteen,” and “Child%20porno.” Investigators also found multiple CSAM images of real children, including some of a minor relative, as well as other visual depictions of apparent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Law enforcement found these and other files in a folder directory with the file path “Picture Backups\Derald’s Photo Library.” The charges of possession of child pornography and possession of obscene material each carry a maximum prison term of 20 years. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating this case with valuable assistance from the Hooksett and Derry Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew T. Hunter and Christopher Mignanelli are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/ .


title: Hampton Man Indicted for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – Hampton man Jamie Melendez, age 37, was indicted by a federal Grand Jury this week on one count of failure to register as a sex offender, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Melendez will appear in federal court in Concord on a later date. According to the charging documents, Melendez was required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Despite this, he traveled from Massachusetts to New Hampshire and knowingly failed to register as a sex offender in the State of New Hampshire as required by SORNA. The charging statute provides a sentence of up to 10 years. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The United States Marshals Service is investigating this case with valuable assistance provided by the Hampton Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather M. Anderson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter. The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/ .


title: Chichester Man Indicted for Operating a $25 Million Hawala

body_text: CONCORD – Ramzi Al-Shawafi, 47, a Chichester resident, was indicted for Operating an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business that moved over $25 million, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Al-Shawafi will appear in federal court on September 16, 2026. According to the indictment, for several years Al-Shawafi operated a “hawala” and worked with individuals in Yemen to coordinate the transfer of money between the United States and Yemen. A hawala is a type of informal money transfer system that uses a network of agents to transfer money across international borders without using the banking system, typically to circumvent banking laws and regulations. Al-Shawafi operated dozens of bank accounts across many financial institutions over the last few years. The bank accounts were in the names of businesses he directly or indirectly controlled, including but not limited to Razl Trading, RA Broker, and several convenience stores. Al-Shawafi used these accounts to move over $25 million to Yemen. The charge of Operating an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business provides a sentence of up to 5 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigations are leading the investigation. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Child Pornography Offenses

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Kenneth Ray Beams, 41, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 27, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for production or attempted production of child pornography and possession of child pornography. United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Beams to 360 months’ imprisonment on the production count and 120 months’ imprisonment on the possession count. The sentences will be served concurrently. There is no parole in the federal system. After Beams’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. Judge Rossiter ordered Beams to pay a $2,500 special assessment on each count pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018. In May 2025, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputies assisted serving an arrest warrant on Beams for an unrelated felony charge at a residence in Omaha. While law enforcement was at the residence, multiple parties expressed concern to the officers about children in the home being physically and sexually abused. At the time, the residence’s owner permitted Beams to live at the home where the 15-year-old Minor Victim also resided. Minor Victim was forensically interviewed at Project Harmony. Minor Victim disclosed the sexual abuse she endured at the hands of Beams. Beams sexually assaulted Minor Victim on numerous occasions. Concerns reported to Minor Victim’s parent were ignored and Beams’s abuse of Minor Victim was permitted to continue. Investigators forensically examined Beams’s cell phone and found images and videos of Beams and Minor Victim. Beams recorded himself sexually abusing Minor victim and exposing Minor Victim to methamphetamine. “This appropriate and just sentence will provide the community with the protection it deserves from a predator like Beams,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods. “The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and FBI did the community an exceptional service with this investigation, and the federal prosecutor fought for and obtained a righteous conviction and sentence that will keep Nebraska safer for the next 30 years.” This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. This case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Minnesota Men Sentenced for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Ever Cano Ruacho, 36, and Jimmie Collazo, Jr., 35, both of St. Paul, Minnesota, were sentenced on August 20 and August 27, 2026, respectively, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Ruacho to 188 months’ imprisonment and Collazo, Jr. to 125 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Ruacho’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release. After Collazo, Jr.’s release from prison, he will begin a three-year term of supervised release. On October 16, 2025, a Lincoln Police Officer made a traffic stop of a Chevy pickup driven by Ruacho for a traffic violation on Interstate 80 in Lancaster County. Collazo, Jr. was in the front passenger seat. Both passengers consented to a search of the pickup. The arresting officer found approximately 120 pounds of methamphetamine packaged in 40, three-pound packages hidden in factory voids throughout the pickup. A cigarette container holding .8 grams methamphetamine was located in the center console. Ruacho said they were traveling from Colorado to Minneapolis. Collazo, Jr. said they were traveling from Colorado to Chicago. One of the three-pound packages of suspected methamphetamine was sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab. A forensic scientist there found the package to contain at least 1,200 grams of pure methamphetamine. Investigators found four cell phones in the vehicle. Ruacho and Collazo, Jr. consented to a search of their cell phones. Data on the cell phones showed communications between Ruacho and Collazo, Jr., as well as messages and photos consistent with narcotics use, narcotics trafficking, and the exchange of money and/or narcotics dating back to approximately May 20, 2025, and continuing up through the date of their arrest. “Anyone who tries to traffic this amount of narcotics through Nebraska and on Interstate 80 in particular is going to have a very hard time getting past the Lincoln and Lancaster County Task Force! They are always on the job, keeping us all safer,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is grateful to them for their tireless efforts.” This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force (LLCNTF).


