title: Meat Processing Plant and Four Employees Charged with Conspiring to Violate the Clean Water Act and Discharging Pollutants in Naguabo, Puerto Rico

component: ENRD - Environmental Crimes Section

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – An indictment was unsealed today charging César P. Borges-Arroyo, Neftalí Borges-Gómez, Erison Delgado-Santos, Héctor Fulgencio-Cabrera, and Ganaderos Borges Inc. (GBI), with four violations of the Clean Water Act as well as conspiring to violate the Clean Water Act. The charges relate to the discharge of pollutants from GBI into the waters of the United States. GBI is a corporation in Naguabo, Puerto Rico, that operates a slaughterhouse and meat processing plant. The operations encompass receiving and holding live animals for slaughter, butchering animals (bleeding), initial processing of animals, and operations that produce consumer-ready meat products. According to the indictment, the defendants conspired for the benefit of GBI, to knowingly discharge a pollutant — specifically wastewater from the meat processing waste retention lagoon — into waters of the United States without having obtained a Clean Water Act permit. “We allege that this meat processing plant and at least four of its employees conspired to pump animal flesh, blood, and feces into a creek that flows to the ocean and a public beach,” said Principal Deputy Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The conduct alleged here sacrifices public health for economic gain, and it is a crime. The Department of Justice will hold violators accountable.” “GBI repeatedly and intentionally violated the Clean Water Act by discharging untreated wastes into the Caribbean Sea at Tropical Beach in Naguabo,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Héctor Ramírez Carbó for the District of Puerto Rico. “This prosecution sends the message that those who purposely undermine federal environmental laws and endanger the environment and Puerto Rico communities will face felony prosecution for their illegal conduct.” “The defendants’ willfully disregarded the complete prohibition on discharges under the Clean Water Act and knowingly sent a disgusting sludge of animal blood and waste, and cleaning products into the Caribbean Sea, only miles from nature preserves, beaches, and a military base. Illegal discharges such as these cause serious harm, jeopardizing the safety and health of the water, wildlife, and human health,” said Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “EPA will ensure that polluters who blight our communities and coastal waters will be held accountable.” Starting in August 2018 and continuing through at least September 2025, GBI president Borges-Arroyo and GBI operator Borges-Gómez directed employees including, but not limited to, Delgado-Santos and Fulgencio-Cabrera to discharge liquid waste from GBI’s waste retention lagoon towards an adjacent creek. They did this by using a submersible pump placed in the waste retention lagoon and connected to a hose, attempting to avoid millions of dollars in annual waste removal costs. GBI generated waste from various on-site processes, including animal intake, slaughtering, hide removal, butchering, and cleaning. The waste included animal blood, hair, tissue, and feces, as well as grease, wastewater, disinfectant, and other liquids used inside the GBI slaughterhouse and processing areas. The mixed waste flowed from the facility to a discharge pipe that emptied into a waste retention lagoon located on the southwest corner of the GBI property. The western edge of the waste retention lagoon is adjacent to a creek which travels approximately half-a-mile to the Caribbean Sea at Tropical Beach in Naguabo, Puerto Rico. GBI held a non-discharge wastewater treatment permit that required liquid waste to be hauled from the facility to a disposal facility. At no time was any waste permitted to be discharged on-site or to any other body of water. The permit expired on July 31, 2019, and they continued to violate the Clean Water Act until at least September 2025. To conceal the illegal waste discharge, the defendants hid the submersible pump and hose when it was not being used and provided false and misleading statements and documents to authorities to hide the illegal activities. The defendants are scheduled to appear before Magistrate Judge Héctor Ramos Vega of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico for their respective initial appearances. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and $250,000 in fines for each charge. GBI faces a maximum penalty of $500,000 in fines per charge. EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case with assistance from the FBI. EPA and FBI participate in the Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Environmental Crimes Task Force. Senior Trial Attorney Patrick M. Duggan of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth A. Erbe for the District of Puerto Rico are prosecuting the case. Report possible violations of environmental laws and regulations at epa.gov/tips . You can provide tips anonymously if you do not want to identify yourself. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Convictions through Guilty Pleas and Sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (August 3 through August 7, 2026)

