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Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A 39-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, felon in possession of a firearm, and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Jason Soto, also known as “Twin,” a leader of the Cypress Gangsta Crips (CGC), a subgroup of the Eight Trey Crips based in the Cypress Hills Houses of East New York, was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of all three counts of a superseding indictment charging him with murder in-aid-of racketeering, causing the death of CGC leader Shakim Rivera through the use of a firearm on February 22, 2015, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine in late 2024.  The verdict followed a two-week trial before United States District Judge Ramón E. Reyes. When sentenced, Soto faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment against a North Texas resident for allegedly defrauding pandemic relief programs of more than $680,000. April Watson, 50, also known as “April Watson Horton” and “April Shawnette Watson,” is charged with four counts of wire fraud, two counts of bank fraud, and four counts of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity (money laundering). 

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Fort Myers, Florida – Alejandro Marquetti-Blanco (34, Bradenton) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek to 10 years and 1 month in federal prison for distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Marquetti-Blanco was found guilty on February 20, 2026, after a jury trial. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Today, the Justice Department announced charges involving 48 aliens in Pennsylvania, California, Florida, New York, and Nevada in connection with illegal voting, fraudulent voter registration, and related election crimes. The cases include voting by aliens in federal elections and false claims of U.S. citizenship to register to vote or to vote.

Case details are as follows:

Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Four aliens, including an illegal alien, have been charged with illegally voting.

• Alfredo Santiesteban, 73, an illegal alien from Cuba, has been charged by information with one count of voting by an alien. Santiesteban allegedly voted in the 2024 general election.
• Polish national Artur Kopacz, 50, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged by information with two counts of voting by an alien. Kopacz allegedly voted in the 2022 and 2024 general elections.
• Cuban national Osmal Loy, 70, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged by information with one count of voting by an alien. Loy allegedly voted in the 2024 general election. 

Cuban national Osmal Loy, 70, a lawful permanent resident

• Israeli national Yehuda Peer, 30, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged by information with one count of voting by an alien. Peer allegedly voted in the 2024 general election.

Israeli national Yehuda Peer, 30, a lawful permanent resident

Middle District of Pennsylvania

Five aliens have been charged with illegally voting.

• Kenyan national Nina Nyawara, 21, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with voting by an alien. Nyawara allegedly voted in an election held for the purpose of electing a candidate for President, Vice President, U.S. Senator, and Member of the House of Representatives in 2024.
• Russian national Inna Henry, 52, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with voting by an alien. Henry allegedly voted in an election held for the purpose of electing a candidate for U.S. Senator and Member of the House of Representatives in 2022.

Russian national Inna Henry, 52, a lawful permanent resident

• Kenyan national Joyce Donovan, 38, a lawful permanent resident, with voting by an alien. Donovan allegedly voted in an election held for the purpose of electing a candidate for President, Vice President, U.S. Senator and Member of the House of Representatives in 2024.
• Dutch national Joyce Pitts, 80, a lawful permanent resident, with voting by an alien. Pitts allegedly voted in an election held for the purpose of electing a candidate for President, Vice President, U.S. Senator and Member of the House of Representatives in 2022.

Dutch national Joyce Pitts, 80, a lawful permanent resident

• Greek national Nourten Kuruju, 64, a lawful permanent resident, with voting by an alien. Kuruju allegedly voted in an election held for the purpose of electing a candidate for President, Vice President, U.S. Senator and Member of the House of Representatives in 2022.

Central District of California

The following 13 defendants in this jurisdiction face felony charges, including false statements in a naturalization application.

• Belizean national Omar Alexander Muñoz, 72, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote in September 2019, claiming he was a U.S. citizen, then voted in U.S. elections in 2020, twice in 2022, and in 2024. He also lied in his application to become a naturalized U.S. citizen when he falsely stated under oath that he had never claimed to be a U.S. citizen.

Belizean national Omar Alexander Muñoz, 72, a lawful permanent resident

• Indian national Amandeep Kaur, 30, a lawful permanent resident, who is seeking to become a U.S. citizen, allegedly registered to vote in December 2022 and voted in the November 2024 U.S. election.
• Salvadoran national Ana Domínguez, 60, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote in July 2006 and lied in her naturalization paperwork in March 2026.

