ALBANY, NEW YORK – James Edwards, age 30, of Rensselaer, New York, pled guilty today to unlawfully possessing multiple rounds of ammunition.
United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the announcement.
In pleading guilty, Edwards admitted that on October 8, 2024, inside of his Rensselaer residence, he unlawfully possessed more than 40 rounds of various caliber ammunition. A prior felony conviction prevented Edwards from lawfully possessing the ammunition.
When he is sentenced on August 5, 2025, Edwards faces a maximum term of fifteen years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release up to three years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
The FBI is investigating the case with the assistance of the Rensselaer Police Department and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss is prosecuting the case, as a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
As part of ACT Government’s ‘One Government, One Voice’ program, we are transitioning this website across to our . You can access everything you need through this website while it’s happening.
Released 08/04/2025
Today the ACT Government has launched the public consultation for the review of the ACT’s Charter of Rights for Victims of Crime.
The Charter is a legislated set of rights for victims of crime in the ACT and commenced on 1 January 2021. The Charter expressly recognises that victims are central to the justice process, and it was introduced to ensure that, in the administration of justice, engagement with victims is governed by victims’ rights.
The Charter is intended to set the foundation for how victims of crime should be treated by justice agencies and provide victims with a clear picture of their rights in the criminal justice system. The Charter also includes an accountability framework intended to ensure that justice agencies meet their obligations when engaging with victims, as well as providing a mechanism for making complaints where a victim’s rights have not been upheld.
The legislation that established the Charter includes a requirement for its operation to be reviewed, recognising the importance of ensuring the Charter is effective in achieving its objectives and remains in step with community expectations, while also providing an opportunity to identify and address implementation issues.
Minister for Human Rights Tara Cheyne said, “At its introduction, the Charter was recognised as the most comprehensive set of legislated rights for victims of crime in Australia. It is timely to review its operation to ensure it is meeting community expectations, and to hear directly from those it is intended to support.”
A discussion paper has been prepared to facilitate input about the effectiveness of the Charter’s current operation both for victims and the justice agencies that have obligations to uphold victims’ rights under the Charter.
“Justice agencies, community organisations, and victim-survivors are all encouraged to provide feedback as part of the statutory review.
“Hearing from justice agencies that regularly interact with and have obligations under the Charter will provide the Government with valuable operational insights and help identify where and how the Charter can be strengthened.
“Community organisations that work directly with victim-survivors, or that act on their behalf as ‘victim representatives’, are invited to share insights into systemic trends and emerging issues.
“Victim-survivors who have engaged with the Charter are encouraged to share their experiences and perspectives—either individually or as part of a submission from a justice agency or community organisation.
“Victim-survivors who may not have engaged with justice agencies or support organisations are also encouraged to provide feedback and strengthen the victim-survivor voice in this review,” said Minister Cheyne.
The ACT Government welcomes all feedback, which can be submitted through the YourSay Conversations website and will remain open until 20 June 2025.
Feedback can also be provided via voice message on 02 6207 5044, or by email to justicereformbranch@act.gov.au. Email submissions will close on 20 June 2025.
A report will be tabled by the ACT Government within 12 months of commencing the review.
Voters can expect the 2026 Election to be more efficient, resilient and transparent with the Government accepting a raft of recommendations, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
“The Justice Committee recommended 65 changes following its routine inquiry into the last election.
“Many of these recommendations are practical, like considering a single deadline for all candidate and party list nominations, or amending the cut-off date for enrolments prior to polling day.
“We plan to implement 23 either in full or in part, through an electoral amendment bill to be announced later this year.
“In some cases, the Government may progress an option which differs from the specific approach recommended by the Justice Committee, but addresses the issue raised or the overall intent of the recommendation.
“We will then consider a further 36 recommendations as priorities and resourcing allows.
“The remaining six recommendations do not require legislative change and we have asked the Electoral Commission to consider how these can best be implemented.
“I want to thank the Committee for its report and recommendations, and the almost 100 people and organisations that made submissions.”
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On March 13, 2025, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment against Thomas Michael Davis, 39, of Yuba City, charging him with receipt of child sexual abuse material, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. The indictment was unsealed following his arrest.
According to court documents, between May 2023 and January 2024, Davis used the internet to download child pornography. Davis has previously been convicted of having sex with a minor.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the Yuba City Police Department, and the Sacramento Valley Hi Tech Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Campbell is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of receipt of child sexual abuse material, Davis faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to a lifetime term of supervised release. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
The world is about to relearn economics, as Governments erect trade barriers between citizens of their countries and those of other countries. New Zealand cannot change the rest of the world’s trade policies right now, we can only ensure our own house is as competitive as possible. Putting on our own tariffs would be a tax on New Zealanders, we should remain a beacon of free trade for the world. The Government’s latest quarterly plan, filled with ACT initiatives, will keep the reform pressure on.
Treaty Principles Select Committee
The Justice Committee has reported back to the House on the Treaty Principles Bill. Thanks to ACT’s member on the Committee, Todd Stephenson, ALL of the submissions will be included in the final record, even though they couldn’t be processed in time for the report back.
The submissions have been roughly categorised as for or against. The Committee report says ninety per cent are against, and only eight per cent in favour.Free Pressknows that’s misleading. The ACT Party and Hobson’s Pledge, two organisations heavily in favour of the bill, helped 55,000 submit between them. Those alone would be 17 per cent in favour but some organisations’ submissions were counted as one.
The truth is Select Committee submissions almost never reflect reality anyway. People are far more likely to submit in opposition to a bill than for it. Submissions on David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill were ninety per cent opposed, but it passed a referendum by two million votes to one million. A similar story played out with abortion law reform.
Like those examples, we know the public overwhelmingly support the principles proposed in the Bill. Scientific polling where everyone’s opinion has an equal chance of being included shows New Zealanders in favour of the principles by an average of two to one. When the third principle – that all people should be equal before the law – is read out, 62 per cent are in favour versus 18 per cent opposed.
A majority of Green voters, even, agree with the third principle, so all may not be lost. It’s the arguments that really matter, and what comes out of the Treaty Principles Bill hearings is that there are no arguments against the Bill. This weekFree Presscovers off the opponents’ attempts.
If anything, the submission process has shown why the Bill really is needed. Many submitters argued that the chiefs who signed the Treaty never ceded sovereignty. They believe that somehow descendants of the Chiefs shouldn’t have to follow Parliament’s laws (Te Pāti Māori has been acting this out).
