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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona man was arrested after attempting to sell 10,000 fentanyl pills to an undercover agent.

According to court documents, in September 2025, an undercover agent from the Isleta Police Department began communicating with Daron Andrey Holmes, Jr., 35, of Arizona, via Facebook regarding the purchase of 10,000 fentanyl pills. Holmes and the agent agreed to meet at the Isleta Resort and casino on the Isleta Pueblo on the evening of October 29, 2025, to effectuate the sale. When Holmes arrived, he was arrested by a team of agents and officers from the Isleta Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, U.S. Marshal Service, New Mexico State Police and the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office.

After Holmes was taken into custody, Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office K9 Zara performed an open-air sniff of Holmes’ vehicle and alerted to the presence of the odor of narcotics. Agents and officers conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle. Inside they located a large amount of U.S. currency and approximately 4,102 grams of fentanyl pills.

U.S. currency and fentanyl seized from Holmes’ vehicle

Holmes is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Holmes faces up to life in prison.

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

The Homeland Security Investigations El Paso investigated this case with assistance from Isleta Police Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, U.S. Marshal Service, New Mexico State Police and the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mysliwiec 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.

This press release was posted November 14, after the end of the federal government shutdown

Source: United States Department of Justice

With the new fiscal year underway, OIP’s Compliance Team is quickly preparing to jump into the FY25 reporting season.  Back on September 30, OIP announced the anticipated deadlines for agency report submissions for Fiscal Year 2025. Today, we are updating those deadlines for the 2025 Annual FOIA Reports and 2026 Chief FOIA Officer Reports.

Agencies are required to submit their Fiscal Year 2025 Annual FOIA Reports using the FOIA.gov Annual Report Tool.  OIP has also updated the Department of Justice Annual FOIA Report Handbook, a key resource that agencies should consult when compiling their Annual FOIA Reports.  Agency personnel responsible for completing their agency’s report are encouraged to attend OIP’s Annual FOIA Report Refresher Training on Thursday, November 20, 2025 [NEW DATE]. An updated Webex link will be emailed and made available on our blog mid-next week. If you have attended this training in previous years and feel confident to begin your submissions without attending this year’s session, we encourage you to begin the reporting process as soon as possible.

Agencies should take note of the following deadlines, which are also summarized in Agency Reporting Obligations At-A-Glance, to ensure that they can satisfy all FOIA reporting obligations in the upcoming year:

FISCAL YEAR 2025 ANNUAL FOIA REPORT

December 12, 2025 [NEW DATE]– Agencies are required to submit their Fiscal Year 2025 Annual FOIA Report to OIP for review and clearance through FOIA.gov.

No later than March 1, 2026 – Agencies are required to post the final human readable and NIEM-XML versions of their Fiscal Year 2025 Annual FOIA Report on their websites.

FISCAL YEAR 2026 QUARTERLY FOIA REPORTS

January 30, 2026 – Quarter 1 data is required to be posted.
April 24, 2026 – Quarter 2 data is required to be posted.
July 31, 2026 – Quarter 3 data is required to be posted.
October 30, 2026 – Quarter 4 data is required to be posted.

For guidance on the requirements for completing the Quarterly Reports, please see OIP’s guidance on quarterly reporting (updated October 2021).

2026 CHIEF FOIA OFFICER REPORTS

January 30, 2026 [NEW DATE] – Deadline for agencies receiving 100 or more requests in Fiscal Year 2024 to submit their 2026 Chief FOIA Officer Reports to OIP for review and clearance.

February 6, 2026 – Deadline for agencies receiving fewer than 100 requests in Fiscal Year 2024 that choose to report to submit their Chief FOIA Officer Reports to OIP.

March 16, 2026 – Agencies are required to post their 2026 Chief FOIA Officer Reports online.

