title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts 13 for Drug and Firearm Offenses Following  a Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Led by the DEA and LMPD

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – Following a lengthy investigation by the Louisville Homeland Security Task Force led by the DEA and LMPD, a federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment on May 20, 2026, charging 13 individuals with conspiring to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and firearms offenses. Ten of the defendants have been arrested, one is deceased, and two are at large. U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul L. Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement. According to the indictment, Shane Andres , 48, of Louisville, Kentucky; Michael Andres , 52, of Louisville, Kentucky; Luther Roland , 49, of Louisville, Kentucky; Clarence Caldwell , 62, of Louisville, Kentucky; John Finley , 32, of Louisville, Kentucky; Marcus Andrews , 50, of Detroit, Michigan; Stacey McRae , 36, of Louisville, Kentucky; Jorge Torres Valdez , 27, an illegal alien from Mexico unlawfully residing in New York, New York; Ronnall Clark , 44, of Louisville, Kentucky; Keshawn Hatcher , 34, of Louisville, Kentucky; Cornelius Pendleton , 44, of Louisville, Kentucky; and Fineiss Vaughn , 21, of Phoenix, Arizona, were all charged with one count of conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and 100 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing heroin from January 24, 2023, through May 20, 2026, in Jefferson County, Kentucky. Additionally, Shane Andres was charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl; Michael Andres was charged with six counts of distribution of fentanyl; Luther Roland was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and three counts of distribution of fentanyl; Clarence Caldwell was charged with two counts of distribution of fentanyl; John Finley was charged with three counts of distribution of fentanyl; Marcus Andrews was charged with three counts of distribution of heroin; Stacy McRae was charged with three counts of distribution of fentanyl; Keshawn Hatcher was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; and Cornelius Pendleton was charged with one count of possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm with the knowledge he had previously been convicted of a felony, specifically: On or about November 15, 2019, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in Case Number 19-CR-2810, Cornelius Pendleton , was convicted of the offense of convicted felon in possession of a firearm; On or about March 1, 2018, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in Case Number 18-CR-0638, Cornelius Pendleton , was convicted of the offenses of convicted felon in possession of a handgun, tampering with physical evidence and receiving stolen property (firearm); On or about May 8, 2018, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in Case Number 15-CR-3350, Cornelius Pendleton , was convicted of the offenses of trafficking in a controlled substance first degree, convicted felon in possession of a handgun and receiving stolen property (firearm); On or about July 20, 2005, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in Case Number 04-CR-2842, Cornelius Pendleton , was convicted of the offense of burglary third degree; On or about July 20, 2005, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in Case Number 04-CR-0590, Cornelius Pendleton , was convicted of the offenses of trafficking in a controlled substance first degree, promoting contraband and tampering with physical evidence. On August 12, 2026, six of the thirteen defendants made an initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Michael Andres, Jorge Torres Valdez , Cornelius Pendleton and Marcus Andrews will make their initial appearances at a later date. Donshaun Coleman is deceased. Stacey McRae and Fineiss Vaughn remain at large. If convicted, Cornelius Pendleton faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. If convicted, Shane Andres , Michael Andres , Luther Roland , Clarence Caldwell , John Finley , Marcus Andrews , Stacey McRae , Jorge Torres Valdez , Ronnall Clark , Keshawn Hatcher , Cornelius Pendleton and Fineiss Vaughn face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “The Louisville Homeland Security Task Force is a national model for interagency cooperation and productivity. Agents from multiple federal agencies working seamlessly with the Louisville Metro Police Department are constantly working long-term investigations against significant drug trafficking organizations for the betterment of our community. It is truly an honor to announce this important indictment and commend the success of our law enforcement partners.” DEA Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott stated, “The DEA, alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, remains committed to pursuing those who profit from trafficking dangerous drugs while fueling violence in our communities. By bringing the full resources of the federal government to bear against career criminals, we are sending a clear message to those who peddle poison on our streets: your days are numbered.” LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey stated, "This investigation is another example of what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal law enforcement work together with a shared commitment to protecting our community. I want to thank every investigator who spent countless hours on this case to make our neighborhoods safer." There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by the DEA and LMPD with assistance by IRS Criminal Investigation, St. Matthews Police Department, Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office, Office of the Kentucky Attorney General, Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and the Kentucky State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Porter and Frank E. Dahl III are prosecuting the case with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Adela Alic. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Louisville comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, and IRS, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Mexican Illegal Alien Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Braulio Villa-Chairez, also known as “Raul,” 32, a Mexican national living illegally in the United States, was sentenced today to 12 years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has an immigration detainer on Villa-Chairez and he will be subject to deportation proceedings upon the completion of his prison sentence. According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in March 2024 until in or around about October 2024, Villa-Chairez conspired with other individuals to distribute methamphetamine. As part of his guilty plea, Villa-Chairez admitted that he assisted the conspiracy by shipping methamphetamine to West Virginia and elsewhere. In July 2024, Villa-Chairez shipped two separate packages containing a total of 1.97 kilograms of methamphetamine “ice” from Houston, Texas, to a customer in West Virginia after receiving instructions from a co-conspirator. On or about July 18, 2024, Villa-Chairez picked up a package containing $4,800 sent by the customer, notified a co-conspirator that he had obtained the package, and re-shipped it to Washington state. In August 2024, Villa-Chairez shipped a package containing approximately 963.8 grams of methamphetamine to Alabama. In October 2024, Villa-Chairez assisted a co-conspirator who was delivering approximately 5.905 kilograms of methamphetamine “ice” and approximately 4.402 kilograms of methamphetamine by vehicle to West Virginia by providing him with directions to a hotel and a casino in Kanawha County. As part of his guilty plea, Villa-Chairez also admitted that he has lived illegally in the United States under the name “Jose Jesus Villa-Chairez” and has been convicted of two federal felony offenses under that name. Villa-Chairez has been previously deported from the United States three times and illegally re-entered the country a fourth time prior to his current offense. Villa-Chairez and two other Mexican nationals living illegally in the United States were indicted by a federal grand jury as the result of a joint investigation by federal and local law enforcement into a conspiracy that was responsible for delivering large quantities of methamphetamine to West Virginia and elsewhere from Houston. Co-defendant Silvester Barcenas, 24, was sentenced on February 11, 2026, to four years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine. Lead defendant German Francisco Diaz, also known as “Trulio,” 41, remains a fugitive. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Israel Chaires-Villa, 24, a Mexican national, was sentenced on November 20, 2025, to three years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine. Chaires-Villa pleaded guilty in a separate indictment resulting from the joint investigation. ICE has immigration detainers on Barcenas and Chaires-Villa, and each will be transferred to ICE administrative custody for removal proceedings upon the completion of his prison sentence. “This case is a stark example of what happens when our immigration laws are ignored,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “This defendant was deported three times, illegally returned to the United States, and then trafficked nearly 60 pounds of methamphetamine into our communities. Our country cannot tolerate a revolving door where individuals repeatedly violate our border, return illegally, and profit from poisoning Americans. If you come into this country illegally and deal deadly drugs, expect federal law enforcement to find you, prosecute you, and put you behind bars.” Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-176. ###