The idea that investment, jobs, and growth need clarity from the law, and that people want to be treated equally before it, seems an afterthought to these submitters. As an aside, the ahistorical claim that 100,000 Māori wouldn’t have ceded sovereignty to 2,000 settlers shows how poor the debate in New Zealand has become. If a people devastated by the Musket Wars, worried about the French, and concerned about the threat of Europeans already ashore had nothing to gain from the unrivalled superpower of the day, why did they sign any Treaty at all?
Submitters also argued that Parliament cannot makethislaw, even if it has the right to make laws generally. The difference between Parliament, on the one hand, and the Courts, Waitangi Tribunal, and bureaucracy, on the other, is that Parliament is elected by the people. What the opponents are really saying is that the people should not have a say on their constitutional future, it should be decided by all the public institutions they can’t actually vote for. Telling people they cannot control the laws they live under usually ends in revolution,Free Pressprefers democracy.
Opponents claimed at various times that Māori do not, in fact, have special rights in New Zealand. Just as many claimed that Māori in fact deserve special rights. This was best summed up in the following paragraph from the Green Party section of the report.
One often repeated statement was that Māori were given special privileges under the Resource Management Act. There was no substantive evidence provided for this, and the Auckland City Council in its oral submission rejected that this was the case. It is true that where there is an application for a resource consent for a use outside of the District Plan the interests of Māori, including local iwi and hapu, are relevant to decision making. However it is hard to understand how consultation with the mana whenua is in any way a special privilege.
The Bill gives all people equal rights. If Māori had no special rights there would be no reason to oppose the Bill. The facts are that Māori do have special rights under current law, including in Resource Management law, and that is why the Bill is opposed. Opposition to the Bill is opposition to equal rights for all people.
Other submitters said that the Bill prevents Governments trying to address people’s disadvantage. It does not. It prevents Governments discriminating by race, but there is no reason it cannot help disadvantaged people, regardless of race. There is no reason iwi cannot run charter schools, or their own healthcare, but any group should have the same opportunity. Seeing as not all Māori are disadvantaged and not all disadvantaged are Māori, racial profiling doesn’t do much good anyway.
So what next? The Bill will be debated in Parliament. ACT’s partners will have one last chance to do the right thing. If they do not, that is a shame for them. However it will not change how ACT works for your values. The party will never give up promoting universal human rights, and the next step of the Treaty Principles journey will be clear before the next election.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Scientists comment on the first baby being born from a womb transplant in the UK.
Dr Nicola Williams, Wellcome Lecturer in Ethics of Human Reproduction, Lancaster University, said:
“Clinicians, lawyers and ethicists from the UK have long been involved in research surrounding this novel transplant, and it is encouraging to hear of the birth of a healthy baby following the UK’s first uterus transplant. While this is a key milestone in developing this treatment, there is still much work to do to ensure that all can benefit. Crucially, this includes establishing the long-term safety of the procedure for recipients, donors, and children born after uterus transplantation. Given the novelty of the procedure and its high costs (both physical and financial) for donors and recipients, careful consideration needs to be given to balancing the risks and benefits of this procedure, and teams worldwide must work together to ensure safety, efficacy and the adequate monitoring of long-term health outcomes for all involved.”
Dr Laura O’Donovan, Lecturer in Law, University of Sheffield, said:
“This has been a long time in the making, and I’m so pleased for the recipient, her family and the clinical team. As the UK sees more of these transplants it will become increasingly important to discuss NHS funding priorities and access policies to ensure that the treatment is available as a real option for those with uterine factor infertility. For example, should uterus transplants be publicly funded, and who should be able to access them? – these are difficult decisions that NHS commissioners will need to make in the context of scarce resources and the current IVF postcode lottery, which has already resulted in unequal access to fertility treatment.
Prof Adam Balen, Professor of Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said:
“This is a fantastic achievement by the team lead by Professor Richard Smith who has been researching this very exacting surgical procedure for many years. This presents the opportunity for women to conceive a pregnancy without need for surrogacy, which until now has been the only option for women without a womb to have a baby.”
Dr Ippokratis Sarris, Consultant in Reproductive Medicine, Director of King’s Fertility and Executive Committee Member of the British Fertility Society, said:
“The birth of the first UK baby following a womb transplant is a remarkable milestone in reproductive medicine. It offers real hope to women with absolute uterine factor infertility, providing an alternative to surrogacy. While this complex procedure will only be suitable for a small number of women, it marks an extraordinary advance in science and care. Congratulations to the dedicated clinical and scientific team for their years of commitment, and to the courageous women who undertook this pioneering treatment.”
Mr Stuart Lavery, Consultant in Reproductive Medicine/Honorary Associate Professor, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH), said:
“This amazing event represents both a personal miracle for the couple involved but also a vindication for the team of surgeons and scientists who have for so many years worked tirelessly to get to this place. Like so many milestones in UK Reproductive Medicine, it takes a combination of a courageous patient and a committed and supportive medical team to push the scientific boundaries in the hope of helping more couples have the families they desire.”
Prof Alison Campbell, Chief Scientific Officer, Care Fertility:
“It’s truly incredible how science is making more families possible and to see this progress in reproductive medicine. The success of uterine transplantation is a huge milestone for people who believed it was impossible to carry a child. This news gives hope and promises to further expand reproductive freedom.”
Prof Melanie Davies, Professor of Reproductive Medicine and Consultant Gynaecologist, University College London Hospitals, said:
“The first UK birth after womb transplantation is a fantastic achievement. It is wonderful for the couple concerned, especially Grace who never thought she could carry a child, congratulations! And it must be immensely satisfying for the team of doctors and scientists to see this outcome – in particular, congratulations go to Prof Richard Smith, who has held this vision for 25 years and had to overcome many hurdles on the way, not least raising the funds for the programme. It required skills from many specialities: gynaecology, pelvic surgery, organ transplantation, IVF, and maternal medicine. It is an exemplar of teamwork and dedication.
“This gives hope to other women who have been born without a womb and may also help some young women who have needed a hysterectomy. The only alternative for these women is surrogacy, which is not easy to access and not always acceptable. Womb transplantation remains a challenging process, involving major surgery for the recipient, who will go through IVF before the procedure, and afterwards needs immunosuppressive drugs to avoid tissue rejection. The transplanted womb will need to be removed once her family is complete. The ethical aspects are thoughtfully considered, including the risk to the living donor who also undergoes major pelvic surgery.
“This is not a world first, there have been a small number of successful births in other countries, notably in Sweden. But for the very first patient having a womb transplant in the UK to give birth so soon afterwards demonstrates the care that has been taken in preparing for this well-deserved success”
Sarah Norcross, Director of the Progress Educational Trust (PET), said:
“We at PET could not be happier to learn of the birth of Amy Isabel. This is a testament to many years of hard work and perseverance on the part of Professor Richard Smith, Isabel Quiroga, and the rest of the team at Womb Transplant UK, plus remarkable determination on the part of Grace Davidson and Amy Purdie. It has been little more than a decade since the world’s first ever live birth following a womb transplant, and now the UK has its own womb transplant success story. This news will give hope to other women who wish to carry a pregnancy, but who have no uterus of their own.”
Prof Andrew Shennan, Professor of Obstetrics, King’s College London, said:
“Although infertility is common, many women can achieve a pregnancy through assisted medical techniques such as IVF. Very few women have the problem related to an absent or abnormal uterus (about 1 in 500) but for them a womb transplant could be a solution rather than opt for surrogacy (using another woman to carry the pregnancy or adopt. The procedure is very specialised and requires immunosuppressive drugs and caesarean section, but these cases show it can be successful, now also in the UK.”
All our previous output on this subject can be seen at this weblink:
Police investigating firearms incident in Rocherlea
Tuesday, 8 April 2025 – 9:17 am.
Police are calling for information in relation to an incident in Rocherlea on Sunday morning (6 April). About 6.30am on Sunday, police received a report that a firearm had been discharged into a residence on Russell Plains Road, Rocherlea. Several people were inside the property, thankfully, no one was injured. Witnesses observed a silver Peugeot 207 leaving the area. Police are investigating the matter, and initial information suggests that the incident is targeted. If you were in the area around the time and witnessed suspicious activity or have dash cam or CCTV footage of the silver Peugeot, please phone 131 444 or contact Crime Stoppers Tasmania on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperstas.com.au. Information can be provided anonymously. Please quote OR771480.
Defendant possessed some 90,000 files of child sexual abuse imagery on 21 different electronic devices
Seattle – A 47-year-old resident of Deming, Whatcom County, Washington was convicted last week in U.S. District Court in Seattle of two federal felonies related to his receipt and possession of images of child sexual abuse, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Robert J. Howell Jr. came to the attention of law enforcement in late 2019 when a foreign country police organization alerted Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) that an Ip address associated with Howell Jr’s residence had accessed a website devoted to images of child sexual abuse. Following a two-day jury trial, jurors deliberated about an hour before finding Howell Jr. guilty on April 1, 2025. U.S District Judge John C. Coughenour scheduled sentencing for July 15, 2025.
According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, after getting the tip from a foreign law enforcement organization, HSI agents sought information on the account associated with the IP address. The IP address was linked to Howell’s home in Deming. On September 15, 2020, federal agents executed a search warrant and seized several dozen electronic devices. A forensic review determined there were more than 90,000 files depicting child sexual abuse on some 21 electronic devices. Many of the images were of the sexual abuse of very young children and included depictions involving extreme violence.
At trial prosecutors specifically proved that between 2016 and 2019, Howell Jr. received five specific files of child sexual abuse material and knowingly possessed many more.
In all more than 75 electronic assets including computers, phones, tablets, hard drives, storage devices, gaming devices, and CDs were seized by law enforcement and have been forfeited to the government.
Howell Jr. faces a mandatory 5 years in prison and up to twenty years in prison when sentenced by Judge Coughenour. The actual sentence will be determined by Judge Coughenour after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Hampton and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica M. Ly.
This case was brought as part of 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced today the repeal of the Enhanced Regulatory Enforcement Policy and the review of Final Rule 2021R-08F, related to stabilizing braces, and Final Rule 2022R-17F, related to the definition of “engaging in the business” of firearms dealing.
The Enhanced Regulatory Enforcement Policy, aka the Zero Tolerance Policy, was a strategy announced in 2021 that set more stringent criteria for Industry Operations compliance inspections to identify licensees with certain qualifying violations. As of today, this policy will be repealed, and Industry Operations inspections will no longer be held to these previously set guidelines.
Additionally, DOJ and ATF have plans to revisit the regulatory framework surrounding stabilizing braces (Final Rule 2021R-08F) and the definition of “engaged in the business” of firearms dealing (Final Rule 2022R-17F).
“This Department of Justice believes that the 2nd Amendment is not a second-class right,” said U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The prior administration’s ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy unfairly targeted law-abiding gun owners and created an undue burden on Americans seeking to exercise their constitutional right to bear arms – it ends today.”
“Today’s repeal of the Zero Tolerance Policy and the comprehensive review of stabilizing brace regulations and the definition of ‘engaged in the business’ marks a pivotal step toward restoring fairness and clarity in firearms regulation,” said Acting ATF Director Kash Patel. “We are committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure our policies are balanced, constitutional and protective of Americans’ Second Amendment rights.”
The decision to review the Stabilizing Brace rule, which sought to reclassify certain firearms as short-barreled rifles, as well as revising the guidelines for determining who is considered “engaged in the business” of selling firearms, reiterates constitutional approaches to firearm regulations.
The DOJ and ATF will conduct an in-depth review over the coming months and will engage in consultations with stakeholders, including gun rights organizations, industry leaders and legal experts. Further updates on the status of these reviews will be released in due course.
ATF is the federal law enforcement agency with jurisdiction involving firearms and violent crimes and regulates the firearm industry. For more information about ATF, go towww.atf.govor follow@ATFHQon X.
Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, today joined U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Judiciary, for a bicameral spotlight hearing entitled, “Restoring Accountability: Exposing Trump’s Attacks on the Rule of Law,” to examine the Trump Administration’s attacks on the rule of law. Senator Welch questioned witnesses on the culture that career prosecutors saw breached and the attacks on the rule of law exhibited by the new administration. The hearing was held by Senator Schiff and Representative Raskin.
“The lawlessness of the Trump Administration knows no bounds, and Republicans’ silence on President Trump’s flagrant disregard for the rule of law is deafening. Their refusal to hold President Trump accountable only emboldens the President on his quest to make the Justice Department his Justice Department,” said Senator Welch ahead of the hearing. “We need to do everything in our power to speak out and stand up against Trump’s illegal rampage and demand accountability for his attacks on the rule of law.”
Lawmakers from the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives heard firsthand testimony from:
Ryan Crosswell, a former Department of Justice (DOJ) Trial Attorney in the Public Integrity Section who resigned after the Trump DOJ pressured career prosecutors to drop the corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams in a shocking quid pro quo deal and cover-up;
Liz Oyer, a former DOJ Pardon Attorney who was fired for refusing to give actor and Trump “Special Ambassador” Mel Gibson special treatment to own a firearm despite a domestic violence conviction;
Rachel Cohen, a former Senior Associate at the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, who resigned in protest following a string of Trump Executive Orders targeting law firms for taking on clients or cases that Trump dislikes; and
View the livestream here:
Senator Welch asked several witnesses about their personal experiences with the Trump Administration, including Liz Oyer, a fired former DOJ Pardon Attorney who faced intimidation by U.S. marshals, and Ryan Crosswell, who resigned after DOJ pressured career prosecutors to drop the corruption case against Mayor Eric Adams. Senator Welch’s exchange with Rachel Cohen, a former Senior Associate at the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, who resigned in protest following a string of Trump Executive Orders targeting law firms is below:
Senator Welch: “Tell me about how you saw being in Skadden, Arps—a major Wall Street…really world—law firm as being also an opportunity for you to live your values as an attorney, your commitment to justice, and also have an opportunity to work for folks who otherwise wouldn’t be represented.”
Rachel Cohen: “While I was on the job, I had unlimited pro bono hours. It was perhaps the most important thing to me when selecting a law firm. Because I wanted to get trained up on the private sector things. My past work was in public education, and I needed to understand how those things work. It drew me to finance. But I devoted anywhere from 20 to 33% of my hours to pro bono every year. And ultimately, that is why I resigned…I did a decent amount of immigration pro bono representation and actions by this administration are making it very clear that that is soon going to be viewed, or already is viewed, as adverse to the administration, despite the fact that it is just to allow people to survive when they are fleeing harm and persecution and death. And I couldn’t stay at a place that I knew was on the verge of not allowing me to take representations that the President viewed as adverse, knowing what he views as adverse, to him.”
■ ■ ■
“The Trump administration has been using the Justice Department to go after the president’s political enemies — firing prosecutors who uphold the law, attacking law firms that refuse to do his bidding, and seeking to dismiss cases against his political allies. The Republican Party has abdicated any interest in defending the rule of law or providing meaningful oversight, so I look forward to hosting some of the brave individuals willing to speak out, alongside Ranking Member Raskin, as we do the hard work of accountability that Senate and House Republicans refuse to do,” said Senator Schiff.
“While my GOP colleagues passively watch Trump punish his critics and take a jack hammer to the work of anti-corruption fighters at the Department of Justice, Democrats are lifting up the tough Americans who are standing strong against the corruption and lawlessness of Trump,” said Ranking Member Raskin.
Recently, Senator Welch took to the Senate floor and called on Congress to defend the right to free speech and freedom of the press. He discussed how our First Amendment rights are essential to the well-being of America’s democracy, and highlighted how President Trump has sought to silence or to punish journalists and citizens who speak out about the Trump Administration’s lawless agenda. Watch the Senator’s remarks on his website.
Two Police operations across the Auckland region have result in several prolific offenders being arrested.
Eight arrests were made after two stolen vehicles were detected by Police in the west Auckland area.
Amongst those arrests are two prolific offenders sought in connection with two violent aggravated robberies at Auckland jewellery stores last month.
Rata Street, New Lynn:
Acting Detective Inspector Simon Harrison says a stolen vehicle was detected travelling in the Henderson area at around 3.15pm.
“Eagle deployed to the area, and maintained observations of this vehicle which was seen driving dangerously through Te Atatū Road towards New Lynn.”
The vehicle was abandoned on Rata Street, with the group attempting to stop and steal another person’s vehicle.
Acting Detective Inspector Harrison says the group continued to flee on foot.
“Cordons were put in place around the area while enquiries were made to locate these offenders.
“While we were still in the area, information was received that a group believed to be connected to these offenders had fled the area in another vehicle.
“A member of the public had been assaulted in the process.”
Eagle located this vehicle and tracked it to an address on Riserra Drive in Rānui.
“All four occupants of this vehicle were quickly rounded up and apprehended by ground staff,” acting Detective Inspector Harrison says.
This included the driver, aged 18, and three passengers: two aged 15 and one 19.
The 19-year-old man has been charged with assault with intent to rob over the Nikau Road incident in New Lynn.
He will appear in the Waitākere District Court today.
At this point the original group were still at large.
“Police acknowledge the cooperation from commuters who were disrupted during our operation yesterday afternoon.
“We also received valuable information from the community which assisted our enquiries.”
Woodford Avenue, Henderson:
Police continued to make enquiries to locate the group involved in the original incident.
This group were also believed to be connected to an investigation over recent aggravated robberies at jewellery stores.
An address of interest on Woodford Avenue was identified.
Acting Detective Inspector Harrison says Eagle detected a stolen vehicle leaving this property at about 9.30pm.
“The vehicle was signalled to stop by a unit on Lincoln Road but fled from Police towards the North-Western Motorway.
“Eagle continued to track this vehicle speeding along the motorway and connecting onto the South-Western Motorway.”
The vehicle travelled to Māngere, with occupants switching to another vehicle.
“All the while Eagle continued to monitor this group travel south towards the Southern Motorway interchange,” acting Detective Inspector Harrison says.
“This vehicle was travelling at speed but began to experience mechanical issues near Penrose and slowed significantly.”
Authority was given to bring this vehicle to a stop.
Minor damage was sustained to one patrol vehicle, but all four occupants were quickly arrested.
Amongst the arrests was the 18-year-old driver.
He was subject of a media appeal with a warrant to arrest over the aggravated robbery at Mānawa Bay on 23 March.
He now faces additional charges relating to failing to stop.
A 15-year-old passenger was also sought as part of that investigation.
“He has been charged with aggravated robberies at the Kayson’s Fashion Store on 16 March and the Mānawa Bay Michael Hill on 23 March,” acting Detective Inspector Harrison says.
The other two occupants were aged 16 and 19, and face charges of failing to stop and unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle.
