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May 23, 2025

Discord User Charged in Interstate Scheme to Lure Children and Traffic in Child Pornography

Source: US FBI

Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and Christopher G. Raia, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging LONNIE YOUMANS with sexual exploitation of a child, receipt and distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. YOUMANS was arrested yesterday in Newburgh, New York, presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains federal court, and ordered detained.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said: “As alleged, Lonnie Youmans used Discord as a hunting ground to find, manipulate, and sextort our most vulnerable in a horrific scheme to obtain child pornography. Every New Yorker and every American loathes the exploitation of children. Together with our partners, we will deploy every resource to relentlessly pursue and bring to justice those who prey on our children.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said: “Lonnie Youmans allegedly devised a twisted scheme to obtain sexually explicit images of young children and extorted a minor to produce pornographic content with threats of blackmail. This alleged cyclical abuse groomed victims into submission, perpetuating increased victimization without reprieve. May this arrest highlight the FBI’s stout commitment to apprehending any individual who repeatedly sexually exploits children for depraved gratification.”

As alleged in the Complaint:^[1]

From as early as January 2024, YOUMANS used an online messaging application called Discord to prey on victims as young as 12 years old. YOUMANS, who went by the Discord names “Zenheatsu” and “Leyley,” groomed vulnerable minors, got them to send him sexually explicit photos, and then threatened to leak those photos to coerce his victims into sending more images and recruiting additional victims. Among those YOUMANS targeted was a 15-year-old minor (“Victim-1”) from whom YOUMANS obtained dozens of sexually explicit photos, which YOUMANS distributed to others, including other minors. YOUMANS also manipulated Victim-1 into producing sexually explicit images for him as purported compensation for Victim-1 causing another 13-year-old minor to stop talking to YOUMANS. YOUMANS knew what he was doing was illegal, and once complained to another Discord user that Victim-1 “threatened me with fbi.”

On or about April 29, 2025, federal agents searched YOUMANS’ residence and found hundreds of unique files of child pornography on his phone, including multiple images of adults performing oral sex on toddlers and prepubescent children being penetrated by various objects. YOUMANS admitted that he knew the pornographic images he possessed were illegal.

A photo depicting YOUMANS is below:

If you are a victim of YOUMANS or have any information concerning YOUMANS, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or you can report a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

* * *

YOUMANS, 22, of Newburgh, New York, is charged with sexual exploitation of a child, which carries a 15-year mandatory minimum and a 30-year maximum sentence; receipt and distribution of child pornography, which carries a five-year mandatory minimum and 20-year maximum sentence, and possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, the Pennsylvania State Police, Town of Wallkill Police Department, and the Town of Newburgh Police Department.

This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reyhan Watson is in charge of the prosecution.

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

^[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

May 23, 2025

Leader of the Route Boys Gang Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

Source: US FBI

Earlier today in federal court in Central Islip, Jason Liriano, the founder and leader of the Route Boys gang, was sentenced by United States District Judge Gary R. Brown to 22 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and use of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking activity. Liriano pleaded guilty to the charges in September 2023. Liriano is the last of 10 defendants affiliated with the Route Boys gang to be sentenced in connection with charges in a third superseding indictment involving drug distribution, use of firearms, pharmacy burglaries, and ATM thefts. The Route Boys burglarized pharmacies and convenience stores in Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn, Queens, Westchester, and Rockland Counties, as well as in New Jersey and Connecticut from 2020 through June 2022, when they were arrested.

John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentences.

“For two years the Route Boys, led by Liriano, engaged in a brazen crime spree targeting local businesses throughout the Tri-State area, stealing money and pharmaceuticals to fuel their illegal drug business, which they protected with threats of violence and illegal firearms,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “These significant jail sentences make our communities safer and are the result of my Office’s collaboration with our law enforcement partners, who are dedicated to the shared mission of protecting local businesses from criminals and holding accountable those who seek to flood our communities with dangerous drugs.”

Mr. Durham thanked the New York City Police Department, Nassau County Police Department, Suffolk County Police Department, Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Kings County District Attorney’s Office, Queens County District Attorney’s Office, Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance with the investigation.

“Jason Liriano, the leader of the Route Boys gang, orchestrated a three-year burglary spree targeting various businesses across the city to steal cash and controlled substances for illicit resale,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “Liriano’s leadership tormented these local establishments and relied on firearms to further intimidate the gang’s victims into compliance. With the assistance from our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, the FBI maintains its steadfast resolve to dismantle any unlawful system that finances the gang presence in our communities.”

As set forth in the third superseding indictment, the government’s sentencing memorandum, and other court filings, the Route Boys began committing burglaries in late 2020, breaking into convenience stores, check-cashing businesses, laundromats, and restaurants, stealing primarily cash and tobacco products. In addition, the gang stole free-standing ATMs, forcing them open and stealing the cash from inside the machines, netting tens of thousands of dollars. They then began targeting small “mom-and-pop” pharmacies throughout the Tri-State area by smashing through windows and stealing controlled substances such as oxycodone and promethazine-codeine cough syrup. Liriano possessed a 9mm handgun in furtherance of the drug trafficking operation. They sold the stolen pharmaceuticals on social media immediately after a night of burglaries. The government’s conservative estimate is that the Route Boys committed at least 100 burglaries in the Tri-State area between approximately November 2020 and the summer of 2022. The Route Boys’ crime spree continued after their arrests and incarceration. Some members engaged in witness tampering and possessed illegal cell phones and controlled substances like oxycodone and marijuana while incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn and on Rikers Island, and many brazenly posted on social media using the contraband phones (including a photo posted by Liriano declaring “F**k the Feds”). On numerous occasions, including after he pleaded guilty in federal court, Liriano possessed homemade weapons and drugs inside the MDC, and stabbed a fellow inmate with a long shank when the inmate was working as an orderly delivering his breakfast.

Previously, nine other Route Boys members were convicted and sentenced to federal prison, including: Carlos Acevedo to 126 months in prison; Ramon Collado to 132 months in prison; Naresh Deonarrain to 180 months in prison; Devin Lopez-Dominguez to 60 months in prison; Charlie Maisonet to 96 months in prison; Cavier Nedrick to 120 months in prison; Eric Nunez to 144 months in prison; Alberto Santiago to 180 months in prison; and Jeffrey Vargas to 156 months in prison.

The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Alessi and Andrew P. Wenzel are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Dejah Turla.

The Defendant:

JASON LIRIANO (also known as “jay_bigfella”)
Age: 25
Brooklyn, New York

Defendants Previously Sentenced:

CARLOS ACEVEDO (also known as “S.L.” and “cartier_am”)
Age: 26
Brooklyn, New York

RAMON COLLADO (also known as “Greedy,” “greedy.billzz” and “greedyyt2gg”)
Age: 26
Brooklyn, New York

NARESH DEONARRAIN (also known as “Kans” and “nocheck _ kans”)
Age: 27
Brooklyn, New York

DEVIN LOPEZ-DOMINGUEZ
Age: 22
Brooklyn, New York

CHARLIE MAISONET (also known as “Charlie_._rb”)
Age: 21
Brooklyn, New York

CAVIER NEDRICK (also known as “Chief,” “big.chiefs,” and “Caviar Nedrick”)
Age: 26
Hauppauge, New York

ERIC NUNEZ (also known as “Tok” and “therealtok”)
Age: 26
Brooklyn, New York

ALBERTO SANTIAGO (also known as “Kom” and “dot.kom”)
Age: 27
Queens, New York

JEFFREY VARGAS (also known as “Chito” and “chito_1838)
Age: 23
Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-451 (S-3) (GRB)

May 23, 2025

U.S. Attorney’s Office Charges Over 500 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct in Arizona

