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Source: US FBI

ALBUQUERQUE – A Mexican national faces federal charges for allegedly attempting to bribe a U.S. Border Patrol Agent after being apprehended for illegal re-entry into the United States.

According to court records, on February 8, 2025, Samuel Mendoza-Torres, 29, was taken into custody along with another individual near the Santa Teresa Border Patrol Station. While being transported to the station, Mendoza-Torres allegedly asked the agent, “Can we fix this?” and offered $400 for his release.

During a post-arrest interview, Mendoza-Torres admitted to escorting illegal immigrants into the United States from Mexico. He also acknowledged knowing that offering money to the Border Patrol Agent was illegal.

Mendoza-Torres will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted of the current charges, Mendoza-Torres faces 20 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, and Chief Patrol Agent Walter “Neil” Slosar of the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector made the announcement today.

The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau Investigation and the U.S. Border Patrol are investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorney Ry Ellison is prosecuting the case.

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Source: US FBI

ALBUQUERQUE – A Salvadoran national was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for biting a U.S. Border Patrol agent.

According to the complaint, on May 29, 2024, a Border Patrol agent encountered a group of five individuals, including Erika Jasmin Lobato-Melendez, 27, walking along the border wall. When the agent attempted to take the group into custody, Lobato-Melendez became obstinate, refusing to enter the agent’s vehicle and grabbing onto the border wall.

When agents tried to physically separate Lobato-Melendez from the fence, she bit down hard on the agent’s forearm, causing bruising, swelling, and abrasions. Even after being brought to the ground, Lobato-Melendez continued her aggressive behavior, attempting to bite the agent’s leg and kicking them.

Upon her release from prison, Lobato-Melendez will be subject to two years of supervised release and deportation proceedings.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, Chief Patrol Agent Walter “Neil” Slosar of the U.S. Border Patrol’s El Paso Sector and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau Investigation investigated these cases with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. McNair is prosecuting the case.

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Source: US FBI

ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock woman pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the straw purchase of a firearm that was later used in a violent crime spree and murder.

According to court documents, on April 24, 2024, Brittania Navaho, 29, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, purchased a revolver and ammunition from a pawn shop in Gallup, New Mexico, on behalf of Rydell Happy, a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

At sentencing, Navaho faces up to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from Navajo Nation Police Department, the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney R. Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners.

This case is being prosecuted under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The Act is a federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms.

Source: US FBI

TRENTON, N.J. – A Mercer County man made an initial appearance on charges of three armed robberies of Trenton-area businesses, including one during which the man caused the death of a victim through use of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Paul X. McNeil, 38, of Trenton, was charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of murder during and in relation to a crime of violence, one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. McNeil made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni in Trenton federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

McNeil targeted certain local businesses and/or business owners based upon the victims’ access to the businesses’ cash proceeds. On September 30, 2022, as an employee of an auto recycling shop in Ewing, New Jersey, was in the process of collecting the shop’s cash proceeds, McNeil and a coconspirator entered the shop. McNeil pointed a firearm at the employee before he and the coconspirator took from the employee approximately $150,000 of the shop’s cash proceeds and the employee’s lawfully registered firearm. Later that day, McNeil purchased a new car, paying $9,500 in a down payment, comprised of ninety-five $100 bills.

On August 10, 2023, McNeil followed the owner of a Trenton cannabis shop from the shop to the owner’s residence in Lawrence Township. Moments after the cannabis shop owner entered the residence, McNeil followed the owner into the residence and robbed the owner of the cannabis shop’s cash proceeds which the owner had carried into the residence. As overheard by the cannabis owner’s spouse, who was in the residence, the owner stated to McNeil, “No, no, no … please, here, you can have it,” moments before McNeil shot and killed the owner with a firearm. In addition to taking from the owner the cannabis shop’s cash proceeds, McNeil also took from the owner jewelry the owner was wearing at the time of the robbery. Photographs recovered from McNeil’s cellphone depict McNeil wearing the owner’s jewelry, which was recovered later from McNeil’s vehicle.