Police will be opposing these offenders’ bail when they appear in the Auckland District and Auckland Youth courts today.
Acting Detective Inspector Harrison says: “This is a great outcome for the community to have these offenders off the streets.
“It represents a significant amount of work carried out over recent week by detectives and frontline staff to identify and target these prolific offenders.”
Please attribute to Relieving Waikato District Commander Superintendent Scott Gemmell
Police accept the findings by the Independent Police Conduct Authority in relation to an incident in Whitianga in March 2023.
Police officers were called to an apartment complex for a family harm matter.
One officer went to the address on foot and a second officer went in from another direction in a patrol car. When the officer drove into the carpark, he saw the man who had been involved in the family harm incident. The man immediately started yelling at the officer and smashed the police car windscreen shattering the glass, which injured the officer.
The officer initially started driving away but concerned for his colleague who had still not arrived at the scene, he did a U-turn and then drove the patrol car into the man. He has then got out of his patrol car and punched the offender several times.
Police carried out an investigation into the incident and the officer was charged with common assault and assault with intent to injure. The case was tried before a Judge and jury in May 2024 and the officer was acquitted.
The offender in this incident was charged with intentional damage and intentionally injuring the officer and was convicted in court.
As both matters have already been traversed through the courts, police will keep our comment limited except to say that while we acknowledge this was a confronting and unpredictable situation for the officer involved, our investigation and subsequent legal advice found the force used was excessive and as such the officer was charged.
An employment investigation remains ongoing, and we cannot comment on the specifics for privacy reasons. We can confirm the officer remains working for New Zealand Police.
NEW YORK — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Abel Osbaldo Mendez, a 29-year-old illegal alien from Guatemala with convictions for sexual battery of a child and illegal reentry upon his release from U.S. Bureau of Prisons, Federal Correctional Institution, Otisville in Orange County, New York, March 28.
“Convicted child predators such as this thrice removed illegal alien represent a major threat to our communities,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations New York City acting Field Office Director William P. Joyce. “ICE officers play a positive role in the arrest and removal of these criminal aliens and will continue to do so in the interest of keeping our communities safe.”
U.S. Border Patrol Agents encountered Mendez April 25, 2014, unlawfully crossing the U.S. – Mexico border into Texas without inspection. Mendez falsely stated to the agents that he was born in Acayucan, Veracruz, Mexico, and was a citizen and native of Mexico. U.S. Border Patrol placed him into expedited removal proceedings and on May 3, 2014, removed him to Mexico via Brownville, Texas port of entry. Mendez unlawfully reentered the U.S. on an unknown date after his 2014 removal.
Suffolk County Police Department arrested Mendez for the crime of sex assault March 20, 2019. ICE encountered Mendez April 15, 2019, and issued him a notice to appear before a Justice Department immigration judge and placed him into removal proceedings under his true nationality and citizenship of Guatemala.
Mendez was convicted of sexual battery of a child April 25, 2019, and sentenced to 12 months in prison.
A Justice Department immigration judge ordered Mendez removed from the U.S. July 1, 2019. He was removed to Guatemala Dec. 18, 2019.
USBP arrested Mendez Aug. 3, 2020, after he illegally reentered the U.S. and processed him for reinstatement of prior removal order. Mendez was removed from the U.S. for the third time Feb. 3, 2021. ICE officers encountered Mendez in Virginia May 22, 2024, and processed him for reinstatement of prior removal order. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virgina, prosecuted Mendez for illegal reentry, a charge for which he was convicted Nov. 21, 2024, and sentenced to 12 months in prison.
Mendez is in ICE custody.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-347-2423 (866-DHS-2-ICE) or completing ICE’s online tip form.
Learn more about ERO New York City’s mission to preserve public safety on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ERONewYork
Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MERVIN FIGUEROA, 27, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 14 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for offenses related to his participation in a stolen catalytic converter trafficking ring.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement has been investigating the theft of catalytic converters from motor vehicles across Connecticut. A catalytic converter contains precious metals, can easily be removed from its vehicle, and is difficult to trace, making it a desirable target for thieves. The average scrap price for catalytic converters currently varies between $300 and $1,500, depending on the model and type of precious metal component.
The investigation revealed that Alexander Kolitsas owned and operated Downpipe Depot & Recycling LLC (“Downpipe Depot”), which had a warehouse on Park Avenue in East Hartford. Kolitsas and Downpipe Depot purchased stolen catalytic converters from a network of thieves, including Figueroa, and then transported and sold the catalytic converters to recycling businesses in New York and New Jersey. Kolitsas instructed his suppliers on the types of converters that would obtain the most profit upon resale, and he would often meet with them and transact business at his home in Wolcott late at night or behind a family member’s restaurant in Middlebury after hours.
Starting in January 2022, Kolitsas maintained electronic invoices reflecting the purchase of stolen catalytic converters from Figueroa and other suppliers. In several of the invoices, Kolitsas permitted his suppliers to use fictitious names or business names in order to create the appearance of proper recordkeeping while obscuring from his records the true source of the stolen converters. The invoices show that between approximately January 26 and May 31, 2022, Kolitsas and Downpipe Depot paid approximately $3,345,675 to purchase stolen converters from his co-conspirators.
The invoices reflect that Downpipe Depot paid Figueroa $169,840 for catalytic converters, including converters that were stolen in two separate incidents from vehicles at U-Haul Moving and Storage in Naugatuck. In messages between Kolitsas and Figueroa, Kolitsas told Figueroa that he needed to remove anti-theft tags that U-Haul had placed on the converters before Kolitsas would take them. The investigation revealed that Figueroa also stole converters from school buses.
Figueroa was arrested on November 15, 2023. On October 29, 2024, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property.
Figueroa, who is released on a $50,000 bond, is required to report to prison on June 2.
Kolitsas pleaded guilty to related charges and awaits sentencing.
This investigation is being led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), and the East Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and A. Reed Durham through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
BILLINGS – An Atlanta, Georgia man who defrauded banks in multiple states was sentenced today to 57 months in prison to be followed by 5 years supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. The defendant was also ordered to pay $161,401.17 in restitution.