If you have any questions regarding any of the deadlines noted above or the requirements for any of the reports, please contact OIP’s FOIA Compliance Team at (202) 514-3642 (FOIA).  We are aware that this is a very short timeline, but there are statutory deadlines that we are doing our best to still meet this cycle while being a month behind. We will do our best to help in every way possible and be available to you as we dive into this reporting season. You can also find all of these reporting deadlines on the Reports page of OIP’s website.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

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

CHARLESTON, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Charleston returned a nine-count indictment charging four Beaufort-area defendants with sex trafficking of a minor, sex trafficking conspiracy, coercion and enticement, and child sexual abuse material offenses:

• Jaquan Duvall Barnes, 30, of Port Royal, was charged with human trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking of a minor, distribution and receipt of child sexual abuse material, and coercion and enticement of a minor.
• William James Youmans 35, of Beaufort, was charged with human trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking of a minor, distribution and receipt of child sexual abuse material, and coercion and enticement of a minor.
• Guy Frank Talley, 28, of Beaufort, was charged with coercion and enticement of a minor.
• Alban Bryan, 64, of Saint Helena Island, was charged with sex trafficking of a minor, distribution and receipt of child sexual abuse material, and coercion and enticement of a minor. 

According to the indictment and evidence presented in court, a minor female victim had particular vulnerabilities—including drug dependance and status as a runaway—which were known to one or more of the defendants. 

Between December 2023 and January 2024, Bryan recruited, enticed, harbored, coerced, and trafficked a minor victim, knowing her status as a runaway, and obtained sex acts from the minor in exchange for drugs and housing.  It is further alleged that Bryan received and distributed child sexual abuse material depicting the minor victim. At a detention hearing, evidence was presented that Bryan, who had a familial relationship with the minor, also produced child sexual abuse material of the minor.  

Between January 2024 and March 2024, Barnes, Youmans, and Talley coerced and enticed the minor victim to engage in sex acts that violate federal and state law. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Barnes and Youmans trafficked the minor victim into the commercial sex trade in exchange for drugs, housing, and money, all while knowing the victim was a minor. Barnes and Youmans are accused of working together to exploit the minor, including by obtaining child sexual abuse material and compromising photographs of the minor, advertising her on the internet for commercial sex, communicating with customers to arrange commercial sex acts, transporting the minor to hotels, supplying the minor with illegal narcotics, and confiscating proceeds from the commercial sex scheme. Talley facilitated the exploitation by advertising the minor on the internet for commercial sex. The indictment further alleges that Youmans and Bryan received and distributed child sexual abuse material depicting the minor victim.

Each defendant faces a mandatory 10 years and up to life in federal prison. The defendants also face a lifetime supervision by the federal court system following any term of imprisonment, sex offender registration, and mandatory restitution payable to victims.

Barnes, Talley, Youmans were arraigned in federal court on Oct. 9 and were all ordered detained.  Bryan was ordered detained by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker pending trial after a contested detention hearing on Oct. 16.  U.S. District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks will preside over the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice 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, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.

The case was jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), with assistance from the Hardeeville Police Department, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Highway Patrol, and Jacksonville (Florida) Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy F. Bower and Elliott B. Daniels are prosecuting the case. 

All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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* The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child. The Associated Press Stylebook also discourages the use of the phrase “child pornography.”

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Woodbridge man today on charges of corruptly endeavoring to obstruct the administration of internal revenue laws and failing to file income tax returns.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Omini Tete Riman, 60, earned income as an information technology specialist and landlord. Riman filed false Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Forms 1040 for tax years 2013 and 2014, resulting in tax refunds of $213,577 for 2013 and $186,468 for 2014, to which he was not entitled. Riman then corruptly attempted to impede efforts by the IRS to recoup the money from those refunds.

In 2016, after notifying Riman about his outstanding tax liabilities, the IRS attempted to recover the funds from him. However, Riman took numerous steps to frustrate the IRS’s collection efforts. For example, he transferred his property to a trust to hide it from the IRS; opened bank accounts in the trust’s name and directed that his income be deposited into that bank account; directed his tenant to ignore IRS notices about him and claimed that they were a “scam;” and submitted false documents to the IRS claiming that the IRS collections officer handling his case had personally received over $600,000 from Riman, which, if accepted by the IRS, would have jeopardized the IRS officer’s job and increased his personal tax liability.

