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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

BECKLEY, W.Va. – Emmanuel Covington, 34, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 30, 2025, Covington sold approximately 19.7 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Beckley. Covington admitted to the transaction as part of his guilty plea. Covington further admitted to selling a mixture containing methamphetamine and fentanyl on April 16, 2025, a quantity of fentanyl on May 6, 2025, and a mixture containing methamphetamine on June 4, 2025, each time to a confidential informant in Charleston.

On June 5, 2025, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Covington’s Charleston residence and seized quantities of fentanyl and a mixture containing methamphetamine and a Ruger pistol.

Covington is scheduled to be sentenced on March 6, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million.

United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department, and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.

United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-cr-110.

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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A Colorado man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and lifetime supervised release for his role in an online forum that worked to sexually exploit dozens of minor victims. 

According to court documents, Steven Glenn Christiansen, 69, of Fort Collins, Colorado used a mobile messaging application with end-to-end encryption to access “invite only” group chats in which users exchanged images and videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The members used these groups to share livestreams and save files on third party platforms, typically of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct at the members’ behest. Christiansen communicated directly with other users to request and exchange CSAM. After executing a residential search warrant at the defendant’s residence, several digital devices were seized containing images and videos of CSAM, and the defendant admitted to possessing thousands of images.

Christiansen pleaded guilty in August 2025 to one count of possession of child pornography. He was previously convicted in the state of Colorado in March 2000 for sexually assaulting a child.

Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon of the Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Hindman for the District of Colorado prosecuted the case.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly for the District of Colorado, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Marvin Massey of the FBI Denver Field Office made the announcement.

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 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber today sentenced Torrey Taylor (45, Tampa) to six years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and distribution of cocaine and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Taylor pleaded guilty on August 28, 2025. 

According to court records, Taylor conspired with his co-defendant, Temeko Evans, to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Between February 11 and March 26, 2025, detectives from the Tampa Police Department conducted a series of controlled purchases from Evans and Taylor to include approximately two ounces of crack cocaine and two ounces of methamphetamine.

Evans pleaded guilty on October 2, 2025, and her case is scheduled for sentencing on December 18, 2025. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

On Nov. 18, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a one-count indictment against Everardo Gregorio, 31, of Casa Grande, Arizona for the Obstruction of the Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs by Fire.

The indictment alleges that Gregorio burned down Khal Chasidim, a synagogue in Casa Grande, on March 3. The portion of the synagogue that was destroyed in the fire included the place where the Jewish community worshipped, as well as a kosher grocery store and restaurant that operated out of the building. Gregorio has also been charged with arson by the Pinal County Attorney’s Office and is currently pending trial in that case.

A conviction for Obstruction of Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs by Fire carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Casa Grande Police Department are handling the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Goldberg for the District of Arizona is handling the prosecution, in conjunction with the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.  

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

This press release about a case that occurred during the 43-day government shutdown is now available after the return to normal operations.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

This press release about a case that occurred during the 43-day government shutdown is now available after the return to normal operations.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Clayton Lee Harris (22, Ocklawaha) has pleaded guilty plea to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Harris faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.   

According to the court records, on July 26, 2025, Harris contacted an undercover officer on an online dating website. The undercover officer was posing as a 14-year-old girl. Harris agreed to meet the “girl” at a local gas station for a sexual encounter. When Harris arrived at the gas station, he was apprehended by law enforcement.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.

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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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.justice.gov/psc.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Editor’s Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated but was not published at that time due to a lapse in federal appropriations. Press releases are posted and made available following the return to normal operations

DANVILLE, Va. – A Danville, Virginia man was sentenced October 24 to 30 months in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl.

Bryan Eugene Whitehead, 44, pled guilty in May 2025 to distributing fentanyl.

According to court documents, investigators identified Whitehead as a distributor of fentanyl in early 2024. The Danville Police Department, Virginia State Police, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, conducted controlled buys of fentanyl from Whithead, including the purchase of an ounce of fentanyl for $800 on February 6, 2024.

Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, and Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Danville Police Department, and the Virginia State Police conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Keith Parrella and Matthew Miller prosecuted the case for the United States.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Editor’s Note: This matter occurred on the date indicated but was not published at that time due to a lapse in federal appropriations. Press releases are posted and made available following the return to normal operations

DANVILLE, Va. – A Danville, Virginia man, who was caught with methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl during a traffic stop in September 2024, was sentenced on October 10 to 107 months in federal prison.

Jerrod Allen-Jamal Wimbush, 36, pled guilty in June 2025 to possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. 

“Illegal narcotics fuel addictions, violence and death,” Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. “This office will aggressively prosecute those who traffic deadly drugs for profit.”

According to court documents, on September 13, 2024, officers with the Danville Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Wimbush for driving over the posted speed limit. Minutes after the traffic stop, a K-9 officer walked his K-9 around Wimbush’s vehicle and the dog alerted to the presence of narcotics.

After an initial denial to the presence of drugs, Wimbush eventually told officers there were some drugs in the vehicle. A search warrant was executed and resulted in the seizure of 17 grams of methamphetamine, .254 grams of fentanyl, and 41.53 grams of cocaine.

A month later, on October 17, 2024, agents executed a search warrant at Wimbush’s residence in Danville and recovered 127 grams of fentanyl, and over 200 grams of cocaine.

Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, and Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Danville Police Department conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Keith Parrella and Matthew Miller prosecuted the case for the United States.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

HARRISBURG-The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Gertrudis Mendoza-Hernandez, age 34, a citizen of Guatemala, who unlawfully resided in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on the charge of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed. 

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Mendoza-Hernandez illegally reentered the United States and was found in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, on November 6, 2025. Mendoza-Hernandez was removed from the United States on September 14, 2023, and reentered without first obtaining legal permission to do so.

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelley K. McGraw is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).       

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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