Stanford Wilvin Lightfoot, 33, pleaded guilty in November 2024 to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that for approximately 5 months in 2023, Stanford Lightfoot was a member of a large fraud ring that had been defrauding banks in Montana, Maine and Missouri. In each location, Lightfoot and other coconspirators would travel to the state from the base of operations in Atlanta, Georgia. Once there, they would recruit local homeless individuals who possessed valid ID cards. They would then take these homeless individuals to local banks and provide them with fraudulent checks from real accounts. These checks all possessed forged signatures of real people and were, therefore, means of identification. The homeless individuals would then attempt to cash the checks and, if successful, would provide the money to Lightfoot and his coconspirators. If the homeless individuals were caught by police, they would be abandoned to take the blame. In Montana, Lightfoot hit multiple banks in Belgrade, Bozeman, and Livingston utilizing local homeless individuals to forge checks in excess of $20,000.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case and the investigation was conducted by the FBI, Livingston Police Department, Belgrade Police Department, and Bozeman Police Department.
[. Legislative and regulatory changes would enhance sales reporting requirements for businesses, allow officers to issue tickets rather than a court summons where appropriate and streamline the administration of justice for certain minor offenses.
“Scrap metal-related crime such as copper wire and catalytic converter theft is a serious problem that threatens public safety, critical infrastructure, the economy and the environment. These amendments give local law enforcement the flexibility needed to respond effectively to this dangerous and costly criminal behaviour and will help restore the sense of security that has been stolen from communities and rural residents throughout the province in recent years.”
Improving scrap metal sales monitoring
Legislative and regulatory amendments would provide solutions to what local law enforcement agencies have cited as barriers to timely and consistent enforcement since the act came into force in 2020. To support the identification and monitoring of unusual sales, purchasers would be required to record important transaction details to improve the traceability of illicit scrap metal.
If the bill passes, the government plans to amend regulations to require the dollar value of the sale, the type of and per-ounce price of the metal purchased, and, in the case of catalytic converters, the vehicle identification number and/or proof of ownership to be recorded and reported to a database accessible to law enforcement.
“This legislation will help to decrease incidents of copper theft while safeguarding the uninterrupted access to emergency services and the internet that Albertans expect.”
Reducing barriers to enforcement
If the bill passes, the government is planning amendments to the Procedures Regulation and the Justice of the Peace Regulation to streamline enforcement process and improve court efficiency. Law enforcement would be able to issue violation tickets for certain offences, allowing charges to be laid more quickly.
Additional planned regulatory changes would set specified penalties for minor offences and give justices of the peace authority to handle them. Individuals can choose to pay the fine or dispute the charge in traffic court. These updates would free up court resources to focus on more serious matters.
“Streamlining the enforcement of penalties ensures that justice is served swiftly, and resources are focused where they are needed most. By empowering justices of the peace to hear cases related to illegal activity concerning scrap metal, the court system can focus on more complex cases while maintaining fairness and accessibility for Albertans.”
These amendments target costly and dangerous criminal activity while protecting Alberta’s legitimate scrap metal industry and law-abiding recyclers.
Quick facts
Instances of copper wire theft have the potential to disrupt critical services such as power and internet access, which may put Albertans at risk of being unable to reach critical services such as police or emergency services in times of need.
Between 2021 and 2024, copper wire theft in Alberta increased by 93 per cent, with the Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service and RCMP reporting respective increases of 135 per cent, 76 per cent and 88 per cent.
Related information
Improving public safety
Bill 49: Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act, 2025
Related news
Protecting Albertans from metal theft (June 18, 2020)
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s decision to cut federal funding for small and medium-sized American manufacturers:
At the same time that President Trump was finalizing his announcement of reckless tariffs with the stated goal of boosting domestic manufacturing, his administration began quietly and illegally stealing funding from Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers that provide invaluable support to small and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers across the country. This once again reveals the dishonest contradiction at the heart of this administration. You can’t claim to champion American manufacturers while simultaneously dismantling the very programs that help them survive and compete.
These MEP centers are lifelines for small and medium-sized manufacturers in our communities. They provide the hands-on expertise that family-owned shops rely on to modernize, train workers, source materials, connect with new customers, and keep good jobs in America. When Elon Musk and the other billionaires running this administration illegally slash this funding, they’re not just cutting a government program – they’re cutting the legs out from under hardworking Americans in machine shops and fabrication plants across our country.
Let me be clear: just last month, Congress appropriated $175 million for the MEP program, and the President himself signed this into law. Now his administration has told these centers that their work to support American small businesses and workers no longer aligns with his priorities. Eliminating funding for the MEP program is not just wrong-headed – it’s clearly illegal.
President Trump wants credit for talking tough on trade while quietly pulling the rug out from under the very businesses he claims to protect. Our manufacturers don’t need empty promises and chaotic tariffs that raise prices on the materials they use and the groceries that feed their families – they need practical support to keep up with rapidly evolving technologies and economic circumstances. I expect the President to restore support for all MEP centers and fully implement the funding approved last month. My colleagues on both sides of the aisle should understand the importance of this program for their constituents and stand against illegal cuts.
Headline: Attorney General Pamela Bondi Statement on Supreme Court Stay of Maryland District Court Order
Attorney General Pamela Bondi released the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s temporary administrative stay blocking the district court’s order that Salvadoran national Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia must be returned to the United States by midnight tonight:”We welcome this stay from the Supreme Court as we continue to fight this case and protect the executive branch from judicial overreach.”
A Louisiana woman pleaded guilty today to receiving child sexual abuse material produced by a photographer she arranged to take the images.
According to court documents, Hannah Kinchen, 40, of Gonzales, coordinated with a photographer, who self-identified as a “pedophile,” to conduct photoshoots for the minor victim’s modeling career. During the photoshoots, Kinchen allowed and assisted the photographer in posing the minor victim wearing scanty attire, including thongs and G-strings. The photographer sent and Kinchen received most of the images through a file-sharing website on the internet. Some of the resulting images qualified as child pornography and some were later sold.
Kinchen pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Head of the Justic Department’s Criminal Division, Matthew R. Galeotti; Acting U.S. Attorney April M. Leon for the Middle District of Louisiana; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI New Orleans Division – Baton Rouge Resident Agency investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen L. Craig for the Middle District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from CEOS Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Police and emergency services are responding to a serious crash on the Nullarbor.
About 6am on Tuesday 8 April, police received a report of a serious crash involving a truck and car on the Eyre Highway. The crash is about 75km’s from the Western Australian border.
Motorists travelling across the border on the Eyre Highway should expect lengthy delays.
CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Since its inception in 1989, the Wyoming National Guard Counterdrug Program plays a vital part in the battle against illicit drugs and transnational criminal threats.
Designed to harness the unique capabilities of the National Guard, the program continues to deliver measurable results through its partnerships with law enforcement, schools and community organizations.
In the past year alone, the counterdrug program has made major strides in reducing the impact of narcotics across the state. Through close coordination with law enforcement, the program directly supported operations that led to the arrest of 207 individuals connected to drug-related crimes. These efforts also resulted in the seizure of 9.8 pounds of fentanyl and 20.27 pounds of methamphetamine—dangerous substances with the potential to devastate communities.
“The results we’re seeing are a testament to the commitment and professionalism of our team,” said Sgt. Maj. Katherine Zwiefel, Wyoming Counterdrug coordinator. “Every pound of drugs taken off the street, every partnership we strengthen, and every student we reach—it all adds up to lives saved.”
Beyond interdiction and law enforcement support, the Wyoming Counterdrug Program has significantly expanded its prevention and education outreach. Working closely with educators and local coalitions, Guardsmen delivered classroom presentations to more than 1,794 students, spent over 75 hours in youth mentorship and leadership development activities designed to prevent substance abuse before it begins.
In the last year, the team dedicated over 40 hours to coalition engagement and trained 20 personnel in the administration of Narcan, enhancing Wyoming’s readiness to respond to opioid overdoses.
“Our greatest weapon in the fight against addiction is education,” Zwiefel added. “When we connect with kids early and give them the tools to succeed, we’re building stronger communities and a healthier future.”
The program’s holistic approach—combining military expertise, community engagement and interagency cooperation—continues to evolve in response to emerging drug threats, including the opioid epidemic.
“The counterdrug program is an essential piece of our statewide response to the drug crisis,” said Brig. Gen. Michelle Mulberry, Cowboy Guard Director of the Joint Staff. “Their work not only helps take drugs off the streets but also builds resilience in our schools and strengthens the partnerships that protect our communities.”
Members of the Wyoming National Guard and Colorado National Guard Counterdrug Program, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, Park County Sheriff’s Office, Powell Police Department, Cody Police Department, Healthy Park County Coalition and other partners pose for a photo and flew around the state to make neighborhoods safer by supporting the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, in Jackson, Wind-River, Riverton, Johnson County, Park County, and Sheridan, Wyoming, Oct. 28, 2024. This initiative provides a safe and anonymous way for the public to dispose of unused prescription medications, which play a significant role in prescription drug abuse. (U.S. Army National Guard photo)
A Louisiana woman pleaded guilty today to receiving child sexual abuse material produced by a photographer she arranged to take the images.
According to court documents, Hannah Kinchen, 40, of Gonzales, coordinated with a photographer, who self-identified as a “pedophile,” to conduct photoshoots for the minor victim’s modeling career. During the photoshoots, Kinchen allowed and assisted the photographer in posing the minor victim wearing scanty attire, including thongs and G-strings. The photographer sent and Kinchen received most of the images through a file-sharing website on the internet. Some of the resulting images qualified as child pornography and some were later sold.
Kinchen pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Head of the Justic Department’s Criminal Division, Matthew R. Galeotti; Acting U.S. Attorney April M. Leon for the Middle District of Louisiana; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI New Orleans Division – Baton Rouge Resident Agency investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen L. Craig for the Middle District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from CEOS Trial Attorney Charles Schmitz.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
**The information provided below is based on preliminary details regarding an ongoing investigation, which may continue to evolve**
OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced that the California Department of Justice (DOJ), pursuant to Assembly Bill 1506 (AB 1506), is investigating and will independently review an officer-involved shooting (OIS) that occurred in Stockton, California on Monday, April 7, 2025 at approximately 11:14 a.m. The OIS incident resulted in the death of one individual and involved personnel from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department.
Following notification by local authorities, DOJ’s California Police Shooting Investigation Team initiated an investigation in accordance with AB 1506 mandates. Upon completion of the investigation, it will be turned over to DOJ’s Special Prosecutions Section within the Criminal Law Division for independent review. Anyone that has information related to this officer-involved shooting incident and wishes to report it may do so by calling (916) 210-2871.
More information on the California Department of Justice’s role and responsibilities under AB 1506 is available here: https://oag.ca.gov/ois-incidents.
Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Timothy Edwards, 49, formerly of Memphis, to 197 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute drugs. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to the information presented in court, on April 1, 2021, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) responded to a local UPS Store regarding a suspicious package which was found to contain 6,793.5 grams of marijuana and 1,247 grams of methamphetamine. During the investigation, DEA was alerted to a second package being shipped to the UPS store. This package was intercepted on June 3, 2021. It contained 4.9 pounds of marijuana. Both packages were shipped from California to Memphis, TN. The first package had Edwards listed as the recipient, and the second was sent to a P.O. Box associated with Edwards.
In October 2024, a jury trial was held, and Edwards was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (marijuana and methamphetamine). On April 3, 2025, United States District Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Edwards to a total of 197 months of federal imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the DEA and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO)-Memphis Division. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Interim United States Attorney Murphy thanked Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Kimbril-Parks, who prosecuted this case, as well as the DEA and the SCSO-Memphis Division who investigated the case.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebookor on Xat @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Following a two-day trial, a jury found a Centralia man guilty of federal charges for distributing cocaine and fentanyl in Marion County.
A federal jury convicted Broderick K. Currie, also known as Broderick K. Wooters, 36, of one count of distribution of a controlled substance: cocaine and one count of distribution of a controlled substance: fentanyl.
“As a career offender, this defendant has sold drugs in southern Illinois and caused irrevocable harm to families for many years,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “The lethality of fentanyl cannot be understated, and another dealer off the streets is a win for our region.”
The evidence presented at trial proved Broderick sold nearly 12 grams of cocaine and one gram of fentanyl to a confidential source in February 2024 in Marion County.
“The conviction of the defendant provides an opportunity to remind everyone that the mission of the Springfield Southern Illinois TOC-West Task Force is to relentlessly pursue and destroy drug trafficking organizations operating in the Southern Illinois region,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “If you are distributing controlled substances, especially deadly fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, we will find you and hold you accountable.”
Currie’s distribution charges are punishable by up to 30 years’ imprisonment per count. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 12.
