title: Rochester man charged with threatening President Trump’s son, Donald Trump. Jr.

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that James Gerald Eckert, Jr., 39, of Rochester, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with threats to kill, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm upon a member of the immediate family of the President, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. According to the criminal complaint, on June 18, 2026, a member of the U.S. Secret Service on duty at the residence of President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., was alerted that several threats were made against Trump Jr. The threats, made in the group chat feed of Trump Jr.’s podcast “Triggered with Donald Trump Jr., included: “im going to kill you, (expletive), I am going to kill this (expletive) on the screen.” The threats were posted by an account with the username JamesGeraldEckertJr/@JamesGeraldEckertJr. While viewing the podcast on the online video platform Rumble, JamesGeraldEckertJr/@JamesGeraldEckertJr was also streaming himself on Rumble. Eckert, Jr. repeats, both verbally, as well as by posts in the live chat, similar threats against Trump Jr. as well as the CEO of Rumble, for most of the duration of an approximately eight-minute video. The threats included, “your (expletive) dead, its over guys” and “I'm going to go to YouTube and be calm and I’m still going to (expletive) kill Trump Junior. We’re going to get to World Peace. (Expletive) die guy. Try to get out of this surviving. (Expletive) you forever. (Expletive) you forever.” On June 7, 2026, prior to the threats made against Donald Trump Jr., Eckert, Jr. posted a message on the Facebook account of “James Gerald Eckert Jr.” stating: “Mayor Malik Evans, I am coming for your family. Seriously, you will lose them to me personally. Stand by. This will not go away until you are dead or [REDACTED] is behind bars. Deal with this.” On June 11, 2026, the same Facebook account made a threatening post against New York State Senator Samra Brook, on the senator’s official Facebook page. The comment stated: “You are going to die.” Eckert made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark W. Pedersen and was held pending a detention hearing on July 20, 2026. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis A. Testani. The complaint the result of an investigation by the United States Secret Service, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Charles T. Perras and the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Erie, Kansas Man Charged with Attempted Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and Offense by a Registered Sex Offender

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Erie, Kan. man has been charged by criminal complaint for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and committing that offense as a registered sex offender. Richard V. Mitchell, 63, appeared in federal court today on a two-count criminal complaint. According to court documents, Mitchell requested a minor child be transported from the Western District of Missouri to Erie, Kan. to engage in sexual activity with Mitchell. Mitchell is a registered sex offender in the State of Kansas. The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett and Kelly Collins. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: Crowley Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking; Co-Defendant Also Pleads Guilty

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: LAFAYETTE–On June 30, 2026, District Judge David C. Joseph sentenced Marcus Redlich , 26, of Crowley, to 10 years in federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(l). A close associate of Redlich’s , Marley Guidry , 22, also of Crowley, pled guilty to the same offense on July 1, 2026. According to court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) identified Redlich in July 2024 as a suspected methamphetamine trafficker operating in and around the region. Over several months, agents conducted extensive surveillance and determined that Redlich worked closely with an associate, Guidry , who helped transport, supply, and facilitate Redlich’s distribution activities throughout the area. On August 28, 2025, federal and state authorities coordinated search and enforcement actions. Louisiana State Police initiated a traffic stop on Redlich along Interstate 10 at mile marker 97 in Lafayette Parish. Redlich briefly slowed his vehicle but suddenly accelerated in an attempt to flee, directing a passenger to throw two white grocery bags out of the vehicle before crashing and being apprehended. Troopers recovered two clear, vacuum sealed bags containing approximately three pounds of pure methamphetamine from the roadside where the bags were discarded. Simultaneously, Acadia Parish Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at Redlich’s r esidence in Crowley. Agents recovered additional quantities of pure methamphetamine, digital scales, and plastic baggies, along with other controlled substances. Redlich later admitted to possessing the narcotics found in his home. A separate search warrant executed on Guidry’s home also uncovered a significant quantity of illegal narcotics, including pure methamphetamine, Dimethyl Sulfone, cocaine, and other controlled substances. U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office (LPSO), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Louisiana State Police (LSP), and Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office (APSO). It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte Murphy with assistance from Legal Administrative Specialist Christy Angelle. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 6:25 CR 00326 01. Public Affairs United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Louisiana USALAW-News@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Twitter @USAO_WDLA


title: Ohio Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug and Gun Crimes

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jeffrey Allen Jones, also known as “Ben,” 46, of Columbus, Ohio, was sentenced today to seven years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 7, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Jones’ Huntington residence and seized approximately 44 grams of fentanyl, approximately 23 grams of cocaine base, also known as “crack,” and a loaded Glock 23 .40-caliber pistol. As part of his guilty plea, Jones admitted that he possessed the seized controlled substances and intended to distribute them, and that he possessed the firearm to protect himself and the seized drugs. Jones also admitted to selling fentanyl on four occasions between January 2, 2025, and March 5, 2025, in quantities of approximately 1 gram each time to a confidential informant at the Huntington residence and in exchange for $80. On December 17, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Huntington motel room, where they arrested Jones and seized approximately 15 grams of crack and 5 grams of fentanyl in his possession. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-153. ###


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

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Robert J. Thomas, 31, of St. Albans, was sentenced today to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 27, 2024, Thomas possessed a Glock Model 27 .40-caliber pistol in the Jefferson area of Kanawha County. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Thomas knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance in Putnam County Circuit Court on October 9, 2019. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Gabriel Price and third-year law student intern Jeffrey R. Watkins prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-40. ###


title: Huntington Man Sentenced for Federal Drug Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Tavoyn Billy Morrison, 26, of Huntington, was sentenced today to time served and three years of supervised release for distribution of cocaine base, also known as “crack.” According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 31, 2025, Morrison sold approximately 3 grams of crack to a confidential informant for $200 at a Huntington residence. As part of his guilty plea, Morrison admitted to conducting the transaction and further admitted that he sold approximately 3 grams of crack to a confidential informant for $200 outside of the Huntington residence on August 14, 2025. Morrison is among seven individuals who pleaded guilty as the result of an investigation targeting the distribution of controlled substances in the Huntington area. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Huntington Police Department, and the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-156. ###


title: Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marrio Adam Kinchen, also known as “Kardi,” 37, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of a mixture containing methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 2, 2025, Kinchen sold approximately 27 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant at a Huntington address in exchange for $200. Kinchen is scheduled to be sentenced on October 26, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-20. ###


title: Detroit Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Multiple Felony Drug Crimes in Huntington-Area Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Case

