title: District of Arizona Charges 310 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from July 18 through July 24, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 310 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 114 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 175 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 20 cases against 21 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Recent matters of interest include: U.S. v. Rubicel Nunez-Sanchez. Rubicel Nunez-Sanchez was charged by criminal complaint on July 20, 2026, with Transportation of an Illegal Alien for Profit. On July 19, Border Patrol Agents (BPAs) observed a Ford F-150 with North Carolina plates driving near the Mexico border in the San Rafael Valley, an area frequently used for human smuggling. Based on their observations, BPAs initiated a vehicle stop to conduct an immigration inspection, but the driver, Nunez-Sanchez, failed to yield. Nunez-Sanchez eventually pulled over to the side of the road where five subjects got out and ran away. He then continued driving, only stopping after his vehicle was incapacitated by BPAs with a vehicle immobilization device. BPAs located the five subjects that gotten out of Nunez-Sanchez’s vehicle and determined that they were all citizens and nationals of Mexico and Columbia, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case Number: 26-MJ-05258] United States v. Ahumada-Lugo, et al. On July 23, 2026, Jose Raul Ahumada-Lugo and Rony Ramirez-Valenzuela were charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. Ramirez-Valenzuela was also charged with Reentry of a Removed Alien. On July 21, a deputy with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on Ahumada-Lugo, who was driving a Ford F-150 with four passengers. The deputy noticed camouflage clothing and backpacks in the back seat and called Border Patrol for assistance. BPAs confirmed that all five occupants in the truck were citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. BPAs also learned that the front seat passenger, Ramirez-Valenzuela, was previously removed from the United States on August 15, 2017, and was assisting with smuggling the other passengers. [Case Number: 26-MJ-6287] The cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-126_July 24, 2026 Immigration Enforcement # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office receives funding to hire AUSA to prosecute crimes in rural Alaska following Acting Attorney General Blanche’s visit

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska announced today the allocation of funds from the Justice Department to hire a permanent criminal Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) specifically focused on prosecuting federal cases impacting rural Alaska and our Tribal communities. This position allocation is a direct result of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s recent trip to Alaska. On July 7 and 8, Acting Attorney General Blanche traveled to Anchorage and the Western Alaska communities of Bethel and Emmonak. During his visit, he heard firsthand the need for increased resources to address public safety concerns in rural communities. Most recent reports estimate that Alaska’s violent crime rate is 5.4 times the national rate. They also estimate aggravated assaults as 6.7 times higher and rapes as 3.1 times higher than the national rates. According to 2024 state crime data, 41% of murder victims from that year were Alaska Native, despite making up less than 15% of the state’s population. These statistics are reinforced by rural communities, Tribal leaders and advocates from across the state sharing their experiences in rural communities. These include the destruction drug trafficking and substance abuse have caused in their regions and villages and how violent crime and drug trafficking are inextricably linked to one another. This AUSA will work with law enforcement from across the state to review public safety concerns and pursue prosecutions for illegal firearms offenses, drug crimes, child exploitation, violent crimes and fraud. The job announcement is open and currently accepting applications. This job is open to all U.S. Citizens or Nationals. “Violent crime and drug trafficking have devastated many of our Alaskan communities, particularly those in rural areas. While we’ve seen some recent improvement, Acting Attorney General Blanche heard our requests for additional federal assistance in addressing public safety concerns in rural and Tribal communities,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “I want to thank every Alaskan that has sat with me, members of my team, law enforcement and DOJ leaders to share their experiences. This new Indian Country/Rural Alaska AUSA will work with law enforcement in every corner of our state to pursue federal charges against criminals who target women, children and communities with their illegal actions.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska is seeking applications from experienced and motivated attorneys who have superb research and writing skills, as well as a criminal law background and a desire to prosecute cases impacting rural Alaska. Interested applicants can learn more about the job opportunity by visiting the job posting or on USAJobs here: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/877127200 ###


title: Three Individuals Sentenced to Prison for Fraudulently Billing Medicare and Medicaid Through Opioid Addiction Treatment Clinics in Kentucky

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: A Texas businessman, a Kentucky doctor, and a Kentucky woman were sentenced to prison for their roles in fraudulently billing Medicare and Kentucky Medicaid over $4.8 million through a series of addiction treatment facilities. Today, Michael Bregenzer, 53, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to 48 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. In February 2026, José Alzadon, M.D., 62, of Paintsville, Kentucky, was sentenced to 60 months in prison. In January 2026, Barbie Vanhoose, 63, of West Van Lear, Kentucky, was sentenced to 24 months in prison. All three defendants were ordered to pay restitution of $812,881.09. According to evidence presented at trial, Bregenzer, Alzadon, and Vanhoose orchestrated their health care fraud scheme through Kentucky Addiction Centers or KAC, which operated in Winchester, Paducah, Paintsville, and London, Kentucky. As part of his role as KAC’s medical director, Alzadon prescribed Suboxone, a controlled substance that is used to treat opioid addiction. Bregenzer served as KAC’s CEO and Vanhoose as KAC’s billing manager. Together, Bregenzer, Alzadon, and Vanhoose ran a scheme that falsely billed taxpayer-funded health programs like Medicare and Medicaid for medical services that were not provided or were billed as more complex and expensive services than the services patients actually received. They also conspired to falsely bill for services in the name of Alzadon’s elderly father when the services either were not provided at all or were provided by Alzadon — who was unable to bill certain health plans as he was not credentialed as a provider with those plans. Bregenzer, Alzadon, and Vanhoose also conspired to use Alzadon’s father’s prescribing credentials, including his DEA registration number and electronic prescribing token, to prescribe Suboxone, even though Alzadon’s father had not seen the patients for whom he was supposedly issuing prescriptions. In March 2025, Bregenzer, Alzadon, and Vanhoose were each convicted at trial of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, eight counts of health care fraud, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances using the registration number of another person. Alzadon and Vanhoose were also convicted of two counts of aggravated identity theft. Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Scott of the DEA Louisville Division; Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blackmon of the Department of Health and Human Service Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Regional Director Joe Rivers of the Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration (DOL-EBSA); and Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman made the announcement. The DEA, FBI, HHS-OIG, DOL-EBSA, and the Kentucky Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated this case. The Winchester Police Department provided substantial assistance during the investigation and trial. Trial Attorneys Dermot Lynch, Sarah Edwards, and Samad Pardesi of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud 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. The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Prominent Attorney Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion and Mortgage Fraud