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

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of August 3 through August 7, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations—including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations. Convictions through Guilty Pleas: On August 3, 2026, Adrián Maldonado-Hernández pleaded guilty to Count 5 in Criminal Case 25-397 (GMM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with attempting to conduct the delivery of $485,000 in US Currency. Defendant was arrested on October 9, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for November 2, 2026. SAUSA Cody McKinney is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 3, 2026, Felicia López pleaded guilty to Count 1 in Criminal Case 24-314 (CVR). According to the information, the defendant was charged with knowingly and illegally attempting to enter the United States, in violation of 8 USC § 1325(a)(1). Defendant was arrested on August 12, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for September 14, 2026. SAUSA Cody McKinney is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 3, 2026, Eulise Muñoz entered a straight plea for Counts 1 and 2 in Criminal Case 26-230 (CVR). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with having boarded, entered and secreted himself aboard a vessel, while transiting near the Dominican Republic, outside the jurisdiction of the United States, with the intent of obtaining transportation and without the consent of the owner, charterer, master and person in command of said vessel and with Improper Entry by an Alien in violation of 8 U.S.C. 1325(a)(1). Defendant was arrested on May 26, 2026. The defendant was sentenced on the same date, August 3, 2026, to time served to Counts 1 and 2, to be served concurrently with each other. SAUSA Cody McKinney is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 4, 2026, Luis Escalera-Santiago pleaded guilty to Count One in Criminal Case 25-342 (RAM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. Defendant was arrested on July 29, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for November 3, 2026. AUSA Camille García-Jiménez is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 4, 2026, Luis R. Pérez-Vizcarrondo, a.k.a. “Tío/Raúl” pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with participating in a drug trafficking organization that worked out of various public housing projects in the Carolina and San Juan municipalities, including the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. Defendant was arrested on December 13, 2024. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for November 5, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 4, 2026, Wesley De Jesús-Serrano pleaded guilty to Count 1 in Criminal Case 25-365 (RAM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with a 5-year conspiracy to traffic narcotics. Defendant was arrested on September 11, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for November 3, 2026. AUSA Andrés Orr is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 4, 2026, Edicson M. Hernández-Marín entered a straight plea to all drug related charges in Criminal Case 25-326 (RAM). According to the indictment on October 13, 2024, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to import cocaine; importation of cocaine; conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine- all in excess of 5 kilos of cocaine; failure to heave; and improper entry by an alien. Defendant was arrested on July 12, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for November 3, 2026. AUSA Luis A. Valentín is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 4, 2026, Jomar Javier Cruz-Santiago pleaded guilty to Counts Five and Six in Criminal Case 25-415 (ADC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute it and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Defendant was arrested on October 6, 2025. AUSA Joseph Russell is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 5, 2026, Carlos Cruz-Villanueva pleaded guilty to Count 1 in Criminal Case 26-079 (RAM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with the destruction or removal of property to prevent a search or seizure in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2232(a). Defendant was arrested on February 26, 2026. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for November 3, 2026. SAUSA Cody McKinney is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 5, 2026, Karla Donnachella-Estevez pleaded guilty to Count 1 in Criminal Case 26-079 (RAM). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with the destruction or removal of property to prevent a search or seizure in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2232(a). Defendant was arrested on February 27, 2026. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for November 3, 2026. SAUSA Cody McKinney is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 6, 2026, Bryan Joel Díaz-Hernández pleaded guilty to Counts One and Seven in Criminal Case 25-272 (SCC). According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Defendant was arrested on July 10, 2025. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. Sentencings: On August 3, 2026, Christian Maldonado-López, a.k.a. “Ninja,” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gina Méndez-Miró to 10 years of imprisonment for participating in a drug trafficking organization that operated in and around the Manatí area, and principally out of the Enrique Zorilla Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 20, 2023, in Criminal Case 23-353 (GMM), and pleaded guilty on April 28, 2026. AUSAs Joseph Russell and Andrés Orr are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 4, 2026, Carmen Midalma Paulino-González was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Antongiorgi-Jordán to 72 hours of imprisonment and three years on supervised release for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute at least 400 grams but less than 500 grams of cocaine. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on January 15, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-012 (MAJ), and pleaded guilty on April 22, 2026. AUSAs María Semanaz Ojeda and Camille García Jiménez were in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 4, 2026, Kevin E. Soto-Peña, a.k.a. “Mostri” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Antongiorgi-Jordán to 11 years in prison for his participation in a drug trafficking organization that worked out of various Public Housing Projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, principally the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ), and pleaded guilty on May 7, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 4, 2026, Gerald O. Rodríguez-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Patrón” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Antongiorgi-Jordán to 11 years in prison for his participation in a drug trafficking organization that worked out of various Public Housing Projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, principally the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ), and pleaded guilty on May 5, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 4, 2026, Giancarlo Alamo-Colón was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado-Hernández to 145 months of imprisonment to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release for conspiring and attempting to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, making a false statement to an agency of the United States, and aggravated identity theft. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on October 30, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-412 (PAD), and pleaded guilty on March 24, 2026. AUSA Lani Lear is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 5, 2026, Valerie Mary Feijoo-Otero was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Aida M. Delgado Colón to time served and three years of supervised release for conspiring to possess and possession with intent to distribute ten kilograms of cocaine. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on May 1, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-218 (ADC), and pleaded guilty on November 17, 2025. AUSA Camille García Jiménez was in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 5, 2026, Edwin Gabriel Vázquez-Colón, a.k.a. “Cuco,” was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Raúl Arias-Marxuach to 105 months and 20 days of imprisonment for his participation in a violent drug trafficking organization that operated principally in the Jardines de Sellés Public Housing Project in San Juan, PR. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on May 8, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-170 (RAM), and pled guilty to the charges on April 22, 2026. AUSA Joseph Russell is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 5, 2026, Ramsell Maldonado-Tatis, a.k.a. “R” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Antongiorgi-Jordán to 150 months in prison for his participation in a drug trafficking organization that worked out of various Public Housing Projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, principally the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ), and pleaded guilty on May 12, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 5, 2026, Carlos A. Delgado-Torres, a.k.a. “Peter/Papi/Papá Candela” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Antongiorgi-Jordán to 60 months in prison for his participation in a drug trafficking organization that worked out of various Public Housing Projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, principally the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ), and pleaded guilty on May 12, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 5, 2026, United States District Court Judge Aida Delgado Colón sentenced Henry Junior Guerrero-Medina to 30 months imprisonment with a supervised release term of five years on Count One of indictment charging conspiracy to import cocaine in excess of 150 kilograms of cocaine and a concurrent term of six months imprisonment on Count Eight: improper entry by alien. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on May 8, 2025, in Criminal Case 25-226 (ADC), and pleaded guilty to the charge(s) on December 8, 2025. AUSA Luis A. Valentín is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 6, 2026, William E. Boria-Rosa, a.k.a. “Boria” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Antongiorgi-Jordán to 78 months in prison for his participation in a drug trafficking organization that worked out of various Public Housing Projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, principally the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2024, in criminal case 24-453 (MAJ), and pleaded guilty on May 12, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 6, 2026, Orlando Resto-García, a.k.a. “Luli/Potala” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Antongiorgi-Jordán to 138 months in prison for his participation in a drug trafficking organization that worked out of various Public Housing Projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, principally the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2024, in criminal case 24-453 (MAJ), and pleaded guilty on May 12, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 6, 2026, United States District Court Judge Aida Delgado Colón sentenced Ramón Arismendi Hernández-Coplin to 120 months imprisonment on count three of indictment charging conspiracy to import cocaine in the amount of approximately 150 kilograms of cocaine and a supervised release term of five years. According to court documents, defendant was charged by a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico on November 6, 2024, in criminal case 24-416 (ADC), and pled guilty to the charge on April 22, 2026. AUSA Luis A. Valentín is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 6, 2026, Maycol A. Franco was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Silvia Carreño Coll to 96 months of imprisonment to be followed by 8 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on June 11, 2026, in Criminal Case 25-272 (SCC) and pleaded guilty on May 8, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz-González and Andrés Orr in charge of the prosecution of the case. These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department. ###


title: Mexican Man Indicted for Using a Counterfeit Foreign Passport to Deceive American Victims and Launder Money

