Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
An indictment was filed today in U.S. District Court charging Michael Marx, 45, of Midland, Texas, in connection with the May 4 shooting near the Washington Monument in which a civilian bystander was struck by gunfire, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Source: United States Department of Justice
A California man was sentenced yesterday to 65 months in prison for smuggling at least 1,700 reptiles into the United States from Mexico, Hong Kong, and elsewhere over a six-year period.
Jose Manuel Perez, of Oxnard, pleaded guilty in August 2022 to one count of smuggling goods into the United States and one count of wildlife trafficking. From January 2016 to February 2022, Perez and other co-conspirators smuggled wildlife into the United States without obtaining the permits required by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and without declaring any wildlife imported into the United States.
Perez and his co-conspirators used social media to buy and to negotiate the terms of the sale and delivery of wildlife in the United States. The defendants advertised for sale on social media the animals smuggled from Mexico into the United States, posting photos and video that depicted the animals being collected from the wild.
For the animals smuggled from Mexico, Perez’s co-conspirators retrieved the wildlife — which included Yucatán box turtles, Mexican box turtles, baby crocodiles, and Mexican beaded lizards — from Cuidad Juárez International Airport in Mexico and eventually shipped the animals by car to El Paso, Texas. Perez paid his co-conspirators a “crossing fee” for each border crossing, the amount of which depended on the number of animals transported, the size of the package, and the risk of being detected by the authorities.
On other occasions, Perez and a co-conspirator traveled to Mexico to purchase live animals that had been taken from the wild so that the animals could be smuggled into the United States. Once the animals had been shipped to the United States, they were transported to Perez’s residence (which was originally in Missouri and then in California after he moved).
In total, Perez caused the illegal smuggling and importation of at least 1,700 animals with a fair market value of more than $739,000.
Prior to today’s sentencing, Jose Perez had been serving a nine-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in May 2023 to three counts of being a felon in possession of firearms. He is not legally permitted to possess firearms because his criminal record includes felony convictions in Ventura County Superior Court for street terrorism and assault with a deadly weapon.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayli for the Central District of California, and Assistant Director Doug Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement made the announcement.
USFWS investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, the ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Homeland Security Investigations provided substantial assistance.
Senior Trial Attorney Gary Donner of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. O’Brien and Juan M. Rodriguez for the Central District of California prosecuted the case.
Source: United States Spaceforce
Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink addressed more than 900 graduating cadets during the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Class of 2026 commencement ceremony. The event recognized the new officers’ readiness to lead and adapt in a rapidly changing global security environment.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Jacksonville, Florida – Drew Geer (42, Lake Butler), Anthony Crosby (42, Keystone Heights), and Leroy Halbert (53, Lake Butler) have each been charged by indictment with three counts of possession of dogs for dog fighting ventures. In addition, Geer and Crosby were charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Geer and Crosby each face a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison. Halbert faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
ABINGDON, Va. – A Bristol, Virginia man, who conspired with others to distribute more than 600 fentanyl pills, was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in federal prison. Bobby John Arnett, 56, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Orlando, Florida – Montrey Roseberry (20, Orlando) was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza to life in federal prison for coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and production and possession of child sex abuse material. Roseberry was found guilty on February 19, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
Fort Myers, Florida – Walter James Marshall (32, Fort Myers) has been sentenced by United States District Judge Kyle C. Dudek to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Marshall pleaded guilty on February 11, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
A second Venezuelan man with ties to the Tren de Aragua (TdA) international gang was sentenced today for conspiracy to commit bank fraud by United States District Judge Michael P. Mills. Winder Alexander Canelon-Tiapa, 26, living as an illegal alien in Dallas, Texas, was sentenced today to ten months with three years of supervised release. Additionally, he is to pay the victim $47,250 in restitution.
Source: United States Army
ANSBACH, Germany — U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach offered an in-depth overview of the U.S. Army’s approach to family support for representatives of the German Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) Family Care Organization during a community outreach event at the garrison’s Storck Barracks in May 2026.
The visiting group included 55 directors and staff from the Bundeswehr, which operates 32 full-time Family Care Centers and up to 50 part-time Family Care Points throughout Germany.
This event introduced the U.S. Army Family Support System to its German counterparts, fostering mutual understanding and collaboration in supporting military families.