body_text: Thomas C. Goldstein, a prominent appellate attorney who argued more than 40 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and co-founded the widely read legal website SCOTUSblog, was sentenced to 72 months in prison today for tax crimes and mortgage fraud. The Court additionally revoked Goldstein’s bond and remanded him into custody. “This sentence holds Thomas Goldstein accountable for cheating the tax system and lying to mortgage lenders,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Mr. Goldstein concealed millions of dollars in income, disguised income with foreign bank accounts, and manipulated his law firm’s books — all to fund his gambling and lifestyle. He then repeatedly chose not to pay taxes owed. There is no tax case too big, no scheme too complex, and no hiding place too remote for the Fraud Division.” “Thomas Goldstein built a distinguished legal career arguing that the rule of law matters. Yet, as the evidence at trial showed, he repeatedly chose to violate that very principle for his own financial benefit,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. “Every taxpayer is expected to play by the same rules, and this sentence shows that those who deliberately cheat the system and lie for financial gain will be held accountable. We thank our law enforcement partners for their work on this case, and their unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of our tax and financial systems.” “Public prominence doesn't entitle anyone to break financial rules or secure an unfair advantage over those who follow them,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Tyler of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal Division. “The mortgage industry exists to serve hardworking, honest Americans, and the FBI will bring anyone who tries to exploit the system for personal gain to justice regardless of their social status.” “Today’s sentencing is a significant step towards holding the defendant accountable for his role in abusing our tax system,” said Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents and our law enforcement partners will vigorously pursue those who attempt to defraud our tax system and financial institutions.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Goldstein, of Chevy Chase, Maryland, was the sole owner of Goldstein & Russell, P.C., a boutique law firm specializing in appellate litigation, including litigation before the U.S. Supreme Court. Goldstein was also a high-stakes poker player, frequently playing in games involving tens of millions of dollars. Between 2016 and 2024, Goldstein repeatedly chose not to pay taxes on time, as required by law. He also assisted in the preparation of false tax returns for himself and his law firm, and he engaged in a scheme to evade taxes for 2016. Goldstein carried out the scheme by hiding millions of dollars in poker winning from the government and his accountants, diverting legal fees to his personal bank account to satisfy poker-related debts, directing people to pay his creditors instead of sending payments directly to him, channeling gambling winnings through foreign bank accounts and causing personal payments for poker debts to be falsely classified as “legal-fee” expenses on the firm’s books and records. As a result, Goldstein underreported his income and did not pay much of the taxes that he owed, while spending millions on personal expenses such as poker, travel, and luxury goods. In 2021, Goldstein submitted false mortgage applications to two separate mortgage lending companies, seeking financing to purchase a $2.6 million dollar home in Washington, D.C. On those mortgage applications – which required Goldstein to list all his liabilities and debts – Goldstein omitted millions of dollars of liabilities, including more than $14 million he owed for poker-related debts, as well as taxes he owed the IRS. Goldstein’s false statements to one of the mortgage lenders enabled him to obtain a $1.98 million loan. On Feb. 25, a federal jury convicted Goldstein of tax evasion, assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, willful failure to timely pay taxes and making false statements to mortgage lenders. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby for the District of Maryland ordered Goldstein to serve five years of supervised release, pay $3,103, 427 in restitution, and ordered forfeiture but at an indeterminate amount. IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI investigated the case. Senior Litigation Counsel Sean Beaty and Trial Attorneys Emerson Gordon-Marvin and Hayter L. Whitman of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adeyemi Adenrele for the District of Maryland, prosecuted the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: National of Bosnia and Herzegovina Charged with Attempting to Fraudulently Obtain U.S. Citizenship by Failing to Disclose Role in Abuse of Prisoners

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in the District of Idaho returned an indictment last week charging Miran Kostic, 66, of Boise, Idaho, a national of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with lying while attempting to obtain U.S. citizenship. According to court documents, Kostic was a high-level official in the so-called Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia (APZB). In that role, he pistol-whipped prisoners, beat them with wooden clubs, stakes, and his fists, and kicked them, causing them to lose consciousness. He forced prisoners to beat each other, and he also ordered other members of the APZB to beat prisoners. In his applications to become a U.S. citizen and in interviews with the FBI and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), he repeatedly lied about the abuse he participated in and ordered, and failed to disclose charges filed against him in Bosnia and Herzegovina for war crimes, among other lies. Kostic is charged with attempted naturalization fraud and making material false statements to law enforcement agents. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each charge of attempted naturalization fraud, and five years in prison for the false statements charge. “Miran Kostic benefited from U.S. residency for decades and ultimately attempted to become a naturalized citizen, all while concealing the human rights abuses he committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Individuals who commit atrocities abroad and lie to immigration authorities to seek safe haven in the United States will be investigated and prosecuted. The integrity of our naturalization process and the enforcement of our immigration laws are paramount concerns.” “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud to work with our partners to ensure federal immigration laws are followed and are properly enforced,” said U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis for the District of Idaho. “Citizenship is a privilege that must be earned with honesty and integrity,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle. “HSI will not allow the naturalization process to be undermined by fraud. We remain steadfast in our commitment to investigate and prosecute those who conceal their criminal backgrounds to illegally obtain status.” “Kostic’s attempt to conceal his violent history in order to obtain U.S. citizenship will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to investigate fraud and hold individuals accountable for violating our nation’s laws.” HSI and FBI are investigating the case, with coordination provided by the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Office of Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS), along with the FBI’s International Human Rights Unit. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provided significant assistance by securing the evidence for prosecution of Kostic. The Justice Department thanks the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, which were instrumental in furthering the investigation. Trial Attorney Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Horwitz for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case. Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) or through the FBI’s online tip form here or Homeland Security Investigations at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or through ICE’s online tip form here . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Four Men Plead Guilty to $2M Minnesota Medicaid Fraud

body_text: Four Minnesota men pleaded guilty to defrauding Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) program out of approximately $2.2 million and concealing the scheme by using artificial intelligence to create fake records when questioned by insurance companies. This case is part of the ongoing collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota and the Health Care Fraud Strike Force to combat prolific fraud on government programs in Minnesota. It also highlights a burgeoning trend of fraudsters using artificial intelligence to further a fraud scheme targeting health care programs in Minnesota and around the country. “These defendants corruptly exploited vulnerable people and a vulnerable program to enrich themselves,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Taxpayer dollars designed to provide shelter and support for the homeless and needy instead went to the pockets of these men. They have now admitted their fraudulent conduct and will face justice for their crimes. In the meantime, our work to stamp out fraud in Minnesota will continue in abandon.” “Medicaid fraud is a serious offense with real consequences. These defendants stole funds intended to support vulnerable Minnesotans who rely on housing and recovery services. Their guilty pleas underscore my office’s commitment to holding accountable those who exploit public programs,” said United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota Daniel N. Rosen. According to court documents, Moktar Hassan Aden, 31, Mustafa Dayib Ali, 29, Khalid Ahmed Dayib, 26, and Abdifitah Mohamud Mohamed, 27, all of the Twin Cities area, set up Brilliant Minds Services LLC in the notorious Griggs-Midway Building in St. Paul, Minnesota, and enrolled the business as a Medicaid program provider. They promised to help people with disabilities – including seniors and people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders – find and maintain housing through the State’s now-defunct HSS program. Instead, they submitted thousands of HSS claims to Medicaid for services that were never provided or significantly inflated the claims for higher reimbursements. Griggs-Midway Building in St. Paul, Minnesota The defendants, together, signed up approximately 350 people for HSS and then billed the program despite doing nothing to assist these Medicaid recipients. When asked to provide supporting documentation for their claims, the defendants fabricated records using ChatGPT in an attempt to conceal their theft. In total, from April 2022 through April 2025, the defendants stole approximately $2.2 million from Minnesota Medicaid for services they fraudulently claimed to have provided to these 350 Medicaid recipients. In separate hearings held between July 7 and July 23, 2026, the defendants each pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. They each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing dates have not yet been set by the Court. FBI, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Raymond E. Beckering III of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Murphy for the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: ENRD to Serve as Head of U.S. Delegation at Forestry Ministerial at APEC Forum in China to Grow Support for Timber Trafficking Enforcement