title: Former National Park Service Employee Sentenced for Theft of Government Property

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – James Masters, 38, of Victor, was sentenced today to one year of federal probation and ordered to pay $150 in restitution for theft of government property. According to court documents and statements made in court, from in or around October 2025 to in or around February 2026, Masters was employed by the National Park Service when he stole approximately $150 from a donation box at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, part of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in Lansing, Fayette County. As part of his guilty plea, Masters admitted that he used his position to access and remove money from the donation box without permission or authority on several occasions, and covered surveillance cameras to avoid detection. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the National Park Service. United States Magistrate Judge Dwane L. Tinsley imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Erik S. Goes and Amy L. McLaughlin prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-60. ###


title: Former Kanawha County Sheriff’s Deputy Indicted for Alleged Deprivation of Rights of Inmate

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A federal grand jury indicted a former deputy with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office on one count of deprivation of rights under color of law arising out of his alleged sexual assault of a female inmate in his custody. According to the indictment, on July 29, 2025, Cass Aaron Close, 56, violated the civil rights of the victim when he sexually assaulted her. At the time of the assault, Close was on duty as a Kanawha County Sheriff’s deputy and the victim was in his custody at the Kanawha County Judicial Annex. If convicted, Close faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Moore Capito for the Southern District of West Virginia, and Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office made the announcement. The case was investigated by the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office with assistance from the West Virginia State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald for the Southern District of West Virginia and Trial Attorneys Cassandra Hughes and Tenette Smith of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-102. ###


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Ex-Teacher and Former State Legislator on Child Sexual Exploitation, Enticement and Witness Tampering Charges

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Moore Capito announced today that a federal grand jury indicted David Elliott Pritt, 36, of Oak Hill, on three felony counts alleging sexual exploitation of a child, coercion and enticement of a child, and tampering with a witness, victim, or informant. The indictment alleges that from in or about March 2024 through in or about January 2026, Pritt attempted to and did persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor female to engage in sexually explicit conduct, and from in or about June 2025 through in or about January 2026 did so for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such sexually explicit conduct using the internet and cellular networks. The indictment further alleges that on or about June 20, 2026, Pritt attempted to intimidate and corruptly persuade the minor female with the intent to hinder, delay, and prevent the communication of information relating to the commission and possible commission of a federal crime to a law enforcement officer. Pritt was arrested on July 22, 2026, following an investigation. At the time of the alleged offenses, Pritt was employed as a teacher with Fayette County Schools and represented a Fayette County district in the West Virginia House of Delegates. Following his arrest, Pritt resigned from the West Virginia Legislature and the Fayette County Board of Education suspended and then terminated his employment. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. “With West Virginia’s children returning to school this month, now is another opportunity for parents and caregivers to have those important conversations with their kids,” Capito said. “Our children need to know that they can safely report and talk about any situation that potentially involves grooming, inappropriate behavior, or abuse.” Capito also continued to encourage anyone with information relevant to this case to contact the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office at (304) 574-4268. Capito commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Irene C. Berger and United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn.Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-97. ###


title: Illegal alien sent to prison for role in black-market peso exchange money laundering scheme

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 52-year-old Mexican national has been ordered to prison for his role in two-year, multimillion-dollar trade-based money laundering conspiracy to move drug trafficking proceeds through Texas to Mexico. Gabriel Arturo Castillo of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, pleaded guilty April 8. U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now ordered Castillo to serve 48 months in federal prison. As an illegal alien, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. Castillo participated in a sophisticated international money laundering conspiracy to transfer proceeds from the sale of illegal drugs in the United States to cartels in Mexico without physically transporting money across the U.S.-Mexico border. The conspirators concealed those funds through the movement of goods between the two countries. As part of the black-market peso exchange scheme, the criminal conspiracy received large quantities of drug proceeds in various cities in the United States. The proceeds then were either deposited into various bank accounts or transported to Laredo. From there, the drug proceeds were sold to business owners in Mexico who used the U.S. currency to purchase products from stores in the United States, including perfume sellers. Once the businesses received payment, the merchandise Mexican business operators purchased was transported from Laredo to Mexico. Finally, Mexican business operators paid for the drug proceeds by transferring pesos in Mexico to the drug trafficking organizations. By doing so, the conspirators sought to conceal the source of the drug proceeds and to allow the Mexico-based drug dealers to receive their profits in their native currency, pesos. The Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia, provided significant assistance in this matter. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and August 2025 extradition of Castillo. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lance Watt and Amanda Gould prosecuted the case along with Trial Attorneys Keith H. Liddle and Stephanie Williamson of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics, and Forfeiture Section.


