TALLAHASSEE MAN SENTENCED TO DECADES IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR DRUG & GUN CHARGES RELATED TO SECOND-DEGREE MURDER

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Triston Chacoey Aric Johnson, a/k/a “C.J.,” 21, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to multiple federal gun and drug offenses, and at sentencing was found responsible for a second-degree murder committed in Tallahassee on July 17, 2024.

California Man Sentenced To Over 24 Years For Transporting 132 Pounds Of Methamphetamine To Tampa International Airport

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Tampa, Florida – Jacob Paul Arjona (32, Bakersfield, CA) has been sentenced to 24 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. This sentence is to be served concurrently with Arjona’s sentence in a separate federal methamphetamine trafficking and kidnapping case, in which he was sentenced in August 2025 to 17 years and 7 months’ imprisonment. Arjona has been in custody since February 25, 2025, he pleaded guilty on November 19, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

North Fort Myers Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing Arsenal of Firearms

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Fort Myers, Florida – Frederick Charles Kutchinsky (54, North Fort Myers) has pleaded guilty to possessing multiple firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. The sentencing is set for May 29, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

Bridal Shop Owner Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Crimes Spanning a Decade

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A Parker, Colorado woman pleaded guilty today to willfully failing to pay over employment taxes for more than a decade.

According to court documents, Donna M. Savoy owned and operated Donna Beth Creations (“DBC”), a bridal studio in Denver, Colorado. In her role, Savoy was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from her employees’ wages, paying those funds over to the IRS and filing quarterly employment tax returns.

For a decade – that is, from the first quarter of 2014 through the fourth quarter of 2024 – Savoy admitted that she withheld taxes from her employees’ wages but willfully failed to pay them over to the IRS. Savoy also willfully failed to file employment tax returns for that entire period. According to her plea agreement, Savoy spent the tax money she held in trust on personal and business expenses. In total, Savoy caused a tax loss to the United States exceeding $1.3 million.

Savoy pleaded guilty to one count of willful failure to account for and pay over trust fund taxes. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Stuart A. Wexler of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section is prosecuting the case.

Two Members of the Folk Nation Gangster Disciples Indicted for Murders in Brooklyn in 2012 and 2015

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Earlier today, a five-count superseding indictment was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn that includes new racketeering charges relating to defendants Kwyme Waddell and Paolo Alfarobarber, who, along with co-defendant Joel Myrie, are alleged to be members of the Folk Nation Gangster Disciples (GD).  The superseding indictment charges both Waddell and Alfarobarber with racketeering conspiracy including predicate acts of murder, robbery, fraud, and narcotics trafficking.  Waddell is charged with the murder of Franklin McPherson in September 2012 and Alfarobarber is charged with the murder of Armani Thomas in November 2015.

Chicago Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Running Fentanyl Distribution Operation

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A Chicago, Illinois man was sentenced today for operating a drug distribution organization that transported fentanyl from Chicago, Illinois, to Weirton, West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Gerald Henry, also known as “Unc,” “G,” and “G-ball,” age 41, was sentenced to 480 months in federal prison for the possession and distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl.