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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of a criminal complaint charging Robert Logan Shoecraft, III (35, Tampa) with interstate communication of a threat to injure and kill. If convicted, Shoecraft faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. 

According to the complaint, in May 2024, Shoecraft called the office of a Member of the United States House of Representatives and left an offensive, expletive-laden voicemail which included the following: “we’re coming for you, we’re gonna f***ing kill you,” and “we have f***ing guns too, you stupid c***.” 

On October 31, 2025, Shoecraft sent a direct message through social media to the wife of a federal official who serves as an Advisor to the President of the United States, stating, “You and your husband will be dragged through the streets like Mussolini and his b**** after all this is done. This is our country, and they will make sure you and your husband suffer for what you’ve done. You have no idea what’s in store for you.”

A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Capitol Police, and the United States Secret Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey Schmidt and Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler, III.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

HOUSTON – A 42-year-old citizen of Mexico has been ordered to prison after recruiting an 18-year-old victim, abusing her, and forcing her to engage in commercial sex acts.

Clemente Melendez Gutierrez pleaded guilty Aug. 1.  

U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now ordered Melendez Gutierrez to serve a total of 120 months in federal prison, the statutory maximum.

“The damage inflicted by this defendant is immeasurable. Melendez Gutierrez subjected his victims to years of physical, mental, and sexual abuse in pursuit of his own personal profit,” said Ganjei. “Today’s sentence underscores our office’s steadfast pursuit of those who prey upon and exploit women for financial gain. Let it be known – human trafficking has no home in the Southern District of Texas.”

“The defendant preyed upon this vulnerable victim and used physical abuse to coerce her to travel to the United States and to engage in commercial sex for his own financial gain,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This sentence reflects the severity of the defendant’s conduct, and the DOJ will relentlessly prosecute and hold accountable those who abuse and exploit others for financial gain.”

“Today’s sentence brings long-awaited, and overdue, justice for the victim who was subjected to years of abuse and exploitation at the hands of Melendez Gutierrez,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “Unfortunately, the physical, mental, and emotional manipulation and trauma the victim suffered at the hands of this ‘suitor-turned-monster’ will remain with her forever. His long-awaited prison sentence reflects the tireless work and unwavering dedication of the investigators, victim specialists, and prosecutors who through the years stood alongside the victim to ensure her voice was heard and her suffering acknowledged. While no prison sentence can erase the pain and trauma his victims endured, our hope is that today’s outcome represents accountability, justice, and a step toward healing and hope.”

“With today’s sentence, we have removed a dangerous predator from the community who used physical and sexual abuse, threats of violence and psychological manipulation to groom and control his victims and force them to engage in commercial sex for his own profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz of Homeland Security Investigations Houston. “Working alongside our partners, we exposed his criminal scheme and helped ensure he was held fully accountable for his actions and the harm caused to the victims.”

Melendez Gutierrez recruited the 18-year-old victim in 2007 using the false pretense of a romantic relationship. After meeting her in person in Mexico, he transported her away from her home, isolated her at his parents’ house and told her she was going to have to start working in commercial sex. When she refused, Melendez Gutierrez physically abused her—dragging her by the hair and punching and kicking her—then made her engage in commercial sex acts at a hotel in Mexico.

Several days later, Melendez Gutierrez had the victim smuggled across the U.S. border and traveled with her to Houston. Following their arrival, he told the victim she owed him thousands of dollars for her transportation and told her that she would have to work at a cantina and engage in commercial sex in the hidden back rooms of the cantina to repay her debt.

Melendez Gutierrez set a quota for how much money the victim had to make each night, and he was violent with her when she did not work enough or make enough money. Melendez Gutierrez had the victim work at multiple cantinas and other locations until she was finally able to get away from him in 2013.

Between 2005 and 2021, Melendez Gutierrez repeated this pattern of conduct multiple times with different women and girls.

The FBI Houston Field Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Valenti of the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case along with Trial Attorneys Lindsey Roberson and Matthew Thiman of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.

Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Zimnako Salah, 46, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced today to six years in prison in connection with his plot targeting Christian churches.

In March 2025, a jury in Sacramento convicted Salah of strapping a backpack around the toilet of a Christian church in Roseville, with the intent to convey a hoax bomb threat and to obstruct the free exercise of religion of the congregants who worshipped there. The jury’s verdict included a special finding that Salah targeted the church because of the religion of the people who worshipped there, making the offense a hate crime.

According to the evidence at trial, from September to November of 2023, Salah traveled to four Christian churches in Arizona, California, and Colorado, wearing black backpacks. At two of those churches, Salah planted those backpacks, placing congregants in fear that they contained bombs. At the other two churches, Salah was confronted by security before he got the chance to plant those backpacks.

While Salah had been making bomb threats by planting backpacks in Christian churches, he had been building a bomb capable of fitting in a backpack. During a search of his storage unit, an FBI Bomb Technician seized items that an FBI Bomb Expert testified at trial served as component parts of an improvised explosive device (IED).

A search of Salah’s social media records revealed that he had consumed extremist propaganda online. Specifically, those records showed that Salah had searched for videos of “Infidels dying,” and he had watched videos depicting ISIS terrorists murdering people. In a cellphone video taken days before the crimes of conviction, Defendant Salah declared, “America. We are going to destroy it.”

“Today’s sentencing sends a clear message: those who target people because of their faith will face the full force of federal law,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to protect the rights of all people of faith to worship and live free from fear, and we will hold accountable anyone who threatens or harms them.”

“Salah’s seeming ultimate goal to bomb a Christian church would have resulted in many deaths and injuries if his plan had not been thwarted,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant. “Thanks to the action of church security, local law enforcement, and the FBI, this defendant was stopped before he had a chance to carry out the crimes he sought to commit. Today’s sentence is justified by the history and characteristics of this defendant and serves to protect the public from this defendant. And it affirms that people of all religions should be able to worship freely and exercise their First Amendment rights in this country without fear of violence.”

“The FBI has zero tolerance for those who target Americans based on their religious beliefs,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “Salah sought to instill fear and disrupt Christian communities across California, Colorado, and Arizona. We are grateful for the cooperation of these churches and communities, which were vital in the investigation that led to Salah’s arrest and conviction. Today’s sentencing highlights the collective efforts of law enforcement and vigilant Americans in preventing this act of terrorism.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Roseville Police Department, the San Diego Police Department, the San Diego Harbor Police Department, and the Arapahoe County (CO) Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Special Litigation Counsel Christopher Perras and Trial Attorney Sarah Howard of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Shea Kenny for the Eastern District of California.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Zimnako Salah, 46, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced today in the Eastern District of California to six years in prison in connection with his plot targeting Christian churches.

In March 2025, a jury in Sacramento convicted Salah of strapping a backpack around the toilet of a Christian church in Roseville, with the intent to convey a hoax bomb threat and to obstruct the free exercise of religion of the congregants who worshipped there. The jury’s verdict included a special finding that Salah targeted the church because of the religion of the people who worshipped there, making the offense a hate crime.

According to the evidence at trial, from September to November of 2023, Salah traveled to four Christian churches in Arizona, California, and Colorado, wearing black backpacks. At two of those churches, Salah planted those backpacks, placing congregants in fear that they contained bombs. At the other two churches, Salah was confronted by security before he got the chance to plant those backpacks.

While Salah had been making bomb threats by planting backpacks in Christian churches, he had been building a bomb capable of fitting in a backpack. During a search of his storage unit, an FBI Bomb Technician seized items that an FBI Bomb Expert testified at trial served as component parts of an improvised explosive device (IED).

A search of Salah’s social media records revealed that he had consumed extremist propaganda online. Specifically, those records showed that Salah had searched for videos of “Infidels dying,” and he had watched videos depicting ISIS terrorists murdering people. In a cellphone video taken days before the crimes of conviction, Defendant Salah declared, “America. We are going to destroy it.”