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Lamarr Anthony Welch, also known as “Joe,” 35, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to 11 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for 11 felony drug offenses. Welch admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area. According to court documents and statements made in court, Welch admitted that he participated in the conspiracy, distributed various quantities of methamphetamine totaling 651 grams on multiple occasions between March 3, 2025, and August 27, 2025, and distributed 4.4 grams fentanyl on August 27, 2025, as part of the DTO. On September 10, 2025, law enforcement officers arrested Welch at a trailer in Huntington where the DTO stored drugs for distribution and seized approximately 3.95 kilograms of methamphetamine, 266 grams of fentanyl, and a loaded firearm. Welch pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count each of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, aiding and abetting the distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, aiding and abetting the distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, distribution of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and distribution of fentanyl. Welch conducted transactions arranged by or at the direction of three co-defendants: Joshua Willie McCarver, also known as “TJ,” 28, of Detroit; McCarver’s nephew, Darnell Marice McCarver, also known as “WAP,” 19, of Detroit; and Geon Lavell Henderson, also known as “Money,” 53, of Huntington. The three co-defendants and Welch are among six defendants who pleaded guilty following their indictment on charges alleging they participated in the DTO while it operated from in or about January 2025 to in or about August 2025. Darnell Marice McCarver was sentenced on April 13, 2026, to 12 years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture. Henderson was sentenced on June 22, 2026, to 12 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl. Joshua Willie McCarver is scheduled to be sentenced on October 13, 2026, after pleading guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The indictment remains pending against three other defendants. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Welch was sentenced as a career offender, with a criminal history that includes two prior convictions for armed robbery. “This career criminal flooded Huntington with a staggering amount of dangerous drugs,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “Today’s sentence reflects the severity of the harm he inflicted and demonstrates our commitment to bring the full weight of the law down on those who target our communities with this poison.” Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Cabell County Sheriff's Office, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-154. ###


title: New Jersey man arrested for local fentanyl overdose

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 34-year-old Trenton, New Jersey, resident has been charged with possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance resulting in death. Authorities have now taken Edgar Guzman into custody at his residence. He will make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni in New Jersey and is expected to appear in Corpus Christi federal court in the near future. A federal grand jury returned the indictment July 8, 2026, which was unsealed upon his arrest. The charges allege that on April 18, 2026, law enforcement responded to a call in relation to a cardiac arrest and discovered an unresponsive individual. Emergency personnel arrived on scene and declared the victim to be deceased, noting signs of drug use in the residence and near the body, according to the allegations. Court records indicate the cause of death was fentanyl toxicity. Authorities allegedly recovered messages from the victim’s phone and other evidence from the residence. The indictment alleges the victim would order fentanyl from Guzman who would then ship it through the mail to Corpus Christi using flat rate shipping envelopes. If convicted, Guzman faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years and up to life in federal prison and a possible $1 million maximum fine. Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine K. Tucker prosecuted 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: Illegal alien previously convicted of shooting girlfriend’s husband and other crimes sent to federal prison

body_text: HOUSTON – A 30-year-old illegal alien from Honduras illegally living in Houston has been sentenced for unlawfully reentering the country. Nelson Alberto Fajardo pleaded guilty March 10, 2026. U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge has now ordered Fajardo to serve 46 months in federal prison. As an illegal alien, he is expected to be once again removed from the United States following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence about his criminal history while illegally present in the country. Farjardo has multiple prior convictions for burglary, possessing a firearm after a felony conviction, and aggravated assault. Authorities removed him from the country in 2015, but he illegally returned. In 2022, he shot his girlfriend’s estranged husband at a residence in Houston, ordered to prison, and ultimately charged with felony illegal reentry. Fajardo has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robin Whitney and Amanda Alum prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigrants, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Bangladeshi national extradited from Brazil to face charges for role in transnational criminal human smuggling organization

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 39-year-old Bangladeshi national has made his initial appearance in Laredo federal court after being extradited from Brazil on July 8. A second superseding indictment charges Saifullah Al-Mamun for his role in a conspiracy that smuggled aliens from Bangladesh into the United States. According to court documents, Al-Mamun and his co-defendants, Mohamad Milon Hossain, 46 and Moktar Hossain, 38, both of Bangladesh, participated in a wide-ranging human smuggling operation and assisted other smugglers by facilitating the travel of scores of aliens from São Paulo, Brazil, and other locations in South America, Central America, and Mexico so that the aliens could illegally enter the United States. Al-Mamun housed aliens in São Paulo and arranged their travel, while Mohamad Milon Hossain housed aliens in Tapachula, Mexico, and facilitated their transportation to Monterrey, Mexico, according to the charges. Moktar Hossain allegedly housed aliens in Monterrey and instructed them how to cross the Rio Grande River into the United States, but many had difficulty safely doing so. The charges allege aliens paid as much as tens of thousands of dollars to individuals in Bangladesh to help them travel illegally to the United States. Al-Mamun was arrested in Brazil in October 2019. Al-Mamun is charged with conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States and conspiracy to encourage and induce an alien to enter the United States and faces up to 10 years in federal prison. He could also receive up to 15 years for multiple counts of bringing an alien to the United States for financial gain. Mohamad Milon Hossain and Moktar Hossain pleaded guilty to their roles ole in the operation and were each sentenced to 46 months in prison. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Phoenix is investigating this case with assistance from the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., U.S. Customs and Border and Protection’s (CBP) International Interdiction Task Force, CBP – Counter Network Division, HSI Laredo, HSI Brasilia, HSI Bogota, U.S. Embassy in Brazil including the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, Brazil Federal Police, Colombian National Police, and U.S. Marshals Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Brazil. The Justice Department thanks its Brazilian law enforcement counterparts for their assistance in this matter. The investigation and indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated prosecutors from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE HSI and Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 464 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 414 U.S. convictions; and more than 360 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets. This case is also 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 immigrants, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Savannah man sentenced to nearly 10 years in federal prison on drug and gun charges

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

body_text: SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Savannah man has been sentenced to prison in federal court following a plea agreement for firearm- and drug-related crimes. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Lisa G. Wood and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Jamel Adams , 42, of Savannah, was sentenced to 116 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl. Court documents and testimony show that in December 2024, Savannah Police initiated a traffic stop of Adams when he attempted to flee on foot. After being apprehended, a search of Adams’s vehicle led to the discovery of 20 grams of methamphetamine and 31 grams of fentanyl. Adams also pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. During the same encounter, Savannah Police found a Springfield XD5, .45 caliber pistol in Adams’s vehicle. There is no parole in the federal system. “This sentence reflects the serious consequences for those who choose to threaten the safety and well-being of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “Our office, together with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to aggressively prosecuting offenders who endanger the public and holding them accountable under federal law.” This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Savannah Police Department and was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys L. Alexander Hamner and Makeia R. Jonese.


title: Alleged Drug Trafficker with Connections to 2022 Drug Tunnel Extradited to San Diego from Mexico

