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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Dustin Neil Haas (38, Clay County) has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Haas faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and forfeiture of a Bryco Jennings 9mm pistol and ammunition used in the offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Law enforcement arrested Haas on September 22, 2025, and he was subsequently detained.   

According to court documents, on August 11, 2025, a deputy from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office pulled over a motorcycle driven by Haas for driving without a tag. The deputy also determined that Haas was driving on a suspended license. Upon making contact with Haas, the deputy observed a large bulge in the vest Haas was wearing. During a subsequent search of the vest, the deputy located a black Bryco Jennings 9mm pistol, loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition. At the time, Haas had multiple prior felony convictions which prohibit him from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Jacksonville Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.

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

Jackson, TN – James Ballew, 74, of Milan, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for possessing child pornography. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

Ballew was charged with two counts of possession of child pornography. According to the information presented during the sentencing hearing, on February 10, 2023, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents executed a search warrant on Ballew’s residence in Milan. Agents seized two computers during the execution of the search warrant. Additionally, agents obtained a search warrant to search both computers. As a result of the search of both computers, agents discovered Ballew possessed 143,343 photographs and 7,848 videos depicting child sexual abuse material.

Following his guilty plea for possession of child pornography, United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Ballew to 10 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release. Additionally, Ballew must comply with the conditions of the Sexual Offender Registry upon his release.

There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Possession of child pornography is an abhorrent and disturbing crime that endangers and harms real child victims forever. And it doesn’t take an economist to know that demand drives supply. By seeking out and possessing thousands of images and videos of young children being sexually abused, Ballew contributed to their past victimization. And by fueling the demand for child pornography, his conduct likely also contributed to the future harm done to children in the name of profit. We will always seek significant and mandatory minimum sentences for such despicable and predatory behavior, and this successful prosecution has incapacitated a real threat to our children and our community in West Tennessee.”

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Office and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate and apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Milan Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Adam Davis prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Johnny Quinones, age 32, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on October 29, 2025, by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson to 17.5 years in prison for his role in straw purchasing firearms and attempted murder.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Quinones conspired with three other individuals to purchase firearms for felons and persons under indictment. Quinones was prohibited by law from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions. Quinones was convicted on October 18, 2023, of straw purchasing a gun, possession of a firearm and ammunition as a felon and conspiracy.

On August 11, 2020, Harrisburg Police responded to a shooting victim in the City of Harrisburg where a victim was shot in the head. They eventually focused on Johnny Quinones, a felon. The investigation ultimately revealed that Taashaun Mansfield was buying guns for felons. Mansfield bought seven guns in a two-month period, and each time he lied on the forms about who was going to get the guns. All the guns ended up in the possession of people prohibited by law from possessing the guns.

The following coconspirators pleaded guilty to weapons offenses and were sentenced:

• Taashaun Mansfield was sentenced to 37 months in prison;
• Michael Windham was sentenced to 46 months in prison; and
• Antonio Godbolt was sentenced to 33 months in prison.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in conjunction with the Harrisburg Bureau of Police.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Consiglio and Richard Euliss prosecuted 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).

This matter occurred on date indicated but not issued at that time due to the government shutdown.  Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations

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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virigina M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced William Jack Filing (30, Clearwater) to 15 years in federal prison for receiving child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Filing to register as a sex offender and serve a lifetime of supervision following his release. A federal jury convicted Filing on July 15, 2025.

According to evidence presented at trial, using the online persona “Calcifer_Starflame,” Filing discussed his desire to sexually abuse a baby boy in a one-on-one chat with a co-conspirator on a social media platform. At Filing’s request, the co-conspirator sent videos of an infant child being sexually abused. In response, Filing said that it was his “daydream” to sexually abuse a baby himself and sent explicit photos of himself. When the co-conspirator asked about his preferred age, Filing stated, “1-4, maybe 5 or 6, less words the better.”

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations–Tampa, with substantial assistance from the Clearwater Police Department and the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce of Central Florida. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Claire Favorit and Abigail K. King.

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.