Source: US FBI

PHOENIX, Ariz. – During two weeks of enforcement operations from January 21, 2025, through February 3, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona has brought immigration-related criminal charges against over 500 defendants. Specifically, the Office charged 565 defendants with immigration-related crimes. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Apart from interdiction efforts at the border, Federal law enforcement has been prioritizing immigration enforcement operations and prosecutions of aliens unlawfully in the interior of the country who have connections to criminal activity in the United States, including those who commit drug and firearms crimes, who have serious criminal records, who have active warrants for their arrest, or who have outstanding final orders of removal from the United States issued by an immigration judge. Federal authorities have also been prioritizing investigations and prosecutions against drug, firearms, and alien smugglers and those who endanger and threaten the safety of our communities and the law enforcement officers who protect us all.

Recent matters of interest include:

United States v. Edwin Santiago Marquez Flores: On January 27, 2025, Edwin Santiago Marquez Flores was under surveillance by HSI special agents on suspicion of engaging in human smuggling activity via social media. During a traffic stop, Marquez was found to be illegally in possession of two Century Arms AK47-style rifles, along with over $1,400 in U.S. currency. He was charged by criminal complaint with being an Alien in Possession of a Firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5). Marquez admitted to being in the United States without legal status and admitted that he picked up the rifles with the intention that they be smuggled into Mexico. Marquez further admitted that he had sold approximately 50 firearms, including 40 to one specific individual who smuggles them to Mexico. He also admitted to transporting and selling cocaine in the United States and to coordinating approximately 300 drivers to smuggle approximately 800-1,000 illegal aliens within the United States. In total, Marquez said he was paid over $1.2 million for his smuggling activities. Case No. 25-3007 MJ.

United States v. Jason Kyle Dunn: On January 31, 2025, Jason Kyle Dunn, a U.S. Citizen, was charged with smuggling aliens in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1324. Dunn was encountered at a U.S. Border Patrol immigration checkpoint on Interstate 19, driving a Ford F-550. After a human-detecting canine alerted to the vehicle, aliens were found concealed inside toolboxes in the bed of the truck. Specifically, Border Patrol found one subject locked in the driver’s side toolbox, two locked in the passenger side toolbox, and three locked in the main toolbox. The smuggled aliens reported they had no way of opening the toolboxes from the inside and that they had been locked inside the toolboxes for up to two hours before being rescued by Border Patrol. Case No. 25-8428 MJ.

United States v. Alfonso Garcia Vega: On February 2, 2025, ICE ERO Phoenix arrested Alfonso Garcia Vega, a Mexican citizen and criminal alien, who had previously been removed after a federal felony conviction and had unlawfully returned to the United States. Vega was charged by criminal complaint for illegal reentry after deportation in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a), as enhanced by 8 U.S.C. § 1326(b) because of his prior felony convictions in the United States. Court papers in that prior case reflect that Garcia Vega’s criminal history includes DUIs, assault, illegal reentry, a drug trafficking offense, and misconduct involving weapons. See United States v. Alfonso Garcia-Vega, No. CR-19-00198-PHX-DLR. ICE ERO began its investigation in this matter based on a referral from ATF that Garcia Vega had previously attempted to illegally buy a firearm in the United States, and which purchase had been denied. Garcia Vega had been deported from the United States in 2020 pursuant to a final order of removal issued by an immigration judge after his 2019 federal felony conviction, for which he was sentenced to two years in custody. ICE officers attempted to consensually encounter and arrest Garcia Vega while he was on the sidewalk in front of his residence, but he fled into his residence in an attempt to avoid arrest. ICE ERO then obtained an arrest warrant to enter the residence. Case No. 25-3078 MJ.