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Genaro Lopez was arraigned in federal court today following his extradition from Mexico Friday in connection with allegations that he moved cocaine and other drugs into the United States via a sophisticated tunnel discovered in 2022. At the hearing, the defendant entered a not guilty plea to drug trafficking charges. U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel E. Butcher granted the government’s request to hold Lopez without bond on grounds that he posed a serious risk of flight from prosecution. According to court records, Lopez, who is a United States citizen, was a powerful drug trafficker operating on both sides of the border. Prior to July 2021, Lopez operated from the United States out of a stash house in Chula Vista, until July 9, 2021, when investigators stopped three cars leaving the stash house with drugs and executed a search warrant. Authorities seized 241 kilograms of cocaine, eight guns (including two ghost guns), a bulletproof vest, ammunition, high-capacity magazines, and close to $40,000 in cash. Lopez was not present at the search; he fled to Mexico after the search and remained a fugitive until his recent arrest in Mexico on March 10 at the request of the United States. Four of Lopez’s employees were arrested and charged with drug trafficking crimes and have since pleaded guilty and been sentenced. The United States also alleges that Lopez used a cross-border tunnel discovered in 2022 to smuggle illegal drugs into the United States. Investigators discovered the tunnel on May 12, 2022, while surveilling a second stash house in National City. Authorities stopped four cars leaving the stash house and during subsequent searches of the house and cars, investigators seized close to 800 kilograms of cocaine, 74.8 kilograms (163 pounds) of methamphetamine, and 1.6 kilograms (3.5 pounds) of fentanyl. For more information, please see this link . Beneath the warehouse, they discovered a tunnel from Tijuana to a warehouse in Otay Mesa that was estimated to be about 1,744 feet long, 61 feet deep and 4-feet in diameter, with reinforced walls, a rail system, electricity and a ventilation system. Six people were arrested in that case; five have since pleaded guilty and been sentenced while one other fled while awaiting sentencing and remains a fugitive. Lopez’s next court appearance for motion hearing and trial setting is scheduled for August 14 before U.S. District Judge Linda Lopez. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Benjamin and Lawrence Casper. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Genaro Lopez. *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr681-LL Genaro Lopez Age: 54 Tijuana, Mexico SUMMARY OF CHARGES Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance- – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841 and 846 Maximum penalty: Life in prison Conspiracy to Import a Controlled Substance- – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 952, 960, and 963 Maximum penalty: Life in prison PREVIOUS DEFENDANTS AND SENTENCES 22-CR-01697-LL Soukha Phimpasouk 48 months Gabriel Ali Ruelas 70 months Kevin Omar Carbajal 30 months Josselyn Paige Smitko 345 days 22-CR-1169-LL Juan Cruz 24 months Mario Jaramillo 27 months Manuel Perez-Herrera Fugitive Vanessa Ramirez 120 months Luz de Luna Olmos 92 days Adrian Enriquez 120 months INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Homeland Security Investigations San Diego Sheriff’s Department This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and INTERPOL, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.


title: Mobile Man Convicted at Trial for Participating in a Multimillion-Dollar Bank Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A federal jury convicted a Mobile man today for his participation in a multimillion-dollar bank fraud conspiracy involving theft of mail, identity theft, counterfeiting of stolen checks and money orders, and fraudulent financial transactions. According to court documents and evidence presented at a four-day jury trial, Jacody Deauntae Roberts Williams, 22, participated in a nationwide fraud conspiracy that affected dozens of victims in multiple states between 2018 and 2025. The scheme involved widespread theft of mail, identity theft, counterfeiting of millions of dollars’ worth of stolen checks and money orders, and fraudulent deposits of fictitious financial instruments into numerous bank accounts. The jury reviewed evidence that on several occasions between 2022 and 2025, Williams and other members of the conspiracy fraudulently opened accounts at banks in Mobile and elsewhere to conduct sham deposits of counterfeit checks and money orders. For example, in October 2022, one of Williams’s coconspirators, Patrick E. Williams, impersonated an identity-theft victim using a fake driver’s license to open a bank account and conduct fraudulent deposits of altered money orders. Similarly, in March 2024, another of Williams’s coconspirators, Shaquan L. Manassa, impersonated other victims, used fake driver’s licenses, and opened a business bank account in the name of a bogus Alabama corporation to conduct fraudulent deposits of counterfeited money orders and checks. In February 2025, Williams’s coconspirator, Nicholas Jon Neil Robinson, was released from federal prison for a previous COVID-19 loan fraud conviction. The jury reviewed text messages and Instagram messages in which Williams and Robinson coordinated for Williams to fraudulently open a bank account to aid the scheme. On March 25, 2025, Williams and another coconspirator visited a bank branch in Mobile and lied to a teller on account-opening documentation. Williams then gave Robinson his debit card and bank account login information. On March 31, 2025, Robinson fraudulently deposited a $34,000 counterfeited check, altered to be made payable to Williams, into Williams’s account. The bank refused the deposit. The original check had been stolen from the mail. The victim owner of the check testified at trial that the original check had been intended to pay school tuition for a special-needs child. In April 2025, federal agents executed a search warrant at the home of one of Williams’s coconspirators, Demetrius J. Manassa, in Atlanta, Georgia. During that search, agents seized dozens of counterfeited money orders and checks, including some bearing Williams’s name. Agents also seized piles of stolen mail, several fake driver’s licenses and credit cards, bogus Alabama corporation documents, a loaded firearm, a counterfeiting station, and other evidence of the scheme. The jury reviewed dozens of incriminating Instagram messages that Williams exchanged with coconspirators. For example, in June 2023, a coconspirator asked Williams, “What type of scams y’all doing,” to which Williams responded, “I gotta tell u in person.” Later, in November 2023, Williams messaged a coconspirator asking to illegally purchase Percocet pills and stating that “the bank closed before we can get the money off this account.” Between January and April 2024, Williams exchanged messages with a coconspirator about defrauding several banks, including Bank of America and Wells Fargo, offered to find banks for the coconspirator to defraud, and discussed purchasing a how-to guide for committing fraud referred to as a “method.” Williams also shared a video of a stolen check being fraudulently “washed,” shared images of himself and others possessing bulk cash, and discussed defrauding several banks with his coconspirators. Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock will sentence Williams in October 2026. Williams faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, a five-year supervised release term, and an obligation to pay any victim restitution to be ordered by the court. The court previously sentenced two of Williams’s coconspirators, Demetrius J. Manassa and Jarrod A. Ross, to 180 months and 84 months in prison, respectively, for their involvement in the scheme. Several other coconspirators are pending sentencing. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, the United States Secret Service, the Mobile Police Department, and the Jackson Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller and Michael Tabarrok are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Stockton, California Man Found Guilty after Federal Jury Trial of Conspiring to Distribute Huge Quantities of Methamphetamine in South Dakota

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a jury has convicted John Odom Harris, Jr., age 41, of Stockton, California of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine following a 4-day jury trial in federal district court in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on July 10, 2026. The charge carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life imprisonment, a $10 million dollar fine and at least five years up to life supervised release. Harris was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024. Harris was responsible for distributing over 100 pounds of methamphetamine to a co-conspirator who then distributed the methamphetamine to others in South Dakota from early 2023 to early 2024. Harris sent methamphetamine to South Dakota through the mail. He also provided it to his co-conspirator in California, who then transported the drugs to South Dakota in cars and on trains. Four other conspirators from the same drug trafficking organization have been convicted in federal court to date. Harris’s co-conspirator, Marquez McGee, was caught in possession of 42 pounds of methamphetamine in January 2024. After pleading guilty, McGee was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison in December of that year. “Methamphetamine dealers seeking to distribute their poisonous product would be wise to cross off South Dakota from their list,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case. A presentence investigation was ordered. Sentencing will be set for a later date. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Nebraska Woman Sentenced to more than 6 Years in Federal Prison for Wire Fraud and Money Laundering