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

A naturalized U.S. citizen from Bosnia and Herzegovina pleaded guilty on November 10, 2025, in Bridgeport federal court to criminal charges related to her lying about her prior criminal conduct to obtain U.S. citizenship.

“The defendant obtained the privileges of U.S. citizenship through lies and deceit, concealing the violent crimes she committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department is fully committed to holding accountable those who exploit our immigration system and pose a threat to public safety.”

“Covering up past human rights abuses to attain U.S. citizenship is an egregious offense, and I thank our law enforcement partners both here in the U.S. and in Bosnia and Herzegovina for investigating this matter to ensure that justice is done,” said U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan for the District of Connecticut. 

“Individuals who lie on their naturalization documents undermine the process for all who justly apply to be a part of our great nation,” said Special Agent in Charge P.J. O’Brien of the FBI. “Tomanic’s admissions of fraud are detestable because of her history of targeting people based on their ethnicity and religion. The FBI, along with our partners at the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office of Fraud Detection and National Security will continue to investigate crimes of this nature to ensure the sanctity of the immigration process for all who righteously apply for U.S. Citizenship.”

According to court documents, Nada Radovan Tomanic, 53, of West Virginia, formerly of Hartford, Connecticut, served with the Zulfikar Special Unit of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s, during the armed conflict in the region.  Along with other Zulfikar Special Unit soldiers, Tomanic participated in the physical and psychological abuse of Bosnian Serb civilian prisoners.

When applying for U.S. naturalization in 2012, Tomanic falsely denied having served in a detention facility or in any other situation involving the detention of others.  She also falsely denied having committed a crime for which she had not been arrested – specifically, the crime of inflicting serious bodily harm under the Criminal Law of the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia.

Tomanic’s deception extended beyond her written naturalization application.  During her interview with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer, she was placed under oath and legally obligated to answer questions truthfully.  Despite that obligation, she again lied about her service in a detention facility and her past criminal conduct.

Tomanic pleaded guilty to one count of procuring citizenship contrary to law.  She is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 3, 2026, and faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. 

Trial Attorney Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel Krull and Anastasia King for the District of Connecticut are prosecuting the case, with assistance from HRSP historians.  The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs also provided assistance.

The FBI is investigating the case, with coordination provided by the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Office of Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS), along with the FBI’s International Human Rights Unit (IHRU). The Justice Department thanks authorities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, to include the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Srpska Ministry of Interior, Serbian authorities, and the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, who were instrumental in providing assistance that aided in furthering the investigation.

Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) or through the FBI’s online tip form at www.tips.fbi.gov/, or Homeland Security Investigations at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or through ICE’s online tip form at www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that two men involved in a southwestern Connecticut narcotics trafficking ring were sentenced last month by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford.  On October 17, RONALD VINCENT, 30, of Stratford, was sentenced to 84 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release, and on October 20, MARQUIS JONES, 30, of Derby, was sentenced to 40 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2022, the FBI Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, which was investigating gang activity in the South End and West Side of Bridgeport, identified Christian Pichardo as a supplier of various narcotics to gang members and other drug distributors.  During the investigation, investigators intercepted calls and text messages over court-authorized wiretaps between Pichardo and his associates, including Vincent and Jones, made controlled purchases of narcotics, and seized drugs from members of the conspiracy and their drug customers.  Some of the drugs seized during the investigation had been cut with fentanyl analogues, nitazines, and xylazine.  Nitazines are synthetic opioids stronger than fentanyl, and xylazine is a large animal tranquilizer.

Vincent and Jones resided in Bridgeport during the investigation.  Vincent was a close associate of Pichardo who primarily trafficked fentanyl.  Jones trafficked fentanyl to crack cocaine to gang members and others.

Vincent and Jones were each arrested on August 5, 2024, and subsequently pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.  Released on $100,000 bonds, they are required to report to prison on December 16 and January 7, respectively.

Pichardo pleaded guilty to a related charge and, on July 14, 2025, was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment.