title: Five charged in $1 million U.S. Treasury check scheme

body_text: HOUSTON – A 33-count indictment has now been unsealed charging five Houston-area residents for their alleged roles in a scheme to obtain proceeds from a counterfeit $1,052,615.97 U.S. Treasury tax refund check. Torik M. Blade, 39, Missouri City; Kendra L. Folkes, 37, Katy; Rickelle D. Taylor, 38, Spring; Raven N. Morris, 34, Houston; and Stephen G. James, 42, Houston, have now made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Yvonne Ho. A federal grand jury returned the indictment July 22, charging all five with various counts of passing a counterfeit Treasury check, bank fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering. According to the indictment, Blade allowed an unidentified individual to deposit the counterfeit Treasury tax refund into his business account. Blade and the others allegedly sought to obtain the proceeds by cashing cashier’s checks purchased with the fraudulently obtained funds, transferring money between financial institutions, and making cash withdrawals. If convicted, Blade faces up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine for passing the counterfeit check and another 30 years and a $1 million fine on each bank fraud count. He could also be ordered to serve up to 20 years in federal prison and $500,000 in fines on the conspiracy and money laundering counts. Folkes, Taylor, Morris, and James face similar maximum penalties if convicted. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, IRS Criminal Investigation and Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John R. Lewis is prosecuting the case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Beeville man sentenced for meth trafficking following high-speed pursuit

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 39-year-old man has been ordered to prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of meth. William Wilson III pleaded guilty May 19. U.S. District Judge David Morales ordered Wilson to serve 90 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. On Jan. 9, authorities observed Wilson traveling on a motorcycle at 96 mph in a 75 mph zone. They activated their emergency lights, prompting Wilson to move into the right lane. However, Wilson failed to stop and led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit. The pursuit continued until Wilson lost control of the motorcycle and crashed near the San Patricio-Bee County line. While waiting for an ambulance to arrive, authorities discovered a fully loaded pistol in Wilson’s jacket pocket. Authorities subsequently searched Wilson’s backpack and discovered 48.6 grams of meth and two fully loaded .38-caliber magazines. Law enforcement also discovered approximately 3.43 grams of meth in his front pants pocket. He remains in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Texas DPS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine K. Tucker prosecuted the case.


title: Mississippi Man Pleads Guilty to Evading $2 Million in Taxes

component: Department of Justice

body_text: WASHINGTON – A Mississippi man pleaded guilty today to evading the payment of more than $2 million in federal income taxes. According to court documents, Eric Brian Rosenberg tried to hide money from the government after he learned that an IRS revenue officer was trying to collect the income taxes that he owed. Between 2016 and 2020, in a practice known as “check churning,” Rosenberg repeatedly removed most of the funds from his checking account by purchasing a cashier’s check, and holding that check until he wanted cash. When Rosenberg wanted money, he would deposit the cashier’s check into his bank account, withdraw the cash he wanted, and remove the unspent funds via another cashier’s check. Later, Rosenberg took additional steps to avoid paying the taxes he owed by forming a company, opening a bank account in the company’s name, depositing money into that nominee bank account, and continuing to churn checks. At the same time, from 2016 through 2021, Rosenberg spent over $1 million gambling at casinos. Rosenberg pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 16, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Matthew Hicks of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris for the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Atlanta man sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to child pornography charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SAVANNAH, Georgia: An Atlanta man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty in district court to child pornography charges. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Octavius D’Angelo Sheffield , 26, of Atlanta, was sentenced to 480 months in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Production of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. Sheffield will also be required to register as a sex offender and pay an assessment to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Fund in the amount of $200. There is no parole in the federal system. As described in court documents and testimony, Sheffield had sexual contact with a minor in November 2022 on more than one occasion. During these encounters, the defendant recorded the illegal sexual contact using a cell phone. The defendant also faced state charges of statutory rape and aggravated assault which were related to the federal charges and pled guilty in December 2024. “This sentence reflects the extraordinary seriousness of exploiting a minor through production and possession of explicit child sexual abuse material,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This office along with our law enforcement partners, are committed to protecting vulnerable children subject to victimization from offenders like this.” If you are or have information about victims of child exploitation, contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Cyber Tipline at report.cybertip.org or 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678). This case was investigated by the FBI, Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherri A. Stephan and Makeia R. Jonese.


title: Rapid City Man Convicted of Child Pornography Charges  Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Distribution of Child Pornography, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on August 14, 2026. Jesse Luiz Jaso, 22, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for each count, followed by five years of supervised release. Each sentence was ordered to run concurrently. Further, Jaso was ordered to pay a $300 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, a $1,000 fine and will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Jaso was indicted for Distribution of Child Pornography, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography by a federal grand jury in February 2024. He was found guilty of all counts on May 21, 2026, following a 2-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City. In February 2023, a Rapid City Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Detective received a Cybertip from Snapchat that Jesse Jaso was distributing child pornography. Through the investigation and subsequent search and seizure of Jaso’s phone, law enforcement learned he had been communicating with individuals online, purchasing child pornography, and soliciting others to exchange child pornography. 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Rapid City Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case. Jaso was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Parker Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Escape

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a man from Parker, South Dakota, convicted of Escape. The sentencing took place on August 17, 2026. Michael Sherard, 39, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Sherard was indicted for Escape by a federal grand jury in May 2026. He pleaded guilty on June 22, 2026. Sherard was serving a sentence for a felony conviction for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. In January of 2026 he was transferred to a halfway house in Sioux Falls to serve the remainder of his sentence. In April, he left the facility to go to work and did not return. He was later arrested in Sioux Falls and charged with a new offense of possession of a controlled substance. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case. Sherard was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Dallas, Texas, Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison  Following Conviction for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance  and Money Laundering