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A federal grand jury returned a 20-count indictment today charging a Mexican national, who is illegally present in the United States, for allegedly using a counterfeit passport as identification to open a bank account and launder proceeds from online vehicle sales. "Today’s federal indictment dismantles a sophisticated car theft ring of swindlers who targeted vintage vehicles and exploited our financial systems for illicit profit,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “The Department of Justice and our federal law enforcement partners will use every tool at our disposal—from advanced cyber tracing to asset forfeiture—to disrupt this organized theft ring, secure justice for the victims, and ensure that these swindlers face the full weight of federal prosecution." “Criminals who hide behind fake identities, shell companies and online scams to steal from hardworking people should know they are not beyond the reach of law enforcement,” said Jonathan Sherwin, Deputy Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations Las Vegas. “Through the Homeland Security Task Force, HSI Las Vegas and our partners will continue to follow the money, expose these schemes and hold fraudsters accountable wherever their victims may be.” According to allegations in the indictment, Jose Carlos Dalli Castro, also known as “Julio Castro Lopez,” “Mario Mejia Rojas,” “Alberto Silva Valdez,” Mike Boris Oganov,” and “Amer Daoud Panou,” used a counterfeit Spanish passport to open a personal checking account with the intention to launder money through the bank account. As part of the wire fraud scheme, Dalli Castro advertised vehicles for sale online which either did not exist or to which he had no ownership interest. He would set up shell corporations and bank accounts in the names of those shell corporations to appear legitimate. Dalli Castro would wire funds from buyers to the accounts in the name of a shell corporation. He would then quickly drain the bank account and abscond with the wired funds never intending to deliver the advertised vehicle. Victims were from Pennsylvania, California, Louisiana, Ohio, New York, and Massachusetts. Dalli Castro is charged with one count of false use of a passport; seven counts of wire fraud; nine counts of money laundering; and three counts of fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents. If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty is 10 years’ imprisonment. Arraignment has been scheduled for August 21, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Task Force consisting of special agents with the FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, IRS-CI, the Las Vegas Metro Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and Nevada Gaming Commission. The case is being prosecuted by the District of Nevada. 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 U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Las Vegas HSTF comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Grand Jury Indicts Romanian National for Identity Theft

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Romanian national, illegally present in the United States, was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Las Vegas for allegedly using a counterfeit foreign passport and other documents as part of a fraud scheme to steal money from American victims. “A false identity may help a fraudster gain a victim’s trust, but it will not shield them from federal prosecution,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Those who use counterfeit identities, sham businesses, and online marketplaces to swindle Americans out of their hard-earned money will be pursued and held accountable.” “Fraud schemes built on counterfeit identities are designed to look legitimate while stealing from unsuspecting victims,” said Jonathan Sherwin, Deputy Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations Las Vegas. “Through the Homeland Security Task Force, HSI Las Vegas and our partners will continue to expose criminals who use fake documents and online marketplaces to deceive the public and profit from fraud.” According to court documents, on February 26, 2026, Eustatiu Brat, also known as “Bosko Obradovic,” allegedly possessed and used a counterfeit Canadian passport and Quebec driver’s license. As alleged, the counterfeit passport was part of a larger scheme to advertise vehicles for sale online and to swindle victims of their money. Brat is charged with one count of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, the statutory penalty is a mandatory two-year period of imprisonment to be served consecutively to any other sentence. Arraignment has been scheduled for August 21, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Task Force consisting of special agents with the FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, IRS-CI, the Las Vegas Metro Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and Nevada Gaming Commission. The case is being prosecuted by the District of Nevada. 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 U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Las Vegas HSTF comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Shiprock Man Charged with Assault and Assaulting Federal Officers

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man is facing federal charges after he allegedly strangled a victim during two separate incidents, then threatened and injured officers following his arrest. According to court documents, on July 18, 2026, Lonnie Begaye , 41, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly assaulted Jane Doe at a residence in Shiprock, New Mexico. During an argument, Begaye allegedly strangled the victim, making it difficult for her to breathe. The victim's mother, who uses a wheelchair, reportedly attempted to intervene before police arrived and took Begaye into custody. The investigation further revealed that this was not an isolated incident. During interviews with investigators, the victim reported that on or about May 19, 2026, Begaye allegedly attacked her near an irrigation canal in Shiprock. She stated that Begaye strangled her with both hands, causing her to nearly lose consciousness. The victim reported suffering dizziness, soreness, and other effects after the assault and believed Begaye intended to kill her. After his arrest on July 18, Begaye allegedly resisted officers, threatened one officer's family, spit blood onto an officer's face, and injured a second officer during a struggle. Both officers sought medical treatment for their injuries. During a post-arrest interview with investigators, Begaye allegedly stated that he blacked out from alcohol and could not remember the July 18 incident. However, he admitted to previously strangling the victim. Begaye is charged with two counts of assault by strangulation and assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer. He will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charge, Begaye faces up to 10 years in prison. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Arizona Man Sentenced for Federal Assault and Firearms Offenses

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona man was sentenced to 76 months in prison for assaulting a woman with a rifle after she tried to intervene in a suspected domestic violence incident. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on August 24, 2024, Jane Doe 2 saw Curley Nakai Jr. , 25, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, engage in what she believed was a domestic violence incident involving Jane Doe 1. Concerned, she followed the pickup truck in which Nakai was a passenger to the Basha’s grocery store parking lot. At the parking lot, Nakai exited the truck carrying a rifle, made threatening gestures toward Jane Doe 2, including pointing the rifle at her, and told her to leave. Jane Doe 2 drove some distance away but remained in the parking lot. During the incident, Jane Doe 1 exited the vehicle and walked away. Nakai pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Upon his release from prison, Nakai will be subject to five years of supervised release. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.


title: Passaic County Convicted Felon Sentenced to 15 Years for Firearms and Narcotics Offenses

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County man was sentenced on August 5, 2026, to 180 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release for firearms and narcotics offenses, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. David Reams, 37, of Paterson, was convicted by a federal jury on January 27, 2026, of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime following a trial before U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler in Newark federal court. Judge Chesler also imposed the sentence. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On May 6, 2024, Paterson Police Department observed Reams conducting movements consistent with possession of a firearm. When Paterson detectives attempted to stop Reams, he attempted to flee. Paterson detectives ultimately recovered a 9-millimeter pistol, loaded with an extended magazine, as well as over 450 individual doses of fentanyl and crack cocaine from Reams’s person. Reams was previously convicted in 2017 of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Judge Chesler sentenced him to serve 103 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for that offense, and Reams was serving that term of supervised release at the time he committed the May 6, 2024 offenses. On August 5, 2026, Judge Chesler also sentenced Reams to a concurrent term of 24 months imprisonment for violating his prior term of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer credited with the investigation special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka, as well as the Paterson Police Department, under the direction of Officer in Charge Patrick Murray, with the investigation leading to this conviction. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Kober, of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit, and Daniel H. Rosenblum, of the Narcotics and International Trafficking Unit. ### Defense counsel: John McMahon, Esq.