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: The Justice Department today announced that Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General (PDAAG) Adam Gustafson of the Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) will serve as the head of the United States’ delegation for a Ministerial Meeting on Forestry, which is part of a 2026 senior officials’ meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Over the next week, PDAAG Gustafson will represent U.S. interests in emphasizing the importance of investigating and prosecuting timber trafficking crimes. APEC economies account for over half of the world’s forests and approximately 80% of the international trade in forest products. The Forestry Ministerial meets every two or three years, and this is the first time the Justice Department will serve as head of the U.S. delegation, which will also include representatives from the State Department, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. “Timber trafficking is the third most profitable form of transnational crime, with revenue estimates ranging between $52 billion to $157 billion annually,” said PDAAG Gustafson. “The illegal timber trade is an economic and security threat to the United States and all APEC members. It hurts American businesses and revenue, market share, and good paying jobs. By sharing enforcement strategies at home and abroad, and by improving collaboration across the U.S. government, we are fighting the illegal harvest and trade of forest products. My message at APEC is simple: member economies should enforce their own laws — many of which are modeled off of the Lacey Act in the U.S. — to curtail timber trafficking.”


title: Domtar A.W. LLC Agrees to Settlement to Reduce Emissions in Arkansas

body_text: Today, the Justice Department, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment, Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) lodged a proposed settlement with Domtar A.W. LLC resolving alleged Clean Air Act and Arkansas Water and Air Pollution Control Act violations involving the company’s kraft pulp and paper facility in Ashdown, Arkansas. Under the proposed consent decree, Domtar will pay a $1.5 million civil penalty, divided between the United States and the state of Arkansas. In addition, the company will implement projects to address excess emissions from its operations and correct its inadequate inspection and monitoring practices. The projects include installing the proper pollution controls on Domtar’s brown stock washer, updating leak detection and repair procedures to ensure compliance with the regulations, increasing the frequency of monitoring for leaks, and conducting performance testing on the boilers. The estimated cost to complete the required injunctive relief and bring operations into compliance is at least $2.6 million. “Today’s settlement demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to protecting public health and the environment,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Domtar is moving in the right direction to resolve its Clean Air Act violations by committing to properly control pollution and monitor for leaks and substandard facility performance.” “This settlement ensures that Domtar will take the necessary precautions to maintain and control its facility’s pollution controls among other corrective actions,” said Administrator Scott Mason of EPA Region 6. “I would like to thank the DOJ and ADEQ for their coordination on this matter and we appreciate Domtar’s cooperation in adhering to environmental laws.” This settlement resolves Domtar’s failure to follow federal and state requirements to capture and control air emissions from its brown stock washer. A brown stock washer is used in the pulp and paper industry to separate and wash the waste liquid from pulp fibers. The complaint filed in the case alleges that Domtar did not install the appropriate pollution controls (required under the Clean Air Act’s New Source Performance Standards and the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants) on its brown stock washer. Without the proper controls, the brown stock washer can leak hydrogen sulfide into the air. Hydrogen sulfide has a strong rotten egg smell and is harmful to human health. The complaint also alleges that Domtar did not follow mandatory inspection and monitoring requirements. The complaint alleges that, in one instance, Domtar failed to inspect for 53 days and failed to detect a leaking valve emitting uncontrolled and illegal amounts of pollutants. Domtar also did not conduct adequate performance testing for two of its boilers. Without proper monitoring and performance testing, the extent of the excess hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) that Domtar emitted into the air is unknown. The HAPs include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), methanol, carbon monoxide, and chlorinated compounds, including chlorine dioxide and hydrochloric acid. Under the settlement, Domtar is taking the necessary steps to ensure that its systems control pollutants from the brown stock washer. The settlement also requires a third-party to review and revise the leak detection and repair plan to ensure Domtar’s compliance with environmental regulations. These actions will significantly reduce harmful emissions from the company’s operations. Domtar is also undertaking two emission reduction projects to mitigate the environmental and public health harm attributable to its violations. First, Domtar will install capping valves to help prevent VOC and HAP emissions leaks. Domtar will also update its biological wastewater treatment system to capture HAPs and VOCs before they are emitted to the air. Domtar A.W. LLC is limited liability company registered in Delaware and a wholly owned subsidiary of Domtar Corporation. Domtar is a manufacturer of diversified forest products, which includes production of pulp, paper, packaging, and tissue. Domtar describes its Ashdown Mill as one of the largest fluff pulp production facilities in the world. The consent decree was filed with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas and is subject to a 30-day comment period. The complaint and the proposed consent decree are available at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees . The EPA and Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment, Division of Environmental Quality, investigated this matter. Attorneys with ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section are handling this matter.


title: California University Professor Sentenced to Over 18 Years in Prison for Attempted Child Exploitation Crimes

body_text: A California man was sentenced today to 222 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and for distributing and receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). He was also ordered to pay a fine of $75,000. Restitution will be determined at a later date. Rodger Githens, 48, of West Sacramento, was convicted by a federal judge on May 1 after a stipulated bench trial. In March 2023, Githens initiated contact with a Grindr account controlled by an undercover agent. Githens quickly encouraged the undercover agent to establish a Telegram account, which he considered more secure. Githens told the agent he had taboo thoughts every day and was into “babies.” Githens stated that he “would love to have a dad or uncle invite me” and then described in graphic detail what he would like to do with the undercover agent and the agent’s fictional 7-year-old niece. Several times Githens discussed traveling to meet the agent and the fictional niece. On April 19, 2023, law enforcement served a search warrant at Githens’s residence and seized multiple electronic devices. Agents discovered numerous Telegram chats on Githens’s phone including several in which he was exchanging videos of the sexual abuse of young children. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Eric Grant for the Eastern District of California; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Tosh of the FBI’s Sacramento Field Office made the announcement. The FBI’s Fresno resident agency investigated the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the West Sacramento Police Department. Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (“CEOS”) and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa of the Eastern District of California prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: 11 Charged in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Relating to Aliens Found Dead in a Boxcar Earlier This Year