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Dallas, Texas, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on August 14, 2026. Gerardo Escobar Balderas, 38, was sentenced to concurrent federal prison sentences of 10 years and one month on the conspiracy and money laundering charges, followed by four years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Escobar Balderas was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in April 2025. He pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026. Escobar Balderas was involved in a cocaine conspiracy that spanned from Texas to Rapid City. He was based in Texas and sent cocaine through the mail to an individual in Rapid City. The cocaine was then distributed by multiple people in Rapid City and money was sent to Escobar through electronic cash transfers. Investigators believe Escobar distributed approximately 12 kilograms of cocaine to individuals in Rapid City while he was involved in the conspiracy. Escobar Balderas was the last of eight defendants sentenced in the conspiracy. Omar Ornelas received 15 years; Larissa Ross received 20 months; Tyler Eagle Elk received 30 months; Jeffrey Cooley received 30 months; Kiana Pilcher received 35 months; A’Aliyah Leclaire received 12 months and one day; and Sesalie Red Owl received 24 months. This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case. Escobar Balderas was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Cherry Creek Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison  for Assaulting His Intimate Partner and Illegally Possessing a Firearm

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons, announced today that U.S. District Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Cherry Creek, South Dakota man convicted of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate Partner and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on August 17, 2026. Tiger Condon, age 31, was sentenced to four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture of his firearm and ammunition was also ordered. Condon was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 16, 2026. The convictions stem from incidents that occurred in November 2024 in Dewey County, South Dakota, in the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. On November 1, 2024, Condon, who had been in a long-term relationship with the victim, arrived at her residence in Eagle Butte. Condon kicked in the door of the residence and began to assault the victim by hitting her in the face multiple times, causing one of her eyes to swell shut. Condon was arrested tribally but after bonding out of jail, he arrived back at the residence with a pistol. Condon had been previously convicted of a felony drug charge in the State of South Dakota and is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm. This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case. This matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court. Condon was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Sumter County Woman Pleads Guilty in Drug Conspiracy

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. —Sha’Juan Princess Johnson, 24, of Sumter County, has pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office were investigating a drug conspiracy involving Johnson’s co-defendant Jalik Tucker, after narcotics agents made several undercover buys of methamphetamine and fentanyl from him. During this same time, law enforcement identified two locations in Sumter County and one location in Richland County that the co-defendant was using to distribute drugs. They obtained search warrants for all three locations. One of the locations was Johnson’s home in Sumter. During the execution of a search warrant at the address, officers found Johnson in the residence. In one of the bedroom’s closets, the police found fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, crack cocaine, a glass measuring cup with a powder residue, multiple digital food scales, a box of baking soda, an electric mixer with a powder residue, and sandwich bags. Further investigation revealed that neighbors had observed a car, driven by Johnson’s co-defendant, coming and going from the residence. Johnson’s cellphone contained pictures of illegal narcotics and text messages she had with others referring to illegal narcotics. Johnson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. She also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Johnson after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Former Leader of a Violent Transnational Criminal Organization Sentenced to 360 months in Prison for Engaging in a Continuing Criminal Enterprise as Part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF)

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

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Today, United States District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado sentenced José Julio Rodríguez-Cumba, a.k.a. “Chambi/Chembi/Josué/Chambo/Patrón,” to 360 months (30 years) of imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release for running a continuing criminal enterprise. Rodríguez-Cumba was arrested in the District of Puerto Rico on October 4, 2021, and pleaded guilty on April 14, 2026. According to court documents, Rodríguez-Cumba directed a large-scale drug trafficking organization (the Enterprise), that utilized land and sea transportation assets to import and distribute multi-hundred-kilogram shipments of cocaine from South America into Puerto Rico and the continental United States. The defendant admitted that he was responsible that more than 2,000 kilograms of cocaine that were going to be unlawfully imported into the United States and distributed as part of the Enterprise. Rodríguez-Cumba made millions of dollars in profit from drug trafficking. This defendant directed members of the enterprise to use violence, possess firearms, including machine guns for protection and in furtherance of the Enterprise. From on or about July 2023 and continuing up to and until May 22, 2024, while in the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Guaynabo, Rodríguez-Cumba caused other individuals to introduce buprenorphine into MDC. Rodríguez-Cumba agreed to forfeiture of various properties, including a luxury yacht - “El Ancla”, a 2014 Pershing, 62-foot vessel, and other assets including cash, real property, and personal property, as well as firearms. “The sentence imposed reflects the severe consequences for those who choose to dedicate their lives to crime and poison our streets and communities with harmful drugs. This case represents the comprehensive efforts being deployed to target and dismantle the most dangerous criminal organizations and hold their members accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Héctor Ramírez-Carbó for the District of Puerto Rico. “Prosecutors and law enforcement at every level are working together to dismantle and eliminate armed trafficking organizations that threaten our communities.” “Today is an important day for HSI San Juan but more important for Puerto Rico. The sentencing of a dangerous gang leader like José J. Rodríguez-Cumba is the direct result of the seamless collaboration between HSI San Juan, the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office," said HSI San Juan Acting Special Agent in Charge Yariel Ramos. "By working together to build a comprehensive case against him, we have successfully removed a violent criminal from our streets for decades. This result sends an unequivocal message: HSI remains fully committed to investigating and holding accountable those who terrorize our communities.” This investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Ricardo Imbert Fernández of the Transnational Organized Crime Section is prosecuting the case. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. 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: Convictions through Guilty Pleas and Sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (August 10 through August 14, 2026)