A criminal complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

CASE NUMBER:          25-3007 MJ
25-8428 MJ
25-3078 MJ
RELEASE NUMBER:    2025-014_Immmigration Enforcement

May 23, 2025

18th Street Gang Member Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy and Two Murders

Source: US FBI

Defendant Recorded Victim Being Stabbed More than 100 Times and Sent the Video to Other Gang Members as a Warning Not to Cooperate with Law Enforcement

Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Yanki Misael Cruz-Mateo, a member of the 18^th Street gang, a transnational criminal organization, was sentenced by United States District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall to 45 years’ imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy in connection with his participation in two murders: the October 25, 2017 murder of 20-year-old Jonathan Figueroa in Saugerties, New York, and the February 2, 2018 murder of 20-year-old Oscar Antonio Blanco-Hernandez in Queens.

“Cruz-Mateo committed two horrific murders and boasted about the carnage in video and text messages to instill fear, exact retribution, and promote gang violence,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “The lengthy sentence imposed today delivers a powerful message that senseless violence carries serious consequences. My Office will continue our tireless efforts to investigate and prosecute violence carried out by the 18^th Street and other transnational criminal organizations. It is my sincere hope that the justice meted out today provides a measure of comfort and closure for the victims’ loved ones.”

Mr. Durham expressed his appreciation to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, the New York State Police, the Kingston Police Department, and the New York City Police Department for their assistance on the case.

“Yanki Misael Cruz-Mateo, an 18^th Street gang member, lured two victims to their brutal murders as retribution for perceived disloyalty and affiliation with rival organizations,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “His actions mirror the gang’s depravity and its lawless prioritization of social status over human life. May today’s sentencing offer a semblance of justice for the victims’ families and highlight the FBI’s continued determination to eradicate all brutal gang violence plaguing our communities.

Today’s sentence is the latest achievement in a series of prosecutions by this Office and our law enforcement partners of the leaders, members, and associates of 18^th Street. According to court filings and proceedings, 18^th Street is a transnational criminal organization and violent street gang with members and associates residing throughout New York State, including Queens and Long Island, elsewhere throughout the United States, including Houston, Texas, and Central America. Members of 18^th Street regularly engage in murder, attempted murder, assault, extortion, illegal drug and firearms trafficking, false identification document production, witness tampering, and money laundering.

October 25, 2017 Murder of Jonathan Figueroa

As set forth in court filings, including the government’s sentencing memorandum, in the late evening hours of October 24, 2017, Cruz-Mateo lured and travelled with Figueroa from Queens to Kingston, New York. Upon their arrival in Kingston, they were met by Israel Mediola Flores and other 18^th Street members and associates who, into the early morning hours the following day, brought Figueroa to Turkey Point State Forest, brutally stabbed him to death and buried him in a makeshift grave. Cruz-Mateo ordered the murder to be video-recorded and captured multiple 18^th Street members and associates repeatedly stabbing Figueroa, slashing his throat and severing his ear. In the video, Cruz-Mateo stated that Figueroa was being murdered for “being a rat.” Cruz-Mateo then sent the video to other 18^th Street members as a warning. Figueroa’s body was discovered in February 2018 by the FBI, along with state and local law enforcement authorities, in a five-foot deep grave in Turkey Point State Forest. The victim had sustained more than 100 stab wounds.

Co-defendants Walter Fernando Alfaro Pineda, Israel Mediola Flores, and Jose Douglas Castellano pleaded guilty to Figueroa’s murder. Mediola Flores was sentenced to 425 months in prison; Pineda and Castellano are awaiting sentencing.

February 2, 2018 Murder of Oscar Antonio Blanco-Hernandez

On February 2, 2018, several gang members killed Blanco-Hernandez because they believed he was a member of the rival MS-13 gang. Co-defendant Jose Chacon had met Blanco-Hernandez weeks earlier through their mutual employer, a New Jersey-based house painting company. On the morning of the murder, co-defendant Carolina Cruz and Chacon picked up Blanco-Hernandez at his home in New Jersey under the guise of going to smoke marijuana as friends. Cruz and Chacon drove Blanco-Hernandez to Queens where they met 18^thStreet gang members, including Cruz-Mateo and co-defendant Yoni Sierra, who entered the rear passenger seat of Cruz’s car on opposite sides, sandwiching Blanco-Hernandez between them. Cruz drove Chacon, Cruz-Mateo, Sierra, and their victim about 1.6 miles away to a quiet residential neighborhood. Cruz-Mateo, Sierra, and Blanco-Hernandez got out of the car and started walking eastbound, while Cruz and Chacon stayed behind with the car. After walking for a few minutes, Cruz-Mateo drew a .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun and shot Blanco-Hernandez in the back of the head, killing him instantly. Blanco-Hernandez’s body was discovered on a residential street in the Jamaica Hills section of Queens. He sustained three gunshot wounds: two gunshots to the torso and one to the head.