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: As part of a Homeland Security Task Force case, a federal grand jury in Del Rio, Texas, returned an indictment this week charging 11 defendants for their alleged involvement in an attempted alien smuggling operation that resulted in multiple illegal aliens being found dead inside a shipping container in May. The 11 defendants charged are: Karina Garcia, 37, of Del Rio, Texas; Edson Alejandro Perez, 18, of Del Rio; Seferino Huerta-Casillas, 35, of Mexico; Jonas Ulloa-Aguilera, 25, of Honduras; Mayra Alejandra Huerta, 32, of Del Rio; Maria Norma Neri de Moran, 56, of Mexico; Damian Huerta Analucas, 55, of Mexico; Rosario Cristal Lopez-Saldana, 26, of Mexico; Eric Hernandez, 40, of Eagle Pass, Texas; Franklin Williams Ayala Aguilera, 30, of Honduras; and Pascual Raymundo Loarca, 34, of Guatemala According to the indictment, from at least April 2023 through May 12, 2026, the defendants and others operated a human smuggling organization that illegally used cargo trains to smuggle aliens further into the United States after illegally crossing them from Mexico.Each smuggled alien, or their families and friends, paid smugglers in Honduras, Mexico, the United States, and elsewhere between $1,500 and $10,000. Container opened with deceased smuggled aliens inside. Case number 26-CR-02066 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. The indictment alleges that, toward the end of April 2026, the organization began facilitating the smuggling of at least seven aliens from Acuña, Mexico into Del Rio. On or about May 9, after the smugglers illegally crossed the seven aliens from Mexico into the Del Rio area, the organization transported the aliens to an area near the Union Pacific train tracks in Del Rio. From approximately 1:18 p.m. to 1:25 p.m., while a Union Pacific train was stationary, smugglers, using red bolt cutters, allegedly cut the lock off a Conex shipping container’s door, loaded the aliens into the container, and then shut the door. Red bolt cutters used to open the Conex shipping container’s door. From the indictment in case number 26-CR-02066 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Photo depicting broken seal from the Conex shipping container’s door. From the indictment in case number 26-CR-02066 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. The shipping container was stacked on top of another and had no ventilation or cooling system. Based on the investigation, the recorded outside temperatures for that day ranged from 88 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit. In total, seven aliens were loaded into the container, including one 14-year-old child. It was secured from the outside and could not be opened from the inside. The train then departed Del Rio and traveled east along U.S. highway 90 to San Antonio. Map depicting US-90 and the Union Pacific Railroad system between Del Rio to San Antonio. From the indictment in case number 26-CR-02066 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. Once the train arrived in San Antonio, smugglers opened the door to the Conex container and discovered the aliens in peril. The smugglers then fled the scene, allegedly leaving one of the deceased aliens near the railroad tracks. Smugglers left the remaining aliens in the shipping container. The next day, the train departed south along its route to Laredo. On May 10, a worker at the Union Pacific Rail Yard in Laredo saw a leg sticking out from a Conex shipping container. Upon inspection, six aliens were discovered deceased in the shipping container. Laredo law enforcement contacted San Antonio agents for assistance. Later, San Antonio law enforcement discovered the seventh alien deceased and abandoned by the railroad tracks in San Antonio. Ultimately, seven aliens died from being in the Conex shipping container—four were Mexican nationals and three were Honduran nationals. One of the aliens was a 14-year-old child. The investigation revealed that at least one alien messaged a loved one, pleading for help. Mayra Alejandra Huerta was arrested May 12 in Del Rio and initially charged with one count of harboring illegal aliens. She has remained in federal custody and now faces two charges in today’s indictment. Last week, eight other defendants were arrested over a multi-day HSTF operation across central and south Texas. Two defendants, Karina Garcia and Seferino Huerta-Casillas, remain at large. All 11 defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death and one count of aiding and abetting transport of illegal aliens resulting in death. If convicted, the defendants would each face maximum penalties of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas, and Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Spears, Todd Keagle, and Ashley Ellis-Dotson for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI; ICE HSI; DEA; ATF; U.S. Border Patrol; USMS; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Texas Department of Public Safety; as well as local police departments and sheriff’s offices, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Photos of Karina Garcia, a U.S. Citizen, and Seferino Huerta Casillas, a Mexican national, who remain at large. US v. Karina Garcia et al WDTX - Indictment.pdf


title: Stoughton Man Sentenced to More Than 7 Years for Distribution of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Joshua Hole, 29, Stoughton, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 87 months in federal prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, for distributing child pornography. Hole pleaded guilty to this charge on April 20, 2026. In 2019, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a tip that Hole was using an instant messaging application to trade child pornography. Hole was interviewed by law enforcement, and while several images of child pornography were found on his phone, he was not ultimately charged. In March 2025, Toledo, Ohio, police arrested an individual after he traveled to the area to sexually abuse what he believed to be, a 7-year-old girl and a 6-month-old infant. An examination of the individual’s phone showed he had been chatting with and sharing child pornography with Hole via Telegram Messenger. Specifically, law enforcement found exchanges from March 24, 2025, where Hole and the individual exchanged images and videos of toddlers and infants being sexually abused, as well as chats where Hole encouraged the individual to travel to sexually abuse an infant. Hole was charged with distribution of child pornography, based on this conduct, on November 19, 2025. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Peterson noted that Hole had not redirected his life after his 2019 contact with law enforcement, which demonstrated Hole’s powerful compulsion for child pornography. Judge Peterson further explained that the nature of the images, and the violent and sadistic chats between the defendant and other pedophiles, were aggravating factors at sentencing. Finally, Judge Peterson stressed that Hole’s conduct was a vivid illustration of how consumers of child pornography put real children at risk. “Protecting the most vulnerable in our communities is more than just a legal responsibility, it is a moral imperative,” said U.S. Attorney Elgersma. “Anyone who preys on or endangers our children will be held accountable for their crimes.” The charge against Hole was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Stoughton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger prosecuted this case. This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: FBI Arrests Pulaski Town Councilman for Child Exploitation Crimes

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ROANOKE, Va. – The Pulaski County Work Report Program Coordinator and current member of the Pulaski Town Council, who previously served as a sheriff’s deputy and corrections officer, was arrested today by the FBI. Steven Wayne Erickson, 48, was arrested on a federal criminal complaint and charged with one count of receipt of child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”) and one count of distribution of CSAM. According to court records, the FBI received a cyber tip regarding potential child sexual exploitation occurring over Kik, a messaging app. Through search warrants and other legal process, agents discovered that Erickson used two Kik accounts prolifically. Kik records revealed several instances where Erickson solicited and shared CSAM with other Kik users. In 2025, a user referred to as “Cravt” (based on their username) sent Erickson almost 100 photos of Cravt’s purported family, including elementary-aged minors. Erickson encouraged Cravt to use AI to transform the photos. In mid-October 2025, Cravt sent apparently AI-generated CSAM of minors - some depicting at least one of Cravt’s minor children - to Erickson. Erickson sent back videos of himself masturbating to the CSAM. In late February of this year, another user, “Tribbin,” sent Erickson video taken from a hidden camera that depicted an apparently teenaged minor unknowingly exposing herself to use the bathroom. Erickson sent back a video showing him masturbating to the video. Erickson later asked for more material, but Tribbin said he hadn’t had company over for his hidden camera to capture. In March, Erickson chatted with another user who claimed they sexually assaulted their 9-year-old daughter. Erickson sent a photo of his genitals in exchange for a sexually explicit photo of the daughter, and he repeatedly urged the user to send images of the daughter being abused. In early April, Erickson sent another user, “Benji,” photos of a minor, some of which appeared to be taken without the minor’s awareness. With Erickson’s direction, Benji used AI to generate various sexualized and exploitative images of the minor. Erickson sent back videos of himself masturbating to the AI-generated CSAM. Erickson also urged Benji to “abuse” the minor and make them as young as Benji could. At Benji’s prompting, Erickson described his fantasies of sexually assaulting the minor. In later April, Erickson sent several photos, again including photos of a minor, to another user, “Tony.” Tony used AI to generate a video of individuals stripping nude. Erickson forwarded this video to a second Kik account. In several instances, Erickson sent images of himself to other users to prove he was real. For example, Erickson sent a photo of himself touching his nose and video of himself relaying the date and time. Erickson also sent a photo of a sheriff’s office badge. The badge displayed “Commonwealth of Virginia,” but Erickson’s thumb blocked the county name. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case. First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci District of Virginia, and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew O. Inman is prosecuting the case. 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 locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/ . A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Waco Jeweler and Co-Conspirator Arrested, Indicted for Allegedly Buying Known Stolen Jewelry

