Category: MIL-OSI

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Matthew L. Harvey was sworn in to become the United States Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia. Harvey was nominated by President Trump on June 30, 2025, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 7, 2025. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh administered the oath of office to U.S. Attorney Harvey today.

“I am grateful to President Trump placing his trust in me to fulfill his promise to make our communities safe and support our officers,” U.S. Attorney Harvey said. “I am looking forward to building and strengthening partnerships with law enforcement in the district.”

Harvey will serve as the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the Northern District of West Virginia, which includes offices in Wheeling, Martinsburg, Clarksburg, and Elkins. He oversees a staff of 47 employees, including 20 attorneys and 27 non-attorney support personnel.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of West Virginia prosecutes federal crimes in the 32 counties in the district. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.

Harvey most recently served as the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney, focusing on drug and violent crime prosecution during his 12-year tenure. Prior to his work in Jefferson County, he worked for a private law firm and served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Berkeley and Kanawha Counties.

A graduate of Bluefield State University with a B.S. in Business Administration, Harvey went on to earn his Juris Doctorate from Appalachia School of Law.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Boise – Bart M. Davis has taken the oath of office to become the United States Attorney for the District of Idaho.  Davis was nominated by President Donald J. Trump on March 31, 2025 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 7, 2025.  Mr. Davis served as the United States Attorney for the District of Idaho from September 21, 2017 to February 28, 2021, under President Trumps first term.

As U.S. Attorney, Davis is the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the state of Idaho, having prosecutorial responsibility over 44 counties in Idaho, encompassing more than 83,000 square miles and a population of nearly 1.5 million people.  He leads three staffed offices located in Boise, Coeur d’Alene and Pocatello with 65 employees, including 33 attorneys. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to immigration, terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, firearms, and narcotics. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.

Mr. Davis was born in Rapid City, South Dakota, and was raised in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where he began his legal practice focusing on commercial, regulatory, and transactional work. He also served in the Idaho State Senate for the past 19 years, including as Majority Leader for 15 years, and was a member of the Judiciary and Rules and the State Affairs committees.  He represented Idaho as a commissioner to the Uniform Law Commission and is past chairman of The Council of State Governments.  He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1978 and from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1980. Mr. Davis is married, has six children and 14 grandchildren.

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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

BOISE – Heath Adams, 43, of Payette, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.

According to court records, the investigation into Adams began in August 2024, after a report was made to the Payette Police Department regarding allegations of sexual abuse.  As part of the investigation, Adams’ cell phone was seized and forensically examined by the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (“ICAC”).  The ICAC examiner located numerous files of child sexual abuse material that Adams had produced over several years, including explicit images of himself sexually abusing three separate minors.

Adams was initially arrested and charged in Payette County.  After his arrest, the Payette County Prosecutor’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office worked collaboratively to determine federal prosecution was appropriate. As a result, the state case was dismissed in favor of federal prosecution.

Senior U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also sentenced Adams to lifetime supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution to his victims. Adams will be required to register as a sex offender because of the conviction. Adams pleaded guilty in federal court on June 3, 2025.

“There is no greater betrayal than the sexual abuse and exploitation of children,” said U.S. Attorney Davis.  “We are steadfast in our commitment to work with state and local law enforcement partners to seek justice for child victims and hold child predators accountable for their egregious conduct.”

U.S. Attorney Davis commended the cooperative efforts of the Payette Police Department, the Payette County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and the Idaho ICAC Task Force, which led to the charges.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Blackadar prosecuted the case.

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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

The Justice Department today announced a criminal complaint charging George Russell Isbell Jr., 69, of San Diego, with mailing a threatening communication. Isbell was arrested on Oct. 7 in San Diego.

“Thanks to the incredible teamwork between state, local, and federal law enforcement, this coward hiding behind a keyboard was taken into custody and charged federally for mailing threatening communications,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We cannot allow this political violence to continue any longer. This arrest will serve as a reminder to many – do not do this, we will find you and bring you to justice.”

“The FBI and our partners will not tolerate threats of violence like the kind allegedly made by the defendant about a media personality,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “We will continue to investigate, pursue, and find those responsible for this conduct and ensure such criminals are held to full account in our justice system.”

“Unfortunately, a rise in political threats has been accompanied by a rise in political violence,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida. “We take all threats of violence seriously and will continue to respond in close coordination with our law enforcement partners and prosecute the authors of such threatening communications.”

According to the complaint, on or about Sept. 18, Isbell mailed a letter from San Diego threatening to injure his victim, a media personality located in Tampa, Florida, and telling his victim that the victim needed “to be exterminated.” In the letter, he referenced one of the victim’s friends, Mr. Charlie Kirk, a conservative political activist who had recently been killed during a public engagement on a college campus. After writing that he hoped that the American flag “strangles the life out of you,” the letter went on to state: “Maybe someone will blow your head off!!! We can hope! Planning any public engagements? Love to see your head explode and your blood stain the concrete red. What a sight!”.