title: New York Resident Admits to Racketeering Conspiracy

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Silvia Vasquez Rivera, 29, of Queens, New York, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit a pattern of racketeering activity that included attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery of United States Postal Service (USPS) mail carriers, and wire fraud in furtherance of a scheme to steal mail, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Vasquez was the leader of a fraud enterprise that used illegally acquired USPS keys to open USPS collection boxes, steal mail, and then deposit or sell stolen checks. Vasquez and other enterprise members conspired to steal mail on at least approximately 100 occasions, and posted for online sale more than 1,400 checks totaling more than $2.8 million. In May 2023, after Victim-1 unsuccessfully brokered an investment in Victim-1’s luxury car business, Vasquez conspired to kidnap Victim-1, paid a group of masked men to assault Victim-1, took Victim-1 from New York to New Jersey and back, and held Victim-1 for ransom, releasing Victim-1 only after Victim-1’s family and friends made a ransom payment. In March 2024, after Vasquez was robbed of enterprise proceeds, Vasquez directed other enterprise members to shoot guns into a vehicle in the Bronx, New York, that Vasquez believed contained the person responsible for robbing her. In August 2024, Vasquez directed other enterprise members to steal keys from two USPS mail carriers. One victim mail carrier was assaulted, requiring hospitalization, and the conspirators brandished a gun at the other victim mail carrier. The charge of conspiracy to commit a pattern of racketeering activity carries a potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for December 10, 2026. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited postal inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen; the New York Police Department, under the direction of Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch; the NYPD-FBI Metro Safe Streets Task Force, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to enhance the identification, apprehension, and prosecution of individuals involved in gang-related activities, violent crime, and drug distribution in and around the greater New York City area; and the Englewood Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas Greeley. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli Jacobs of the Criminal Division in Newark. ### Defense counsel: Javier Solano, Esq. vasquez.information.pdf


title: Dallas-based physician staffing and emergency services companies agree to pay $3.5 million to resolve allegations involving paycheck protection program loans

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: DALLAS – Dallas-based Integrative Emergency Services Physician Group, PA, along with its affiliated management service organization Integrative Emergency Services, LLC, agreed to pay $3.5 million to resolve allegations that the companies violated the False Claims Act by applying for and receiving loans that they were not eligible for in the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Congress created the PPP in March 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide emergency loans to small businesses suffering economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether an applicant qualified for a PPP loan depended on various factors, including employee-count size standards for applicants. The two Integrative Emergency Services entities applied for and received PPP loans in the combined principal amount of approximately $2.8 million in 2021, and the loans were later forgiven in full. The government contended, however, that the companies were not qualified small businesses eligible for these loans because they were related entities and collectively exceeded the applicable size standard. “It is a priority of my office to root out fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs wherever they can be found,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “We will tirelessly pursue the recovery of any federal funds that were obtained by ineligible entities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and I commend the Small Business Administration for its partnership with my office and its continuing dedication to this important work on behalf of the American taxpayer.” The settlement resolved a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit is case number 3:25-CV-1246-B in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, and the qui tam relator, Blockquote, Inc., will receive approximately $350,000 in connection with the settlement. This year, the Trump Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s False Claims Act enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. False Claims Act matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s False Claims work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Javan Porter, together with Attorney Amber Perez, Office of General Counsel for the Small Business Administration. The civil claims settled by the agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of civil liability . ###


title: Dallas-Based Bus Companies Settle PPP Lawsuit for $3.9 Million

body_text: DALLAS – Tornado Bus Company, Inc. and El Expreso Group, LLC, two affiliated Dallas-based bus companies that operate numerous international bus routes between the United States and Mexico, agreed to pay $3.9 million to resolve allegations that the companies violated the False Claims Act by applying for and receiving loans that they were not eligible for in the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Congress created the PPP in March 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide emergency loans to small businesses suffering economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether an applicant qualified for a PPP loan depended on various factors, including employee-count size standards for applicants. Tornado Bus and El Expreso applied for and received PPP loans in the combined principal amount of approximately $2.8 million in 2021, which loans were later forgiven in full. The government contended, however, that Tornado Bus and El Expreso were not qualified small businesses eligible for these loans because they were related entities and collectively exceeded the applicable size standard. “PPP loans were meant to provide a much-needed helping hand to Main Street America by assisting small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic—with an emphasis on ‘small,’” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Our office is committed to aggressively pursuing PPP loan recipients who were ineligible to participate in the program, whether because of their size or for any other reason.” The settlement resolved a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit is case number 3:25-CV-3101-N in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, and the qui tam relator, Blockquote, Inc., will receive $390,000 in connection with the settlement. This year, the Trump Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s False Claims Act enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. False Claims Act matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s False Claims work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Najib Gazi, together with Attorney Amber Perez, Office of General Counsel for the Small Business Administration. The civil claims settled by the agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of civil liability . ###


title: Tulsa Man Sentenced for Strangling Girlfriend

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa man was sentenced for strangling his girlfriend, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson sentenced Robert Alan Wickham, 39, of Tulsa, for Assault of an Intimate/Dating Partner by Strangling and Attempting to Strangle in Indian Country. Wickman was ordered to serve 46 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. According to court documents, Wickman physically abused his girlfriend for years, as evidenced by a lengthy criminal history for domestic abuse. In June 2025, his girlfriend was subpoenaed to testify in a court proceeding about the abuse. Wickman’s girlfriend told him that she had been subpoenaed. A few days later, Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police officers were dispatched to their home because Wickman struck and strangled his girlfriend again. This also violated a no-contact order that had been issued in a pending domestic violence case against Wickman in tribal court. Court documents show that Wickman’s criminal history spans nearly 20 years and includes four prior domestic violence convictions. Wickman is a citizen of the Navajo Tribe and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The FBI and Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd prosecuted the case. If you think that you or a loved one may be in an abusive relationship, Domestic Violence Intervention Services offers services for all survivors. You can call the 24-hour information and crisis line at (918) 743-5763 or (918) 7-HELP-ME for more information. You can also get more information by texting our 8 PM to 1 AM Text Line: Text SAFE to 207-777


title: South Bend Man Sentenced to 135 Months in Prison For Controlled Substance Offense

body_text: SOUTH BEND – De’Angelo Alexander, 28 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Alexander was sentenced to 135 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. “The Defendant acted as a drug wholesaler of the most dangerous drugs and guns on the streets of our Indiana communities. The amount of dangerous drugs he distributed endangered hundreds of Hoosiers and made our neighborhoods less safe. Alexander sold 77 grams of pure methamphetamine to another person. On other occasions he sold 416 grams and 445 grams of pure methamphetamine to different people. Investigators then obtained a federal search warrant for Alexander’s home and recovered an additional 119 grams of methamphetamine. Spending over eleven years in federal prison will remove this continual threat from our streets and give him much needed time to reprioritize his life decisions. Thanks to the strong partnerships and efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Bend Police Department, and the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office, our streets are safer, and our communities are stronger,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Local law enforcement partnerships with the South Bend Police Department and the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office were instrumental in the success of this case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities . ###


