Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
On Tuesday, Judge Rainey Brandt determined that probable cause exists to charge Niwatilagu Anthony Long, 45, of Washington, D.C., with second-degree murder while armed for shooting and killing 44-year-old D.C. resident Melvin Saunders in the early morning of December 19, 2025, in Northeast D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Tampa, Florida– U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland has sentenced Jane Doe (69, Bradenton), a/k/a Rosario Alaniz, to 15 months in federal prison for passport fraud, Social Security fraud, wire fraud, and theft of government funds. The court also ordered restitution in the amount of $184,904.75. Doe pleaded guilty in December 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that CHRISTOPHER B. FERGUSON and BRIAN MCFADDEN pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon to falsification of books, records, and accounts for causing the submission of falsified records from Edison Nation, Inc.—a publicly traded diversified consumer products business where FERGUSON was the CEO and chairman—in response to an inquiry from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Fort Myers, FL – Osnyson Desrosiers (Atlanta, Georgia), formerly of Fort Myers, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek to two years in federal prison for his role in a firearm trafficking scheme. Desrosiers pleaded guilty on November 19, 2025, to conspiring to make a false statement to a firearms dealer and making false statements to a firearms dealer. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Fort Myers, Florida – Esteban Garcia-Gutierrez (31, Arcadia) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell to six years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Gianni Robinson, 28, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 126 months in federal prison for his role as a planner and coordinator in seven armed robberies of a Walgreens drugstore in the District’s Chinatown neighborhood.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
NEW ORLEANS, LA – On March 5, 2026, ERIN ALONZO (“ALONZO”), age 28, of New Orleans, was indicted for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, illegal possession of a machinegun, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 841(b)(1)(C), and Title 18, United States Code, Sections, 922(g)(1), 922(o), 924(a)(2), 924(a)(8), and 924(c)(1)(A), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Dominican Republic authorities extradited Pedro J. Espinal-Arthur to the United States to face drug trafficking and money laundering charges filed in the District of Puerto Rico, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. In a separate indictment, defendant Luis Febles-Peralta was also extradited to Puerto Rico to face drug trafficking and money laundering charges. Germán E. Arredondo-Peralta, brother of Febles-Peralta, was arrested in Puerto Rico for money laundering.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Attorney General Pamela Bondi today announced that the Justice Department has proposed a rule that will empower states to streamline federal habeas review of capital cases. These reforms will reduce by years the period between conviction and execution in state capital cases.
“This proposed rule will help states achieve the promise of swift and effective justice for victims of capital crimes,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We are fulfilling the Department of Justice’s commitment to restoring the death penalty as the ultimate punishment for the worst criminals in America.”
In Chapter 154 of Title 28 of the United States Code, Congress established an accelerated process for the review of federal habeas petitions arising from State capital cases, which otherwise can languish for years at various stages of federal adjudication. The expedited process is available to states that the Attorney General has certified as having established a postconviction capital counsel process including the appointment, compensation, and payment of reasonable litigation expenses of competent counsel.
Since the law’s enactment in 1996, and amendment in 2006, no state has taken advantage of these streamlined procedures—in large part due to the Department’s imposition of additional and heightened barriers on certification. The proposed rule, once finalized, will eliminate these obstacles to certification, enabling more prompt decision of States’ requests for certification. It also will make certification decisions final as opposed to a five-year limited term—a reform that should encourage more states to apply for certification.
The proposed rule advances President Trump’s January 20 executive order Restoring the Death Penalty and Promoting Public Safety and its mandate to ensure that the laws that authorize capital punishment are respected and faithfully implemented and Attorney General Bondi’s promise in her February memorandum Reviving the Federal Death Penalty and Lifting the Moratorium on Federal Executions to assist States in prosecuting capital crimes and implementing death sentences.
The public is invited to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or arguments on all aspects of this rule through the methods outlined in the Federal Register notice.
Source: United States Army
SEMBACH, Germany — In a significant effort to bolster the capabilities of its enlisted leaders, approximately 35 U.S. Army noncommissioned officers from 10 NATO countries convened here for three days of intensive training February 25-27. The event focused on honing the essential skills NCOs need to lead Soldiers, drive readiness, and ensure the operational effectiveness of the U.S. Army across Europe.