“Today’s sentencing sends a clear message: those who target people because of their faith will face the full force of federal law,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to protect the rights of all people of faith to worship and live free from fear, and we will hold accountable anyone who threatens or harms them.”

“Salah’s seeming ultimate goal to bomb a Christian church would have resulted in many deaths and injuries if his plan had not been thwarted,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant. “Thanks to the action of church security, local law enforcement, and the FBI, this defendant was stopped before he had a chance to carry out the crimes he sought to commit. Today’s sentence is justified by the history and characteristics of this defendant and serves to protect the public from this defendant. And it affirms that people of all religions should be able to worship freely and exercise their First Amendment rights in this country without fear of violence.”

“The FBI has zero tolerance for those who target Americans based on their religious beliefs,” said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. “Salah sought to instill fear and disrupt Christian communities across California, Colorado, and Arizona. We are grateful for the cooperation of these churches and communities, which were vital in the investigation that led to Salah’s arrest and conviction. Today’s sentencing highlights the collective efforts of law enforcement and vigilant Americans in preventing this act of terrorism.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Roseville Police Department, the San Diego Police Department, the San Diego Harbor Police Department, and the Arapahoe County (CO) Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Special Litigation Counsel Christopher Perras and Trial Attorney Sarah Howard of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Shea Kenny for the Eastern District of California.

Source: United States Department of Justice

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced an agreement with Cornell University (“Cornell”) that will protect Cornell’s students from violations of federal civil rights laws, including from discrimination based on race, sex, or national origin, and promote America’s hardworking farming and rural communities.

As part of the agreement, Cornell University will invest thirty million dollars through 2028 in research programs on agriculture, farming, and related studies that will support American farmers through lower costs of production and enhanced efficiency. Cornell will additionally pay thirty million dollars to the United States over the next three years. The university agrees to provide the Department of Justice’s “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination” as a training resource to faculty and staff, and will continued to conduct annual surveys to evaluate the campus climate for Cornell students. The university also agrees to comply with lawful requests from the United States related to foreign funding sources.

Through 2028, Cornell will provide relevant anonymized admissions data for statistical analyses to the United States. The President of Cornell will personally certify, under penalty of perjury, that Cornell is in compliance with the agreement. The United States will close its pending investigations into the university’s admissions policies and other civil rights concerns. The United States shall treat Cornell as eligible for future grants and awards, as well as restore terminated grants to Cornell from the Department of Health & Human Services and other federal agencies.

“Recipients of federal funding must fully adhere to federal civil rights laws and ensure that harmful DEI policies do not discriminate against students,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s deal is a positive outcome that illustrates the value of universities working with this administration — we are grateful to Cornell for working towards this agreement.”

“The Trump Administration has secured another transformative commitment from an Ivy League institution to end divisive DEl policies,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “Thanks to this deal with Cornell and the ongoing work of DOJ, HHS, and the team at ED, U.S. universities are refocusing their attention on merit, rigor, and truth seeking – not ideology. These reforms are a huge win in the fight to restore excellence to American higher education and make our schools the greatest in the world.”

“The Trump Administration is actively dismantling the ability of elite universities to discriminate based on race or religion,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “The DOJ’s agreement with Cornell strengthens protections for students against antisemitism and all other forms of discrimination.”

“As a result of securing this groundbreaking settlement between the United States and Cornell, applicants and students will receive fair and equal treatment as required by our civil rights laws, and American farmers will have expanded opportunity for agricultural development and productivity,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Cornell agreement exhibits this administration’s deep commitment to vigilantly enforce our federal civil rights laws on college campuses, and ensure that American universities manage taxpayer dollars responsibly.”

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

EUGENE, Ore.— Three Honduran nationals have been charged with trafficking two kilograms of fentanyl.

Oscar Bonilla-Sandoval, 24, Jonathan David Matamoros-Carcamo, 22, and Jorge Adalberto Escoto-Andrade, 34, have been charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute over 400 grams of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl.

According to court documents, on October 30, 2025, an Oregon State Police K9 trooper stopped a Toyota Camry driving on Interstate 5 in Linn County after observing suspicious behavior and for a traffic violation. Bonilla-Sandoval was the driver of the vehicle, Matamoros-Carcamo was the front passenger, and Escoto-Andrade was in the back seat. The trooper deployed his drug detecting K-9 to the exterior of the vehicle who alerted to the presence of a narcotic odor on the lower passenger door seam. A search of the vehicle revealed a manufactured compartment or “trap” within the front passenger seat.  

Law enforcement accessed the compartment and located a Smith and Wesson revolver sitting on top of approximately two kilograms of suspected fentanyl with a street value of approximately $85,000. The fentanyl was wrapped in tape in two brick forms and sitting on tin foil covered in cinnamon, which is a method used by drug traffickers to avoid detection by drug detection canines. 

Law enforcement also seized approximately $10,000 in bundled cash with pink bands wrapped around it from Matamoros-Carcamo and approximately $3,000 in cash from Escoto-Andrade.

Defendants made their first appearances in federal court on October 31, 2025, before a Magistrate Judge and were ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Oregon State Police, and Springfield Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Huynh is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 100 times more powerful than morphine and 50 times more powerful than heroin. A 2-milligram dose of fentanyl—a few grains of the substance—is potentially enough to kill an average adult male. The wide availability of illicit fentanyl in Oregon has caused a dramatic increase in overdose deaths throughout the state.

If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.

If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, please call the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org. Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 2pm and 6pm Pacific Time daily.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A Colombian national made his initial appearance today after being arrested for his alleged role in a burglary ring that primarily targeted residents of Asian descent in Oregon and Washington.

Derinson Martinez-Grandas, 34, is one of seven individuals charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to transmit stolen property.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in early October 2025, Martinez-Grandas and six co-conspirators burglarized homes in Oregon and Washington by traveling from state to state, staying in short-term rentals secured by Martinez-Grandas, identifying and surveilling  potential burglary victims—who were all Asian business owners—and then performing reconnaissance on the victims’ residences.

The complaint and court documents allege that Martinez-Grandas and his co-conspirators employed signal jamming technology, perimeter countersurveillance, and seven-way group calls when carrying out their burglaries. They entered their victims’ homes by shattering glass doors. Once inside, they ransacked the residences, stealing large amounts of United States and foreign currency, jewelry, designer handbags, purses, wallets, travel documents, and other valuables. After the burglaries, the crew would return to their short-term rental and package the proceeds for transport, transfer, or transmittal.

Court documents allege that defendants first burglarized a home in Auburn, Washington on October 3, 2025, then burglarized a home in Eugene, Oregon, on October 6, 2025, and burglarized a third home in Salem, Oregon, on October 9, 2025. All were the homes of Asian business owners who were away working at their businesses. Between the Eugene and Salem burglaries, detectives with the Eugene Police Department became aware of the group’s movements and began surveillance. Following the burglary in Salem, detectives surveilled and identified that Martinez-Grandas and his co-conspirators returned to their rental in Eugene, which had been rented by Martinez-Grandas. Detectives obtained a search warrant for the rental that night.  

Upon execution of the warrant, investigators recovered money and property believed to be burglarized from the various residences, digital devices believed to be used by the burglary crew, evidence of money wires to Bogota, Colombia, and various Colombian travel documentation, including passports. As officers went to execute the search warrant, the burglary crew fled into a nearby wooded area. After several hours, law enforcement eventually detained all seven individuals. Investigators later performed searches of the devices, which revealed additional evidence of the conspiracy, including sending and receiving burglary coordinates, surveillance communications, and shared messages containing messages highlighting the burglary targets from the preceding days. 

“This multi-state operation deliberately targeted hardworking families and struck at the very core of personal safety – the victims’ own homes – instilling fear throughout multiple communities,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts to ensure those responsible are held accountable.”

“This robbery crew instilled fear and directed violence toward the hard-working small business owners who make this community special and unique,” said FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson. “Working with our partners at Eugene Police Department, we were able to disrupt their acts and hold them accountable for their actions.” 