If convicted, Isbell 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.

The FBI Tampa Field Office and the Tampa Police Department are investigating the case, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Additional support was provided by the FBI San Diego Field Office, the San Diego Police Department, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Wheeler III for the Middle District of Florida is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint 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

Louisville, KY – A federal criminal complaint and arrest warrant were issued on October 9, 2025, charging a Jefferson County high school teacher with distributing and possessing child pornography.

U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.

According to the criminal complaint, in August 2025, Brian Hinds, 51, distributed child sexual abuse material depicting prepubescent boys to a law enforcement officer working online undercover. During an interview conducted on October 9, 2025, Hinds admitted to both sending and receiving child sexual abuse material through online messaging applications. Hinds is employed as a theater teacher at duPont Manual High School’s Youth Performing Arts School.

While the investigation is ongoing, authorities have not presently identified any victim that is a current or former student of duPont Manual High School. If local victims are later identified, authorities will directly and immediately make contact with victims or the parents/guardians of minor victims.

Hinds is scheduled to make his initial appearance today, October 10, 2025, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted on the charges in the complaint, Hinds faces a minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is being investigated by the FBI and LMPD.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys A. Spencer McKiness and Stephanie Zimdahl are prosecuting the case.

If you have any information about Hinds that may contribute to this investigation, please contact the FBI Louisville Field Office at brianhindstips@fbi.gov.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

OXFORD, MS – A Tupelo, Mississippi man was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for using an online application to coerce minor females to send him sexually explicit images and videos.

According to court documents, Sean Carson, 24 years old, was getting girls as young as 12 years old to send him sexually explicit images. When the girls would try to cut off contact, Carson would threaten to send out the images and sexual texts to family members if they refused to continue talking to him, sharing personally identifying information, and keep sending sexually explicit images and videos. The FBI has identified 46 of the approximately 100 victims.

Senior Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Carson to 240 months and a lifetime of supervised release. After his release from prison, Carson will have to register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school. During his supervised release, Carson’s access to electronic devices will be limited.

“Significant sentences like the one handed down to Sean Carson help to ensure that our children are protected from sexual predators who lure children and then attempt to keep them silent,” stated U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner.  “AUSA Parker King and our partners at the FBI did some exceptional work in order to prove a difficult case, and this sentence should act as a deterrent to other would be predators as well.”

“This sentence underscores the FBI’s commitment to protect our children from sexual exploitation,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff. “The message is clear, vile predators like Sean Carson will be held to the highest extent of the law. The FBI maintains a commitment to support the USAO and the Tupelo Police Department in aggressively investigating and protecting the innocence of our minors, assuring offenders are brought to justice.”

The FBI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker S. King prosecuted the case.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging New York State Attorney General Letitia James with Bank Fraud under 18 U.S.C. Section 1344 and False Statements to a Financial Institution under 18 U.S.C. Section 1014.

“No one is above the law. The charges as alleged in this case represent intentional, criminal acts and tremendous breaches of the public’s trust,” said U.S. Attorney Halligan. “The facts and the law in this case are clear, and we will continue following them to ensure that justice is served.”

If convicted, Letitia James faces penalties including up to 30 years in prison per count, up to a $1 million fine on each count, and forfeiture. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Wasilla man pleaded guilty today to distributing carfentanil to two people, resulting in the near fatal overdose of an adult victim and the fatal overdose of a minor victim. The defendant also pleaded guilty today to a felon in possession of firearms charge filed through a separate federal indictment in July.

According to court documents, on Nov. 14, 2024, Sean Mobley, 45, agreed to supply an individual with .25 grams of fentanyl powder to distribute to another person. Mobley gave the individual a powdered substance that he believed was fentanyl but was, in fact, carfentanil. Carfentanil is an opioid used by veterinarians and is 100 times more potent than fentanyl.

Mobley and the individual drove to a residence in Wasilla. The individual entered the residence and sold the substance to an adult victim for $100. The individual returned to the vehicle and gave Mobley the money from the sale. Shortly after the sale, the adult victim used the substance and overdosed, causing serious bodily injury.

After distributing the substance to the adult victim, Mobley drove to a local gas station and dropped the individual off and picked up a 16-year-old victim. Mobley took the minor victim to an isolated location intending to use drugs together. Mobley gave some of the substance he believed was fentanyl powder to the minor victim. The minor victim used the substance and immediately overdosed and lost consciousness. Believing the minor victim was dead, Mobley dumped her body in a remote area and fled.

On Jan. 28, 2025, Mobley possessed a shotgun inside a vehicle he was operating. Mobley has three prior felony convictions from 2002 and 2003, making him a felon in possession of a firearm.

On June 10, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Mobley with distribution resulting in death and serious bodily injury. On July 17, a federal grand jury returned a separate indictment charging Mobley with being a felon in possession of a firearm and being an unlawful drug user and addict in possession of a firearm.