On September 23, 2023, McNeil entered the Ewing residence of an owner of a Trenton-area house-flipping business. Upon entering the residence, McNeil encountered three victims, including two minors. The owner of the business was not in the residence at the time.  McNeil pointed a handgun at the three victims and demanded money. McNeil then bound the victims’ hands behind their backs with zip ties and forced them at gunpoint into the basement, while he searched the residence. McNeil took approximately $4,500 in cash proceeds from the house- flipping business as well as some personal items belonging to the business owner and the three victims. Law enforcement later recovered from McNeil’s residence approximately $4,000 in cash and some of the personal items belonging to the business’s owner and the three victims.

“These charges allege that the defendant targeted several local business owners for robbery and murdered one of them. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, together with its federal and local law enforcement partners, will spare no effort to investigate and prosecute violent offenders who target the businesses and residents of New Jersey.” 

U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger 

“We allege McNeil went into a Ewing business, held it up at gun point, and while the owner was attempting to hand over money McNeil shot and killed him. We also have evidence showing he also took part in several other brutal attacks and robberies. Violent offenders should take this investigation as a warning that the FBI Newark and our law enforcement partners are pursuing criminals who believe they can act with impunity and not face justice,” Acting SAC Nelson I. Delgado said.

The count of murder during and in relation to a crime of violence is punishable by death, or a term of imprisonment up to life. The counts of Hobbs Act robbery and conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery each carry a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison.  The brandishing and discharging of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence counts each carry a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, where the brandishing count has a mandatory minimum sentence of 7 years in prison and the discharging count has a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 year in prison, which sentences must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed. Each count also carries a fine of up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting SAC Nelson I. Delgado, members of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force, under the direction of Acting Mercer County Prosecutor Theresa L. Hilton, and detectives with the Ewing Police Department, under the direction of Chief Albert Rhodes, with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey Agnew and Special Assistant Laura Sunyak of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Defense counsel: Benjamin West, Esq.

Source: US FBI

NEWARK, N.J. – A former assistant dean of an Essex County graduate school was sentenced yesterday to 36 months in prison for defrauding her former employer of more than $1.3 million, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Teresina DeAlmeida, 59, of Warren, New Jersey and her co-conspirators, Rose Martins, 44, of East Hanover, New Jersey, and Silvia Cardoso, 61, of Warren, NJ, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud before U.S. District Judge Julien Xavier Neals in Newark federal court.

“The defendant abused her position of trust as an assistant dean to orchestrate an elaborate embezzlement scheme for more than a decade. In doing so, she and her co-conspirators stole more than $1.3 million intended to benefit the school and its students.  My office is committed to relentlessly prosecuting those who commit financial frauds.”

U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger

“By choosing to utilize her position for illicit profit, Teresina DeAlmeida chose to enrich herself first and serve the students of the University last,” stated Jenifer L. Piovesan, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office. “Financial fraud like this will not be tolerated and IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out and investigate these financial crimes.”

“Trust is an intangible thing, a faith that people who have access to large sums of money won’t steal it. DeAlmeida took funds meant for students at the university and did so for more than a decade,” FBI Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Nelson I. Delgado said. “Students and most average citizens cannot see into finances of institutions, to question where it’s going and why it’s missing. The FBI Newark and our law enforcement partners have the tools to investigate wrongdoing and hold accountable those who don’t think anyone will notice $1.3 million is missing.”

“I am proud of the contribution of OIG Special Agents in holding former Assistant Dean DeAlmeida accountable for her criminal actions. Her willful diversion and theft of funds that were intended for the school and its students was completely unacceptable,” said John Carlo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Eastern Regional Office.  “The OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of Federal education funds.”