Sierra, Chacon, and Cruz also pleaded guilty to Blanco-Hernandez’s murder. Chacon was sentenced to 269 months in prison; Sierra to 204 months in prison; and Cruz to 150 months in prison.

This case is part of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the FBI. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan P. Lax, Erin Reid, Margaret Schierberl, Adam Amir, and Rebecca Urquiola are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Tareva Torres and Samuel Ronchetti.

The Defendant:

YANKI MISAEL CRUZ-MATEO (also known as “Yenki Misael Cruz Mateo,” “Yankee Mateo,” “Doggy,” and “Wino”)
Age: 25
Jamaica, Queens

Co-Defendants Previously Convicted:

ERIC CHAVEZ (also known as “Lunatico”)
Age: 25
Jamaica, New York

WALTER FERNANDO ALFARO PINEDA (also known as “Clever”)
Age: 45
Houston, Texas

ISRAEL MEDIOLA FLORES (also known as “Chapito” and “Sinaloa”)
Age: 29
Kingston, New York

YONI ALEXANDER SIERRA (also known as “Arca,” “Arc Angel” and “Wasson”)
Age: 26
Jamaica, Queens

JOSE JIMENEZ CHACON (also known as “Little One”)
Age: 26
New Brunswick, New Jersey

CAROLINA CRUZ (also known as “La Fiera”)
Age: 31
Elizabeth, New Jersey

JOSE DOUGLAS CASTELLANO (also known as “Chino”)
Age: 26
Brooklyn, New York

JUNIOR ZELAYA-CANALES (also known as “Terco”)
Age: 28
Jamaica, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-139 (S-7) (LDH)

May 23, 2025

FBI New York Seeking Additional Victims of Brooklyn Man Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of Children

Source: US FBI

NEW YORK, NY— The New York FBI/NYPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force executed an arrest warrant for Manuel Davila, 28, of Brooklyn on April 29, 2025, following an investigation into the sexual exploitation of multiple children.

Upon execution of a judicially authorized search warrant, agents reviewed iCloud records associated with Davila and found communication via a mobile conversation application with minor victims. In one instance, in an 18-minute video recorded on or about January 17, 2024, Davila, attempted to solicit sexually explicit material from a minor victim he believed to be 10 years of age.

FBI New York interviewed an additional minor victim who Davila requested sexually explicit images of in previous chats. Davila instructed the minor victim to delete the images and messages after they were sent.

If you are a victim of Manuel Davila, or have any information concerning Manuel Davila, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or you can report a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. The FBI has teams dedicated to providing victims with necessary resources and assistance.

“Soliciting sexually explicit material from young children is a heinous crime. Protecting vulnerable members of our communities – our children – is one of the most critical aspects of our work,” said Christopher Raia, Assistant Director in Charge of FBI New York. “The FBI is determined to protect children from depraved individuals attempting to prey on them.”

The FBI is legally mandated to identify victims of federal crimes it investigates. Identified victims may be eligible for certain services and rights under federal and/or state law.

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

May 23, 2025

Phoenix Woman Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison for Possession of a Machinegun and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering

Source: US FBI

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Cynthia Solano, 40, of Phoenix, was sentenced this week by United States District Judge G. Murray Snow to 87 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release, for her involvement in a transnational firearm smuggling organization. On August 14, 2024, Solano pleaded guilty to Possession of a Machinegun and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.