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 8 Months in Prison For Felony Illegal Reentry of a Removed Alien

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: HAMMOND – Hector Manuel Retana-Garcia, 29 years old, of Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to felony Reentry of a Removed Alien, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Retana-Garcia was sentenced to 8 months in prison, followed by 1 year of supervised release. Because he has no legal status in the United States, Retana-Garcia will be subject to a separate and immediate removal process upon his release from prison. The supervised release term will go into effect if Retana-Garcia remains in, or returns to, the United States within that period. “The Defendant was a member of the Sureños 13 – a violent organization with ties to the Mexican Mafia prison gang – and he has the tattoos to prove it,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred. “He was previously convicted of two felony counts in North Carolina, and ICE removed him from the country after he served time in prison for those offenses. Instead of staying home in Mexico, he came back to the United States illegally. The Defendant has repeatedly violated our Nation’s borders, laws and sovereignty. This successful prosecution highlights the critical partnership between local and federal law enforcement and serves as a firm warning to violent offenders who violate U.S. immigration law,” Mildred said. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Francis Sohn.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 8 Months in Prison For Assaulting a Federal Officer

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Santos Duron Cisneros, 36 years old, of Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to assault of a federal officer, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Duron Cisneros was sentenced to 8 months in prison. “An violent illegal alien who assaulted a federal officer was sent to prison for his inexcusable acts. Duron Cisneros violated our nation’s borders, laws, and sovereignty when he entered the United States illegally and doubled down when he assaulted an ICE ERO officer. In February 2026, a federal officer with Immigration Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO) was transporting Duron Cisneros and two other individuals in a vehicle. During the transport, Duron Cisneros became combative, verbally abusive, and physically assaulted another person in the car. Duron Cisneros then resisted the federal officer’s attempts to intervene. He kicked at the officer and made contact with the officer’s hands as the officer deflected the kick. Duron Cisneros also tried to headbutt the officer. Thanks to the efforts of the Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration Customs Enforcement, and Assistant United States Attorneys Lydia T. Lucius and Teresa L. Ashcraft, the Defendant has been held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred. This case is part of the nationwide National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 initiative, which is a White House directed, interagency effort to integrate federal, state, and local partners in protecting First Amendment rights while targeting individuals and organizations engaged in political violence and is led by the investigative and prosecutorial Joint Task Force Vanguard.


title: Waterloo Man Sentenced to Federal Prison  for Escaping from Custody

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who escaped from custody was sentenced today to more than a year in federal prison. Nicholas Robert Campbell-Scott, age 29, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 4, 2026, guilty plea to escape from custody. Information at sentencing showed that, in January 2026, Campbell-Scott cut his ankle monitor and fled from the Gerald R. Hinzman Center, a residential re‑entry center in Cedar Rapids. Law enforcement officers arrested Campbell‑Scott six days later in Coralville, Iowa. At the time of his escape, Campbell-Scott was serving a federal prison sentence for possession of a firearm by a felon. He has past convictions for escape and absence from custody. Campbell-Scott was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Campbell-Scott was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Campbell-Scott is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Iowa Department of Corrections. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 26-CR-2. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Oelwein Felon Sentenced for Illegally Possessing 20 Guns

body_text: A felon who possessed 20 firearms illegally was sentenced on August 11, 2026, to 12 months and one day in federal prison. Timothy Parrish, age 65, from Oelwein, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 4, 2026, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Information at sentencing showed that, in August 2025, Parrish retrieved 20 firearms from a residence and began to drive home with them. Law enforcement officers initiated a traffic stop on Parrish’s vehicle, and officers found the guns. Parrish is a felon with convictions in state court for corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant, false imprisonment, and driving under the influence. Parrish also has a prior conviction for felon in possession of a firearm. Parrish was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Parrish was sentenced to 12 months and one day imprisonment and must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Parrish was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on Monday, August 31, 2026. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Oelwein Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 26-CR-2005. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Dubuque Man Convicted of Federal Offense After

body_text: A man who tried to enter a city council meeting armed with a gun was convicted by a jury on August 11, 2026, after a one-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Austin Andrew Goodman, age 42, from Dubuque, Iowa, was convicted of possessing a firearm while prohibited after he had been committed to a mental institution. The evidence at trial showed Goodman entered a building in Dubuque, Iowa, on March 3, 3025, while wearing a suit, an American flag on his shoulders, tape over his mouth, and a loaded firearm on his hip. Goodman had his two dogs on leashes when he entered the building and attempted to enter the city council chambers where a meeting was occurring. Goodman was live streaming his entry into the building on Facebook. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Goodman remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Goodman faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and was investigated by the Dubuque Police Department, the Dubuque Sheriff’s Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-cr-1039. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Cedar Rapids Felon Sent to Prison for Possessing Gun