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rushville, Nebraska, woman convicted of four counts of Wire Fraud and three counts of Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on June 29, 2026. Buffy Redfish, age 57, was sentenced to 6 years and 6 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $4,744,415.36 in restitution. From May 2006 to November 2024, Redfish worked for the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s (OST) Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO), which enforces the tribal requirement that all employers engaged in business on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation give preference to qualified Native Americans in employment, contracting, and other business or economic development activities. One of Redfish’s duties was to collect TERO fee checks from contractors and transfer them to OST’s revenue department for deposit into the tribe’s general fund. Between November 2017 and May 2024, Redfish and a co-defendant, working together, developed a scheme to defraud OST by diverting TERO fee checks totaling more than $4.7 million belonging to the tribe and depositing the checks into the co-defendant’s bank account. The two then split the embezzled funds between themselves and used the funds for their own personal benefit, including purchasing homes and vehicles. Redfish is a member of the Gila Tribe in Arizona. “This Administration has made prosecution of government fraud a top priority,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “This substantial prison sentence for stealing millions of dollars from the Oglala Sioux Tribe is another step forward by our office in fulfilling that directive.” “Together with her co-defendant, Buffy Redfish stole $4.7 million from an Oglala Sioux Tribe program and out of the hands of the people of the Pine Ridge Reservation," said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. "The FBI will take every necessary investigative step to stop fraud and ensure the integrity of public programs. Those entrusted with public and tribal funds must uphold that trust or they face significant prison sentences." This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case. Redfish was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Dominican Nationals Sentenced in Federal Benefits Fraud Cases

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: PROVIDENCE – Two Dominican nationals were sentenced on July 9, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island for fraud schemes involving the use of stolen identities of American citizens to fraudulently obtain Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and unemployment benefits. Jesus Matos Perez, 52, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to illegal entry, false representation of a social security number, health care and wire fraud. According to court documents, Matos Perez used the stolen identities of two American citizens for approximately ten years to fraudulently obtain approximately $75,000 of Medicaid, SNAP, and unemployment benefits. William Jose Alejandro Arias Amador, 45, a citizen of the Dominican Republic was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to false representation of a social security number, health care and wire fraud. According to court documents, upon his release from the Adult Correctional Institution, Arias Amador, who had amassed a significant criminal history in the identity of a United States citizen, fraudulently obtained Medicaid and SNAP benefits using the stolen identity and social security number of the same individual. “The message from these sentences is straightforward,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “If you steal identities and exploit government programs for personal gain, we will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and seek meaningful consequences. Protecting the integrity of taxpayer-funded benefit programs from fraud remains a top priority of this office and the Department of Justice.” The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dulce Donovan and Special Assistant United States Attorney John Moreria. The matters were investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Four Sentenced After Firearms Investigation Following a Million-Dollar Burglary

body_text: EUGENE, Ore.—The last of four co-defendants was sentenced to federal prison last Friday after burglaries of a home in Coos County, Oregon, and stealing cash, gold, silver coins, and firearms. The following individuals have been sentenced: Daniel Knapp, 58, of Port Orford, Oregon, was sentenced last Friday to 24 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release; William Travis Cutlip, 41, of Port Orford, was sentenced July 7, 2026, to 24 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release; Kyle Vanalstine, 31, of Bandon, Oregon, was sentenced July 7, 2026, to 77 months in federal prison and 5 years of supervised release; and Matthew Knapp, 48, of Ashland, Oregon, was sentenced June 24, 2026, to five years of probation. According to court documents, a federal firearms investigation began after a significant residential burglary. On Dec. 19, 2023, Matthew Knapp, Daniel Knapp, and Cutlip broke into the vault of a Coos County residence and stole approximately one million dollars in cash, gold, silver coins, and at least one firearm. After returning to one of their residences, Matthew Knapp was seen possessing a stolen pistol. The investigation revealed several messages showing Matthew Knapp’s history with firearms and accessories nine months prior, in March 2023. Matthew Knapp is a felon and prohibited from having a firearm. Matthew Knapp was later convicted of Aggravated Theft I in state court. Several days later, on Dec. 23, Vanalstine broke into the same vault and stole approximately 40 firearms, including assault rifles, pistols, and at least one silencer and transferred many of them to Cutlip. Several stolen firearms stored at Cutlip’s property were later recovered in California. On Jan. 5, 2024, law enforcement stopped and searched Vanalstine while he was driving in Curry County, Oregon. In his car, Vanalstine had more than one kilogram of methamphetamine, scales and a loaded pistol. Vanalstine was convicted in state court for the burglary of the residence and for a separate possession of a controlled substance case and was sentenced to prison for both offenses. On Jan. 9, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Cutlip’s residence in Port Orford and seized a stolen silencer and the assault rifles pictured below: In January 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Daniel Knapp’s residence and found a .22 revolver, which was unconnected to the burglary. Daniel Knapp is a felon and prohibited from having a firearm. On Dec. 11, 2024, Cutlip pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic in firearms. He was convicted in state court for burglary. On Dec. 4, 2025, Vanalstine pleaded guilty to trafficking in firearms and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In February 2026, Matthew Knapp and Daniel Knapp pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement. This case was prosecuted by the ATF, FBI, SCINT (South Coos Interagency Narcotics Team), Coos County Sheriff Office, and Oregon State Police, with assistance from Coquille Tribal Police, Bandon Police Department, Coos Bay Police Department and the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team (DINT). It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Sweet.


title: Bergen County Woman Charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County woman was charged on with distributing methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Brittany Malsch, 38, of Garfield, New Jersey, was charged by Complaint with possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine. Malsch had her initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark federal court, and was remanded. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From at least as early as December 2025, law enforcement began investigating Malsch for her role in distributing methamphetamine from a room at a hotel located in Fairfield, New Jersey. After confirming that Malsch was residing in the hotel, law enforcement executed a judicially- authorized search warrant for her hotel room, in which law enforcement discovered multiple bags containing suspected crystal methamphetamine, as well as drug paraphernalia including packaging materials. Officers also recovered approximately $1,720.00 in U.S. currency. The charge of possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine carries a minimum statutory term of 10 years, a maximum statutory term of life, and a maximum fine of $10 million. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited task force officers of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James, and the Fairfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief Anthony G. Manna, with the investigation. The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Isen Kang of the General Crimes Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### Defense counsel: Laura C. Sayler, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender. malsch.complaint.pdf