Between February 2022 and January 2023, Solano conspired with others to conduct financial transactions which were designed to conceal proceeds generated from the sale of firearms trafficked from the United States into Canada. After the proceeds were received, Solano used the proceeds to purchase additional firearms.

Beginning in late December 2022, Solano gathered 87 firearms in Phoenix which she intended to deliver to other members of the organization in Michigan.

On January 3, 2023, Solano was driving near Springfield, Illinois when she was contacted by the Illinois State Police. The Illinois State Police troopers searched her vehicle and found 87 firearms, individually wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper. One of the firearms was equipped with a machinegun conversion device (also known as a “Switch”) attached. A machinegun conversion device converts a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic firearm.

After Solano was arraigned in Arizona, she was placed on pretrial release. She later removed her electronic monitoring device and fled to Mexico. Through the efforts of the United States Marshals’ Office, she was captured by law enforcement in Mexico and removed to the United States to face prosecution.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.

The OCDETF Arizona Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Arizona Army National Guard, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Pima County Sheriff’s Office, and the Scottsdale Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER: CR-23-00408-PHX-GMS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-012_Solano

# # #

For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

May 23, 2025

Former School Bus Driver Pleads Guilty to Possessing Thousands of Images of Child Sexual Abuse Material

Source: US FBI

RIVERSIDE, California – A San Bernardino County man who once worked as a school bus driver pleaded guilty today to a federal criminal charge for possessing thousands of images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Donal James Seaver, 51, of Hesperia, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.

Seaver has been in federal custody since March 2024.

According to his plea agreement, federal and local law enforcement executed a search warrant at Seaver’s residence in March 2024. Law enforcement seized four digital devices from Seaver and his bedroom, three of which contained CSAM. One of the devices – a Samsung tablet – contained thousands of images depicting CSAM.

Seaver admitted in his plea agreement that he knew the files contained videos and images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He further admitted to knowingly downloading CSAM from the internet onto his devices – material that depicted children under the age of 12 years.

United States District Judge Jesus G. Bernal scheduled an August 25 sentencing hearing, at which time Seaver will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

The FBI and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter.

Assistant United States Attorney Sonah Lee of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case.

May 23, 2025

California Resident Sentenced to 100 Months in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

Source: US FBI

NEWARK, N.J. – A California resident was sentenced to 100 months in prison for possessing fentanyl for distribution, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.

Timothy Alan Blank, 55, of Los Angeles, California, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

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

On March 6, 2024, Blank, transported approximately five kilograms of fentanyl in his personal vehicle from the Los Angeles, California area across the United States into the District of New Jersey. On March 8, 2024, Blank’s vehicle was stopped by law enforcement agents in Fort Lee, New Jersey when agents discovered the five kilograms of fentanyl inside the trunk area of the vehicle. Following his arrest, Blank admitted to law enforcement agents his intent to distribute the fentanyl inside of the District of New Jersey.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Padin sentenced Blank to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Alina Habba credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, the Fort Lee Police Department, and the FBI Los Angeles Field Office, with the investigation that led to the sentencing.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincent D. Romano of the Criminal Division in Newark.

###

Defense counsel: Claressa L. Lowe

May 23, 2025

Californians Report Over $2.5 Billion in Losses According to IC3 Annual Report

Source: US FBI

LOS ANGELES—The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has released its latest annual report. The 2024 Internet Crime Report combines information from 859,532 complaints of suspected Internet crime and details reported losses exceeding $16 billion – a 33% increase in losses from 2023.

According to the 2024 report, California ranked #1 out of all states in the number of complaints received by the public. Moreover, California residents 60 and over, suffered the most losses at over $800 million and submitted the greatest number of complaints.

The top three cybercrimes in California, by number of complaints reported by victims in 2024 were: Cryptocurrency Fraud, Extortion, and Phishing/Spoofing.