German Lt. Col. Danila Dubrau, head of the Lead Family Care Center at the Bundeswehr Operations Command, pointed out that while there are things the two militaries may do differently, taking care of Soldiers and families is the same.
“We have the same goal: to take care of our families, and by doing that, we make sure their Soldier is able to concentrate on the mission,” Dubrau said.
Family assistance remains a major focus for the German army, particularly as it establishes garrison-style bases in Eastern Europe.
The Lithuania Brigade, a panzer brigade officially commissioned in April 2025 in Lithuania, represents a permanent Bundeswehr combat unit of about 5,000 personnel, strengthening NATO’s defense posture in Eastern Europe.
With the unit’s formation, Germany now maintains a permanently deployed brigade, increasing the likelihood of more troops serving abroad.
The establishment of Armored Brigade 45, the official designation of the Lithuania Brigade, is a top priority for the German government, according to Dr. Jörg Krämer of the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, who said this applies “not only to military matters but also to issues concerning family support.”
The delegation from the German family care organizations visited USAG Ansbach to learn from and exchange best practices with the garrison’s family care experts.
Those experts have more than 80 years of institutional experience supporting Soldiers families in Europe.
The U.S. Army is committed to continuously enhancing the quality and reach of services that support its families and, by extension, its Soldiers.
“It’s about how we take care of our Soldiers and their families when the soldiers are on extended training missions or deployed,” said Bruce Griggs, USAG Ansbach Deputy to the Garrison Commander.
The orientation tour and exchange with the Bundeswehr’s family care organization underscore the importance of international cooperation in supporting military families.
Source: United States Army
CENTENNIAL, Colo. — After a winter marked by record-low snowpack and persistent drought, the Colorado Army National Guard is shifting its focus from seasonal support to a year-round mission to help fight the state’s growing wildfire threat.
During a March 30 press conference held by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, state officials said the past winter’s lack of moisture left Colorado’s forests and grasslands dangerously dry and ready to burn much earlier than usual.
Mike Morgan, director of the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, said these conditions are no longer rare.
“These are conditions that we used to think were unprecedented or anomalies, and the reality of it is it’s happening every year,” Morgan said during a recent state press briefing. “It is not unprecedented. It is our new normal.”
To prepare for that reality, the Colorado Army National Guard recently joined the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the city of Longmont and local fire teams from Boulder for the annual Colorado Fire Aviation Summit. The Guard’s firefighting program is fully certified by the Forest Service, providing federally validated skills to support the state’s emergency response.
A major focus of the training involved using helicopters to drop water on simulated active fire lines. The difference in aircraft capability is significant: A heavy-lift CH-47 Chinook helicopter can carry 2,000 gallons of water, while a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter can carry 660 gallons.
To support upcoming missions, the Colorado Army National Guard will prioritize a team of two Chinooks and a mobile refueling team. While Black Hawk helicopters are available for short-term in-state fire response, their primary mission is high-altitude search and rescue.
Lighter UH-72 Lakota helicopters are also on standby to direct aerial traffic in and around restricted areas during large fires and move crews and equipment for up to a week at a time.
“Our collaborative aerial firefighting training with civilian and interstate partners is designed to ensure our air and ground crews are prepared to protect our communities from wildfires,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Muriel Missler, director of aviation and safety. “This rigorous training not only enables safe and effective operations in Colorado’s challenging environments but also enhances our combat aviation skills and planning capabilities.”
The Colorado Army National Guard is prepared to sustain potential high-intensity operations for about two weeks at a time. If a fire lasts longer, backup support may be requested from other states to ensure there are no gaps in coverage.
The urgency of that coordination was highlighted by Polis, who said state-managed aircraft had already dropped nearly 200,000 gallons of fire suppressant in the first four months of the year.
“We talked about the increase in the number of fire events that are likely,” Polis said during the briefing. “It makes a big difference whether there’s 4,000 or whether there’s 8,000 in a given year. This year looks like it could be closer to 8,000.”
In the event of a wildfire, the Colorado Army National Guard’s ability to integrate with local, state and federal partners is a critical advantage for Coloradans. As the state moves deeper into the year, this collaborative, year-round approach helps ensure Colorado’s aerial firefighting capabilities are ready to respond when the next fire ignites.
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