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

body_text: WACO, Texas – The owner of a crafted precious metals dealer in Waco and an alleged co-conspirator were arrested this week on criminal charges related to their alleged dealings of stolen jewelry, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. According to court documents, Clemond Earl Busby aka Bull, 65, of Waco, allegedly arranged for multiple jewelry store robbers to meet with Michael Wayne Habern Jr., 53, the owner of Waco Jewelers, in the parking lot of Habern’s store for the purpose of selling stolen jewelry to Busby and Habern. At times, the robbers would allegedly negotiate transactions with both Busby and Habern. At other times, the indictment alleges, Busby would act as an intermediary between Habern and the robbers. On one or more of the occasions, Busby and Habern allegedly received stolen jewelry from the robbers with price tags still attached and sometimes in display cases that were also taken from the jewelry stores during the robberies. The indictment alleges that Busby and Habern would pay the robbers less than the true value of the jewelry and exclusively in cash. Habern and Busby are both charged with one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, nine counts of accessory after the fact, and one count of misprision of a felony. If convicted, they both face up to 113 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI, Texas Anti-Gang Taskforce, Waco Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Department of Homeland Security, Austin Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Blanton is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Robison Found Guilty of Wire Fraud, Money Laundering in Federal Jury Trial

body_text: AUSTIN, Texas – A federal jury convicted an Austin man Wednesday of wire fraud and money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, John Stuart Robison, 63, convinced an investor to pay $1 million into a business bank account controlled solely by Robison. Robinson represented the money would go to benefit the University of Austin. The money was to be kept in an escrow account unless and until Robison raised an additional $1 million. As part of the scheme, Robison lied to the investor about land that Robison controlled or had under option. Robison also presented false option contracts for property and claimed that all monies spent on the project were from Robison's personal accounts. One day after the money was wired into the business account, Robison fraudulently transferred $250,000 into another of his bank accounts. This money was used to benefit Robison rather than the University of Austin. Within a few months of the receipt of the wired funds, Robison had essentially spent the entire $1 million. Robison was indicted on Nov. 18, 2025, and arrested Nov. 21. Now convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the one count of wire fraud and up to 10 years in prison for the money laundering charges. The FBI and Austin Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Guess and Britni Verdeja prosecuted the case. ###


title: Greenfield Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation Offense

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Jackson, TN – James Anthony Morris, 59 , was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for production of child pornography. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. The investigation in this case revealed that Morris set up a “spy camera” in one of his bedrooms at his residence in Greenfield, Tennessee and secretly recorded multiple minors in the nude and changing clothes. Morris then distributed some of the child pornographic material that he recorded on his “spy camera” to another individual via the Quora social media application. On April 1, 2026, Morris pleaded guilty to one count of employing and using a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a). On July 22, 2026, Senior United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Morris to 300 months' imprisonment and five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Additionally, Morris must comply with the conditions of the Sex Offender Registration & Notification Act (SORNA) upon his release from prison. U.S. Attorney Dunavant said, "Production of child pornography is a disturbing crime that endangers and harms real child victims. We will always seek significant sentences for such despicable and predatory behavior, and this successful prosecution has incapacitated a real threat to our children and our community in West Tennessee." “This sentence sends a clear message: HSI will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to ensure justice for victims and safeguard our communities,” said HSI Nashville Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Perez. “HSI remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting children and holding offenders accountable for their actions. Those who exploit minors and distribute child pornography will face the full consequences of the law.” “This sentence reflects the unwavering commitment of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and our local, state, and federal partners to protect children and hold those who exploit them accountable,” said TBI Director David Rausch. “We hope this outcome sends a clear message that we will continue to dedicate every available resource to investigating these crimes, pursuing justice for victims, and ensuring those who prey upon our most vulnerable residents are brought to justice.” The case was investigated by members of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the District Attorney’s Office for the 27 th Judicial District, the Greenfield Police Department, and the Martin Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Caroline Parish and Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. ### For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Sixteen Pittsburgh Residents Indicted on Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy Charges

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Sixteen residents of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on cocaine trafficking charges, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The one-count Indictment was unsealed following the arrests of the defendants today. According to the Indictment, from in and around November 2025 to in and around July 2026, the defendants conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute various quantities of cocaine base, in the form commonly known as crack, as well as mixtures or substances containing cocaine, with the amount of drugs attributable to the lead defendant in the case, DeConta Harrison, including 280 grams or more of crack cocaine. A list of the defendants and the amount of drugs attributable to each through the conspiracy is included below. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both for Harrison, and not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both for the other defendants. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Defendants : Name Age Drugs Attributed DeConta Harrison 48 280 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaine Jozef Bozeman 47 28 grams or more of cocaine base Charles Brannon 54 28 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaine Rashaan Campbell 45 28 grams or more of cocaine base Bobby Chatman 65 28 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaine Harold Jones Sr. 65 28 grams or more of cocaine base William Jones 45 28 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaine Alonzo Kidd 50 28 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaine Greg Nash 65 28 grams or more of cocaine base Jeff O’Keefe 35 28 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaine Keith Payne 50 28 grams or more of cocaine base Brandon Rodgers 41 28 grams or more of cocaine base John Malcolm Smith 44 28 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaine Tyisha Somerville 32 28 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaine Kyrie Weston 39 28 grams or more of cocaine base Deshawn Williams 44 28 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaine


title: Pittsburgh Resident Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Child Sex Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 360 months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, on his conviction of sex trafficking of a child and the production and attempted production of material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on James Clark, 39, of the Carrick neighborhood of Pittsburgh on July 20, 2026. According to information presented to the Court, Clark provided housing to a female runaway minor, and produced images of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, Clark trafficked the girl to another individual in exchange for, among other things, allowing the child to maintain shelter at his residence. Judge Wiegand sentenced Clark to 360 months in prison on one count of sex trafficking of a minor and 360 months in prison on six counts of sexual exploitation of children, with the sentences running concurrently. Clark will also have to comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Assistant United States Attorney Robert C. Schupansky prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Allegheny County Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Clark. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . If you are the victim of human trafficking or may have information about a potential trafficking situation, please call the FBI, local law enforcement, or the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year related to potential trafficking victims, suspicious behaviors, and/or locations where trafficking is suspected to occur. To submit a tip to the NHTRC online, please visit https://humantraffickinghotline.org/report-trafficking . ###


title: Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking fentanyl and cocaine, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Michael Appleton, 44, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy to possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine on May 19, 2023. Judge Hardy scheduled sentencing for December 1, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mercer County Drug Task Force, and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Appleton.


title: Homeland Security Task Force investigation leads to charges against six defendants for their roles in an Elmira drug trafficking ring