body_text: A man who possessed a firearm as a felon was sentenced today to more than a year in federal prison. Tony Ray Pledge, age 58, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a February 12, 2026, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon. Information at sentencing showed that, in August 2025, law enforcement stopped a car that Pledge was driving in Cedar Rapids. Officers searched the car and found a loaded firearm, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana. Pledge has a prior federal felony conviction for possessing a firearm as a felon. He has other drug-related convictions, as well as a conviction for assault. Pledge was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Pledge was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Pledge is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Marion Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-80. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Violent Drug Dealer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Kilograms of Fentanyl Hidden in Car Batteries, Fentanyl Pills, and Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ATLANTA - Gabriel Ojeda Murguia, a violent criminal with a history of hurting other people, was sentenced to nine years in prison after his conviction for trafficking over 25 kilograms of fentanyl and other drugs in the Atlanta area. “The obscene amount of fentanyl Murguia possessed posed a significant threat to public health and public safety. If law enforcement had not stopped it from hitting the street, this poison could have ended tens of thousands of lives,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “The success of this operation came from the coordinated teamwork of multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in our Homeland Security Task Force.” “Murguia was moving an extraordinary amount of fentanyl into our communities, putting countless lives at risk for profit,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This investigation and sentencing demonstrate the impact we can have when federal, state, and local law enforcement work together to stop dangerous drugs before they reach the streets.” “This sentence demonstrates what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies work together with a common goal, which is protecting our communities from the deadly threat of fentanyl,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Our joint law enforcement efforts with the Homeland Security Task Force will continue to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those responsible for trafficking these dangerous drugs. Together, we are working toward safer communities and a Fentanyl-Free America.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between April 2024 and April 2025, Gabriel Ojeda Murguia, a/k/a “Taliban,” sold fentanyl and methamphetamine on several occasions in Gwinnett County. Over two transactions, Murguia sold more than 100 grams of fentanyl powder. In another, he sold over 2,000 fentanyl pills. He had previously sold a kilogram of methamphetamine for $2,700 and offered to sell cocaine for $18,000 per kilogram. On April 17, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on a Lilburn, Georgia residence after observing Murguia enter the home. During the search, agents found approximately 25 kilograms of fentanyl and cocaine, including at least 15 kilograms of fentanyl hidden inside vehicle batteries. Murguia and another man were both arrested that same day. Murguia was previously convicted of battery and family violence battery. On August 12, 2026, United States District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. sentenced Gabriel Ojeda Murguia, a/k/a Taliban, 46, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, to nine years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Murguia was convicted on May 4, 2026, after he pleaded guilty to possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute, possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and conspiring to possess fentanyl with the intent to distribute. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with substantial assistance from the Gwinnett County Police Department and the Georgia State Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas M. Forsyth III and Sara Lim prosecuted 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 Atlanta comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Two Cartersville Men and a Chinese National Indicted for Forced Labor and Related Offenses

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ROME, Ga. - Zhu Chen, the owner of Cartersville-based flooring manufacturer Wellmade Industries; his nephew, Jiayi Chen; and Jianjun Lu, a Chinese national, face federal charges of forced labor, conspiracy to commit forced labor, and alien harboring arising from alleged illegal operations at Wellmade Industries. “The defendants allegedly threatened foreign workers with physical violence, deportation, and crippling debt; forced them to work lengthy shifts; and housed them in overcrowded and dirty residences,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office will ensure that predators who traffic at-risk laborers and violate our immigration laws to enrich themselves are investigated, apprehended, and prosecuted.” “The federal indictment of Zhu Chen, Jiayi Chen, and Jianjun Lu marks an important step forward in our pursuit of justice for the victims in this alleged forced labor scheme,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI and our law enforcement partners remain focused on uncovering labor trafficking networks, protecting victims, and holding accountable those who use coercion, threats, and exploitation to profit from vulnerable individuals.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg and the charges: Zhu Chen, together with Jiayi Chen and Jianjun Lu, recruited Chinese nationals through false pretenses to enter the United States on B-1 and L-1 visas to work at Wellmade Industries, a flooring manufacturer in Cartersville, Georgia. Upon the victims’ arrivals into the United States, the defendants allegedly made them work twelve-hour shifts for six days a week in unsafe factory conditions, paid them less than promised, and threatened deportation and the imposition of sizeable debts if they stopped working at the factory. The defendants allegedly also housed aliens in residences owned by Wellmade, knowing those aliens did not have legal status in the United States. Yesterday, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Zhu Chen, 60, and Jiayi Chen, 31, both of Cartersville, Georgia, and Jianjun Lu, 55, of China, with conspiracy to commit forced labor and forced labor. Zhu Chen is also charged with alien harboring. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bartow County Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leanne Marek and Jennifer Keen, and Trial Attorney Elizabeth Hutson of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, are prosecuting the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Justice Department Awards Nearly $290 Million to Improve Safety, Including More Than $12 Million for Northern District of Florida

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: WASHINGTON ―The Bureau of Justice Assistance, a component under the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, awarded almost $290 million to support state, local, and tribal governments in criminal justice activities to keep American communities safe. United States Attorney John P. Heekin of the Northern District of Florida highlighted nearly $12.5 million in grant monies were awarded to law enforcement components operating within the Northern District of Florida. The awards, provided through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, represent the nation’s leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. territories. For more than 20 years, the JAG program has provided critical funding to support law enforcement’s ability to protect the communities they serve, supporting critical needs such as personnel, equipment and supplies, technology, training, information systems for criminal justice or civil proceedings, and other operational priorities. JAG funding also supports a wide range of programs that strengthen crime prevention efforts and enhance the effectiveness of prosecutors, courts, corrections agencies, and services for crime victims and witnesses. “This funding strengthens our state, local, and tribal partners’ ability to address violent crime, support officers on the front lines, and keep our Nation’s communities safe,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley E. Woodward Jr. “The JAG Program continues to provide essential resources that help jurisdictions meet today’s public safety threats and uphold the rule of law.” U.S. Attorney Heekin said, “Our state and local law enforcement partners are vital to my office’s mission to eradicate crime within the Northern District of Florida. Through these grant awards, the Department of Justice is making critical investments in the brave men and women of Florida’s law enforcement agencies who stand on the front lines in the fight against crime to keep our communities safe.” JAG Program awards will be used in support of the following law enforcement agencies within the Northern District of Florida: Florida Department of Law Enforcement, based in Tallahassee, Florida; Alachua County Sheriff’s Office; Bay County Sheriff’s Office; Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; Leon County Sheriff’s Office; Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office; Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office; Gainesville Police Department; Panama City Police Department; Panama City Beach Police Department; Pensacola Police Department; Tallahassee Police Department In addition to foundational uses of JAG funds, specific areas of emphasis were included to the JAG funding opportunities highlighting and encouraging state and local jurisdictions to join federal law enforcement in addressing the most pressing public safety challenges. For Fiscal Year 2025, these areas of emphasis included combatting violent crime, immigration enforcement, safe communities, and safe houses of worship. BJA awarded more than $199 million in state JAG funding across 56 awards and more than $90 million in local JAG funding across 895 awards. Examples of initiatives supported by these grants include: Providing specialized training to strengthen the prevention, detection, and response to human trafficking and to enhance proactive crime‑reduction efforts through improved officer readiness and increased patrol capacity. Enhancing local crime‑fighting efforts by integrating innovative technology, training, and equipment, and using comprehensive crime‑data analysis to guide decision‑making, measure performance, and strengthen strategies addressing violent crime and other public safety issues. Strengthening enforcement efforts by supporting investigations related to gang activity and narcotics through targeted operations carried out by specialized units. Improving officer safety and readiness by replacing outdated ballistic helmets with modern protective equipment used during high‑risk incidents, tactical operations, active threat responses, warrant service, civil disturbances, and other dangerous calls for service. All recipients for both state and local JAG awards can be found here . About the Office of Justice Programs The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation's capacity to prevent and reduce crime; promote fair and impartial administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its program offices – the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking or SMART Office – can be found at ojp.gov.