As Riman was attempting to impede IRS collection efforts, he stopped filing tax returns, failing to file returns for tax years 2018 through 2023, despite earning wage and rental income of over $854,000 during that period.

Riman faces up to nine years in prison when sentenced on Feb. 10, 2026. 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.

Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kareem A. Carter, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office; and Andrew McKay, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration Special Agent in Charge of the Mid-Atlantic Field Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema accepted the verdict.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Harvey for the Eastern District of Virginia and Justice Department Trial Attorneys Daniel Lipkowitz and Zachary Cobb are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-99.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Jefferson Hills, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 15 years of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, on his convictions of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced.

United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Alonzo Henry Griffin Jr., 24, on September 26, 2025.

According to information presented to the Court, on November 13, 2024, following the execution of a federal search warrant at Griffin’s residence, law enforcement recovered over 1,200 bricks of fentanyl, crack cocaine, two stolen and loaded semi-automatic pistols, and an AR-style semi-automatic rifle. Law enforcement also seized $4,500 in U.S. currency from the residence along with drug trafficking paraphernalia. With prior felony convictions that include a state drug trafficking offense and aggravated assault, Griffin is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.

The Pennsylvania State Police Drug Law Enforcement Division Southwest Strike Force Unit and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Griffin.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

CHICAGO — Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, today provided an update on increased federal prosecutions and strategies implemented to combat violent crime in Chicago and the surrounding area.  This announcement comes after the government just reopened following the longest government shutdown in U.S. history as well as the largest ever enforcement surge in the Northern District of Illinois—commonly referred to as “Operation Midway Blitz”—a U.S. immigration enforcement operation launched by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

This is a joint statement made with the other Department of Justice law enforcement components, namely, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS).

“Combatting the epidemic of gun crime and violence is a national priority for this Department of Justice, and it is a top priority of mine as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros.  “It is for that reason that I have invested substantial resources into our Violent Crimes Section while demonstrating with action that we will strongly support our law enforcement partners and accept their most significant cases for federal prosecution.  The results are not only a deepening of relationships with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, but also a dramatic increase in our prosecutions and high-impact matters,” U.S. Attorney Boutros continued.

For example, this year, federal firearm indictments under the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”) program are up 292% in the Northern District of Illinois compared to last year (through Oct. 31, 2025).  The number of defendants charged in PSN firearm indictments is up 287% compared to last year (through Oct. 31, 2025).  The PSN program is an evidence-based program that focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders while bringing together a broad spectrum of stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  One such problem is violence in Chicago’s downtown neighborhoods and public rail system.  As such, in June of this year, U.S. Attorney Boutros announced an expansion of PSN to include the economic centers in downtown Chicago and the entire rail system operated by the Chicago Transit Authority, including all train lines operating in every neighborhood from every part of the city.  The expansion implemented the program in parts of three Chicago Police districts in downtown financial zones that represent the economic engines of the city and region, as well as on the CTA trains that bring residents and visitors to those areas from every neighborhood of Chicago and from the city’s two international airports.  The expansion by U.S. Attorney Boutros represented the first time anywhere in the country that the PSN program was deployed on mass transit and the first time in Chicago that the city’s downtown economic corridors were given the federal PSN designation.

In addition, firearm investigations in Chicago have been substantially bolstered by a game-changing resource from ATF—the Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago.  The CGIC is a centralized law enforcement hub that focuses exclusively on investigating and preventing gun violence in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois.  Every single gun case in the Northern District of Illinois is processed through ATF’s CGIC on a daily basis. This swift and thorough review and intake process is made possible because the CGIC is an interagency collaboration that brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and intelligence analysts to move quickly to investigate and prosecute violent crimes, and especially gun crimes.

The increase in federal firearm indictments corresponds to increased prosecutions as well as other high-impact cases across the various federal programs.  Overall, federal criminal indictments in all program areas in the Northern District of Illinois in 2025 are up 45% (366 versus 252) compared to last year (through Oct. 31, 2025).  The number of defendants charged in all program areas in 2025 is up 52% (494 versus 325) compared to last year (through Oct. 31, 2025).