“The District Attorney’s Office is solely interested in seeing these individuals held to account for the victimization of our community members,” said Lane County District Attorney Christopher J. Parosa. “We appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in helping local law enforcement achieve that end.”

Martinez-Grandas made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

William Estiven Rodriguez-Gaviria, 26, a co-conspirator, made his first appearance in federal court before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the District of Arizona. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Eugene Police Department with assistance from the Salem Police Department and the Auburn Police Department. It is being prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, in coordination with the Lane County District Attorney’s Office.

A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

EUGENE, Ore.—A Red Bluff, California, man was sentenced to federal prison today for using social media to coerce a minor into sending him sexually explicit material.

Elijah McCabe, 27, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison and a 15-year term of supervised release.

According to court documents, in September 2023, McCabe posed as a minor on social media to trick a minor victim into sending him sexually explicit photos. McCabe threatened to share those images to friends and family to coerce the victim into sending child sexual abuse material (CSAM) – an act known as sextortion. The victim’s family contacted the police after learning an associate of the minor victim had received CSAM of the victim.

On June 7, 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed a search warrant at McCabe’s residence and found his cell phone floating in the tank of a toilet. McCabe was arrested after a search of his device found evidence of CSAM, specifically, the sexually explicit material McCabe coerced the victim to provide.

“We have a responsibility to protect our most vulnerable—our children. Child sexual exploitation has a devastating impact on victims, their families, and our communities. We will continue to work with our partners to find and hold these perpetrators accountable,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.

“While we count this sentencing as a success, it doesn’t diminish the harm done to the victim, their family, and their friends,” said Doug Olson, FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge. “Our work will continue, and we will pursue those who prey on children, as well as to help victims of abuse access tools to help them heal.” 

On September 19, 2024, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a two-count indictment charging McCabe with Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Coercion and Enticement of a Minor.

On August 5, 2025, McCabe pleaded guilty to Coercion and Enticement of a Minor.

This case was investigated by FBI Portland with assistance from FBI Sacramento. It was prosecuted by William M. McLaren, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Oregon.

Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember CSAM depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, they re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

This case was brought in collaboration with 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as 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

NASHVILLE – Thirty-eight defendants – including eight members and associates of MS-13 – have been charged on a variety of charges involving trafficking in fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, carjacking, assault on law enforcement, use of firearms during the commission of a violent crime, unlawful possession of firearms, and immigration offenses, announced Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee.

These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

The Nashville HSTF comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), United States Marshals Service (USMS), United States Secret Service (USSS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other federal agencies, working in collaboration with our state and local partners, with the prosecutions being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee.

“These efforts illustrate law enforcement’s commitment to stop gang violence, combat the scourge of fentanyl overdoses here in Middle Tennessee, and hold offenders accountable for the havoc they have wreaked on our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney McGuire. “Working together as part of the Homeland Security Task Force, these agencies have made our communities throughout Middle Tennessee safer and stronger.”

In United States vs. Rodriguez and United States v. Mendoza, Victor Alfonso Paez Rodriguez and Jesus Mendoza Viera, both of whom are illegally present in the United States, are alleged to have trafficked large quantities of fentanyl from Mexico into middle Tennessee. HSI was the lead investigative agency with assistance from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD).

In United States v. Copeland, Trenell Copeland, Tabria Bowens, Cassandra Lawson, Alicia Barman, and Ashanti Williams are charged with offenses related to the trafficking of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana into the Trousdale County Correctional Facility where Trenell Copeland was serving a state sentence. The lead investigative agency was the FBI with assistance from the Tennessee Department of Corrections Office of Investigations and Conduct (TDOC-OIC).

In United States v. Bangeas, Debyi Bangeas – an MS-13 member who is illegally present in the United States– was charged with carjacking, use of a firearm during that carjacking, and unlawful possession of a firearm. The lead federal agencies were ATF and HSI in collaboration with MNPD.