title: Iowa Man Sentenced for Distributing Child Pornography to a Panama City Resident

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Dalvert Encarnacion Francisco, 37, of Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced to serve 70 months in federal prison for distributing child pornography. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentence. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I truly appreciate the excellent investigative work by our state and federal law enforcement partners that helped to identify and bring this heinous predator to justice. Anyone who views, possesses, or distributes child sexual abuse material will face an aggressive prosecution by my office to ensure they are held fully accountable for their horrific crimes and spend years in federal prison.” The defendant’s sentencing followed a guilty verdict returned after a three-day jury trial in May 2026. Court records and evidence showed that the Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigated multiple child sexual abuse material tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. During that investigation, law enforcement discovered the defendant distributed child pornography to an individual named Marcus Creel who resided in the Panama City area. Creel was later prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit. With the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, further investigation revealed the defendant requested online payments for the child sexual abuse material he distributed. “There is no place in our society for those who exploit children for profit or gratification,” said Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford. “This sentence sends a clear message: if you prey on children or contribute to their exploitation, we will work relentlessly with our law enforcement partners to identify you, arrest you, and ensure you are held accountable. Protecting our children will always be one of the Bay County Sheriff's Office's highest priorities.” Upon his release from prison, Francisco will be required to serve five years of supervised release and register as a sex offender. “This sentence holds a predator accountable for distributing inappropriate child sexual abuse material and contributing to the exploitation of innocent children,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “This case demonstrates the strength of our partnerships with our law enforcement partners. Their dedication and investigative efforts helped ensure this offender was identified and brought to justice. We will continue to pursue those who exploit children and work tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable members of our communities.” This case was investigated by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Fort White Man Indicted for Conspiring to Transfer Firearms to Mexico

body_text: Gainesville, Florida – Jose Manuel Barron, 31, of Fort White, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for conspiracy to transfer firearms to a nonresident. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge. Barron appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for September 2, 2026, before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Gainesville, Florida. Barron faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment if convicted. The case is being jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Man Sentenced to 260 Months’ Imprisonment for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: ST. PAUL – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Trent Fair, 31, was sentenced to 260 months in prison with 20 years of supervised release for coercion and enticement of a minor. Fair was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank on August 11, 2026. He previously pleaded guilty on April 2, 2026. According to court documents, from approximately August 15, 2024, through February 1, 2025, Fair knowingly used social media applications and the internet to communicate with and groom a then-fifteen-year-old girl for the purposes of obtaining sexually explicit material. The minor victim sent Fair several sexually explicit videos, and Fair admitted that he knew the minor victim was 15 years old at the time. Additionally, in January 2025, Fair traveled from Minnesota to Virginia for the purposes of engaging in sexual activity with the minor victim. While in Virginia, law enforcement was contacted to investigate an altercation involving Fair, and he was arrested after investigators confirmed his sexual abuse of the minor victim. As the investigation unfolded, law enforcement became aware that Fair had used social media to solicit and obtain child sexual abuse material from several other minor victims, some as young as 10 years old. Confronted with his social media history, Fair admitted to producing child pornography with at least a “few dozen” minor victims for several years. In addition to Fair’s online criminal conduct, investigators located an additional minor victim who Fair traveled to and sexually abused. “The defendant is a serial child sexual predator. This sentence ensures that he is taken off the streets and it is a sign to offenders that my office will find and prosecute those who prey on vulnerable children,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “This arrest sends a clear message to anyone who uses social media to prey on children: we will find you, arrest you, and hold you accountable,” said Fairfax County Chief of Police Kevin Davis. “This individual targeted a 15-year-old online and traveled hundreds of miles to exploit that child. Our detectives work relentlessly to identify these predators, protect children from further harm, and support survivors and their families.” “Trent Fair self-identified as a pedophile and admitted to victimizing dozens of children. His conduct is the embodiment of every parent’s worst fears when their children go online,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “The FBI will take every available action to stop pedophiles and child predators from harming children. The FBI echoes Judge Frank’s statements at sentencing: Responsibility for these offenses lies solely with the defendant, never the victims. The sentence ensures that this defendant will be held to account through prison and probation for over 40 years. We hope this sentence helps the victims and their families in their healing journey.” This case was the result of an investigation by the Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia, FBI, with assistance from the Minneapolis Police Department and other law enforcement partners. If you or someone you know is a victim of online and in-person sexual exploitation activity, please call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or submit information to tips.fbi.gov . Assistant United States Attorneys Evan Gilead and David B. Green 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. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Two Detained Pending Trial for Conspiracy to Defraud Elderly Victims

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: WILLIAMSPORT- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that two individuals, Ceyon Calvert, 43, and Christal Calvert, 38, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, were arrested on June 28, 2026, by federal agents in Florida for conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, their arrests follow an indictment which alleges that beginning on an unknown date and continuing until April 2026, the defendants orchestrated a wide-scale Publishers Clearing House scam targeting elderly victims. The indictment states that scam participants would falsely tell victims that they won multi-million-dollar prizes and instructed the fraud victims to provide tens of thousands of dollars to other scheme participants as upfront taxes and fees in order to collect those prizes. Today, the defendants were arraigned in Federal Court and pleaded not guilty. United States Magistrate Judge Sean A. Camoni ordered them detained pending trial. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. On April 7, 2026, 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Two Defendants Sentenced in Atlanta to Milledgeville Meth Trafficking Case