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of August 10 through August 14, 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 11, 2026, Rayner Corredera-Luis pleaded guilty to violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h) in Criminal Case 25-397. According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiring to launder money. Defendant was arrested on October 9, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for November 13, 2026. SAUSA Cody A. McKinney is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 12, 2026, Jorge Siberón-Flusa pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute four hundred (400) grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a Schedule II Narcotic Drug Controlled Substance all in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) & (b)(1)(A)(vi), and 846. Defendant was arrested on August 1, 2024. The court set the defendant’s sentencing date for November 10, 2026. SAUSA Edwin Cabán Jr. is in charge of the prosecution of the case. Sentencings: On August 10, 2026, Reinaldo Kidany Carrasquillo-Rodríguez was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Aida Delgado Colón to the time already served and supervised release of 3 years for a drug-trafficking violation. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 7, 2023, in Criminal Case 23-332 (ADC), and pleaded guilty on May 29, 2024. AUSA Antonio Pérez is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 12, 2026, Ramón Antonio Vega-Ortiz was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Aida Delgado Colón to a term of 120 months (10 years) imprisonment and a supervised release term of five years for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine in excess of 450 kilograms of cocaine and conspiracy to launder in monetary instruments. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 23, 2021, in Criminal case 21-350 (ADC), and pleaded guilty to the charge(s) on July 14, 2023. AUSA Luis A. Valentín is in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 13, 2026, Juan L. Tereforte-Bello, a.k.a. “Tostin” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Antongiorgi-Jordán to seven (7) years and three (3) 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 13, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 13, 2026, Eduardo A. Tolentino-Meléndez was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Antongiorgi-Jordán to five (5) 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 13, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case. On August 13, 2026, José Francisco De La Cruz-Díaz was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach to a term of 120 months imprisonment and a supervised release term of five years concurrent to each count of conviction in Criminal case 22-234 (RAM). According to court documents, defendant was indicted on February 19, 2025, and pleaded guilty to all charges on April 22, 2026. AUSA Luis A. Valentín is 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: Gearhart Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of Children and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Gearhart, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for sexual exploitation of children and possession of child sexual abuse material. Joseph Biamont, 36, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison and 10 years’ supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon. “This defendant violated the victim’s privacy and trust and stole the innocence of a child. My office is proud to bring these cases and hold Biamont, and criminals like him, accountable,” said United States Attorney Scott E. Bradford, “The trauma he caused these victims is immeasurable and long lasting. The 15 year sentence will not repair the harm but will prevent him from causing more harm for a long time.” According to court documents, Biamont surreptitiously recorded a minor victim for years. He took extraordinary steps to hide his actions and placed cameras in places where he could capture videos of the minor nude. Biamont possessed 71 videos of this victim that depict child sexual abuse material. He also possessed videos of other children’s child sexual abuse material. On May 6, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 6-count indictment charging Biamont with five counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography. He was arrested on those charges on May 15, 2025 in Seaside, Oregon. On February 24, 2026, Biamont pled guilty to sexual exploitation of children and possession of child pornography. This case was investigated by the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office, Gearhart Police Department, and the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliza Carmen Rodriguez . This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov . Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org .


title: Estacada Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distribution of Over 250 Pounds of Methamphetamine

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—An Estacada, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon. Anthony Barrera, 31, was sentenced to 171 months in federal prison and 5 years’ supervised release. “We are proud to work with our law enforcement partners at the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigations to hold drug dealers accountable and stop this huge influx of deadly drugs into our Oregon communities,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. According to court documents, during an investigation of an alleged drug trafficker, later identified as Barrera, investigators learned Barrera rented a vehicle and traveled to California to pick up large quantities of drugs to distribute and sell in Oregon. On May 24, 2025, officers located Barrera driving the rental vehicle northbound on Interstate 5 and followed him to a rest area near Roseburg, Oregon, where Barrera was arrested. Agents seized 270 pounds of methamphetamine and two pounds of cocaine, which were concealed in the backseat and cargo area of the vehicle. This was one of the largest drug seizures in Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit’s (MCSO SIU) history. In addition, Barrera had $2,860 in cash and three cellphones which were seized. After his arrest, Barrera told law enforcement that he sold drugs to sustain a living. He further admitted to traveling to Southern California to pick up drugs an estimated three times in 2025. A search of the defendant’s residence revealed a revolver and a pistol under a removable piece of flooring in the defendant’s bedroom closet, as well as four gold bars which were later determined to be counterfeit. At the time of his arrest, the defendant was on supervision for a driving under the influence conviction in Multnomah County. On May 24, 2025, Barrera was arrested in Roseburg after re-entering Oregon. On June 18, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging Barrera with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and felon in possession of a firearm. On March 10, 2026, Barrera pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. This case was investigated by MCSO SIU, and the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Keefer. 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: Albany Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempting to Receive Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: EUGENE, Ore.— An Albany, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for attempting to receive child sexual abuse material from an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing as a child online. Paul Chapple, 62, was sentenced to 102 months in federal prison and a 10-year term of supervised release. According to court documents, Chapple engaged in sexual chats online with multiple people he thought were girls under the age of 15. One of the “girls” was an undercover agent with the FBI who was posing as a 13-year-old girl. Chapple sent sexual images, discussed driving cross-country to meet, and asked for child sexual abuse images. Chapple used Meet24, with a user profile stating he was 50 years old and displaying his own photograph. On October 8, 2025, Chapple was charged with using a minor to produce visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct, possession and receipt of child pornography, and enticement of a minor. That day, the FBI searched a shared housing complex where Chapple lived. Chapple possessed several images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material and numerous chats with self-identified minors in which he requested child sexual abuse material. Chapple was arrested and made his first appearance in federal court on October 9, 2025. On June 17, 2026, Chapple pleaded guilty to attempted receipt of child pornography. This case was investigated by the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. McLaren. Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov . Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org . This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Six Chinese Nationals  Indicted for Operating Multiple Illegal Marijuana Grow Houses