title: Jury Convicts Omaha Man for Distributing Methamphetamine

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that on August 26, 2026, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Juan Carlos Cardenas Portugal, 46, of Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. The verdicts followed a two-and-a-half-day trial in front of United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. Sentencing is scheduled for December 4, 2026. Cardenas Portugal faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment. Cardenas Portugal’s charges stem from his involvement with a Mexico source of supply of methamphetamine who supplies the Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa areas with methamphetamine via a local network of drug couriers. Customers contact the source via Telegram, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger and order the drugs. The source then sends a local courier previously supplied with drugs to meet the customer and complete the transaction. The evidence at trial established that in February 2025, an undercover officer ordered one pound of methamphetamine from the Mexican source of supply. The same day the source sent the undercover to Cardenas Portugal’s Omaha residence where Cardenas Portugal sold the officer one pound of methamphetamine. A few weeks later officers executed a search warrant on the residence and seized approximately 3 pounds of methamphetamine and evidence of drug trafficking. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, USPIS, the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, and assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska.


title: U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey Encourages Schools to Partner with the Department of Justice to Address Online Child Exploitation

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey is encouraging schools, youth organizations, athletic programs, and other community groups across the Northern District of West Virginia to take advantage of free training and prevention resources offered by the Department of Justice to help keep children safe online. This outreach comes as the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) expands its work with schools and youth‑serving organizations to address the growing threats children face online. In a letter released this week, Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva invited organizations that work with children to partner with the Department on prevention and education efforts. The letter highlights a range of resources available to help communities understand and respond to emerging online risks, including grooming, sextortion, harmful online content, and the misuse of artificial intelligence to create dangerous deepfake images involving children. “The online dangers that our children face are real and frightening, but there are tools available to help prevent victimization,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “Schools and youth-centered organizations can play a powerful role in protecting children by using the free trainings offered by the Department of Justice.” Organizations can choose virtual or in‑person training based on their needs. CEOS offers free prevention programming through webinars and presentations and can connect groups with experts who specialize in online safety. The U.S. Attorney’s Office can also help West Virginia organizations connect with Assistant U.S. Attorneys and federal agents who investigate and prosecute online child exploitation cases. These professionals are available to provide education and outreach tailored to the issues communities are facing. Any organization interested in scheduling training or learning more about available resources can reach out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia at Stacy.Bishop@usdoj.gov or contact CEOS directly at CEOS.Prevention@usdoj.gov. Additional prevention resources are available on the Department of Justice's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section Prevention webpage .


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas surpasses 100 prosecutors, marking historic staffing milestone

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: DALLAS — The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas today announced that it has surpassed 100 Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the largest onboarding of federal prosecutors in the office’s history. Since taking office in November 2025, U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould has led an unprecedented, district wide hiring initiative—bringing aboard more than 40 AUSAs in just 10 months and assembling what he describes as “a championship caliber team dedicated to protecting the people of North Texas.” This hiring surge has stretched across the entire district, with prosecutors added in Dallas, Fort Worth, Amarillo, Abilene, Lubbock and Wichita Falls, strengthening federal enforcement capacity in every corner of the Northern District of Texas. The expansion comes at a pivotal moment: the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex is on pace to soon become the third largest metropolitan area in the United States, reflecting rapid population growth, increased economic activity and the corresponding rise in complex criminal threats. “When I stepped into this role, my immediate priority was to build the strongest, most capable prosecutorial team this office has ever had,” said U.S. Attorney Raybould. “We set out to hire the best of the best—no matter where they were, no matter their background, no matter the competition—and bring them to North Texas to serve the public. Like a general manager building a professional sports franchise, we sought out top talent with proven grit, skill, and integrity. Today, that vision has become reality.” The surge of new prosecutors reflects a strategic effort to strengthen all aspects of federal enforcement, from violent crime and drug trafficking to financial fraud and corporate misconduct, cyber intrusion, national security threats, civil enforcement, and appellate advocacy. The office has drawn from a deep talent pool, recruiting experienced state and federal prosecutors, former federal judicial clerks, trial attorneys with complex litigation backgrounds, subject matter experts, and lawyers from the country’s leading private law firms. The new prosecutors are graduates of leading law schools across the country including the University of Texas, Texas Tech, SMU, Pepperdine, Harvard, Yale, UCLA, Baylor, Notre Dame, Mississippi, Tulane, Texas A&M, Case Western Reserve, Loyola Chicago, George Washington University, Georgetown, St. Louis University, and other nationally recognized institutions. Several are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Many of these hires relocated to Dallas specifically for the opportunity to serve in the Northern District of Texas. “North Texas is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, and the challenges we face are evolving just as quickly,” the U.S. Attorney continued. “To meet those challenges, we invested aggressively in people, the most important asset any office has. The attorneys joining our ranks bring exceptional courtroom experience, strategic insight, and a deep commitment to justice. Together, we are elevating the strength and capacity of this office so that we can protect the almost 9 million folks in North Texas.” ###


title: Inside job thwarted: Federal agents interrupt employee’s alleged armed robbery plot targeting Golden Chick