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Between 2009 and July 2022, DeAlmeida, Martins, and Cardoso conspired to fraudulently misappropriate more than $1.3 million from their former employer, a graduate school of a university in Essex County, New Jersey.  During the scheme, DeAlmeida was an assistant dean responsible for financial functions, and Martins served as her assistant.  Cardoso, DeAlmeida’s sister, was also employed by the graduate school in a support staff role.  

The defendants used a variety of methods to defraud the university.  For instance:

•    Beginning in 2009, DeAlmeida directed a graduate school vendor to pay Martins and Cardoso as though they worked for the vendor, even though they did not perform any services.  DeAlmeida and Martins then caused the vendor to submit false invoices to the graduate school over the course of approximately four years to reimburse the vendor for the amounts fraudulently paid to Martins and Cardoso.  

•    From 2010 through 2022, DeAlmeida and Martins directed graduate school vendors to order hundreds of thousands of dollars of gift cards and prepaid debit cards the co-conspirators used for their personal benefit, and then to submit fraudulent invoices to the school purporting to be for goods and services that were never provided.  The co-conspirators also misused DeAlmeida’s school-issued credit card to purchase hundreds of thousands of dollars of gift cards and prepaid debit cards from the school’s bookstore.  DeAlmeida routinely fraudulently approved these charges and Martins forged the signatures of other employees on internal approvals.

•    In 2015, Martins opened a shell entity called CMS Content Management Specialist LLC.  Although CMS never rendered any services to the graduate school, Martins submitted, and DeAlmeida approved, fraudulent invoices totaling more than $208,000.  

•    The co-conspirators also used DeAlmeida’s school-issued credit card to make tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized personal purchases.  For example, DeAlmeida and Martins used the card to make over $70,000 in purchases at an online retailer shipped directly to their homes, including woman’s shoes, smart watches, and bed linens.  DeAlmeida and Martins fraudulently altered certain receipts before submitting them to the school for payment.  

In addition to the prison term, Judge Neals sentenced DeAlmeida to 2 years of supervised release and ordered restitution of approximately $1,397,000.  

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Internal Revenue Services, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark; special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark; and special agents of the Department of Education, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge John Carlo with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Silane and Aja Espinosa of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
 

Source: US FBI

NEWARK, N.J. – The founder and executive chairman of a beverage company appeared in court for lying to solicit investments in his company, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Todd O’Gara, 44, of Austin, Texas was charged by complaint with one count of wire fraud and appeared in court today to before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin Howell in Austin federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

O’Gara, who founded and managed a beverage company, Wanu Water, Inc., raised at least $3.4 million dollars from individual victim investors. O’Gara repeatedly lied to solicit those investments and to encourage investors to maintain their investments. Among other things, O’Gara lied about the size of purchase orders from retailers and about major investments from private equity firms. As part of this fraudulent scheme, O’Gara sent investors fake documents including doctored emails and forged term sheets.

The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or gross loss to the victim, whichever is greatest.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger added that the investigation is continuing. If you believe you are a victim of or otherwise have information concerning this scheme, please contact the FBI at newark-victim_assistance@fbi.gov.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado, Newark Field Division, with the investigation.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron L. Webman and Carolyn Silane of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
 

Source: US FBI

The FBI Newark, NJ State Police, and NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness are asking for the public to report any information related to the recent sightings of possible drones flying in several areas along the Raritan River. Witnesses have spotted the cluster of what look to be drones and a possible fixed wing aircraft. We have reports from the public and law enforcement dating back several weeks.  
 
Anyone with relevant information is asked to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit it online at tips.fbi.gov.  

Source: US FBI

CAMDEN, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, man admitted robbing a bank in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Tony Winst, 46, of Cresskill, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Edward S. Kiel in Camden federal court to an information charging him with bank robbery.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

On Nov. 17, 2023, Winst entered a bank in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, and handed a note to a teller stating: “this is a robbery.” He claimed to have a weapon. The teller gave Winst money and he fled from the bank.