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Eric J. Barner a/k/a E a/k/a Dree, 40, Ashanique Graham a/k/a Shorty, 30, Geneno Mable, 51, Matthew R. Swinko, 28, and Ryan Palmieri, 36, all of Elmira, NY, were charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine. Charged in a separate complaint with conspiracy was Dominic Murphy, 31, also of Elmira. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life, and $10,000,000. Murphy is also charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to the criminal complaint, law enforcement began investigating the drug trafficking activities of the defendants in October 2025, as part of an ongoing narcotics trafficking investigation. Identified as the Barner Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), the defendants sold cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, using cellular phones to conduct their drug business, in the Elmira, NY, area. The DTO utilized multiple locations to store and sell narcotics including a former store front on Lake Street, and residences on Baldwin Avenue, Mulberry Street, Lackawanna Avenue, W. Thurston Street, Harper Street. During the execution of multiple search warrants, investigators seized: $152,080.57 in cash Approximately 69 grams of cocaine Approximately three grams of crack cocaine Approximately 646 grams of fentanyl Approximately 3,306 grams of methamphetamine Approximately 65 grams of psilocybin Approximately 19 grams of liquid methadone Approximately one gram of MDMA Approximately 64 grams of Clonazepam 34 firearms, including two ghost guns Two pipe bombs Soft body armor This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Buffalo comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Enforcement and Removal Operations, Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Diplomatic Security Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Marangola. The criminal complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, and the Elmira Police Department, under the direction of Chief Kristen Thorne. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Asheville Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Log Cabin Kit Scheme

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Jason Nathaniel Speier, 43, of Arden, N.C., was sentenced today to 135 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for a scheme to defraud customers who purchased log cabin kits, announced U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, Speier was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,426,072.25. Speier pleaded guilty to wire fraud on October 25, 2025. During the scheme Speier defrauded at least 24 customers and received more than $2.5 million in customer payments. According to court documents, from 2022 through 2023, Speier was the owner and president of K.I. Enterprises, Inc., doing business as “Kabens,” an unlicensed company that claimed to build log cabin homes in Western North Carolina. Court filings show that Speier executed a scheme to defraud customers by falsely representing that his business was capable of building European-sourced log cabin kits into turnkey residences. Contrary to those claims, Speier did not have a legitimate source of supply for the purported log cabin kits. Court records show that Speier falsely assured customers that he had built many cabins for satisfied customers and that he could provide references and favorable reviews. To solicit new clients, Speier developed an extensive online marketing and social media presence, advertising “complete log cabin home packages” at “affordable prices.” His advertisements also falsely promised “fast construction” and “unlimited customization.” To boost sales, Speier built a sales team and directed them to make numerous sales to customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. He also falsely claimed that customers’ down payments would be used to purchase log cabin kits and complete construction in a timely manner. According to court filings, Speier continued his fraudulent conduct even after the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors launched an investigation following multiple customer complaints. Despite the investigation, Speier incorporated a new business called “Big Timber Log Homes” and continued soliciting new customers to build turnkey cabins, even though Speier had not successfully completed a single project. At today’s sentencing hearing, one of Speier’s victims stated in court that their loss was just “a drop in the chum bucket of Jason Speier’s endless exploitation of others.” Speier is in federal custody. He will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the FBI, the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office and the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville was in charge of the prosecution.


title: Springfield CPA Sentenced for Wire Fraud and Submitting False Tax Returns

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court for one count of wire fraud and one count of filing false tax. Ray Leonard Marple, 63, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas Harpool, for one count of wire fraud and one count of submitting false taxes. Marple was sentenced to 18 months incarceration with the Bureau of Prisons for each count to run concurrently, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $415,481.50 to the victim of his embezzlement and $86,210.84 to the Internal Revenue Service, for a total amount of $501,692.34 in restitution and a final order of forfeiture in the amount of $415,481.50. This successful prosecution is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. Marple used his position as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to serve as the executor of a trust for a family. As the executor of the trust, Marple then made numerous financial transactions that resulted in him embezzling $415,481.50. In addition, Marple also repeatedly filed false tax returns in 2018, 2019, and 2020, in which he grossly understated the amount of money that he earned during those years. As a result of his false tax returns, Marple owes the United States $86,210.84 in unpaid income taxes. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. National Fraud Enforcement Division On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Gobles Man Sentenced for Selling Chinese Drugs Without FDA Approval

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Brandon Piper, age 35, of Gobles, Michigan was sentenced to 21 months in prison for conspiracy to introduce misbranded drugs into the market with the intent to defraud and mislead both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and consumers. During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker stated that his sentence was designed to send a message to Piper and to the public about the consequences of ignoring the FDA and the law. According to sentencing filings, Piper helped perpetrate an extensive scheme to import unapproved, misbranded prescription drugs, including peptides, which are popular weight loss drugs, into the United States from China for distribution to customers. The customers purchased the illicit drugs first on a Canadian website and later on Piper’s own site – www.MilestonePurity.com. Both websites claimed that the drugs were “for research purposes only” even though Piper and his co-conspirators knew that customers would be using them personally. Many of the drugs also purported to be a “Product of the USA” even though conspirators purchased them from China. Examples of the drugs sold on the websites included semaglutide and tirzepatide. Both drugs require the purchaser to have a prescription from a licensed practitioner before they can be dispensed. However, the drugs were sold without obtaining prescriptions from customers and were shipped to customers without adequate directions for use. FDA-approved semaglutide products bear a boxed warning, commonly referred to as a “black box warning,” which is the strongest warning FDA requires. This warning indicates that the drug carries a significant risk of serious or even life-threatening adverse effects. The boxed warning addresses the risk of thyroid C-cell tumors. FDA-approved tirzepatide also bears a boxed warning addressing the risk of thyroid C-Cell tumors. Piper’s drugs omitted these warnings. “Brandon Piper’s business bypassed important drug safeguards that made him a danger to his customers,” said United States Attorney Timothy VerHey. “By going around the prescription requirement, he made drugs available to his customers that are dangerous – and even deadly - when used improperly. Also, the foreign drugs Piper was selling lacked any kind of quality control and could have contained anything. Put those two factors together and you have a recipe for disaster. Because of that, my office will always treat people like Piper just like street level drug dealers.” “The FDA is committed to disrupting and dismantling the illegal sales of drugs online,” said Special Agent in Charge Ronne Malham, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Chicago Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who exploit the internet for profits with reckless disregard for the risk to public health and safety.” The FDA Office of Criminal Investigations prepared the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie M. Carowan is prosecuting it. One of Piper’s co-defendants, Mayze Nichols, is scheduled to be sentenced on related charges before United States Magistrate Judge Ray Kent on September 15, 2026.


title: Lafayette Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Cocaine Trafficking; Defendant was Identified on I-10 During Routine Traffic Stop