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

body_text: DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that a Grand Prairie woman was indicted Sept. 1 for attempting to interfere with commerce by robbery after allegedly planning an armed robbery of the Golden Chick restaurant where she worked. According to the criminal complaint, Laura Gonzalez, 44, engaged in a series of communications between Aug. 3 and Aug. 6 with an individual she believed could assist her in committing a robbery. Unbeknownst to Gonzalez, the individual was working undercover with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who connected her with a special agent. Gonzalez allegedly sought their help to rob the Golden Chick restaurant located at 3051 East Mayfield Road in Grand Prairie, Texas. “Thanks to the ATF’s swift action and thorough investigation, a dangerous scheme was stopped before anyone was harmed,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Our priority is keeping the public safe, and when someone plots violence in this district, even before a single shot is fired or a door is breached, they should expect to face serious federal consequences.” “An employee entrusted with access to a business attempted to use that position to orchestrate an armed robbery, putting her co-workers and the public at risk,” said ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Brian Garner. “This investigation demonstrates the importance of proactive investigative work in stopping violent crimes before they occur. ATF will continue to work to identify and disrupt those who use firearms or threaten violence to further criminal activity.” The complaint alleges that Gonzalez provided detailed information to facilitate the planned robbery, including employee schedules, the location and status of the safe, camera placement, expected cash on hand and instructions on how to enter through an unlocked rear door. She also allegedly produced a hand‑drawn sketch of the interior layout and repeatedly encouraged that the robbery take place in the early morning hours while employees were present. Gonzalez allegedly discussed the use of firearms, stated she would be present at the restaurant during the robbery to reduce suspicion and sought a share of the anticipated proceeds, estimated at $3,000 to $4,000. On Aug. 6, she allegedly sent a video from inside the restaurant showing the route to the safe and Digital Video Recorder camera unit. ATF agents arrested Gonzalez Aug. 6 before any robbery occurred. According to the affidavit, Golden Chick is a multistate restaurant chain that operates along major travel corridors and relies on interstate supply chains and internet‑based services; therefore, the conduct described would have affected interstate commerce. If convicted, Gonzalez faces up to 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years post-release supervision. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Violent Crime section are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Georgia Sisters Plead Guilty to Roles in $2M Pandemic Benefits Fraud Scheme

body_text: CLEVELAND – Two Georgia women have pleaded guilty to their roles in a scheme to defraud the federal government by causing pandemic unemployment benefit funds to be paid on ineligible claims that had been held or denied for suspected fraud. Sisters Joirean Creel, 35, of Duluth, and Adriane Creel, 24, of Stone Mountain, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Honest Services Wire Fraud. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan D. Greenberg accepted their guilty pleas Aug. 31. According to allegations in court documents, the defendants were both hired to work as remote teleservices representatives through a subcontractor for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). The agency administered Ohio’s unemployment insurance program, which included federally funded unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of their jobs, the defendants were given access to an online system to process and manage unemployment benefits for the claimants. They were supposed to use the system only for their job providing customer service to claimants by phone. Instead, the two women abused their positions and system access to solicit and accept bribes and kickbacks that caused $1.96 million in benefits to be paid. However, the claims paid had been previously flagged as suspected of being fraudulent. The defendants used their system access to nullify and void the suspected fraudulent claims even though they were not authorized to do so. They also fraudulently obtained additional unemployment benefits for themselves by submitting applications in their own names. The defendants submitted their applications to other states including New York, Pennsylvania, and Nevada, despite being employed to help ODJFS administer the unemployment insurance system. In addition, investigators discovered that Joirean Creel was also employed by the U.S. Postal Service while claiming to be unemployed. During the investigation, law enforcement seized and forfeited a Mercedes Benz GL450. In total, ODJFS lost more than $2 million as a result of the conspiracy. This investigation was led by the U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, the FBI Cleveland Division, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Pittsburgh Division-Cleveland Field Office. The Department of Justice has created the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support 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. Assistant United States Attorneys Elliot Morrison and Erica Barnhill for the Northern District of Ohio lead the prosecution.


title: Father and Son Convicted for Their Roles in the Murder of a USPS Mail Carrier

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: CLEVELAND – Today, a federal jury convicted a father and son for their roles in the pre-meditated murder of an on-duty United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier in March of 2024. After a nearly two-week-long trial in front of U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent, Kaprise Sledge, 24, of Warren, and Thomas Sledge, 44, of Youngstown, were found guilty of: Murder of an Officer and Employee of the United States Using, Carrying, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence According to evidence presented to the jury, on March 2, 2024, the two men aided and abetted one another in the premeditated killing of Jont’e Davis, 33. At the time of his murder, Davis was carrying out his official duties as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, in Warren, Ohio, when he was struck by gunfire coming from a gray Dodge Ram truck that drove up next to his parked mail truck. An eyewitness called 911 and identified the vehicle involved in the shooting. Investigators were able to confirm that the truck was registered to Kaprise Sledge. Through video surveillance footage and telephone records, investigators were able to establish that Kaprise Sledge and his father, Thomas, stalked Davis along his delivery route for approximately an hour and a half before shooting and killing him. Additionally, during the execution of a search warrant at Kaprise Sledge’s residence, agents located evidence of drug trafficking. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 10. Both Sledges face a term of up to life imprisonment on the murder charge, and a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, up to life imprisonment on the firearms charges. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The United States Postal Inspection Service Cleveland Office and the Warren Police Department investigated the case. The Trumbull County Action Group Drug Task Force, FBI Violent Crimes Task Force, and Trumbull County Emergency Management also assisted in this investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Carol Skutnik , Peter Daly , Brett Hammond , and Samuel Lioi for the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case. To report mail theft or other crimes committed through, or towards, the United States Postal Service, call the USPIS at 1-877-876-2455 or visit https://www.uspis.gov/report .


title: Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Synthetic Cannabinoids to Jail Inmates

body_text: CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for distributing synthetic cannabinoids to prison and jail inmates and others throughout the country. In 2024 and 2025, DENIS JOINER processed powder synthetic cannabinoids into liquid form, which he then used to soak sheets of paper and books. Joiner disguised the paper and books as inmate reading material or legal documents and mailed them to customers in federal and state correctional institutions in the Chicago area and throughout the United States. Joiner produced the drug-soaked paper in a residence in Calumet City, Ill. On July 29, 2025, law enforcement agents conducted a court-authorized search of the residence and discovered what appeared to be a makeshift laboratory, with multiple Pyrex trays, bottles, funnels, mixing bowls, and latex gloves, as well as shipping-related items, including mailing labels containing the names of correctional institutions. Agents seized more than 1,500 grams of MDMB 4-en PINACA in powder form. Synthetic cannabinoids are a class of controlled substance that are chemically similar to marijuana but significantly more potent. Synthetic cannabinoids pose a risk of overdose and could cause seizures, stroke, heart attacks, and death. Joiner, 33, of Lansing, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal drug charge. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Jeremy C. Daniel sentenced Joiner to four years in federal prison. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; Todd C. Smith, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the DEA; Nicholas Bucciarelli, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Thomas J. Dart, Cook County Sheriff. “Drug trafficking is a serious offense, and the drugs sold here are dangerous,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Shih argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Even more concerning, defendant distributed cannabinoids into prisons and jails, creating a risk that inmates would be subjected to overdoses and potentially death.”


title: Operator of Sham Produce Companies Sentenced to Federal Prison for Cocaine Importation and Money Laundering

body_text: ATLANTA – Carlos Salazar-Garcia has been sentenced to federal prison for using sham companies to import hundreds of pounds of cocaine concealed in fruit and electronics shipments to the Atlanta area and then laundering the proceeds back to Mexico. “Salazar-Garcia laundered money for Mexican drug traffickers and attempted to smuggle nearly 200 pounds of cocaine into our country,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “But federal law enforcement officers working collaboratively across agencies and jurisdictions spoiled his scheme, seized his drugs, and haled him into court to face the significant consequences.” “Drug traffickers think they can hide behind fake produce companies and secret shipments of electronics, but they are wrong,” said Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge for HSI Arizona. “Carlos Salazar-Garcia tried to use these schemes to poison our communities and launder over a million dollars, but he underestimated our persistence and partnerships. By working together across borders, HSI special agents and our law enforcement partners successfully dismantled his network, and now he will spend his time in federal prison thinking about the consequences.” “Whether cocaine is hidden in fruit, electronics, or behind the façade of legitimate businesses, drug traffickers will continue looking for new ways to move their poison,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “What they cannot hide is the determination of the Homeland Security Task Force and our law enforcement partners. This investigation uncovered a calculated effort to import hundreds of pounds of cocaine, and today’s sentence ensures the defendant is held accountable for his role in that operation.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In December 2022, federal agents in Laredo, Texas inspected a shipment from Mexico and located 119 pounds of cocaine concealed among electronic transformers destined for a farmers market in Clayton County, Georgia. The investigation revealed that a sham produce company operated by Salazar-Garcia coordinated the shipment. In November 2023, agents at the U.S./Mexico border in McAllen, Texas intercepted approximately 66 pounds of cocaine concealed in a shipment of limes. Agents learned that the limes were destined for another sham produce company operated by Salazar-Garcia. Additional investigation revealed that, through a variety of financial transactions, Salazar-Garcia and co-defendant Andrea Principe laundered over a million dollars in drug proceeds to Mexico. Yesterday, Carlos Salazar-Garcia, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to ten years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Salazar-Garcia pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine importation, and money laundering charges on April 20, 2026. Andrea Principe, 37, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, pled guilty on June 30, 2026, to conspiracy to commit money laundering. She will be sentenced on October 15, 2026. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Assistant United States Attorney Dwayne A. Brown Jr. and former Assistant United States Attorney Amy Palumbo prosecuted the case. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. 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. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Former SBA and IRS Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison for Taking Bribes in $3.5 Million COVID Fraud Scheme