The gathering was kicked off by Command Sgt. Maj. James E. Morris Jr. of the U.S. Army NATO Brigade, who immediately addressed the relevant reality for Soldiers serving in the alliance: geographic isolation. “As part of the United States Army’s NATO Brigade, we find ourselves in geographically dispersed places, and sometimes we don’t get together often enough,” Morris said, adding, “And I think that’s why training like this builds camaraderie amongst our teams.”
Morris assured the attendees that the training was meticulously planned to provide maximum value. “We’re going to give you some really good training, some things that are cutting edge, things that are going on right now in the United States Army… But even bigger than that, we’re prepping you to go back to the big Army and do some of the hard-hitting things that are out there.”
A key focus of the training was clarifying the very purpose of their mission. Morris candidly admitted that upon his arrival, there was a fundamental lack of understanding about the brigade’s role. “One of the biggest things that we had a problem with when I walked in the door was people didn’t even know what the U.S. Army NATO does,” he said. To remedy this, the curriculum included a “NATO 101” brief to explain the brigade’s significance. “I don’t want you to feel like a cog in the wheel,” Morris insisted. “I want you to know that you have a part to play in the grand scheme of things in the machine we call the U.S. Army NATO.”
For the NCOs present, the event was a welcome chance not just to train, but to connect. Staff Sgt. Charles Reese, assigned to Allied Forces South Battalion in Naples, Italy, highlighted the importance of personal interaction. “For me personally, with all of us being so dispersed all over Europe, the social aspect to meet and greet, put faces to names, and have conversations is very important,” he said. “The other part is just the training itself, filling in a lot of the blanks of what we don’t know.”
Reese described his experience with U.S. Army NATO as “eye-opening” and a catalyst for personal development. “It’s forced me to grow,” he reflected. “Because you’re tasked with so many things… what it does is it puts you in a position to grow, use attributes that you may not have known that you have, and I think it makes you a better all-around leader because you’re pulled in so many different directions you have to master multi-tasking.”
The sentiment was widely shared, with Reese adding, “I would just say that I think we should do more of these things more often. It’s good to see so many people that I see in emails and I’ve never met before.”
1st Sgt. John Shelton, also from the Naples-based Company B, emphasized the training’s particular benefit for new NCOs who must navigate the complexities of working within a multinational framework. “A lot of my NCOs are new. So, this training is extremely beneficial to them just because there’s a lot of NATO-isms that we don’t know,” Shelton said. He explained that while daily duties might seem similar to the regular Army, integration with NATO introduces unique protocols. “Our NCOs can act as the bridge between their NATO requirements and our national requirements.”
Shelton elaborated on this critical bridging role, describing how his NCOs are tied into NATO’s operational rhythm. “He’s tied into their syncs, their meetings, their touchpoints. So, he relays all that information to me. Then I filter out what is needed on the national side,” Shelton explained. This makes the NCOs indispensable. “But knowing more intuitively what the NATO responsibilities and requirements are,” he continued, “is what makes the training very beneficial for them and for us.”
As the training concluded, Morris expressed his gratitude and underscored the value of their participation. He stressed that feedback is essential for improvement. “The best way that we can get better is by hearing the things that you have to say,” he told the group. “And we are better because of you… We can’t do it without you. Literally.”
His final message was one of unity and mutual support, encouraging the NCOs to build on the connections they had just forged. “It’s important that you all crosstalk because I know some of you are going through the same exact things… because you have shared experiences, right? So lean on each other,” Morris urged. “There’s an office here at Sembach Kaserne full of folks that really care, that want to help… Help us stay informed of what’s going on out there. Come up on the net anytime you need help. We’re here to support.”
U.S. Army NATO includes about 725 U.S. Soldiers assigned to NATO billets across 21 countries in Europe and at the NATO units in Norfolk, Va. U.S. Army NATO also includes another 75 U.S. Soldiers assigned to the Military Personnel Exchange Program and as students at schools of other nations.
These 800 Soldiers are supported by a cadre of some 275 national support element Soldiers who conduct mission essential training to achieve and maintain rapid deployment readiness, improve interoperability with allies and partners and protect U.S. personnel and interests.