“A fundamental duty of our Office is to tackle crimes across the various federal program areas that we service,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros.  “That applies to narco-terrorism and terrorism cases, drug and gun trafficking organizations, public corruption, organized crime, money laundering, child-exploitation and human trafficking cases, cybercrimes, assaults on Postal Employees and other federal officers and personnel, as well as program fraud, healthcare fraud, and otherwise.  We are committed to investigating and prosecuting federal criminal cases on behalf of all of our law enforcement partners to disrupt the cycle of ongoing crime in Chicago.”

The increased prosecutions are part of a turnaround that is occurring under U.S. Attorney Boutros, who inherited an Office that was down some 50 prosecutors.  The Criminal Division had also dipped below 90 criminal prosecutors for the first time in decades.  “The impressive results we have been able to achieve in 2025 as an Office have been accomplished with far fewer prosecutors and resources than the Office has experienced in decades,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros.  “This is also true for the caseloads we are handling in our Civil Division.  I am proud of the hard work and dedication of our prosecutors in the Civil Division who are handling a heavy docket that is only growing heavier with fewer resources. After an extended government shutdown and many months of a hiring freeze, I am energized by the fact that we are hiring several dozens of new Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Criminal and Civil Divisions in the coming months.  Many of our new hires will come with significant experience, including decades of federal and/or state prosecutorial experience from across the country and locally and will be able to hit the ground running,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros.  “I am very much looking forward to onboarding our new tough-on-crime prosecutors who will contribute mightily to the Office in the critically important work we do every day.  I am very optimistic about our Office’s future, especially as we add to our already talented roster of attorneys and staff who work diligently every day to make our communities better.”

“Through the Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago (CGIC) partnership, we have made a significant impact on reducing violent crime in Chicago,” said Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the ATF Chicago Field Division.  “One of the key changes has been increased federal prosecutions under the leadership of U.S. Attorney Boutros, who has been instrumental in ensuring that violent offenders are swiftly brought to justice.  ATF will remain focused on its top priority: tackling violent crime and taking drivers of violence off our streets.”

“The FBI works to ensure that the threat of violent crime does not endanger the livelihood or safety of the hardworking people in this great city,” said Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI Chicago Field Office.  “Thanks to the outstanding collaboration within the network of law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in Project Safe Neighborhoods, our communities are safer and more well-resourced than ever.  The FBI remains committed to developing proactive solutions and holding accountable anyone who seeks to compromise the safety of those who live in or visit Chicago.”

“The DEA Chicago Field Division will continue leveraging all resources at our disposal to combat drug-related violent crime,” said Shane R. Catone, Special Agent-in-Charge of the DEA Chicago Field Division.  “Disrupting and dismantling violent drug trafficking organizations and their supply chains is crucial to keeping Americans safe. Alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, the DEA will continue to relentlessly pursue accountability of violent drug traffickers inflicting harm upon our communities throughout Illinois.”

“Criminal violence of any kind—including assaults and attacks on federal agents and other government personnel—are unacceptable,” said LaDon A. Reynolds, United States Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois.  “The U.S. Marshals Service will investigate and seek to hold accountable people who break the law with violence.  U.S. Attorney Boutros has been a strong and reliable partner in our efforts, and we look forward to continuing to closely work with him and his team.”

“Criminal violence of any kind—including assaults and attacks on federal agents and other government personnel—are unacceptable,” said LaDon A. Reynolds, United States Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois.  “The U.S. Marshals Service will investigate and seek to hold accountable people who break the law with violence.  U.S. Attorney Boutros has been a strong and reliable partner in our efforts, and we look forward to continuing to closely work with him and his team.”

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Honeywell has sentenced Denzel Ingram (28, Tampa) to six years and three months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Ingram to forfeit the firearms used in the commission of the offense. Ingram pleaded guilty on August 6, 2025.

According to court records, an officer with the Tampa Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle Ingram was driving for a traffic violation. Ingram parked the vehicle in front of a nearby residence and went inside, refusing the officer’s commands to stop. Ingram ultimately fled from the residence and was arrested at a later date. Two loaded handguns were recovered from the driver’s side floorboard where Ingram had been seated. Prior to the offense, Ingram had been convicted of multiple felonies including a conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in 2013. As a convicted felon, Ingram is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.