body_text: ATLANTA - Attallah Williams, a former U.S. Small Business Administration and Internal Revenue Service employee, has been sentenced to federal prison for taking bribes to submit and approve more than $3.5 million in fraudulent pandemic relief payments. “Williams misused her public office to steal taxpayer money intended to promote employment during a national crisis, and she deepened her fraud by recruiting accomplices through Instagram,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We will continue to work tirelessly to uncover and hold accountable those who violate the public’s trust and loot the treasury.” “Williams turned positions of public trust into an opportunity to enrich herself, using her federal access and social media to recruit others and funnel millions of dollars in fraudulent pandemic relief into her scheme,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will continue to pursue those who exploit their positions for personal gain and steal money meant to support the American people.” “Attallah Williams used her positions at the SBA and IRS to steal millions from COVID-19 relief programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Those who defrauded these programs may believe they escaped detection, but this case proves that IRS Criminal Investigation and its federal law enforcement partners will continue holding those responsible for defrauding COVID-19 relief programs accountable.” “The Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney is proud to work with our federal law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable those who misuse taxpayer dollars for their own gain, especially government employees,” said DeKalb County District Attorney Sherry Boston. “Defendant Williams was convicted of abusing her positions within the federal government to take money earmarked to help struggling businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This sentence should send a strong message to anyone who steals public funds that they will be punished accordingly.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Williams orchestrated a three-year scheme to fraudulently obtain funds from four separate emergency pandemic relief programs: First, Williams submitted fraudulent applications to the SBA to obtain Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) in the names of businesses that were not operational. Second, Williams submitted a fraudulent application for a Paycheck Protection Program loan, guaranteed by the SBA, for a business that was not operational. Third, Williams obtained a position as an SBA loan officer, enabling her to use her insider access to approve fraudulent applications to the EIDL Advance grant program. Williams advertised on Instagram to recruit accomplices who, under her guidance, submitted applications using the names of nonexistent or ineligible businesses. Williams then used her position to improperly approve those applications in exchange for a share of the proceeds. Williams also encouraged her conspirators to recruit additional participants, promising them referral fees for every person brought into the scheme. Fourth, Williams left the SBA and obtained a position as an IRS tax examining technician. Williams again advertised on social media to recruit accomplices who, under her instructions and with her assistance, submitted fraudulent tax documents to the IRS to claim payments under the Employee Retention Tax Credit program, with Williams receiving a fee for each application. In total, Williams submitted false claims for more than $3.5 million of pandemic emergency assistance funds intended to help struggling businesses, resulting in $3,272,000 being distributed before the scheme was disrupted. On September 1, 2026, Attallah Williams, 33, of Hampton, Georgia, was sentenced to six years, six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $3,272,000 in restitution. She pled guilty on February 11, 2026, to conspiracy to defraud the United States through fraudulent claims. This case was investigated by the U.S. Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, and U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, with valuable assistance from the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford prosecuted the case. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted Pandemic Program fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the SBA Office of the Inspector General Complaint Submission at: https://sbax.sba.gov/oigcss . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Guilty Pleas Entered for Pensacola-Area Gun & Drug Crimes

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Andre Darrell Perry, 37, of Pensacola, Florida, and Loredana Alessandra Bassolino, 38, of Navarre, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 5 grams of methamphetamine. Perry also pleaded guilty to additional charges of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The pleas were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This pair of repeat offenders has demonstrated an outright refusal to lead law-abiding lives, and the only way we can guarantee the safety of our community is by ensuring they are kept off our streets and behind federal bars where they belong. My office will continue to back up the excellent investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners with aggressive prosecutions like this to deliver the safe, drug-free streets our citizens deserve.” Court documents reflect that on January 14, 2026, federal agents executed an arrest warrant on Perry at a hotel in Pensacola, Florida. When law enforcement made entry into Perry’s hotel room to effectuate the arrest, they observed drug paraphernalia littered throughout the room, along with a “speed loader” tool to quickly load ammunition into firearm magazines. Bassolino, another occupant of the hotel room, admitted that narcotics were present and gave consent to search the room. During their search, law enforcement discovered fentanyl, methamphetamine, and a loaded firearm. Both Bassolino and Perry are convicted felons who are legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, with Perry most recently being convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and fentanyl in July 2025. Due to a prior serious drug felony conviction, Perry faces a minimum mandatory sentence of ten years’ imprisonment up to a maximum of life imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 5 grams of methamphetamine count. Perry also faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years’ imprisonment up to a maximum of life imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence given in this case, for the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense count and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession by a convicted felon count. Bassolino faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years’ imprisonment up to a maximum of forty years’ imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 5 grams of methamphetamine count. Bassolino and Perry are scheduled for sentencing on November 3, 2026, at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm respectively, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II in Pensacola, Florida. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas S.P. Geeker. 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 . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Wolf Point man sentenced to over 10 years for beating a man to death