Salvadoran national Ana Domínguez, 60, a lawful permanent resident

• Guatemalan national Axel Giovani Prera García, 46, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote in 2002 and 2005, and lied in his naturalization paperwork in June 2025.
• Maxican national Flavio Alejandro Zúñiga, 43, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote in 2003 and lied in his naturalization paperwork in February 2026.
• Cambodian national Butleng Taing, 43, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote in July 2021, voted in the 2022 and 2024 U.S. elections, and lied in his naturalization paperwork in August 2025.

Cambodian national Butleng Taing, 43, a lawful permanent resident

• Honduran national Carlos Antonio Galeas, 54, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote in 2012 and 2016, then lied in his naturalization paperwork in September 2018.

Honduran national Carlos Antonio Galeas, 54, a lawful permanent resident

• Mexican national Ernest Gutiérrez Ruvalcaba, 57, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote in February 2024 and voted one month later.
• Mexican national Jesús Narez-Madrigal, 52, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote in 2014, voted in the 2024 U.S. general election, and lied in his naturalization paperwork in June 2024.

Mexican national Jesús Narez-Madrigal, 52, a lawful permanent resident

• Mexican national José Antonio Bañuelos-Díaz, 42, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote in 2007 and lied in his naturalization paperwork in March 2025.
• Pakistani national Muhammad Khan, 50, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly submitted a provisional ballot in 2020 and lied in his naturalization paperwork five years later.
• Canadian national Rouzbeh Seyamaknejad, 63, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote in December 2018, lied in his naturalization application in January 2024, and voted in the November 2024 U.S. election.

Canadian national Rouzbeh Seyamaknejad, 63, a lawful permanent resident

• Mexican national Sulema de León, 35, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote in 2013, lied in her naturalization application in 2019, and voted in the November 2020 U.S. general election.

Eastern District of California

The following six defendants have been charged with voting by an alien in a federal election, a misdemeanor that carries a statutory maximum sentence of one year in federal prison.

• Mexican national Maricela Nazarín González, 43, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote in 2020, indicating that she was a U.S. citizen, and voted in elections in 2022, twice in 2024, and 2025.

Mexican national Maricela Nazarín González, 43, a lawful permanent resident

• Guatemalan national Rony de Jesús Sicaja, 38, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote in 2017, and voted in the June 2022 primary election and the 2024 general election in the United States.
• Mexican national Camino Giles Jiménez, 51, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly voted in three U.S. elections despite knowing he is a noncitizen, the most recent election being the June 2026 primary.
• Mexican national Juan Antonio Rivas García, 46, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote in 2018 and 2020, both times falsely asserting under oath that he was a U.S. citizen. Rivas voted in the 2022 and 2024 U.S. elections.
• Filipino national Giezell Viduya Adawag, 41, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote the day of the November 2024 general election, falsely certified that she was a U.S. citizen, and voted in the election that day.

Filipino national Giezell Viduya Adawag, 41, a lawful permanent resident

• Indian national Kamlesh Navnitlal Shah, 67, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote on the day of the November 2024 general election and voted that day. He is charged by information.

Northern District of California

The following five defendants have been charged with attempted procurement of naturalization contrary to law, false statement under oath in any matter relating to naturalization or citizenship, and voting by an alien.

• Mexican national Verónica Bullene, 43, a.k.a. “Verónica Hernández Martínez”, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly made false statements in her naturalization application that she had never claimed to be a U.S. citizen when, in fact, she did so under penalty of perjury to register to vote in 2022 and 2023 then voted in 2024.
• Georgian national David Shapiro, 41, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote in 2024 and later voted in a U.S. election, and made false statements in his naturalization application that he had never claimed to be a U.S. citizen.
• Myanmar national Moe Thida Lwin, 57, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote in 2024 and then proceeded to illegally vote in a U.S. citizen. She made false statements in her naturalization paperwork as well.
• Tongan national Manakotau Mataele Finau, 61, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote in the 2024 election, voted, and then lied about it in naturalization paperwork.
• Ecuadoran national Maribel del Carmen Garcés Barriga, 62, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly made false statements in her naturalization paperwork that she  had never claimed U.S. citizenship and had never voted in a U.S. election or had registered to vote. In fact, Garcés fraudulently registered to vote in 2024 and proceeded to vote in a U.S. election.