component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Manchester Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unlawful Possession of Firearms CONCORD – A Manchester man was sentenced today in federal court for the unlawful possession of multiple firearms, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Thomas Young, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Landya B. McCafferty to 28 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. On March 26, 2026, Young pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of firearms. “The defendant possessed multiple firearms capable of inflicting massive damage and enough ammunition to equip a small militia. Today’s sentence underscores that felons are not legally allowed to possess firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “We will continue to work with law enforcement to disarm felons.” “Getting guns away from people who shouldn’t have them, like Thomas Young, is a critical part of our concerted effort to crush violent crime in this city,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “If you’re in criminal possession of a firearm, the FBI and our partners will be glad to take it off your hands, in exchange for a nice pair of cuffs and time behind bars.” Young was a convicted felon and unable to legally possess a firearm or ammunition. In September 2023, the FBI learned from a confidential source that Young was a gang member and selling firearms. Young agreed to sell the confidential source a modified AK-47 rifle for $2,200 and gave the confidential source two boxes. The first contained the AK-47, and the second contained magazines and ammunition. Young later tried selling another firearm, a .40 caliber carbine-style gun, to the confidential source for $1,350. In April 2024, law enforcement searched Young’s home and found two shotguns, shotgun shells, a silencer, and almost 500 rounds of ammunition. The FBI led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.


body_text: Dominican National Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Trafficking Illegal Drugs in the New Hampshire Seacoast CONCORD – A citizen of the Dominican Republic, who previously lived in Massachusetts, was sentenced today in federal court for drug trafficking in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Juan De Los Santos Romero, 23, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Court Judge Samantha Elliott to 30 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. De Los Santos Romero previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl. De Los Santos Romero will be removed from the United States upon the completion of his prison sentence. Four co-conspirators, Jose Luis Guerrero Nunez, Carlos Alejandro Chevalier Santos, Eddy Mendez Carmona, and Luis Guerrero Cabral, have previously pleaded guilty. “Fentanyl and methamphetamine are destructive drugs that devastate our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “We will continue to pursue and hold accountable those individuals who distribute these dangerous substances in our state.” “The defendant chose to profit from the distribution of two of the most dangerous drugs threatening our communities today—fentanyl and methamphetamine,” said Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, New England Field Division. “His actions contributed to the flow of deadly narcotics into New Hampshire, putting countless lives at risk. Today’s sentence demonstrates that those who traffic these poisons will be identified, investigated, and held accountable, regardless of their citizenship or where they attempt to operate. The DEA remains steadfast in our commitment to working alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to dismantle drug trafficking organizations and protect the people of New England.” De Los Santos Romero was part of a Methuen-based drug trafficking organization that was distributing significant quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Seacoast area. He was responsible for at least four controlled drug purchases with an undercover DEA agent. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. The Seabrook Police Department, Hampton Police Department, Portsmouth Police Department, Methuen Police Department, and the New Hampshire State Police provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: United States Reaches $4.17 Million Civil Settlement and Three-Year Compliance Agreement with West Virginia University Health System Over Controlled Substance Violations

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA — The United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia announced today that West Virginia United Health System, Inc., doing business as West Virginia University Health System (WVUHS), has agreed to pay $4,177,139 and enter a Memorandum of Agreement to resolve civil allegations that it violated multiple provisions of the Controlled Substances Act across various registered facilities over a seven-year span. Pursuant to a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigation, the United States identified that WVUHS committed numerous recordkeeping and reporting violations between 2017 and 2024. WVUHS facilities failed to notify the DEA regarding thefts or significant losses of controlled substances. In addition to these failures to report, other violations included errors in orders regarding controlled substances; failures to maintain accurate and current inventory records; failures to ensure proper authority for use of DEA order forms; maintaining policies and procedures not fully consistent with the requirements of the Controlled Substance Act; and other administrative violations. “The DEA Diversion Investigators who worked this matter should be commended for uncovering failures that put controlled substances at risk of diversion, and their work has undoubtedly made West Virginia a safer place,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Prezioso. “When a healthcare system controls large quantities of addictive medications, strict compliance with the Controlled Substances Act is necessary to protect the public. This settlement, along with the corresponding Memorandum of Agreement, demands accountability and mandates meaningful reform across WVUHS.” In addition to the civil monetary settlement, WVUHS has signed a comprehensive, three‑year Memorandum of Agreement with the DEA. The Memorandum of Agreement imposes detailed systemwide compliance requirements, including additional diversion oversight; rapid reporting of thefts or losses; installing hundreds of security cameras at controlled substance storage sites; enhancing training and auditing procedures; and other policy improvements to detect, investigate, and prevent diversion. “Hospital systems stockpile controlled medications with a high potential for abuse, so it’s imperative that they safeguard those drugs and maintain accurate records to prevent diversion,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Field Division. “The multi-million dollar fine levied against the WVUHS in this case reflects the serious nature of their failure to meet their obligations in accordance with the Controlled Substances Act.” This case was litigated on behalf of the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Prezioso, Jordan V. Palmer, and Stephanie K. Savino, from the Northern District of West Virginia, and Greg Neil of the Southern District of West Virginia. It is also the result of tireless efforts by DEA Diversion Investigators. For questions about the settlement or the terms of the MOA, please contact the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia. Read the settlement agreement below. final_wvuhs_settlement_agreement_.pdf


title: Former Hominy Bookkeeper Sentenced for Bank Fraud

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A former Hominy bookkeeper was sentenced today for Bank Fraud after stealing more than $393k from a family business, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Susan Marie Garrison, 54, of Sand Springs, to 33 months' imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. She was ordered to pay $393,025.09 in restitution. From 2017 through 2022, Garrison was a trusted bookkeeper handling the finances for a family business in Hominy. Court documents show that her duties include managing financial activities, bank accounts, and preparing records. In total, Garrison admitted to writing more than 240 checks to herself, all of which she cashed and deposited into her own checking accounts. Garrison was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons at a later date. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough prosecuted the case.


title: Ohio Woman and Two Sons Charged with Conspiracy to Defraud the IRS and Pandemic-era Programs of More Than $5M

body_text: CLEVELAND – Three Lorain County residents, a mother and her adult sons, have been charged with conspiring for more than five years to defraud the IRS and several taxpayer-funded programs established to assist small business owners during the pandemic. A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Junera Holt Sr., 55, and her sons, Divante Holt, 32, and Richard Henry, 35, with: Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud Aiding and Assisting in the Preparation of False Tax Returns Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Bank Fraud Additionally, Junera Holt was charged with: Filing a False Tax Return Aggravated Identity Theft Bank Fraud Henry was additionally charged with: Bank Fraud Engaging in Monetary Transactions in Criminally Derived Property According to allegations contained in court documents, defendants orchestrated two conspiracies to submit fraudulent applications and claims in efforts to seek more than $5 million in government funds. These methods included obtaining both tax refunds and COVID-19 pandemic stimulus funds through identity theft, the use of shell entities, and numerous misstatements. In the tax fraud conspiracy, between 2019 and 2024, the conspirators are alleged to have filed numerous false claims with the IRS in their own names and in the names of shell entities and identity theft victims. They are alleged to have claimed approximately $1,533,395. It is also alleged that the defendants engaged in a wide-ranging conspiracy to obtain COVID-19 pandemic stimulus funds, primarily unemployment insurance benefits for those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic. The amount of funds alleged to have been fraudulently sought was approximately $3,273,455. Additionally, allegations contained in the indictment outline that in 2021 the defendants submitted fraudulent loan applications seeking at least $337,645 in U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for purported small businesses—funds intended to help small businesses to continue to employ their workers during the pandemic. This investigation was led by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General-Office of Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie Wojtasik and Erica Barnhill for the Northern District Ohio are leading the prosecution. The Department of Justice has created the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Federal Prison for Threatening To Kill Multiple Public Officials