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Wolf Point man who was part of group that beat a man to death was sentenced today to 10 years and 10 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. Calvin Florin Lester, 37, pleaded guilty in May 2026 to voluntary manslaughter. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that Lester was part of group that beat a man to death in an abandoned house on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. The victim was found dead on Feb. 26, 2025, on the second floor of a house in Wolf Point, described by area residents as a local “flop house” where people occasionally went to drink and sleep. Investigators found that Lester and others after a night of drinking had gone in the house in the early morning hours of Feb. 26. They found the victim asleep on the second floor. With Lester were Abrianne Lillian Deserly, 26, and Dillon Demery Wetsit, 41. An argument broke out and Lester, along with Deserly and Wetsit, began to hit the victim, beating him severely. At one point, the victim was placed in a chokehold while other members of the group hit him. A medical examination showed the victim died from “homicidal violence” with neck compression and blunt injuries to the head. Deserly pleaded guilty in May to voluntary manslaughter; she will be sentenced on Sept. 14. Wetsit pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in June; he will be sentenced on Oct. 15. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Fort Peck Tribes Criminal Investigation and FBI conducted the investigation.


title: Plentywood woman sentenced to more than 7 years in prison for trafficking meth

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Plentywood woman who mailed herself methamphetamine was sentenced today to seven years and four months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. Marie Viola Nesbit, 60, pleaded guilty in April 2026 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that Nesbit mailed packages of methamphetamine to two houses in Plentywood, with the intention of selling the meth. Law enforcement first investigated when the U.S. Postal Service flagged two packages as suspicious. Using a warrant, agents searched the parcels and found a half pound of methamphetamine. Law enforcement monitored the packages while they were delivered to the two Plentywood addresses. The occupants of the two homes told investigators Nesbit had mailed them. In an interview with agents later that day, Nesbit said she mailed the packages from California because she didn’t want to get caught traveling back to Montana with them. She also admitted she planned to sell the meth. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas K. Godfrey prosecuted the case. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, FBI, Montana DCI, Montana Highway Patrol, and the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.


title: Missoula man sentenced to over 3 years for trafficking fentanyl into Montana

body_text: MISSOULA – A Missoula man who made repeated drugs runs to Washington state was sentenced today to three years and four months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. Eric Joseph Wright, 46, pleaded guilty in April 2026 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The government alleged in court documents that Wright was making regular trips to Washington state to pick up illicit drugs to bring back to Montana. A tip to law enforcement led officers to pull over Wright on Feb. 2, 2026, where they found three ounces of fentanyl under the vehicle’s passenger seat. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation. 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: Minnesota man sentenced to 40 years for sexually abusing two girls on Crow Indian Reservation

body_text: BILLINGS – A Minnesota man who sexually abused two children on the Crow Indian Reservation was sentenced Wednesday to 40 years in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. After a one-and-a-half-day trial in February 2026, a jury found Robert Dean Dust, 35, guilty of two counts of abusive sexual contact of a child and one count of aggravated sexual abuse. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents and at trial that Dust began sexually abusing two girls in Lodge Grass starting around 2010. The two girls reported the abuse to law enforcement in May 2024. The girls both said Dust repeatedly sexually abused them in their home beginning when they were 4 and 5 years old and he was 20. Both victims described how Dust made them perform sexual acts on him and how he performed sexual acts on them. The girls said Dust’s abuse continued until around 2015. Law enforcement interviewed Dust on Oct. 18, 2024, and he initially denied the abuse. Eventually he admitted to sexually abusing one of the girls. At trial, prosecutors proved that Dust abused both girls. The second girl testified that she knew Dust did inappropriate things with the first girl in his bedroom and that she did not want to “be next.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Hendricks prosecuted the case. The FBI and BIA conducted the investigation.


title: Box Elder man sentenced to 10 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl on Rocky Boy

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Box Elder man who trafficked significant amounts of fentanyl into Montana was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. Leonard Allen Parisian, 63, pleaded guilty in May 2026 to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that Parisian was part of a group trafficking fentanyl on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation between 2023 and 2025. Law enforcement first learned of Parisian’s involvement with the group in spring 2024. An informant told officers that starting in 2020 he supplied fentanyl pills to Parisian’s son, “Little Al.” When Little Al was sent to prison in 2023, the informant began supplying pills to Parisian, known as “Big Al,” who purchased between 3,000 and 6,000 fentanyl pills at a time. Big Al regularly sent couriers out of state to pick up the fentanyl from the informant. In all, the informant estimated that Big Al purchased between 15,000 and 20,000 fentanyl pills for redistribution in Montana. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey K. Starnes prosecuted the case. The FBI and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.