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: LAFAYETTE – On July 22, 2026, United States District Judge David C. Joseph sentenced Jeremy Black , 52, of Lafayette, to 84 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release for Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). According to court documents, on March 25, 2025, police initiated a traffic stop on Black’s vehicle after observing several traffic violations on Interstate 10 (I‑10), which included following too closely and improper lane usage. During an authorized search, officers found a black and gray bag containing two kilogram‑sized bundles of suspected narcotics wrapped in brown tape. A field test confirmed the presence of cocaine. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) laboratory testing later verified that the bundles contained 1,999.8 grams of cocaine, an amount consistent with large-scale trafficking operations. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Criminal Patrol Unit (LPSONU CPU) and the DEA investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte A. Murphy prosecuted the case with assistance from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle. This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Take Back America (TBA), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s agencies, and coordinates efforts with state and local law enforcement and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF), ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. Learn more about PSN at https://www.justice.gov/psn. This press release (and any updates) will be available on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla. Court documents and information can be found at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer under Case Number 6:25-CR-00192. ### Public Affairs United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Louisiana USALAW-News@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Twitter @USAO_WDLA


title: Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Boyd Clark, 42, of Beckley, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, to distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 31, 2025, Clark sold approximately 1 gram of fentanyl to a confidential informant at a Beckley hotel where Clark was staying. As part of his guilty plea, Clark admitted to conducting the transaction and further admitted to selling 1-gram quantities of fentanyl on November 5, 2025, and February 24, 2026, also in Beckley to the same confidential informant. The investigation also revealed that Clark was on federal supervised release at the time the controlled drug buys were made, as result of a previous conviction in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. Clark is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13, 2026 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department. United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:26-cr-37. ###


title: Additional West Virginia Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Against Inmates’ Rights

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A former corrections officer at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, for his role in a conspiracy in which he and other correctional officers used unreasonable force against inmates, including pretrial detainees, as a form of punishment and retaliation. Nathaniel Pack, 29, of Jumping Branch, pleaded guilty to one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 241. According to his plea agreement and during the plea hearing, Pack admitted that, beginning in about April 2020, and continuing through on or about March 1, 2022, he and other officers conspired to use unreasonable and unjustified force against inmates they believed or perceived to have engaged in misconduct. As part of this conspiracy, Pack and his co-conspirators would bring the inmates to “blind spots” in the jail – areas that were not captured on surveillance cameras – so that they could assault the inmates without being recorded and thus avoid being held accountable for their actions. Pack admitted that, during the conspiracy, he and others used unreasonable and unjustified force against inmates in “blind spots” on at least seven different occasions. Among those occasions, in November 2020, he and other co-conspirators responded to an incident in which pretrial detainee J.D.H. had been kicking his cell door. After an initial use of force incident in the cell, the defendant and others handcuffed J.D.H. and brought him to an interview room that was a known “blind spot,” where the defendant and others struck and punched J.D.H. about his body while he was handcuffed and not a threat, causing him to suffer bodily injury. In a July 2021 incident, the defendant and co-conspirators handcuffed pretrial detainee D.W.M., who had not been following officers’ verbal commands. The defendant and others brought D.W.M. to a “blind spot” interview room, where they struck him about the face and body while D.W.M. was handcuffed and not a threat, to unlawfully punish him for not following officers’ commands. As a result of these actions, D.W.M. suffered lacerations and bleeding about his head. In January 2022, the defendant brought pretrial detainee H.B. to the “blind spot” interview room, where the defendant struck H.B. in the face to punish H.B. for calling another officer a slur. The defendant and a co-conspirator then brought H.B. to a cell that he knew to be another “blind spot,” where the defendant punched H.B. repeatedly about the face and body while he was handcuffed and not a threat, causing H.B. to suffer injuries to his face. In addition, Pack admitted that on or about March 1, 2022, he responded to a call for officer assistance after pretrial detainee Q.B. attempted to push past an officer and leave his assigned pod. The defendant and co-conspirators restrained Q.B., handcuffed him, and escorted Q.B. to the “blind spot” interview room. While the co-conspirators brought Q.B. into the interview room, the defendant went into the medical unit, where he told staff to wait a few minutes before going to the interview room to evaluate Q.B. The defendant told the staff to wait because the defendant wanted to give the co-conspirators time to use unreasonable force against Q.B. inside the interview room. In addition, Pack admitted that, as part of the conspiracy, he and his co-conspirators prepared false reports in which they denied using unreasonable force and failed to document injuries that inmates sustained during use of force incidents, so that the conspirators would not be investigated or held accountable for their actions. Pack pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn. He will be sentenced on Dec. 4. According to his plea agreement, Pack faces a maximum Penalty of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Deputy Chief Christine M. Siscaretti of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:26-cr-79. ###


title: Stainless-steel components supplier pays over $1.1 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – Stafford-based Matrix Metals LLC has agreed to pay $1,175,529.20 to resolve allegations of fraudulently obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program loan for which it was ineligible. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act established the PPP to provide forgivable loans to eligible small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. To qualify for a Second Draw PPP loan, businesses generally were required to have fewer than 300 employees of affiliated entities. The settlement resolves allegations that Matrix Metals exceeded that employee threshold when it obtained a Second Draw PPP loan in January 2021 and later sought loan forgiveness. At the time, Matrix Metals was a wholly owned subsidiary of Matrix Metals Holdings Inc., which was owned by interests based in India. According to the allegations, Matrix Metals and its affiliated entities employed more than 300 people, making the company ineligible for the loan. The settlement stems from a qui tam or whistleblower complaint filed under the False Claims Act which permits a private party to file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The U.S. Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation in coordination with the Small Business Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Shaitelman is handling the matter along with Attorney Amber Perez, Office of General Counsel for the SBA. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Local woman sent to prison for unlawfully smuggling expensive poultry from Southeast Asia

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 47-year-old Aransas Pass resident has been ordered to prison for smuggling over 60 rare Dong Tao chickens into the country. Jennifer Mayo pleaded guilty July 30, 2025. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Mayo to serve 24 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony regarding the serious risk of disease that the poultry presented, the numerous dead birds found on Mayo’s property, and how Mayo repeatedly lied to law enforcement. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that Mayo’s conduct was extremely serious and put a lot of animals at risk. The investigation began in 2023 after authorities discovered Facebook messages in which Mayo discussed traveling to Southeast Asia to obtain Dong Tao chicken eggs. Dong Tao chickens aka Dragon chickens are a rare, expensive breed native to Vietnam that are recognized for their unusually large legs. Federal law prohibits the importation of poultry from regions affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza or Newcastle disease unless specific import requirements are met. Vietnam and Cambodia are among the regions subject to those restrictions. Mayo smuggled approximately 60 fertilized Dong Tao chicken eggs into the United States by concealing them on her body and in her luggage. She intended to hatch the birds and sell them for breeding, eggs, and meat. Upon questioning, Mayo falsely claimed the chickens had died. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Mayo’s residence where they discovered five surviving chickens suffering from disease, along with other dead and dying birds. The five birds were the only surviving Dong Tao chickens from the original shipment. Due to the risk of spreading disease to other flocks, veterinarians determined the birds could not be removed from the property and were humanely euthanized. As part of her plea, Mayo admitted knowing the eggs could not legally be imported into the United States. She was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Department of Agriculture, Texas Animal Health Commission, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Foster and Liesel Roscher prosecuted the case.