This matter has been investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bridgeport, Stratford, and Norwalk Police Departments.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A naturalized U.S. citizen from Bosnia and Herzegovina pleaded guilty on Nov. 10 to criminal charges related to her lying about her prior criminal conduct to obtain U.S. citizenship.

“The defendant obtained the privileges of U.S. citizenship through lies and deceit, concealing the violent crimes she committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department is fully committed to holding accountable those who exploit our immigration system and pose a threat to public safety.”

“Covering up past human rights abuses to attain U.S. citizenship is an egregious  offense, and I thank our law enforcement partners both here in the U.S. and in Bosnia and Herzegovina for investigating this matter to ensure that justice is done,” said U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan for the District of Connecticut. 

“Individuals who lie on their naturalization documents undermine the process for all who justly apply to be a part of our great nation,” said Special Agent in Charge P.J. O’Brien of the FBI New Haven Field Office. “Tomanic’s admissions of fraud are detestable because of her history of targeting people based on their ethnicity and religion. The FBI, along with our partners at the the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office of Fraud Detection and National Security will continue to investigate crimes of this nature to ensure the sanctity of the immigration process for all who righteously apply for U.S. Citizenship.”

According to court documents, Nada Radovan Tomanic, 53, served with the Zulfikar Special Unit of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s, during the armed conflict in the region. Along with other Zulfikar Special Unit soldiers, Tomanic participated in the physical and psychological abuse of Bosnian Serb civilian prisoners.

When applying for U.S. naturalization in 2012, Tomanic falsely denied having served in a detention facility or in any other situation involving the detention of others. She also falsely denied having committed a crime for which she had not been arrested – specifically, the crime of inflicting serious bodily harm under the Criminal Law of the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia.

Tomanic’s deception extended beyond her written naturalization application. During her interview with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer, she was placed under oath and legally obligated to answer questions truthfully. Despite that obligation, she again lied about her service in a detention facility and her past criminal conduct.

Tomanic pleaded guilty to one count of procuring citizenship contrary to law. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 3, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The defendant faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Trial Attorney Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anastasia King and Angel Krull for the District of Connecticut are prosecuting the case, with assistance from HRSP historians. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs also provided assistance.

The FBI is investigating the case, with coordination provided by the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Office of Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS), along with the FBI’s International Human Rights Unit (IHRU). The Justice Department thanks authorities from Bosnia and Herzegovina, to include the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Srpska Ministry of Interior, Serbian authorities, and the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, who were instrumental in providing assistance that aided in furthering the investigation.

Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) or through the FBI’s online tip form at www.tips.fbi.gov/, or Homeland Security Investigations at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or through ICE’s online tip form at www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Diego Edgardo Aleman-Lozano, age 25, a Mexican national, was sentenced on October 2, 2025, to 24 months in prison to be followed by one year on supervised release by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for possession of a firearm by an alien.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Aleman-Lozano was pulled over by Pennsylvania State Police in 2021 for violations of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code. State Troopers saw a 5.56 caliber green-tipped rifle cartridge on the front passenger seat. Because Aleman-Lozano was an alien on a nonimmigrant visa and was therefore not permitted to possess a firearm or ammunition, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the car. Upon executing the warrant, Troopers recovered a 9mm polymer semiautomatic pistol with no serial number.

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).

This matter was investigated by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera prosecuted the case.

This matter occurred on date indicated but not issued at that time due to the government shutdown.  Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.

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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

WILLIAMSPORT – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced Victor Manuel Mazariegos-Palacios, age 46, citizen of Guatemala, pled guilty to illegal reentry into the United States and was sentenced on October 15, 2025, to time-served, approximately four months in prison by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann.

According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, on or about February 8, 2023, Mazariegos-Palacios was found in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, after previously having been removed from the United States. Mazariegos-Palacios was removed from the United States in 2006 and reentered without first obtaining legal permission to do so. Mazariegos-Palacios will be deported to his native country.

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan Martin prosecuted 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).

This matter occurred on date indicated but not issued at that time due to the government shutdown.  Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.

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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Telephone scam claimed victim had won millions, but had to pay taxes and fees in advance – repeatedly demanded the mailing of more money