title: Billings woman sentenced to more than 10 years for trafficking meth

body_text: BILLINGS – A Billings woman who trafficked meth as part of a larger drug ring was sentenced today to 10 years and six months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. Jamie Lynn Strosky, 46, pleaded guilty in February 2026 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that Strosky was trafficking meth in Billings as part of the Ray Best drug trafficking ring . Fellow traffickers had identified Strosky in interviews, leading law enforcement to place surveillance on Strosky’s residence in January 2025. For a week they saw other traffickers come and go from the house. During the same time, an additional source identified Strosky as the person supplying their methamphetamine. Using a warrant, law enforcement searched Strosky’s home on Jan. 22, 2025, and found methamphetamine, plastic baggies, and a scale. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, represented by AUSA Thomas Godfrey, prosecuted the case. The DEA, EMHIDTA, Billings Police Department, and Montana DCI conducted the investigation.


title: Big Timber man sentenced to 12 years for trafficking meth

body_text: MISSOULA – A Big Timber man who was trafficking meth in western Montana was sentenced today to 12 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. Jason Karl Smart, 53, pleaded guilty in May 2026 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The government alleged in court documents that Smart was trafficking large amounts of meth in Montana. Following a tip, law enforcement conducted a search of Smart’s Big Timber home in November 2025. He told agents he had a couple ounces of meth there; investigators found four pounds. He then admitted he had been trafficking over 25 pounds of meth in western Montana. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation. 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: Arizona man sentenced to a decade in prison after he attempted to coerce a teenage girl into sex

body_text: MISSOULA – An Arizona man who made numerous sexual advances to a teenage girl was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. Manuel Flores, 72, pleaded guilty in February 2026 to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The government alleged in court documents that Flores tried to coerce a 15-year-old Montana girl into a sexual relationship while she was living in his house in Arizona and after she returned home. The girl was the daughter of a family friend; Flores had known her for several years. In June 2024, he arranged for the girl to travel from Montana to his home in Arizona to spend the summer. While in his home, Flores texted the girl regarding his sexual interest in her. The girl rejected Flores’ advances and returned to Montana at the end of the summer. However, Flores continued to text the girl, with many of these messages repeating and furthering the sexual advances he had sent over the summer. At times, he encouraged the girl to return to Arizona so that they could be together romantically. The girl told her mother about Flores’s behavior and the mom contacted law enforcement. Agents took over the girl’s account and posed as the girl in further communication with Flores, who continued to message. In a string of texts, Flores requested in graphic detail nude photos of the girl and told her he would fly to Montana and not return to Arizona until he had her with him. Flores flew to Montana on Aug. 18, 2025, and was arrested by law enforcement when he landed. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Lowney prosecuted the case. The FBI conducted the investigation.


title: 2 Box Elder men sentenced to prison for attempted home invasion robbery that ended with a death

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A pair of Box Elder men who tried to rob a house and ended up killing a man were sentenced to prison Wednesday, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. Levi Terrance Olson, 30, who pleaded guilty in May 2026 to attempted robbery and involuntary manslaughter, was sentenced to nine years and three months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Brandon Lee Weaselboy, 36, who pleaded guilty in May 2026 to attempted robbery and involuntary manslaughter, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that early in the morning on July 29, 2024, Olson and Weaselboy, along with Gordon Denny and the eventual victim, planned to steal drugs from a home on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation. When the group reached the house, they found an occupant they did not expect was home. Denny later told investigators it “messed up” the robbery. At the house, Denny knocked on the door and was taken inside by the unexpected resident. After a brief moment, the other three men kicked in the front door, entered the house and a shootout ensued. In the chaos that followed, Olson and Weaselboy fled from the front of the house, while Denny fled through the back of the house. The victim was shot and was later found dead in the yard. Denny, Olson, and Weaselboy were eventually arrested and interviewed by law enforcement; they admitted to planning the botched robbery that ultimately led to the victim’s death. Denny was sentenced in June 2026 to two years and seven months in prison for his involvement in the conspiracy. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and the Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.


title: Forsyth County Man Sentenced to More Than 24 Years After Kidnapping  Store Clerk in the Course of a Robbery