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A federal grand jury in Las Vegas returned a 10-count indictment today charging six defendants, all Chinese nationals including three illegal aliens, and all residing in Las Vegas, for their alleged participation in a large-scale illegal marijuana grow operation with one grow house located near a public park. “Transnational criminal networks that exploit our domestic markets and compromise community safety will be dismantled,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “This operation demonstrates that what appear to be localized grow operations are frequently backed by global criminal enterprises engaged in labor exploitation, weapons offenses, and multi-million-dollar money laundering schemes. We will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to dismantle these sophisticated criminal enterprises that exploit public resources for illicit profit.” “The Las Vegas Homeland Security Task Force continues to answer the call and hold accountable criminal organizations,” said Special Agent in Charge David Olesky of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Los Angeles Field Division, which oversees Nevada. “In this case, Chinese Organized Crime was intent on cashing in, operating four illegal marijuana grow houses throughout the Las Vegas area. What is especially concerning is that one of those marijuana grows were located within distance of a public park which posed major risks to the health and welfare of community. DEA will continue to work with our federal partners to cripple these illegal drug networks and safeguard Las Vegas residents.” “ATF works side-by-side with local, state, and federal law enforcement every single day,” said Special Agent in Charge John Wester, San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). “Through joint task forces, we bring together our resources to tackle violent crime in an efficient and strategic manner. Through our participation in Homeland Security Task Forces (HSTF), ATF helps disrupt major gun and drug trafficking and cartel operations alongside DEA, FBI, HSI, and local partners. ATF will continue to work alongside our partners to ensure that Las Vegas is a safe place.” “This case is another great example of what is possible through the unified efforts of the U.S. Marshals Service and Homeland Security,” said U.S. Marshal Gary Schofield. “The Deputies who are working side-by-side with the Task Force Officers are proud of the work they are accomplishing together. Every day is a good day to fight the good fight and bring these criminals forward to face justice for their crimes.” According to court documents, from January 2025 to February 2026, Changtian Mai; Hoi Man Mak, also known as Antares Mak; Shengsheng Feng; Zhifeng Mai; Jianwen Mai; and Jianquan Mai had active roles in the growing of 1,000 or more marijuana plants and maintaining of four houses that were used as illegal marijuana grow sites throughout Las Vegas. Changtian Mai; Hoi Man Mak, also known as Antares Mak; Shengsheng Feng; Zhifeng Mai; Jianwen Mai; and Jianquan Mai are each charged with one count of conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a protected area; one count of manufacturing a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a protected area; and six counts of manufacturing a controlled substance. Additionally, Changtian Mai is charged with two counts of money laundering. Arraignment has been scheduled for September 1, 2026. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This case was investigated by the FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, IRS-CI, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. 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 with the FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, IRS-CI, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and Nevada Gaming Control Board 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 Sentenced for Stabbing

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man was sentenced to two years in prison for an assault which resulted in serious bodily injury. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on August 31, 2025, Tony Tsosie , 57, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was involved in an assault in Shiprock, New Mexico. Tsosie was arrested on September 3, 2025, and pleaded guilty on April 14, 2026, to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. He will serve one year of supervised release following his prison sentence. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.


title: Former Union Treasurer Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Union Funds

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – The former treasurer of a New Mexico labor organization pleaded guilty to embezzling union funds for unauthorized personal expenses and concealing the misuse through false financial reports submitted to the Department of Labor. According to court records, from 2014 through February 2024, Max Jaramillo , 58, served as treasurer of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, Local 331, where he was entrusted with safeguarding union funds and accurately reporting the union’s financial activities. From January 2015 through November 2023, Jaramillo used union funds for unauthorized personal expenses and concealed his misuse of the money by submitting false and incomplete financial reports to the Department of Labor and the union’s members. On March 15, 2023, Jaramillo submitted an annual report to the Department of Labor that falsely represented and omitted material information about how union funds had been spent. Among the unauthorized expenditures, Jaramillo used $49.98 in union funds to purchase a bottle of Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey for himself on July 1, 2022. Jaramillo pleaded guilty to embezzlement by an officer of a labor organization. At sentencing, he faces up to 20 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today. The Department of Labor’s Office of Labor Management Standards investigated this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.


title: Texas Man Sentenced to 70 Months for Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Khalil Robinson, 20, of Pearland, Texas, was sentenced on August 13, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Robinson to 70 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Robinson’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. Judge Rossiter ordered Robinson to pay $147,520.20 in restitution to identified victims of the bank fraud conspiracy. Between February 2024 and April 2025, Robinson and others, conspired to steal mail from United States Postal Service (USPS) blue collection boxes around the United States. Checks taken from the stolen mail were resold on Telegram or altered and deposited into bank accounts created by individuals recruited into the conspiracy. In September 2024, USPS Inspectors began receiving reports of mail being placed in blue collection boxes at the Elmwood Post Office and Saddle Creek Post Office in Omaha and not arriving at its intended destination. The Lincoln, Nebraska postmaster also reported multiple blue boxes being pried into and multiple arrow lock keys stolen throughout Lincoln. On January 13, 2025, Omaha police officers found Robinson in possession of stolen mail and recovered a counterfeit key from the blue collection box Robinson broke into. On Robinson’s phone and social media accounts, postal inspectors found evidence of Robinson manufacturing arrow lock keys, recruiting individuals to open bank accounts, and images of checks from Nebraska, Virginia, and Kentucky totaling $167,000. The total value of checks postal inspectors can attribute to the bank fraud conspiracy is approximately $1,968,868. The actual loss attributable to the conspiracy is $813,458. This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service.