Southern District of California

The following four defendants have been charged with false claim to citizenship to vote, unlawful attempted procurement of naturalization, and false statement under oath in matter relating to naturalization or citizenship.

• Filipino national José Probitsado Amaro, 51, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote by falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen. He then cast a ballot in the November 2024 general election and made false statements during his naturalization interview, denying that he had ever claimed U.S. citizenship and misrepresenting his voting history.

Filipino national José Probitsado Amaro, 51, a lawful permanent resident

• Canadian national Jennifer Jung, 31, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote by falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen. She then cast a ballot in the November 2024 general election and made false statements during her naturalization interview, denying that she had ever claimed U.S. citizenship and misrepresenting her voting history.
• Guatemalan national Erick Ronaldo Soto Mendizábal, 64, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly registered to vote by falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen. He then cast a ballot in the November 2024 general election and made false statements in his naturalization application, denying that he had ever claimed U.S. citizenship and misrepresenting his voting history.
• Filipino national Pamele Arbués Line, 56, a lawful permanent resident, allegedly voted in the November 2024 general election, and made false statements in her naturalization interview, denying that she had ever claimed U.S. citizenship and misrepresenting her voting history.

Filipino national Pamele Arbués Line, 56, a lawful permanent resident

Middle District of Florida

Six aliens have been charged with election related crimes. 

• Cuban national Jamie Orlando Sosa Sardina, 60, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged by indictment with making a false statement claiming U.S. citizenship to vote and illegal voting by an alien. Sardina allegedly registered to vote in 2022 and voted in the 2022 and 2024 federal general elections.

Cuban national Jamie Orlando Sosa Sardina, 60, a lawful permanent resident

• Ecuadorian national Martha Haydee Desantis, 81, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged by indictment with making a false statement claiming U.S. citizenship to vote and illegal voting by an alien. Desantis allegedly re-registered to vote in 2024 and voted in the 2022 and 2024 federal general elections.
• Canadian national Lise Marie Johnson, 69, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged by indictment with making a false statement claiming U.S. citizenship to vote and illegal voting by an alien. Johnson allegedly registered to vote in 2021 and voted in the 2022 federal general election.

Canadian national Lise Marie Johnson, 69, a lawful permanent resident

• Cuban national Luis Manuel Perez, 72, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged by information with illegal voting by an alien. Perez allegedly voted in the 2022 and 2024 federal general elections.

Cuban national Luis Manuel Perez, 72, a lawful permanent resident

• Canadian national Diane Wendy Curley, 55, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged by information with illegal voting by an alien. Curley allegedly voted in the 2022 and 2024 federal general elections.

Canadian national Diane Wendy Curley, 55, a lawful permanent resident

• Brazilian national Pedro Igor A. Franco, 37, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged by information with illegal voting by an alien. Franco voted in the 2024 federal general election.

Northern District of New York

German national Marva Cook, 66, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with voting by an alien. Cook allegedly voted in an election held in part for the purpose of electing a candidate for the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.

German national Marva Cook, 66, a lawful permanent resident

Eastern District of New York

Three aliens have been charged with election related crimes. 

• Irish national Eoin Cranney, 35, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with voting by an alien in a federal election. Cranney allegedly submitted a fraudulent voter registration application and voted in the 2024 federal general election.  In a voluntary interview with federal agents, Cranney admitted, in substance and in part, that he was not a U.S. citizen, that he had registered to vote in 2024, and that he had voted in the 2024 federal general election knowing that he was not a U.S. citizen.
• Guyanese national Ronald Sheldon Baird, 47, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with voting by an alien in a federal election. Baird allegedly submitted a fraudulent voter registration application and voted in the 2024 federal general election.  In a voluntary interview with federal agents, Baird admitted, in substance and in part, that he was not a U.S. citizen and that he had voted in the 2024 federal general election knowing that he was not a U.S. citizen.
• Jamaican national Karlene Daniels Samuels, 55, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with voting by an alien in a federal election. Samuels allegedly submitted a fraudulent voter registration application and voted in the 2024 federal general election.  In a voluntary interview with federal agents, Baird admitted, in substance and in part, that she was not a U.S. citizen and that she had voted in the 2024 federal general election knowing that she was not a U.S. citizen.

District of Nevada

Filipino national Jullie Ann Sumalinog Moore, 44, a lawful permanent resident, has been charged with voting by an alien. Moore allegedly voted in an election held in part for the purpose of electing a candidate for the office of President, Vice President, Member of the Senate, and Member of the House of Representatives. 