The FBI Springfield Field Office’s Southern Illinois TOC-West Task Force led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Carraway and Dan Kapsak prosecuted the case. The TOC-West Task Force has multiple members, this investigation was supported by Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Carlyle Police Department, Mt. Vernon Police Department, and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the U.S. using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Monday sentenced a former Phelps County Sheriff’s deputy to 65 years in prison for soliciting and/or receiving sex acts and child sexual abuse material from multiple minors and destroying evidence to impede the FBI.
Judge Schelp also ordered Justin Bradley Durham, of Rolla, to pay $79,160 in restitution to victims. Durham pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in October to one count of production of child pornography, two counts of receiving child pornography and three counts of destroying records in a federal investigation.
Durham admitted requesting and receiving a sexually explicit video from a 15-year-old in 2013. He later provided $200 to the victim after she engaged in sex acts with him. He also admitted engaging in sex acts multiple times with a 17-year-old victim, including in his patrol vehicle. He exchanged sexually explicit images and videos with her. Durham met the second victim in 2016 when her friend contacted the police and he responded to the call.
The FBI interviewed Durham in 2023 after learning that his PayPal account had been used to send money to another account associated with the sale of child pornography. Durham denied purchasing child pornography and claimed that he hadn’t accessed his Dropbox account for years. He refused agents’ request to search his cell phone. Two days later, Durham bought a new phone, destroyed his old phone and deleted about 37 gigabytes of data in his Dropbox account before deactivating it. Among those files were hundreds of sexually explicit images and videos, including files containing child sexual abuse material. Durham was terminated by the Sheriff’s Department on Aug. 9, 2023, and arrested by them. In jail, he told FBI agents that he also destroyed a laptop computer, threw away his phone and conducted a “digital footprint scrub” of his online accounts, his plea agreement says.
Durham also sent sexual letters to inmates at the Phelps County Jail, solicited sexually explicit images from other women, including a woman who was on parole, according to a sentencing memo filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman.
“Justin Durham avoided detection by exploiting what he knew about law enforcement. He often targeted vulnerable victims, some of whom suffered from mental health issues, poverty, or sexual abuse,” said Special Agent in Charge Ashley Johnson of the FBI St. Louis Division. “We applaud the bravery of the two victims who came forward to help end Durham’s disgraceful abuse.”
Sheriff Michael P. Kirn expressed his firm belief that accountability and transparency are essential in maintaining public trust. “The actions of individuals like Justin Durham are not representative of our dedicated law enforcement community. We will continue to ensure that justice is served and that ethical standards are upheld,” he asserted.
“This case serves as a reminder that the law applies equally to all, and the commitment to justice remains paramount. The Sheriff’s Office will continue to advocate for integrity and accountability within the law enforcement community and beyond,” Sheriff Kirk said.
The FBI and the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
A federal grand jury recently returned a three-count indictment charging Edgar Javier Castillo-Rodriguez, age 53, of Mexico, with illegal re-entry into the United States by a removed alien and false representation of a Social Security number. Castillo-Rodriguez appeared for his arraignment and pled not guilty to the pending charges.
According to court documents, Castillo-Rodriguez, an alien who had previously been removed from the United States on or about October 30, 1996, at or near Brownsville, Texas, and on or about November 6, 2000, at or near El Paso, Texas, was again found in the United States on or about October 29, 2024, without having obtained the consent of the Attorney General of the United States or his successor, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
On October 29, 2024, Castillo-Rodriguez knowingly and falsely represented to the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office a Social Security number that had not been assigned to him by the Commissioner of Social Security.
On April 21, 2023, Castillo-Rodriguez knowingly and falsely represented to a potential employer a false Social Security number that had not been assigned to him by the Commissioner of Social Security.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Department of Homeland Security, Social Security Administration, Gonzales Police Department, Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Louisiana State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy S. Johnson.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
acksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Braden Huston Hobbs (27, Ponte Vedra) with conspiracy to traffic firearms, conspiracy to deal firearms without a license, dealing firearms without a license, making a materially false statement to a licensed firearms dealer, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances—including 500 grams or more of cocaine, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. If convicted, Hobbs faces a minimum sentence of 5 years, up to 95 years, in federal prison.
According to court documents and proceedings, law enforcement began investigating Hobbs when several firearms he had purchased were recovered during unrelated search warrant executions by law enforcement agencies. These firearms were recovered in the homes of drug distributors and a convicted felon. Additionally, during a series of controlled purchase operations conducted in the summer of 2024, agents purchased 11 firearms from two co-conspirators. Hobbs was the original purchaser of multiple firearms purchased from these two co-conspirators. Cellphone records later showed that at least one of the co-conspirators regularly purchased firearms from Hobbs.
Through further investigation, agents discovered that between March 2022 and June 2024, Hobbs had purchased more than 120 firearms from 3 different federally licensed firearms dealers in Jacksonville, with 67 of those firearms being purchased between January and June 2024. Hobbs then sold those firearms to others. On multiple occasions, Hobbs advertised firearms for sale to potential customers before completing the purchase of the firearms from the federally licensed firearms dealer.
Customers typically paid Hobbs in cash for the firearms or traded drugs for the firearms. Hobbs was aware that some of his customers intended to resell the firearms and were drug users or drug distributors. Furthermore, Hobbs asked his co-conspirators to assist him in finding buyers for the firearms and the co-conspirators advertised Hobbs’s firearms for sale. Although he engaged in the business of dealing firearms, Hobbs is not a federally licensed firearms dealer, as required by federal law.
When Hobbs purchased the firearms from the federally licensed firearms dealers, he indicated on the required ATF Form 4473 that he was the actual buyer or transferee of the firearms. In addition, Hobbs indicated that he was not a user of or addicted to controlled substances. Both statements were false. Hobbs was not the actual buyer or transferee of the firearms, and he was a habitual user of controlled substances.
In addition, Hobbs was distributing controlled substances, including over 500 grams of cocaine and Adderall. He routinely advertised controlled substances for sale and coordinated deals. Hobbs often sold the controlled substances to the same customers to whom he was selling firearms. On June 26, 2024, Hobbs was arrested by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for driving under the influence and trafficking in cocaine. During a search of Hobbs’s car, officers located approximately 330 grams of cocaine and 17 grams of Adderall, as well as various items used to package and distribute controlled substances.
An indictment 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 is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Secret Service, the North Florida HIDTA Tri-County Narcotics Task Force with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).