Mobley is scheduled to be sentenced on January 22, 2026 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison but up to life in prison for the distribution resulting in death and serious bodily injury charge, and up to 15 years in prison for the felon in possession of a firearm charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman of the District of Alaska, Special Agent in Charge David F. Reames of the DEA Seattle Field Division and Alaska State Trooper Colonel Maurice Hughes made the announcement.

The DEA Anchorage District Office and the Alaska State Troopers investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Bradley and Alana Weber are prosecuting the case, with assistance and collaboration from the State of Alaska Department of Law, Office of Special Prosecutions.

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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

OXFORD, MS – An Amory, Mississippi man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for sex trafficking of minors.

According to court documents, Steven Gaston Colburn, 70 years old, was convicted of recruiting, enticing, maintaining, providing, and soliciting minors under the age of 14 years old to engage in sexual acts for money or drugs. Colburn is accused of picking minor females who had difficult or unstable upbringings and paying them to commit sexual acts. Colburn paid the girls to attend church with him as well as engaging in sex acts.

Eight victims came forward during the investigation to bravely tell their stories. The victims sent in impact statements which were considered by the Court. Senior Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Colburn to 180 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. Judge Mills noted the bravery and courage of each of the victims.

“By incarcerating this defendant for what is functionally a life sentence, Judge Mills has ensured that no other minor will have to endure victimization at his hands,” stated U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner.  “I would like to personally commend the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and our partners with District Attorney Jason Herring’s Office for an investigation that looks like it will result in Colburn never breathing free air again.”

“This individual has victimized children in our county for generations,” said Monroe County Sheriff Kevin Crook. “He manipulated and abused young women until they reached their twenties and then went after their children. He has left in his wake a number of victims who now struggle with substance abuse disorder resulting from his abuse.  From the time we made the arrest, our District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern District worked with us to ensure Colburn was not able to get out of jail and hurt anyone else. I am grateful for the countless hours that our Investigators put into this case and to know this man’s reign of victimization is over in Monroe County.”

“This case demonstrates the power of creating a statewide network of law enforcement trained in cyber forensics and dedicated to the safety of our children online,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “We are proud to partner with law enforcement agencies across Mississippi, including the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, through our Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. I am grateful for the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to secure this federal sentence. The collaboration with our ICAC Task Force is precisely the kind of partnership that is necessary to protect children from abuse.”

“Safeguarding our society’s future begins with protecting underage youth in our communities from vile individuals like, Steven Colburn,” stated Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff. “Those who commit these heinous crimes against our youth, deteriorating the safety of our society, will be sought after and brought to justice. The FBI has great resolve to pursue justice for the predators who seek to exploit the youth of our communities and stands firm with the USAO and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department in protecting our most vulnerable population – our children.”

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker S. King prosecuted the case.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

ALBUQUERQUE – A Venezuelan national and suspected member of a transnational criminal organization has pleaded guilty to illegally possessing firearms and conspiring to destroy evidence after posting photos and videos of himself with weapons on social media.

According to court documents, Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, 23, a Venezuelan national, illegally entered the United States on December 15, 2023, and was released pending removal proceedings. In January 2025, Homeland Security Investigations received an anonymous tip that Ortega-Lopez, a suspected member of the Tren de Aragua transnational criminal organization and U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, was living in Las Cruces and in possession of firearms.

Ortega-Lopez posted numerous photos and videos to his Facebook and TikTok accounts showing him handling, displaying, and shooting various firearms at a Las Cruces shooting range and other locations. On December 24, 2024, Ortega-Lopez posted photos and videos of himself at the residence of April Cano, a social media influencer and gun enthusiast, holding a rifle with tactical equipment while wearing a ballistic helmet with night vision goggles. In the videos, Ortega-Lopez referred to April Cano’s parents, Nancy and Jose Cano, as “Patron” and “Patrona,” and told an informant he had received a firearm as a Christmas gift from the Cano family.

Ortega-Lopez worked for the Cano family and received housing in return.  Additionally, the Cano family took Ortega-Lopez to the shooting range to fire weapons and allowed him access to firearms.

On February 28, 2025, agents executed search warrants and seized four firearms from April Cano’s residence. During a post-Miranda interview, Ortega-Lopez admitted he recognized all four firearms and knew it was illegal for him to possess them. On April 20, 2025, Ortega-Lopez conspired with another person to destroy his Facebook account to avoid the contents being used against him at trial.

Nancy and Jose Cano were indicted this week on charges related to tampering with evidence. Nancy Cano faces charges of conspiracy to tamper with evidence, while Jose Cano is charged with both conspiracy to tamper with evidence and tampering with evidence. Both remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

Ortega-Lopez pleaded guilty to alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition and conspiracy to tamper with evidence. At sentencing, Ortega-Lopez faces up to 20 years in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement today.

Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Senior Litigation Counsel Maria Y. Armijo, Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randy Castellano and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Tonkin are prosecuting the case 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 (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. [use if applicable] Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).