“This report is a sobering reminder that we in California, especially our seniors, remain prime targets for scammers who will jump at every opportunity to defraud potential victims” said Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “It’s important for the public to remain vigilant to guard against ever-increasing cyber threats. At home, practicing good cyber hygiene is an effective way to create a safer online environment for you and your family. If anyone suspects they or someone they know may be a victim of fraud, we encourage them to report it to the FBI by calling our Los Angeles Field Office at 310-477-6565, online at tips.fbi.gov and submitting a report to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.”

To promote public awareness, the IC3 produces an annual report to aggregate and highlight the data provided by the general public. The quality of the data is a direct reflection of the information the public provides through the IC3 website. The IC3 standardizes the data by categorizing each complaint and analyzes the data to identify and forecast trends in Internet crime. The annual report helps the FBI develop effective relationships with industry partners and share information for investigative and intelligence purposes for law enforcement and public awareness.

The IC3, which was established in May 2000, houses nine million complaints from the public in its database and continues to encourage anyone who thinks they’ve been the victim of a cyber-enabled crime, regardless of dollar loss, to file a complaint through the IC3 website. The more comprehensive complaints the FBI receives, the more effective it will be in helping law enforcement gain a more accurate picture of the extent and nature of Internet-facilitated crimes.

The FBI recommends that everyone frequently review consumer and industry alerts published by the IC3. If you or your business is a victim of an Internet crime, immediately notify all financial institutions involved in the relevant transactions, submit a complaint to www.ic3.gov, contact your nearest FBI field office, and contact local law enforcement.

Learn more about the history of IC3 by listening to this previously released podcast: FBI podcast episode “Inside the FBI: IC3 Turns 20.”

The full 2024 Internet Crime Report can be found here: https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2024_IC3Report.pdf

May 23, 2025

L.A. Pawn Shop Owner Indicted for Allegedly Conspiring to Sell Stolen Andy Warhol Trial Proof and Lying to the FBI About Its Sale

Source: US FBI

LOS ANGELES – The owner of a pawn shop in the Mid-City area of Los Angeles was indicted today for allegedly conspiring to sell a stolen Andy Warhol print trial proof, which was shipped from the Beverly Hills office of an auction house to Dallas, then lying about it to federal agents.

Glenn Steven Bednarsh, 58, of Farmington, Michigan and formerly of Beverly Hills, is charged in a two-count federal grand jury indictment with conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen goods.

He is expected to be arraigned in the coming weeks in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

According to the indictment, in February 2021, Bednarsh knowingly purchased for $6,000 a stolen Warhol trial proof depicting Russian revolutionary and Soviet Union leader Vladimir Lenin, which is worth an estimated $175,000. Bednarsh allegedly asked a co-conspirator, Brian Alec Light, 58, of Hudson, Ohio, and formerly a resident of downtown Los Angeles, to help him sell the stolen Warhol Lenin trial proof. Light then contacted the Beverly Hills of an auction house based in Dallas about selling the Warhol trial proof.

In March 2021, Bednarsh transported the trial proof to the Beverly Hills office of the auction house, which then shipped it to Dallas. Light e-signed an auction house consignment agreement and called the auction house to state he had dropped off the trial proof and to ask about receiving a cash advance for it.

An employee of the auction house in Dallas reached out to the gallery in West Hollywood for its opinion of the piece, according to court documents. The gallery immediately recognized the piece as stolen, then notified the auction house and the FBI.

Later in March 2021, when FBI agents began inquiring about the stolen Warhol trial proof, Light lied to them by saying he bought it at a Culver City garage sale for $18,000 and provided a fake receipt.

In August and September of 2021, Bednarsh lied to FBI agents by telling them Light asked him to store the Warhol Lenin trial proof for him and that he agreed to do so out of friendship and not for financial gain.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Light pleaded guilty in November 2024 to one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods. His sentencing is currently set for May 27, and he faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

The FBI’s Art Crime Team is investigating this matter.

Assistant United States Attorneys Erik M. Silber of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section and Matthew W. O’Brien of the Environmental Crime and Consumer Protection Section are prosecuting this case.