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 (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 Neighborhoods (PSN).

NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

MIAMI – A Romanian national illegally present in the U.S. pleaded guilty in Miami federal court on Oct. 20 to participating in a concealment money laundering scheme operating out of South Florida.

According to court documents, Dan Flaviu Komuves, 28, admitted to laundering the illegal proceeds of a nationwide online auction fraud scheme that targeted U.S. citizens who believed they were purchasing high-value vehicles, boats, and tractors through online auction platforms. In reality, the listings were part of an elaborate scam that deceived victims into wiring money to accounts opened by Komuves in South Florida.

To facilitate the scheme, Komuves used eight shell companies, false identities, and counterfeit identity documents—including fake passports—to open bank accounts and conceal his true identity. Once victims’ funds were deposited, Komuves withdrew large amounts of cash from multiple accounts, often visiting several branches on the same day to prevent recovery of the funds and to conceal the nature, location, and control of the proceeds.

Komuves admitted to laundering more than $1 million dollars between March and August of 2024. Komuves was taken into custody in June after previously pleading guilty to illegal reentry in California.

Komuves admitted to laundering more than $1 million dollars between March and August of 2024. Komuves was taken into custody in June after previously pleading guilty to illegal reentry in California.

U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement.

HSI Miami and HSI Salt Lake City are investigating the case with help from U.S. Secret Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Juenger is prosecuting the case.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20286.

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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Timothy VerHey, today announced that a federal jury convicted Malik Jones-Smith (30, Muskegon, Michigan) of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

In the early morning of December 28, 2024, following a shooting in Muskegon Heights, Jones-Smith and another individual drove away from a Muskegon police officer in a van and then fled on foot.  Near the van, police found a stolen pistol loaded with a round partially fed in the chamber and one additional round in the magazine. A search of Jones-Smith’s cell phone showed that he uploaded a video on Snapchat less than 10 hours before with the same firearm: 

The search of his phone also showed that Jones-Smith and his passenger in the van were involved in the Muskegon Heights shooting.  At the time of the offense, Jones-Smith was on federal supervised release for a prior conviction of distributing fentanyl. Jones-Smith was released from federal custody only 16 days before he possessed the firearm.   

“Gun violence destroys communities,” stated United States Attorney Timothy VerHey. “My office remains committed to prosecuting individuals who illegally possess firearms and threaten public safety.”

“The Muskegon Police Department is committed to ensuring that everyone can live without the threat of gun violence. This conviction through the collaboration with the United States Attorney’s office in conjunction with the FBI and ATF strengthens that commitment,” said Muskegon Police Chief Tim Kozal.

“This conviction reinforces FBI Detroit’s commitment to stopping habitual violent offenders, such as Malik Jones-Smith, from inflicting further harm on our Michigan communities,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “I want to thank the FBI Grand Rapids Resident Agency, Muskegon Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Muskegon Major Case Initiative (MMCI), which includes the Michigan State Police and the Muskegon Heights Police Department. These agencies played a critical role in removing this dangerous, convicted felon from our streets. I am also grateful for the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan in securing this successful prosecution.”

Jones-Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on March 10, 2026, and faces up to 18 years in federal prison for the new conviction and for his supervised release violations.

The Muskegon Police Department – Muskegon Major Crimes Initiative Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vito S. Solitro and Clay Stiffler prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. 

 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for the period of September 29 through November 14, which encompasses the duration of the federal government shutdown. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, with assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies.

In the seven-week period, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico:

• 329 individuals were charged with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
• 38 individuals were charged with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
• 240 individuals were charged with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325)
• 340 individuals were charged with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), violation of a military security regulation (50 U.S.C. 797) and Entering Military, Naval, or Coast Guard Property (18 U.S.C. 1382), arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico.

Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for drug trafficking, child sexual abuse, aggravated kidnapping, DUI, aggravated assault, conspiracy to defraud the United States, larceny, alien smuggling, burglary, participation in organized criminal activity, child endangerment, and prior immigration offenses.

These cases are 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.

These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.

Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.

The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.