title: Omaha Man Who Used Chat GPT to Plan a Robbery Sentenced to 121 months for Bank Robbery and Brandishing a Firearm

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Deron Lewis-Payne, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 13, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for one charge of bank robbery and a second charge of brandishing a Llama Mini-Max .45 handgun during a crime of violence. District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Lewis-Payne to 121 months’ imprisonment: 37 months for the robbery charge and 84 months on the brandishing charge to be served consecutively. There is no parole in the federal system. After Lewis-Payne’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release. On February 10, 2026, Lewis-Payne, entered the i3Bank at 15645 Spaulding St. in Omaha and robbed the bank while brandishing a black semi-automatic handgun and demanding money from two bank employees. He pointed the handgun at the tellers and told them he would kill them if they did not comply, prompted them to empty their cash drawers, and warned them not to include any dye packs with the cash. The tellers complied and Lewis-Payne took approximately $9,175.00 in cash before fleeing. i3 Bank surveillance captured his unmasked face and distinctive outfit, including red Nike slides. The footage clearly depicted his face and the handgun used. Residential surveillance cameras located near the bank captured the vehicle he used, including the plates and distinctive features to include a toolbox and particular rust spots. After the robbery, video surveillance footage and transaction records from multiple retailers at Westroads Mall showed that Lewis-Payne went on shopping spree in which he used cash to buy shoes and clothing apparel. When officers located him near one of his residences, he ran abandoning banded cash in his wake. A search of his residences revealed another currency band, the vehicle used, and most of the outfit he wore during the robbery, including the distinctive red Nike slides. Lewis-Payne admitted to driving the vehicle, but denied involvement with the bank robbery. He consented to a search of his phone. Officers examined the contents and determined Lewis-Payne used ChatGPT to plan the robbery, including advice on law enforcement response times, how to strip and repair a Llama Mini-Max .45 handgun, and for advice on obtaining ammunition as a felon. Additionally, his Google maps history showed he had most recently searched for directions to i3 Bank. The handgun was never recovered. Officers recovered $2,397.00 of the $9,175.00 taken during the robbery. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: HSI Arrests Five in Federal Sex Trafficking of Minors Undercover Operation in Omaha

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that a three-day undercover operation led by HSI resulted in the arrest and indictment of five men in Omaha, Nebraska, last week. The defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury in the District of Nebraska with the following charges: Jocsan Aparicio-Santos, 39, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was charged with Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child and Penalties for Registered Sex Offenders. Logan Trigg, 29, of Omaha, was charged with Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child and Penalties for Registered Sex Offenders. Bryan E. Dady, 48, of Omaha, was charged with Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child and Penalties for Registered Sex Offenders. Tillian Hutton, 25, of Omaha, was charged with was charged with Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child. Law Eh, 39, of Omaha, was charged with was charged with Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child and Possession of Child Pornography. The possible penalties for Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child is a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, supervised release of five years to life, and a special assessment of $5,000. The penalties for the charge of Penalties for Registered Sex Offenders are 10 years’ consecutive to the underlying sentence. The maximum possible penalties for Possession of Child Pornography are 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, supervised release of five years to life, and special assessments totaling of $26,928. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Over the course of August 12 through August 14, 2026, the operation utilized online advertisements about sexual acts for sale. Investigators acting in an undercover capacity communicated with interested individuals seeking sex acts with minors. The subjects charged in the operation showed up to an agreed upon location to allegedly engage in sexual acts with a 14-year-old. Investigators encountered dozens of additional individuals who communicated about sexually exploiting minors. However, these individuals did not appear in person. These cases are under investigation by HSI. The following agencies assisted HSI with this operation: HSI Denver, Kansas City, Wichita, and Sioux City; the Omaha Police Department; the Colorado Bureau of Investigation; and the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office. The Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign is a national public awareness campaign designed to educate the public, law enforcement, and other industry partners to recognize the indicators of human trafficking. If you see something, say something. The public can provide tips to the HSI tipline at 1-866-347-2423.


title: Cedar Rapids Felon with Gun Sent to Federal Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A felon who possessed a gun in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison. Cody Michael Adkins, age 25, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 1, 2026, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon. Information at sentencing showed that in March 2025 in Cedar Rapids, officers stopped a car that Adkins was driving. Adkins had a suspended driver’s license. Officers smelled the odor of marijuana and searched the car. They found a loaded gun under the front passenger seat. Adkins’s thumbprint was on the magazine that was inserted into the gun, and his DNA was on the slide of the gun. When law enforcement officers first attempted to arrest Adkins, he fled. Officers found and arrested him approximately one month later. Adkins was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Adkins was sentenced to 30 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. Adkins is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 26-CR-1. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Convicted Felon Charged with Threatening Judge and DA's Office Handling Apalachee High Mass Shooting Case