The count of bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2, 2025.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado in Newark; the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. He also thanked the Mountain Lakes Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Shawn Bennett.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Nadel of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.

Source: US FBI

LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced today by United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro to 23 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for two carjackings during which he brandished a firearm and shot at one victim, shooting at police officers during the vehicle pursuit, and for assaulting a federal officer while in custody.

Justin Venegas (41) pleaded guilty to two counts of carjacking, one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, one count of felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of assault on a federal officer which inflicts bodily injury.

According to court documents, on August 11, 2022, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (“LVMPD”) was pursuing Venegas for a robbery/carjacking that occurred on May 20, 2022.   While at an intersection, Venegas pointed a firearm at the  driver of another vehicle and to into the vehicle. He then put the firearm into the victim’s stomach and forcibly removed the victim from their vehicle. Venegas drove away in the victim’s vehicle. During the pursuit, Venegas reached out the driver’s window and fired several rounds at the front windshield of the pursuing officers’ patrol vehicle. Later, Venegas attempted to carjack a second victim. He shot at and struck the second carjacking victim using a firearm. While the pursuit continued, Venegas collided head on with a K9 police vehicle. He was placed under arrest. A search of the vehicle revealed a Smith and Wesson M&P Shield with an obliterated serial number. A National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) analysis showed that the firearm was the same gun that was discharged during the pursuit and at a police officer. Venegas is a convicted felon, and he is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm.

Later, on October 1, 2022, at the Nevada Southern Detention Center, Venegas punched a detention officer in the face causing the officer to fall to the ground. The detention officer suffered facial fractures, lacerations, and a dislocated thumb.

“The defendant will spend the next 23 years in prison for putting the public and police officers in danger with his senseless, violent actions in his attempt to evade apprehension, and for assaulting a detention officer while in custody,” said United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “In this case, NIBIN crime gun tracing connected the gun used in the first and second carjackings by the defendant. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to combine resources to protect our communities and to bring violent offenders to justice.”

“The defendants’ sentence should serve as a deterrent to anyone who is considering terrorizing the safety and security of our community by committing armed carjackings,” said Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI. “The sentence also reflects the severity of the crime and the commitment of the FBI, along with our federal, state, and local partners, to reduce the potential of future carjacking offenses, a major driver of violent crimes.”

This case was investigated by the FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Allison Reese prosecuted the case.

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Source: US FBI

RENO, Nev. — A Northern Nevada man was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Miranda M. Du to life in prison, plus 20 years in prison, for murdering a pregnant indigenous woman on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation in December 2020.

According to court documents, Michael Burciaga (36) stabbed his pregnant girlfriend, a registered member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, multiple times, causing her death and the death of their unborn child. Shortly after midnight on December 15, 2020, officers with Pyramid Lake Police Department responded to an emergency call from the victim’s daughter at the victim’s home located on the Pyramid Lake reservation in Nixon, located in Washoe County.

Burciaga has prior convictions for Domestic Assault in Becker County, Minn.; Domestic Battery in Fernley; and Battery and Domestic Battery in Sparks.

A jury convicted Burciaga of Murder in the First Degree within Indian Country, a violation of the Protection of Unborn Children Act, and Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender Within Indian Country.

“Today’s sentence illustrates our collaborative efforts to ensuring justice for the victim and holding the defendant accountable for his heinous crime,” said United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “The Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) crisis is a priority for the Department of Justice and we will continue to work alongside Tribes and law enforcement partners in the pursuit of justice.”

“Today’s sentencing ends a tragic story of cold-blooded murder,” said Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI. “While life in prison will not undo the crime committed by Mr. Burciaga, it will prevent him from victimizing anyone on the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation again. I appreciate the work of our investigators and tribal partners ensuring violent offenders such as this are held accountable, and residents can feel safe in their homes.”

This case was investigated by the FBI and Pyramid Lake Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Penelope Brady, Megan Rachow, and Richard Casper prosecuted the case.

For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website at: https://www.justice.gov/tribal/mmip.

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