title: Illegal alien sentenced in cocaine conspiracy

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 48-year-old illegal alien from Mexico living in Donna has been ordered to federal prison for conspiring to traffic multiple drug loads. Hector Rodriguez-Ramos pleaded guilty Dec. 30, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Rodriguez-Ramos to serve 72 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In 2024, Rodriguez-Ramos recruited another individual to act as a drug courier for the cocaine trafficking organization. He took that person’s vehicle to a car shop associated with the conspiracy where others installed a hidden compartment. Law enforcement ultimately uncovered the conspiracy after they found 14 kilograms of cocaine in that compartment. The investigation revealed Rodriguez-Ramos coordinated multiple drug deliveries and completed a drug run himself. He was also in communication with others involved in the conspiracy during the events. Rodriguez-Ramos has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Foster and Yasmine Tucker prosecuted the case.


title: Convicted felon headed to prison after violent conduct leads to federal firearms charges

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 55-year-old Laredo man has been sentenced for illegally possessing firearms. Raymond Gutierrez pleaded guilty July 29, 2025. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Gutierrez to serve 84 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard evidence that Gutierrez used meth and engaged in violent conduct while committing the crime, including holding two individuals at gunpoint and threatening to kill them. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the seriousness of Gutierrez’s conduct and the extent of his drug use. On March 29, 2024, law enforcement responded to a domestic disturbance at Gutierrez’s ranch. They learned Gutierrez accused someone of stealing a firearm, fired a round inside the residence, pointed a firearm at the individual, and threatened a shootout. When authorities arrived, they observed Gutierrez in possession of firearms and seized a 9 mm pistol. The investigation revealed law enforcement had responded to the ranch on multiple occasions. During the incidents, they documented Gutierrez illegally possessing firearms. Following a report that Gutierrez was using meth, possessed multiple firearms, and had become increasingly violent, authorities executed a search warrant at his ranch Feb. 21, 2025, seizing six firearms, including five rifles, a shotgun, and an unregistered silencer. As a convicted felon, Gutierrez is prohibited from possessing firearms per federal law. He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of Drug Enforcement Administration and Webb County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch prosecuted the case.


title: Witness Pleads Guilty To Lying Under Oath At Federal Murder Trial

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that ASHANTI WASHINGTON, a/k/a “Shani Boni,” pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky to committing perjury at the March 2025 federal criminal trial of United States v. Kevin Perez , in which Perez, who goes by the name “Kay Flock,” was on trial for racketeering, murder, and firearm offenses. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels. “As she has now admitted, Ashanti Washington swore an oath to tell the truth while testifying in federal court, but then lied to smear a murder victim and help a gang leader try to escape accountability for his violent crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Truth under oath is central to our system of justice, and this Office is committed to protecting it.” According to the Indictment, statements made in public filings, and public court filings: On March 10, 2025, trial began in the matter of United States v. Kevin Perez , 23 Cr. 99 (LJL). At the trial, Perez faced charges of racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and possession, use, brandish, and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to the attempted murder in aid of racketeering. On March 20, 2025, the jury returned guilty verdicts as to racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder, and the firearm discharge count, and returned a not guilty verdict with respect to the murder count. Perez was sentenced principally to 30 years in prison by the U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman. On March 17 and 18, 2025, Washington testified at Perez’s trial as a witness during the defense case and lied under oath about central facts relevant to the murder charges that Perez was facing. At trial, Perez claimed that he shot and killed the victim out of self-defense. Washington, who was with Perez at the time of the killing, falsely testified that the murder victim had threatened to shoot and kill Perez. WASHINGTON’s false testimony had an immediate and direct impact on evidentiary rulings in the trial. As WASHINGTON has now admitted, the victim in fact never threatened to shoot or kill Perez. * * * WASHINGTON, 24, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty to one count of perjury at a federal criminal trial, which carries a maximum term of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations and the New York City Police Department. This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Herman, Patrick R. Moroney, and Ni Qian are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Huxley Man Convicted of Violating Migratory Bird Treaty Act

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – A federal magistrate judge in Des Moines convicted a Huxley man today for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act by intentionally striking two Canada Geese with his vehicle. According to public court documents and evidence presented at the bench trial, on March 3, 2026, Wyatt Christian Greenfield, 19, knowingly and intentionally struck two Canada Geese with his vehicle near NE 70th Avenue in Ankeny, Iowa. Greenfield was driving his truck east bound and accelerated and swerved to strike a Canada Goose in the westbound lane and then swerved back to the eastbound lane to strike a second Canada Goose. The Canada Goose is a migratory bird protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service maintains a list of birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act . Greenfield faces a maximum sentence of up to six months imprisonment or a five-year term of probation, up to a one-year term of supervised release, and up to a $15,000 fine. A date for sentencing has not yet been set. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.


title: Tugboat Captain Pleads Guilty to Seaman’s Manslaughter in Fatal Biscayne Bay Collision

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A tugboat captain has pleaded guilty to federal charges after operating a barge with obstructed visibility and without a proper lookout, causing a fatal Biscayne Bay collision that claimed the lives of three children participating in a sailing camp. “Three children lost their lives in a tragedy that never should have happened,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Yusiel Lopez Insua operated a tugboat pushing a massive barge with an obstructed view, failed to assign a lookout, and engaged in cellphone activity while underway. He admitted that his criminal failure to follow basic maritime safety rules caused this deadly collision. Our hearts remain with the children’s families and everyone whose lives were forever changed that day.” “The tragic loss of life in this case is a solemn reminder of why the U.S. Coast Guard stands the watch every day. From inspections and investigations to search and rescue, education and outreach, and partnerships across all levels of government, our mission is clear: to ensure every vessel operating in our waters is safe, legal, and prepared. We remain committed to the highest standards of maritime safety so we can prevent future tragedies and protect the people and communities who rely on our waterways” said Capt. Frank J. Florio, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Sector Miami. “This case demonstrates the critical importance of strong partnerships among federal, state, and local agencies,” said Special Agent in Charge Joshua Packer of the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), Southeast Region. “By working together, we were able to bring accountability and justice in this tragic case. Our collective efforts reflect our shared commitment to protecting lives on our nation’s waterways.” According to court records, Yusiel Lopez Insua, 46, of Miami, was piloting a 25-foot tugboat pushing a construction barge measuring 108 feet long, 28 feet wide, and 149 gross tons across Biscayne Bay on July 28, 2025. The barge, loaded with construction debris, had its forward view obstructed by a deckhouse and crane, and no crewmember had been assigned to serve as a lookout. At the same time, a sailboat carrying one counselor and five children from a nearby sailing camp lost wind and stalled in the tugboat’s path. Because Insua’s forward visibility was obstructed and no lookout had been assigned, he failed to see the stalled sailboat before the barge ran over it, submerging the sailboat beneath the barge’s hull. A forensic review of Insua’s cellphone revealed internet activity while the tugboat was underway, including at or near the time of the collision. The counselor and two children escaped after being dragged beneath the barge. Three children became trapped beneath the wreckage and drowned. Insua pleaded guilty to seaman’s manslaughter. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. CGIS, Southeast Region; USCG, Sector Miami; and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) are investigating the case. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones commends the valiant rescue efforts of the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the Miami Police Department, and the Miami Beach Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Gilfarb and Daniel Rosenfeld, along with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl, are prosecuting the case. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 26-cr-20122. ###