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for making a true threat to kill multiple public officials, including President Donald J. Trump, the 47th and 45th President of the United States. On Oct. 21, 2025, TRENT SCHNEIDER posted a video of himself on Instagram in which he stated, “People like me have suffered real [expletive] crimes from [expletive] judges, doctors, lawyers, police. They all should be killed. All of them should be executed for what they’ve done . . . I’m going to get some guns. I know where I can get a lot of [expletive] guns and I am going to take care of business myself. I’m tired of all you [expletive] frauds. People need to [expletive] die and people are going to die. [Expletive] all of you, especially you Trump. You should be executed.” On the same day, Schneider appeared at the Lake County, Ill. courthouse and told the judge presiding over Schneider’s pending foreclosure case that he would burn the courthouse down. A federal jury in Chicago earlier this year convicted Schneider, 58, of Winthrop Harbor, Ill., of making a true threat in interstate commerce to injure a person. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman sentenced Schneider to three years and two months in federal prison. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Jim Morley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Chicago Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lake County, Ill. Sheriff’s Office and the Winthrop Harbor, Ill. Police Department. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hanna Helwig and Paige Nutini. “As I have repeatedly stated since becoming U.S. Attorney, threats against public officials are an attack on our democracy and must be met with swift and serious consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office is working in lockstep with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate and prosecute criminal threats of violence, including political violence. Those who cross the line into such conduct and activity will not find safe haven in the Northern District of Illinois.” “Safeguarding the President of the United States and all our protectees is the U.S. Secret Service’s top priority, as this case demonstrates,” said Acting SAIC Morley. “Political violence has no place in civil society, and we will vigorously pursue threats against our protectees. I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois for its diligent prosecution in this important case. I also thank our law enforcement partners at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Winthrop Harbor Police Department for their support and collaboration throughout this investigation.”


title: Rockford Man Sentenced to More Than Six and a Half Years in Federal Prison for Robbing a United States Post Office With a Firearm

body_text: ROCKFORD — A man has been sentenced to more than six and a half years in federal prison for robbing a United States Post Office in Rockford last year. On May 27, 2025, ANTHONY JOHNSON walked approximately one block from his residence in Rockford to the Post Office, where he reached for a firearm in his waistband and told the clerk to give him all the money in the cash register. After stealing approximately $219, Johnson ran back to his residence, crossing private backyards on his way. Johnson, 59, of Rockford, pleaded guilty in March 2026 to one count of robbing money from the United States. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Johnson to six years and eight months in federal prison and ordered him to pay full restitution to the U.S. Postal Service. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Inspector in Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The Rockford Police Department assisted in the investigation. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Kim. “Robbing a Post Office with a gun is a violent offense that places innocent human lives in immediate, terrifying danger,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The U.S. Postal Service serves a critically important government function, and its employees must be allowed to perform their duties for the American people safely and securely. Under my leadership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize cases that involve threats, violence, and intimidation against federal officials. The federal law enforcement apparatus in Chicago will pursue, apprehend, and convict those who choose to compromise the safety of our public servants.” “The safety of our postal employees and postal infrastructure is paramount,” said USPIS Inspector in Charge Bucciarelli. “Letter carriers, clerks, and other postal employees serve our communities, and violence against them affects us all. This conviction serves as a warning that targeting the U.S. Postal Service will result in federal law enforcement relentlessly pursuing those responsible until they are brought to justice. We thank the Rockford Police Department and the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office for their dedication and partnership in securing this conviction.”


title: Sioux City Man Found Guilty of Multiple Drug Trafficking Charges

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Jonathan Seff, age 50, from Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted by a jury on July 9, 2026, after a three-day trial in federal court in Sioux City. Seff was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of methamphetamine near a protected location (an elementary school), and two-counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, methamphetamine and fentanyl. The verdict was returned following about three hours of jury deliberations. Seff was previously convicted in the Northern District of Iowa of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine that contained five grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine. Evidence presented to the jury in this case revealed from at least April 1, 2025, to January 7, 2026, Seff was obtaining and distributing methamphetamine. Seff was obtaining illegal drugs from the dark web that he purchased using cryptocurrency. On October 9, 2025, Seff distributed more than 5 grams of pure methamphetamine to another person within 1,000 feet of a school in Sioux City. On October 13, 2025, Seff was arrested for operating while under the influence after hitting a legally parked car on a Sioux City street and flipping his own car. Law enforcement officers recovered over 800 counterfeit oxycodone tablets containing fentanyl, more than $4,000 cash, a digital scale with methamphetamine on it, several baggies, and MDMA from Seff’s car. On January 7, 2026, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Department responded to a home in Spirit Lake for individuals trespassing in an unoccupied home. Seff had contacted an individual on a recorded jail call and sent them to the home that he had been staying at to “clean up,” directing them to specific locations within the home. Law enforcement officers located more than ten grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, baggies, fentanyl, and MDMA in the house. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Seff remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Seff faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, an $8,000,000 fine, and 8 years to life on supervised release following any imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department, the Dickinson County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-04071. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Former Registered Nurse from LeMars Sentenced for False Statements Relating to Health Care Matters and Aggravated Identity Theft

body_text: Chad Hoppe, age 49, from LeMars, Iowa, was sentenced July 9, 2026, to more than two years in prison after a march 9, 2026, guilty plea to false statements relating to health care matters and aggravated identity theft. Evidence in the case revealed that between May 2024 and March 2025, Hoppe diverted fentanyl and dilaudid allegedly for patient use. Instead, he used the controlled substances personally and failed to complete or falsified the related health care paperwork. During this time, Hoppe was an Iowa licensed registered nurse. He inputted false orders for narcotics claiming to have permission from a licensed physician, when he did not. Hoppe diverted “staggering” amounts of liquid fentanyl and dilaudid. In March 2025, for example, while working as a supervisor, Hoppe pulled out over 9,000 mcg of fentanyl. The next closest staff member at the same facility pulled out a total of 700 mcg of fentanyl that month. Hoppe was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 30 months’ imprisonment and fined $1,000. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Hoppe was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set. The case was investigated by the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals Investigations Division Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-04042. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Felon Who Possessed a Gun Sent Back to Federal Prison

