Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced criminal charges against ANTHONY PARENTE for communicating online and over the phone with an individual he believed to be a 14-year-old girl and attempting to meet the individual to engage in sexual activities.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –CANDIO TIERRA BLANCA-QUESADA (“TIERRA BLANCA-QUESADA”), age 39, a native of Mexico, pleaded guilty on April 2, 2026, to illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. His sentencing is set before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon on July 9, 2026.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
MELISSA CRUZ, 37, and JOSE RAMIREZ, 41, both of New Britain, were sentenced today in Hartford federal court for offenses stemming from their participation in a conspiracy to import and sell counterfeit goods. U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver sentenced Cruz to one year of probation and a $20,000 fine, and Ramirez to one year of probation and a $10,000 fine.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
MACON, Ga. – A South Carolina Man who admitted in federal court today that he maliciously set fire to the Byron United Methodist Church in 2024 is facing up to 20 years in prison for his crime.Luke Andrew Westefeld, 34, of North Augusta, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to one count of malicious use of fire before U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on April 6. Westefeld faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
BOSTON – As part of the United States Attorney’s ongoing enforcement priority to investigate and prosecute benefit fraud involving federal and state assistance programs, a Worcester man has been charged with using the identity of a deceased U.S. citizen to obtain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Nakita Walker, 45, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a Superior Court jury today for the March 15, 2023, vehicular deaths of Mohamed Kamara, Jonathan Alberto Cabrera Mendez and Olvin Josue Torres Velasquez, on Rock Creek Parkway, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Orlando, FL – John Daniel Fowler (65, Indianapolis, IN) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron to 6 years in federal prison for abusive sexual contact on an aircraft. Fowler was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release following his release from prison. A federal jury convicted Fowler on January 13, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Fort Myers, Florida – Leonard W. Krane (75, Naples) has been charged by indictment with four counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. If convicted, Krane faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of over $3.7 million and other assets traceable to the proceeds of the offenses. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
A partnership of federal and local law enforcement taking part in “Operation Sob Story”, an investigation by the Homeland Security Task Force, resulted in prison sentences for four Topeka area gang members for offenses such as drug trafficking and illegal firearms trafficking.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced today the appointment of Catherine Mirabile as Chief of the Long Island Division and Chief of the Criminal Section of the Long Island Division. Additionally, Megan Farrell has been appointed as a Deputy Chief of the Long Island Criminal Section, joining current Deputy Chiefs Justina Geraci and Michael Maffei.