In United States v. Contreras Arita, two MS-13 members, Kevin Jasir Contreras Arita, Jose Pena, and MS-13 associate David Dubon-Enamarado, were charged with drug trafficking, assault on a federal law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, and illegal re-entry into the United States. The lead federal agencies were HSI and ATF in collaboration with MNPD.

In United States v. Leonel Vargas, MS-13 member Leonel Vargas, who is illegally present in the United States, was charged with drug trafficking cocaine and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug-trafficking, and being an illegal alien unlawfully in possession of a firearm. The lead federal agencies were ATF and HSI in collaboration with MNPD.

In United States v. Anthony Vargas, MS-13 associate Anthony Vargas, who is illegally present in the United States, was charged with being an illegal alien unlawfully in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Vargas was caught with a stolen firearm which has ballistic associations to the homicide of a fourteen-year-old girl. The lead federal agencies were ATF and HSI in collaboration with MNPD.

In United States v. Sandoval, thirteen defendants, including one MS-13 member and one MS-13 associate, were charged as part of a methamphetamine and cocaine distribution conspiracy resulting from a months’-long investigation. The lead agencies were the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division (Army CID) and DEA with assistance from ATF, HSI, FBI, USMS, USSS, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), MNPD, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP).

In United States v. Toliver, twelve defendants were charged with trafficking in fentanyl sourced from outside the United States as well as multiple federal firearms charges. Crossville has experienced a spike in the number of overdose deaths linked to fentanyl. Some of those overdoses are alleged to be connected to the trafficking activities of these defendants. The lead agencies were the FBI, TBI, and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from HSI, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and THP.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katy Risinger, Joshua Kurtzman and Emily Petro. AUSA Risinger is the Lead HSTF Attorney for the Nashville Homeland Security Task Force.

An indictment or a 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

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal judge sentenced a former Kansas credit union manager to 63 months in prison for stealing more than $750,000 from her long-time employer and substantially jeopardizing the safety and soundness of the financial institution.

According to court documents, Rita Hartman, 71, of Atchison pleaded guilty to one count of false entries in federal credit union records.

For 30 years, Hartman was the manager of Muddy River Credit Union (formerly Atchison Casting Credit Union and Bradken Federal Credit Union), which served the employees of a foundry located in Atchison, Kansas. Hartman’s position gave her control over all aspects of Muddy River’s finances. Between 2007 and 2021, she abused the trust that Muddy River granted her to steal approximately $346,00 in customer cash deposits. Hartman also fraudulently credited approximately $430,000 in deposits and loan payments to her or her relatives’ accounts when no payments or deposits had been made. Hartman concealed her conduct by altering ledgers and records and by falsifying information submitted to Muddy River’s regulators.  She obstructed efforts to uncover her fraud by submitting fraudulent documents to regulators and delaying a mandated audit.  

The defendant’s embezzlement wiped out Muddy River’s capital and rendered it insolvent, ultimately forcing a merger into another credit union to continue operations. 

In 2013, the then-Governor of the State of Kansas appointed Hartman to the Kansas Credit Union Council, which advises the Kansas Department of Credit Unions on issues and needs of credit unions. Hartman is also a former mayor and city commissioner in Atchison. A federal judge ordered that during her imprisonment, all of Hartman’s state pension payments be directed towards the $778,361 in restitution she was ordered to pay as part of her sentence.

“For decades, Rita Hartman was a prominent, well-respected figure in Atchison, Kansas,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Instead of living up to the high regard that people in the community had for her, she exploited their trust and used it to perpetuate her embezzlement scheme and line her pockets with stolen funds.” 

“The defendant was entrusted with the fiscal responsibility of the credit union’s members. In using the money for her personal benefit, the defendant’s actions were a betrayal of that trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Stephen A. Cyrus of the FBI Kansas City Field Office. “This sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s longstanding commitment to working financial fraud investigations and to hold individuals accountable for their actions.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan J. Huschka and Michelle McFarlane prosecuted the case.

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