 

A complaint, indictment, and information merely contain accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: United States Department of Justice

New preliminary estimates from the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ (BJS) National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) show that the rate of violent crime, property victimization, burglary or trespassing, motor vehicle theft, and other types of household theft fell significantly in 2025.

“This report is proof that President Trump’s ‘Make America Safe Again’ agenda is working,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “Under President Trump and Attorney General Blanche, the safety of law-abiding Americans will always come first. This success reinforces our commitment to ensuring every American can live, work, and raise a family without fear.”

According to the survey, the rate of non-fatal violent crime excluding simple assault declined 25% from 9.9 per 1,000 persons age 12 or older in 2024 to 7.4 per 1,000 in 2025. Violent crime excluding simple assault, also known as serious violent victimization, includes the crimes of rape or sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault. The rate of aggravated assault also declined 31% from 2024 (4.5 per 1,000 persons age 12 or older) to 2025 (3.1 per 1,000).

The rate of property victimization declined 19% from 138.0 per 1,000 households in 2024 to 111.2 per 1,000 in 2025. Further, the rates of burglary or trespassing (down 25%), motor vehicle theft (down 30%), and other types of household theft (down 19%) decreased from 2024 to 2025.

The NCVS is the nation’s primary source of information on criminal victimization, including crimes reported and not reported to police. Each year, BJS collects information from a nationally representative sample of about 240,000 persons, aged 12 or older, in about 150,000 U.S. households on the frequency, characteristics, and consequences of non-fatal criminal victimization in the United States.   

BJS fully transitioned to the redesigned National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS-R) instrument in January 2025. This report presents the inaugural estimates from the fully transitioned NCVS-R. 

For more information on the 2025 preliminary estimates, visit Preliminary Findings from the NCVS, 2025. 

These results follow last week’s publication of the BJS report, “Homicide Victimization in the United States, 2025,” which showed homicide rates fell 17% in 2025 over 2024.

Source: United States Department of Justice

Pensacola, Florida – Anthony Bernard Allen, 54, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, as well as possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

Source: United States Department of Justice

New preliminary estimates from the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ (BJS) National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) show that the rate of violent crime, property victimization, burglary or trespassing, motor vehicle theft, and other types of household theft fell significantly in 2025.

“This report is proof that President Trump’s ‘Make America Safe Again’ agenda is working,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “Under President Trump and Attorney General Blanche, the safety of law-abiding Americans will always come first. This success reinforces our commitment to ensuring every American can live, work, and raise a family without fear.”

According to the survey, the rate of non-fatal violent crime excluding simple assault declined 25% from 9.9 per 1,000 persons age 12 or older in 2024 to 7.4 per 1,000 in 2025. Violent crime excluding simple assault, also known as serious violent victimization, includes the crimes of rape or sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault. The rate of aggravated assault also declined 31% from 2024 (4.5 per 1,000 persons age 12 or older) to 2025 (3.1 per 1,000).

The rate of property victimization declined 19% from 138.0 per 1,000 households in 2024 to 111.2 per 1,000 in 2025. Further, the rates of burglary or trespassing (down 25%), motor vehicle theft (down 30%), and other types of household theft (down 19%) decreased from 2024 to 2025.

The NCVS is the nation’s primary source of information on criminal victimization, including crimes reported and not reported to police. Each year, BJS collects information from a nationally representative sample of about 240,000 persons, aged 12 or older, in about 150,000 U.S. households on the frequency, characteristics, and consequences of non-fatal criminal victimization in the United States.   

BJS fully transitioned to the redesigned National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS-R) instrument in January 2025. This report presents the inaugural estimates from the fully transitioned NCVS-R. 

For more information on the 2025 preliminary estimates, visit Preliminary Findings from the NCVS, 2025. 

These results follow last week’s publication of the BJS report, “Homicide Victimization in the United States, 2025,” which showed homicide rates fell 17% in 2025 over 2024.

Source: United States Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Max Yang Chen, 31, of San Jose, CA, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to cyberstalking and aggravated identity theft, which carry a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Timothy France Johnson was sentenced in to 51 months in federal prison along with a money judgement of $3,148,094.48 for running an 11-year Ponzi scheme in which he represented to investors that he would use their funds to promote NBA preseason games