body_text: A man who illegally possessed a gun was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison. Edinton Grugbay Wright, age 30, from Marion, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 11, 2025, guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Evidence during the case showed Wright was originally convicted in federal court of being a drug user in possession of a firearm. In 2022, after his release from federal prison, Wright began serving a term of supervised release. While on supervised release, Cedar Rapids Police Department officers attempted to stop a car where Wright was seated in the front passenger seat. The car refused to stop and instead drove onto the front lawn of a residential home. Both the driver and Wright ran from the car. As officers pursued Wright, he threw a loaded pistol onto the ground. Officers eventually located Wright and the pistol. Wright was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Wright was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Wright is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lisa C. Williams and Timothy Vavricek and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-0048. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Citizen from the Congo who Committed Visa Fraud Sentenced and Fined

body_text: A man who came to the United States in 2023 was sentenced today to three years’ probation, 90 days of home confinement, and fined for committing visa fraud. Bienvenu Saido Binyangi, age 37, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, received the prison term after a December 11, 2025, guilty plea to one count of visa fraud. Three other individuals who were charged in the same indictment with conspiracy have already been sentenced. Joseph Longanga Okoko was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. Medard Lotahe Elonge was sentenced to twelve months and one day imprisonment. Joseph Onolenga Okamba was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. In a plea agreement, Binyangi admitted that he entered the United States on a B1/B2 visa that he obtained by fraud because he did not intend to stay in the United States for temporary business or pleasure, but rather to reunite with his family in the Northern District of Iowa. At sentencing, the evidence showed that when Binyangi entered the United States, he reunited with his family, including Joseph Okoko’s daughter, and their minor children. Binyangi subsequently petitioned for asylum. The evidence at sentencing also showed that Binyangi had unsuccessfully entered the diversity visa lottery while in the Congo and provided false information about his marital status. The evidence also showed that Binyangi had gotten married in Congo; however, he hid that information from immigration officials. Binyangi was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Binyangi was sentenced to three years’ probation, 90 days of home confinement, and fined $500. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew J. Cole and Nicole L. Nagin and was investigated by the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Waterloo Police Department, the Sioux City Police Department, and the Iowa Department of Transportation. 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. 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. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-2052. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: High Museum of Art's Former Chief Operating Officer Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement

body_text: ATLANTA - Brady Lum, the former chief operating officer of the High Museum of Art who pilfered more than $600,000 from the museum by doctoring invoices and approving transactions for personal purchases, has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. “Over several years, Lum deceptively plundered the southeast’s premier museum of visual art, embezzling more than half a million dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Criminals like Lum who steal from institutions that receive taxpayer money to serve the public will face prison time for their thievery and be compelled to repay their ill-gotten gains.” “As he admitted in court, Brady Lum breached the trust of his organization and undermined the integrity of the museum,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI remains unwavering in its pursuit to hold accountable those who exploit their positions for selfish purposes.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Lum served as the High Museum of Art’s chief operating officer from January 2, 2019, until his resignation on December 9, 2025. As COO, he was responsible for planning, implementing, managing, and controlling the High Museum’s operational and financial activities. During his tenure as COO, Lum repeatedly purchased non-business items and services for himself, including luxury guitars and other music equipment, personal music lessons, and woodworking equipment, through direct supplier invoicing and through the High Museum’s corporate credit card reimbursement process. Lum concealed the nature of his transactions in several ways, including by submitting altered invoices, using his position to exercise delegated expense approval authority, and using accounting adjustments to spread his expenses across different cost centers so that they would not be readily identified. For example, in one instance, on or about November 29, 2024, Lum submitted an altered invoice for reimbursement through the High Museum’s online expense processing platform. While the submitted invoice showed a $9,147.87 purchase of equipment that appeared to be for the museum’s benefit, the original version of the invoice was for a high-end guitar and accessories that Lum kept for himself. Over the course of his scheme, Lum received more than 700 reimbursements, most of which were for less than $1,000, and stole more than $600,000 from the High Museum. Brady Lum, 59, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 2, 2026 at 10 a.m. As part of his plea agreement, Lum will pay full restitution to the High Museum. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas N. Joy is prosecuting the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Convicted Felons Sentenced to Federal Prison on Drug Trafficking and Firearm Charges Following Deadly Crash

body_text: ATLANTA - Daryl Hubbard and Carl Todd, who were previously convicted of felony drug distribution, were sentenced to federal prison after their drug dealing resulted in a high-speed chase ending in death and serious injury. “This case is a prime example of the consequences that could result from trafficking illegal drugs – one man dead, another paralyzed, and a police officer injured,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Due to the hard work and sacrifices of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners and the Homeland Security Task Force, Hubbard and Todd were held accountable for their crimes and will serve lengthy prison sentences without parole.” “These sentences reflect the tragic consequences of illegal drug distribution,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The defendant’s actions resulted in devastating loss of life and serious injury, an outcome that serves as a stark reminder that drug trafficking destroys lives and families. Through the unwavering commitment of our Homeland Security Task Force and our local law enforcement partners, we will continue to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who profit from distributing deadly drugs. Together, we remain steadfast in our mission to protect our communities.” “This sentencing sends a clear message that those who illegally traffic drugs and unlawfully possess or use firearms will be held accountable,” stated Ryan Todd, ATF Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge. “ATF will continue working with our law enforcement partners to enforce our nation’s firearms laws and protect our communities from the violence these crimes create.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: From about 2022 until their arrests in 2024, Hubbard and Todd maintained commercial and residential properties throughout DeKalb County, Georgia, for the purpose of distributing large quantities of cocaine and marijuana. On March 20, 2023, Hubbard provided two drug dealers with duffle bags of narcotics from a warehouse he leased in Lithonia, Georgia. When law enforcement attempted to stop the drug dealers’ SUV in Lamar County, the duo led police on a high-speed chase while tossing drugs out of the vehicle’s window. The SUV reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour, forced a state patrol cruiser off the road, and caused the cruiser to flip multiple times, injuring a trooper. The chase ended after the drug dealers crashed into a tree, killing the passenger and paralyzing the driver. After this incident, Hubbard emptied the warehouse and set up another stash house in Stonecrest, Georgia. On July 23, 2024, law enforcement executed search warrants on the Stonecrest stash house and Hubbard’s home in Conyers, Georgia. During the searches, law enforcement recovered cocaine, marijuana, and five guns, including a stolen handgun. Two of the firearms—a high-powered rifle with a 30-round magazine and a pistol loaded with ammunition capable of piercing body armor—were recovered within arm’s reach of Todd when law enforcement searched the Stonecrest stash house. Hubbard’s and Todd’s criminal association spanned over a decade as they were arrested together in 2013 and later convicted in a DeKalb County felony drug distribution case. On July 10, 2026, Daryl Hubbard, a/k/a “Dirt,” 46, of Conyers, Georgia, was sentenced to 12 years and 4 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $5,000. Hubbard was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, after he pleaded guilty on February 25, 2026. On December 1, 2025, Carl Todd, 49, of Snellville, Georgia, was sentenced to 10 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Todd was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, after he pleaded guilty on August 15, 2025. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office. The Georgia State Patrol provided substantial assistance to the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney John T. DeGenova and Special Assistant United States Attorney Steve A. Hsieh prosecuted the case. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF is comprised of agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Antisemitic Threats Result in Four Federal Prosecutions by Atlanta-Based U.S. Attorney's Office