body_text: MACON, Ga. – Two more defendants involved in a drug trafficking ring sourcing methamphetamine from Atlanta for distribution in Milledgeville, Georgia, have been brought to justice resulting from an Operation Take Back America investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. “Our office is committed to working alongside law enforcement to make our communities safer by dismantling armed drug trafficking organizations and holding those who threaten public safety fully accountable,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts and dedication to protecting our neighborhoods.” “Drug trafficking organizations don’t just deal drugs—they bring guns, violence, and instability into our neighborhoods,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The significant prison sentences and guilty pleas reflect the danger these defendants posed, and the harm caused by flooding our communities with methamphetamine and other illicit drugs.” Desmond Glenn, 35, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 260 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release on Aug. 12, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Feb. 17. Katherine Short-Barcenas, 36, of Milledgeville, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Aug. 12, after she previously pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on Dec. 17, 2025. The following codefendants previously pleaded guilty, and some have been sentenced: Cory Wilson, 41, of Milledgeville, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of methamphetamine on July 20, and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison up to a maximum of life in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and a maximum $10 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 14. Rodney May, 38, of Milledgeville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Dec. 17, 2025, and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison up to a maximum of life in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release and a maximum $20 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for May 12, 2027. Ruby Fogg, 39, of Austell, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 324 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release on June 10, after she previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Robert Matthew Wood, 43, of Marietta, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 262 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release on June 10, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Tony Baker, 39, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 92 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on June 10, after he previously pleaded guilty to one count of convicted felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Marc T. Treadwell is presiding over the case. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents and statements referenced in court, federal agents began investigating a group of individuals distributing methamphetamine in the Baldwin County, Georgia, area beginning in early 2023. Between April 25, 2023, and July 31, 2023, agents conducted four separate controlled purchases from Glenn totaling approximately 162 grams of methamphetamine. Under surveillance, Glenn was recorded selling methamphetamine and other controlled substances to people in Baldwin County as well as obtaining large amounts of methamphetamine from several sources of supply, including Fogg, who was the leader of the criminal network. Short-Barcenas and Wilson, members of this drug trafficking ring, sold methamphetamine twice to a confidential source in early March 2023, as part of this investigation. Fogg was working closely with Wood to obtain and distribute large amounts of methamphetamine. Fogg and Wood often rented hotel rooms in Atlanta where they stored and sold narcotics. On Nov. 14, 2023, Fogg directed Glenn to pick up methamphetamine from Wood at an Atlanta area hotel, at a time she was making a trip to deliver drug proceeds to Jackson, Georgia. May and Baker traveled with Glenn to the Atlanta hotel; on the return trip, their vehicle was stopped by law enforcement, and nearly one kilo of methamphetamine was found in a bag, along with a smaller amount in the floorboard. Officers also found a firearm tucked between Glenn’s seat and the center console, and another firearm in the backseat. A search warrant was executed at Glenn’s Milledgeville home, where officers found an additional 64.68 grams of methamphetamine and five firearms in his bedroom. Glenn was previously convicted of robbery by force in Baldwin County, Georgia. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. Two days later, on Nov. 16, 2023, Fogg and Wood were arrested; the hotel they were renting was searched, and an additional 154.97 grams of methamphetamine was located, plus drug paraphernalia. Fogg has three prior criminal felony methamphetamine distribution convictions in Douglas County, Georgia, Superior Court. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The DEA and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard is prosecuting the case for the Government.


title: Ruskin Man Sentenced to Over Seven Years in Federal Prison for Child Sexual Abuse Offenses

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – Michael Paul Linnan (76, Ruskin) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven to seven years and three months in federal prison for transportation, distribution, receipt, and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The court also ordered Linnan to forfeit a cellphone, which was used in the commission of the offenses. Linnan pleaded guilty on April 21, 2026.U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, Linnan used an encrypted messaging platform to distribute more than 100 images and videos of CSAM, including images and videos of young children. Linnan received images and videos of CSAM using the same platform. He also stored hundreds of videos on his phone and transported the images into his online photo storage account. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Muriel Moore. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Orlando Business Owner Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing an Arsenal of Firearms

body_text: Orlando, Florida – Maxwell David Horvath (37, Orlando) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell to six years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Horvath to forfeit 38 firearms, including silencers, short-barreled rifles, machineguns, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Horvath pleaded guilty on March 4, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, following a federal conviction for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances in January 2019, Horvath opened a business in Palm Bay selling a controlled substance and possessed firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition. In June 2025, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation into Horvath. The investigation revealed that Horvath’s business, Overseas Organix, Inc., was marketing and selling products containing 7-OH, which is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance in Florida. Horvath was involved in two undercover law enforcement purchases occurring at Overseas Organix, Inc. During a search of Overseas Organix, Inc. on December 3, 2025, law enforcement located 38 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition which included handguns, rifles, shotguns, silencers, machine guns, automatic firearms, and short-barreled rifles. As a previously convicted felon Horvath is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law. Officers also seized more than 91,000 pounds of kratom (a precursor to 7-OH), kilogram quantities of 7-OH powder, and thousands of pressed 7- OH pills ready for sale. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie A. McNeff. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.


title: Second Superseding Indictment Adds Defendant and Charges in Southern Poverty Law Center Case

body_text: MONTGOMERY, Ala. — On August 11, 2026, a federal grand jury in Montgomery returned a second superseding indictment adding a defendant and additional charges in the case involving the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). The second superseding indictment, which was unsealed today, charges Heidi L. Beirich, 59, of Palm Springs, California, along with the SPLC, with new charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to submit false statements to a federally insured bank. The new indictment also adds Beirich as a defendant to the previously charged count of conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering and charges the SPLC with an additional count of concealment money laundering. Beirich was served with an arrest warrant this morning in the Central District of California and is expected to make her initial appearance in federal court there this afternoon. The charges arise from an alleged scheme involving the use of donated funds and financial accounts associated with fictitious entities. As previously alleged, the scheme involved efforts to conceal the source, ownership, and control of funds and to make false representations concerning the use of donated money and the operation of financial accounts. The second superseding indictment expands the case to include the alleged participation of Beirich and additional conduct involving the movement and concealment of proceeds. The Southern Poverty Law Center was previously charged in an 11-count indictment returned in April 2026 with wire fraud, false statements to a federally insured bank, and conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering. The second superseding indictment alleges that, between 2007 and 2023, more than $4 million in donated funds were secretly funneled to individuals associated with various violent extremist groups. “The indictment unsealed today reflects the continued work of federal investigators and prosecutors in examining this alleged scheme,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas Govan. “We look forward to presenting the evidence in court and allowing the judicial process to determine the facts and the defendants’ responsibility for the alleged crimes.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin P. Davidson is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.