body_text: ATLANTA - Brandon Dontrail Scroggins, a convicted felon, faces federal charges in the Northern District of Georgia after allegedly threatening Barrow County Superior Court Judge Nicholas Primm and the Barrow County District Attorney’s Office on the sentencing day for Colin Gray, the father of Apalachee High School mass shooter Colt Gray. “Scroggins allegedly threatened violence against the prosecutors and judge who were tasked with meting out justice for individuals responsible for the horrific mass shooting that claimed four innocent lives at Apalachee High School,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Public servants deserve to work free of intimidation, and anyone who threatens to harm them will be prosecuted.” “Our justice system depends on the ability of prosecutors and judges to make their decisions based on the law, and not on fear,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI has zero tolerance for those trying to intimidate public servants from doing their jobs.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented to the court: On the morning of July 30, 2026, in the Superior Court of Barrow County, Judge Nicholas Primm presided over the sentencing hearing for Colin Gray, the father of the perpetrator of the September 4, 2024 Apalachee High School shooting. Gray’s son, Colin Cray, killed four people and injured nine in the deadliest act of school violence in Georgia’s history. Scroggins allegedly called the Barrow County District Attorney’s Office and informed the receptionist that he was coming to “take out” Barrow County because of purported injustice. Shortly thereafter, Scroggins called the district attorney’s office again and left a voicemail threatening to travel to Georgia and harm the office’s employees and their children. A minute later, Scroggins allegedly called Judge Primm’s chambers and left a voicemail stating that “a death date just came up for Nicholas Primm.” In the voicemail, Scroggins allegedly warned Judge Primm’s assistant to separate herself from Judge Primm because Judge Primm and “everything he love[s]” is “dead.” On August 7, 2026, Brandon Dontrail Scroggins, 39, of Abilene, Texas, was charged in a criminal complaint with transmitting interstate communications containing threats to injure another person. Scroggins also faces federal charges in the Middle District of Alabama for allegedly threatening a federal judge, and he faces state charges in Texas related to harassing phone calls. Scroggins is being held in the custody of the United States Marshals Service in Texas awaiting transport for further proceedings in the Middle District of Alabama and Northern District of Georgia. Members of the public are reminded that the complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Smith is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods and Operation Take Back America . Operation Take Back America is 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. 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: Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Leads to Guilty Plea by Pensacola Armed Drug Trafficker

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Marquis Dy’Monte Bethea 32, of Pensacola, pleaded guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the plea today. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case demonstrates the excellent investigative work by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, with support from our federal law enforcement partners, to identify and remove an armed drug trafficker from our streets. The Homeland Security Task Force is continuing to deliver wins for public safety in the Northern District of Florida, and my office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting these armed drug traffickers until our citizens get the safe, drug-free streets they deserve.” Court documents reflect that in September 2025, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop for an infraction. The defendant was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. After a drug detection K9 positively alerted to the presence of narcotics, law enforcement searched the vehicle. During the search, deputies located a loaded pistol, $10,350 cash, and over 200 grams of methamphetamine. Bethea faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, on the drug distribution count, and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, for the firearm count, consecutive to the sentence imposed on Count 1. Sentencing is scheduled before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II in Pensacola, Florida on September 24, 2026. The plea was the result of a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida. 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: Gainesville Felon Sentenced For Federal Drug & Gun Crimes

body_text: Gainesville, Florida – DaMorie Lamontay Miles, 20, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and one count of receipt, possession, transfer, or production of a firearm which is not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This successful prosecution and sentence notches another win for the Department of Justice, and continues to fulfill the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Todd Blanche that we will devote the full might of the federal government toward delivering safe, drug-free streets for our citizens.” Court records reflect that the defendant was communicating via text message and social media with others to buy and sell marijuana and to obtain a machine gun conversion device (MCD). The defendant was arrested after a search of his residence discovered over 600 grams of marijuana and the MCD. “Our goal is to make Gainesville a safer place, and that means keeping dangerous drugs and illegal firearms out of the hands of those who would use them to harm others,” said Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya. Miles’ sentence will run consecutive to another state sentence involving the possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and the possession of a weapon or ammunition by a Florida delinquent. The case involved an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Gainesville Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt. 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: Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Cocaine and Crack Cocaine with Intent to Distribute

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to possessing cocaine and crack cocaine with intent to distribute. According to court records, on July 8, 2024, Portland police officers arrested Anthony Lobor , 27, on a state arrest warrant. Later that day, investigators searched Lobor’s residence under a search warrant and found cocaine, crack cocaine, several cell phones, cash, seven firearms, and ammunition. Lobor faces up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Portland Police Department investigated the case, with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. ###


title: Fentanyl Free America Call to Action by Middle District of Georgia U.S. Attorney

body_text: MACON, Ga. – U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes is urging every citizen in the Middle District of Georgia to join the fight for a fentanyl-free America and Georgia ahead of National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day this Friday, August 21, through a newly launched public service announcement . “I urge everyone in our community to stand together with compassion and resolve, by learning about the dangers of fentanyl, having honest conversations with your loved ones, looking out for friends and neighbors at risk, and joining us in ending this crisis,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia. “In partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration and our law enforcement allies at every level, we will continue to relentlessly pursue those distributing this deadly drug. By working together, we can save lives, honor those we’ve lost, and secure a safer, healthier future for every family.” “National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day reminds us that protecting our communities starts with prevention,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “We must protect lives by raising awareness of the dangers of fentanyl, prevent tragedy through education and informed decision-making, and support families with the resources they need to have these important conversations. Together, we can save lives and work toward a Fentanyl Free America.” As part of the national grassroots effort to raise awareness, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia has produced a public service announcement in coordination with the DEA and the Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs, titled “Fentanyl Free America and Georgia.” People are invited to watch the PSA on YouTube or the Office’s social channels on X , Facebook , and LinkedIn , and help spread the message by sharing it with family, friends, and neighbors to unite our communities in this urgent fight. To learn more about the national “Fentanyl Free America” effort from the DEA, please visit https://www.dea.gov/fentanylfree . Illicit fentanyl remains one of the most dangerous drug threats facing our communities. Fentanyl is extremely potent, and even a small amount can be potentially lethal. Fentanyl is often mixed into other illicit drugs and pressed into counterfeit pills made to resemble legitimate prescription medicines. For those who are fighting addiction or supporting a loved one on that journey, help is available. Contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for confidential treatment referrals and information at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day is observed annually on August 21 and brings together families, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, educators, community organizations, and others to increase education about the dangers of illicit fentanyl. To learn more, please visit https://www.dea.gov/fentanylawareness .