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: GREENSBORO – A Winston-Salem, North Carolina man was sentenced today in Greensboro to more than 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping and possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Dan Bishop of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC). DEANGELO SHAMOND TOOMER, aged 41, was sentenced to 293 months imprisonment plus 5 years post release supervision on the kidnapping charge by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, Senior/Chief United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. Judge Eagles also sentenced TOOMER to 180 months imprisonment plus 3 years post release supervision on the firearm charge, to run concurrently. According to court records, on January 8, 2025, at approximately 12:28 a.m., TOOMER entered the Speedway Gas Station located at 2700 University Parkway in Winston-Salem, armed with a gun. TOOMER approached the store clerk at gunpoint and demanded money from her cash register and Newport cigarettes. TOOMER then forced the clerk to write a sign to hang on the front door stating the store was closed for restocking and then led her at gunpoint to her car where he told her they were both leaving and she was driving. Law enforcement was alerted to the scene after receiving a 911 call for a wellness check when customers noticed the gas station was unattended. Officers with the Winston-Salem Police Department were able to obtain real time tracking data from the clerk’s vehicle. At approximately 5:57 a.m., members of the Winston-Salem Police Department observed the clerk’s vehicle to be in Unicoi County, Tennessee. With the assistance of the Unicoi County Sheriff’s Office, law enforcement located the vehicle. Deputies with the Unicoi County Sheriff’s Office activated their lights and sirens to pull the vehicle over, but TOOMER, who was driving, fled, resulting in a vehicle pursuit. Deputies with the Unicoi County Sheriff’s Office had to forcibly bring the vehicle to a stop. The clerk was found with her hands and ankles bound by shoelaces in the backseat. A gun that TOOMER tossed out the window during his flight was also recovered. The gun was loaded and had one round in the chamber. TOOMER, who is originally from Charleston, South Carolina, has a criminal record that dates back to 2001, and includes several felony convictions, including Felony Assault and Battery with Intent to Kill, Felony Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature, Felony Strong Arm Robbery, Felony Burglary, Felony Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Felony Fraud against a Financial Institution, and Felony Possession of Contraband. The case was investigated by the Winston-Salem Police Department, Unicoi County Sheriff’s Office (TN), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from Ford Motor Company-Global Security and Vehicle Telematics, the Unicoi Police Department (TN), Erwin Police Department (TN), and Green County Sheriff’s Office (TN). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracy M. Williams-Durham. ###


title: ILLEGAL ALIEN SENTENCED TO 120 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ATTEMPTED COERCION AND ENTICEMENT OF A MINOR

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: Kleider Enrique Garcia Ochoa, age 31, of Venezuela, who is present in the United States without authorization, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison following his conviction for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall. U.S. District Court Judge Brian A. Jackson further sentenced Ochoa to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. He is also subject to removal or deportation from the United States upon completion of his sentence. According to admissions made during his plea, Ochoa used social media applications and the name “Conociendo” to convince someone he believed was a 15-year-old boy in Denham Springs, Louisiana, to have an illegal sexual relationship with him. Ochoa agreed to travel to Denham Springs, Louisiana, to pick up the supposed 15-year-old boy to engage in sexual acts. An undercover law enforcement officer posed as the 15-year-old boy and officers arrested Ochoa when he arrived at the location. During his conduct, Ochoa sent the undercover officer a picture of himself and his genitals and requested that the supposed 15-year-old boy send him sexually explicit images of himself. Ochoa also asked for the undercover officer’s location and expressed his desire to engage in illegal sex acts in person. U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, and Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen L. Ross leads the prosecution. “This was excellent work by our prosecutors and law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Wall. “Anyone who attempts to sexually exploit our children in the Middle District of Louisiana needs to know that they will be held accountable. We will continue to pursue these predators relentlessly.” This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS APPEAL OF SENTENCE OF ALBANY MAN SENTENCED TO 92 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR DISTRIBUTING NEARLY 4,000 FENTANYL PILLS

body_text: Devonte Skinner, age 34, of Albany, Louisiana, was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison following his conviction for distribution of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Kurt L. Wall. U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick further sentenced Skinner to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, on February 21, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a controlled purchase of 3,792 pills pressed to resemble 30 mg oxycodone and containing 539.2 grams of fentanyl from Skinner and another individual using a confidential source (CS). The CS met Skinner in a restaurant parking lot on O’Neal Lane in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Skinner was in the front passenger seat of a vehicle and exchanged the pills and money with the CS. U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Paul L. Pugliese led the prosecution. “I am very pleased with the dedicated work of our prosecutors and our law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Wall. “Fentanyl continues to pose a grave threat to communities throughout Louisiana and distributing this substance in such quantities risks devastating harm. The Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account the criminal act and the defendant’s prior criminal history, called for a sentencing range of 262 to 327 months. Although we respect the Court’s role in sentencing, we have concerns that a sentence far below the guidelines range sends a harmful message. Unfortunately, our district has experienced hundreds of fentanyl overdoses over the past few years. Recently, we are beginning to see a reduction in those numbers, which gives us some optimism that the message of the dangerousness of fentanyl is finally gaining traction. The defendant’s conduct has to be viewed in the same light as if he had fired 3,972 rounds of ammunition on our public streets. A 92-month sentence is insufficient, and our office is reviewing the judgment closely and considering all options, including appeal.” “Fentanyl traffickers endanger our communities with every pill they put on the street,” said HSI New Orleans Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright. “This investigation and conviction reflect HSI’s continued commitment to working with our federal, state, and local partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who distribute deadly narcotics in Louisiana. Through the Homeland Security Task Force, we will continue using every lawful tool available to disrupt criminal networks and protect the public from the devastation caused by fentanyl.” This prosecution was 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 New Orleans comprises agents and officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Marshals Service (USMS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the U.S. Coast Guard, Investigative Service (CGIS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (CBP OFO), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol (CBP BP) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney's Office for Middle District of Louisiana.