Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Three undocumented Mexican nationals, living in Utah, appeared in court today after they were indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with multiple drug crimes. The charges come after law enforcement seized large quantities of fentanyl and heroin from defendants’ homes and hidden compartments of their vehicles.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Special Agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and IRS-Criminal Investigation executed federal search warrants at 14 Zipps restaurants in the Phoenix area, Monday, Jan. 26., after a year-long investigation into unlawful employment of aliens, identity theft, and document fraud.
Source: United States Navy
NIWC Atlantic’s new Rapid Capabilities Office released its first contract opportunities in January 2026 under its Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) in an effort to rapidly accelerate the delivery of commercial technology to the Fleet at the speed of relevance.
Source: United States Airforce
The DAF launched a Barracks Task Force to rapidly improve dormitory conditions, reinforcing its commitment to Airmen and Guardians’ quality of life and mission readiness.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
The Proposed Settlement Requires a Substantial Divestiture Package That Will Preserve Competition for Important Lifting Equipment
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division announced today that it will require Columbus McKinnon Corporation (CMCO) to divest its power chain hoist and chains businesses and related assets to resolve antitrust concerns arising from its proposed $2.7 billion acquisition of Kito Crosby Limited (Kito Crosby) from funds managed by global investment firm KKR.
The Antitrust Division today filed a civil antitrust lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to block the proposed transaction. At the same time, the Division filed a proposed settlement that, if approved by the court, would resolve the Division’s competitive concerns.
“Today’s settlement is a structural solution to an acquisition that would have harmed competition for important equipment that facilitates the safe and efficient movement of heavy loads in a wide range of industries across the American economy,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The settlement, which includes two manufacturing facilities, will ensure that American customers and industries will continue to benefit from competition between the leading providers of this important equipment.”
As alleged in the complaint, CMCO and Kito Crosby are two of the leading manufacturers in the markets for electric chain hoists and overhead lifting chain in the United States. Electric chain hoists, a type of power chain hoist, use a chain driven by an electric motor to lift, lower, and position heavy materials. Electric chain hoists are designed to be durable and can be used independently or integrated into a small overhead crane. Industries across the economy – including automotive, aerospace, energy, construction, and logistics – rely on electric chain hoists daily to increase efficiency and reduce strain on operators. Overhead lifting chain is exclusively made from forged alloy steel and meets ASTM standards for chain strong enough to ensure safe lifting operations. CMCO and Kito Crosby compete head-to-head to develop, manufacture, distribute, and sell electric chain hoists and overhead lifting chain. Without the proposed divestiture, CMCO’s acquisition of Kito Crosby would likely result in higher prices, lower quality, and reduced innovation to the detriment of customers.
The proposed settlement requires CMCO to divest its power chain hoist business, including electric chain hoists, and its chain business, including overhead lifting chain, to Pacific Avenue Capital Partners LLC, an American company with significant experience in industrial manufacturing. Pacific Avenue Capital Partners is expected to hire certain key CMCO employees that today support the divested businesses.
CMCO is an American multinational company, with its headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. In 2024, CMCO had revenues of approximately $1 billion.
Kito Crosby is a U.K. multinational company with its headquarters in Arlington, Texas. In 2024, Kito Crosby reported $1.1 billion in revenue.
KKR is an American multinational company with its headquarters in New York, New York.
As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days following the publication to Soyoung Choe, Acting Chief, Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8700, Washington, DC 20530 or via email at ATR.Public-Comments-Tunney-Act-MB@usdoj.gov. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest.
Note: View the Proposed Final Judgement here; the Complaint here; and the Competitive Impact Statement here.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Tony Rodriguez, 40, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Meredith A. Vacca to attempted enticement of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $250,000.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Steven LaBianca was sentenced by United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly to 12 years’ imprisonment for coercion and enticement of minors and possession of child pornography. LaBianca communicated with multiple minor victims over the internet and coerced them into creating and sending him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Stephanie Kroh, 40, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, which carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $10,000,000.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
A federal grand jury in the Northern District of New York returned an indictment on Jan. 28, 2026, charging an Indian national for his role in a scheme to smuggle Indian nationals from Canada across the northern border into the United States.
According to court documents, Shivam Lnu, 22, directed smuggling operations from January 2025 through June 2025, coordinating the illegal transport of aliens across the U.S.-Canada border into Clinton County, New York. On Jan. 26, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol agents attempted to stop two vehicles traveling in tandem near the U.S-Canada border. Both vehicles accelerated to avoid agents, triggering a pursuit. One vehicle went off the road and became immobilized, while the other was later stopped in Mooers, New York. The vehicles contained a total of 12 undocumented aliens. WhatsApp messages between one of the drivers and a number connected to Shivam allegedly revealed coordination of smuggling illegal aliens into the U.S. from Canada on numerous occasions in and prior to January 2025, including exchanging proof of life photographs and directions to safe houses in upstate New York.
Shivam is charged with one count of conspiracy to illegally bring aliens to the United States and four counts of illegally bringing aliens to the United States for the purpose of private financial gain. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count. If convicted of all four counts of illegally bringing aliens to the United States, Shivam faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of fifteen years. Shivam was initially charged by criminal complaint on June 13, 2025, with one count of conspiracy to transport aliens.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.
The investigation and charges are 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 Assistant United States Attorney-detailees 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 USAOs 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 CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 435 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 385 U.S. convictions; more than 330 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
The HSI Rouses Point and U.S. Border Patrol Burke Station are investigating the case, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. and CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force.
Trial Attorney Chelsea Schinnour of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt of the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Last week, the government obtained legal title over more than $400 million in seized cryptocurrencies, real estate, and monetary assets tied to the operation of the darknet mixing service, Helix. As a mixing service, Helix blended cryptocurrency from multiple users and routed the funds through a series of transactions designed to obscure the funds’ sources, destinations, and owners.
The United States previously seized the assets from Larry Dean Harmon, the operator of Helix, which processed transactions involving over $300 million worth of cryptocurrency from 2014 to 2017. Harmon pleaded guilty in August 2021 to conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced in November 2024 to 36 months’ in prison, three years of supervised release, a forfeiture money judgment, and forfeiture of seized property. On Jan. 21, Judge Beryl A. Howell of the District Court for the District of Columbia entered a final order of forfeiture, declaring the assets forfeited to the government.
According to court documents, Helix was one of the most popular mixing services on the darknet and was highly sought after by online drug dealers seeking to launder their illicit profits. Helix processed at least approximately 354,468 bitcoin — the equivalent of approximately $300 million in U.S. dollars at the time of the transactions — on behalf of its customers. Much of those cryptocurrency were coming from or going to darknet drug markets. Harmon retained a percentage of these transactions as his commissions and fees for operating Helix.
Harmon designed Helix and darknet search engine, Grams, to connect to or otherwise support all of the major darknet markets at the time. Helix’s Application Program Interface (API) enabled darknet markets to integrate Helix directly into their bitcoin withdrawal systems. Investigators traced tens of millions of dollars from darknet markets to Helix.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia; Chief of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Guy Ficco; and Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division made the announcement.
The IRS-CI Cyber Crimes Unit and FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.
The Attorney General’s Ministry of Belize and the Belize Police Department provided essential support for the investigation, coordinated through U.S. Embassy Belmopan. The investigation was coordinated with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
Trial Attorneys C. Alden Pelker of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Christopher B. Brown of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section (formerly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Blaylock Jr. of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia handled the case.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.