body_text: ATLANTA - Today, as part of the Justice Department’s ongoing and concerted effort to crack down on rising antisemitism, United States Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg announced federal charges against a Texas man who threatened to kill Jews at a Georgia company. Jordan Nicholas Hadley is the fourth defendant in 12 months to face federal prosecution in the Northern District of Georgia for allegedly making antisemitic threats online or by phone. Each defendant faces up to five years in prison for transmitting threatening communications through means of interstate or foreign commerce. “These men allegedly spewed vile hate and threatened violent attacks against Jews,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Threats against any person based on his or her religious beliefs will not be tolerated, and these charges reflect my office’s commitment to working with law enforcement partners to combat the pernicious evil of antisemitism and hold accountable anyone who threatens members of our community.” “Antisemitic hate has no place in Georgia or anywhere,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI's work to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution includes the assurance to every single American that they are allowed to practice their religion without fear of threats or harm.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On April 24, 2026, Jordan Nicholas Hadley, 31, of Houston, Texas, allegedly left a message in the voicemail inbox of Flock Safety, a company based in Atlanta, Georgia. The message stated, “You’re a bunch of Jewish fa--ots who are breaking the Constitution. Film me and see what f--king happens. I’ll find you and I’ll f--king kill you.” Hadley was arrested on a criminal complaint on July 9, 2026, and will make an initial appearance in Atlanta at a later date. Since August 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged three additional individuals with communicating interstate antisemitic threats. One of those defendants has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced later this week. Aaron John Sasser On or around April 3, 2026, Aaron John Sasser, 36, of Finksburg, Maryland, allegedly sent numerous threatening messages to employees of PrizePicks, a company based in Atlanta, Georgia, via the company’s online customer service chat. Directing his messages to multiple specific PrizePicks employees, Sasser allegedly wrote, among other messages, “You better leave town because I’m driving down to Atlanta to blow up the PrizePicks headquarters and then I’ll head to your house, tie you up and rape your wife in front of you. Then, I’ll dismember the both of you before heading off to [Jewish PrizePicks employee’s] place. I’m gonna have fun tying up [his] Zionist wife. Before that though, I’m gonna cut [his] eyelids off. So he’s forced to watch. Then I’m gonna blow his f--king body up in the name of Palestine because he’s a Zionist piece of s--t and every last one of them are going to die.” Sasser was arrested on a criminal complaint on April 6, 2026, and his charges are currently pending. Christopher Robertson On July 30, 2025, staff members at the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta notified security staff that they observed a man, later identified as Christopher Robertson, 43, of Fairburn, Georgia, allegedly wandering around the parking lot inside the secure area of its Midtown Atlanta facility. Security staff met Robertson in the parking lot, who allegedly stated that he was “the official spokesperson for the white race” and that he wanted to speak with a high-ranking Jewish official. After being asked to leave, Robertson allegedly drove to The Temple, a Jewish synagogue, also located in Midtown Atlanta. At The Temple, Robertson encountered two staff members and asked to speak to a rabbi. Robertson allegedly made derogatory remarks about Jewish people and ranted about the decline of the white race. An Atlanta Police Department officer was present inside The Temple, and Robertson left. On July 31, 2025, Robertson allegedly entered a Jewish Chabad building in Peachtree City, Georgia. The Chabad rabbi called 911 while members of the staff barricaded themselves in an office. Robertson allegedly recorded the encounter and posted it on Facebook. In the post, Robertson identified himself as the “official delegate of the white race” and told the rabbi that Jewish people were on the “verge of extermination.” After police arrived at the Chabad, Robertson left. Robertson allegedly used several social media accounts to post antisemitic and threatening video posts before and immediately after these incidents. On July 24, 2025, Robertson allegedly posted a video to Facebook in which he chanted, “This is not Israel. Jews don’t have no protection. F--k the Jews, and f--k you if you Jewish, b--ch. Hey, f--k the Jews, f--k you if you Jewish. Hey, one shot, two shot, three shot, leave you in the sewage.” On July 28, 2025, Robertson allegedly posted on Facebook a photo of himself holding a black pistol while speaking about the “cultural genocide” of the white race. A caption on the video read, “I will not tolerate cultural genocide get that understood -- I will fight for it, I will die for it, I will kill for it.” Robertson was arrested on a criminal complaint on August 1, 2025, and a federal grand jury later indicted him on two counts of communicating interstate threats. Robertson has been detained since his initial arrest, and his charges are currently pending. Matthew Alan Souza On or about July 15, 2025, Matthew Alan Souza, 25, of Acworth, Georgia, posted on X: “I just want more Jews dead / The more Jew lives I take / The better a place the world can be / Death to the Jewish people.” One week later, Souza posted, “Death to every Jew breathing / I can’t wait for the war of America against Israel / The day I snipe a Jew will put a huge smile on my face.” On June 11, 2026, Souza pled guilty to two counts of communicating interstate threats. He has been detained since May 8, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 14, 2026. Each case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Grill is prosecuting the case against Hadley, Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wylly is prosecuting the case against Sasser, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brent Alan Gray and Bret R. Hobson are prosecuting the case against Robertson, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chloe Smith and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Conor Woods are prosecuting the case against Souza. Members of the public are reminded that the defendants who have not yet pled guilty are presumed innocent of the charges, and the government bears the burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. 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: Tallahassee Armed Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Landon Dashawn Wilson, 28, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute marijuana, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking offense. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our citizens deserve to live in safe, drug-free communities, and my office will do everything in its power to deliver on that promise with aggressive prosecutions of armed drug dealers, like this defendant. Operation Take Back America was launched under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to eradicate the scourge of drug traffickers from our streets, and that’s exactly what my office will do.” Court documents reflect that the Tallahassee Police Department responded to a call regarding a possible burglary or assault at an apartment. Witnesses reported the defendant attempted to enter an apartment without permission of the residents, and had a bookbag containing a firearm. After the defendant was located nearby, and identified by the witnesses, the bookbag was searched. Law enforcement recovered a jar containing approximately 113 grams of marijuana, 81 baggies, and a loaded “AR”-type pistol. The defendant was prohibited from possessing firearms because of prior felony convictions for burglary, drug possession, and firearm offenses. The defendant faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute marijuana count; up to 5 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count; and not less than 5 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense count consecutive to other sentences imposed. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tallahassee Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Eric K. Mountin and James A. McCain. Sentencing is scheduled for August 25, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .