A group of young people had their plans foiled after a break-in at Sylvia Park Shopping Centre last night.
Mall security reported a burglary taking place at 8.15pm.
“A group of offenders were seen breaking into a mobile shop inside Sylvia Park,” Auckland City East Area Prevention Manager Inspector Rachel Dolheguy says.
“They gained entry to the store via the rear door, where once inside they have smashed the cash register and stolen items.”
A timely response by Police led to the group being located at the back of the mall.
The group were found in possession of items belonging to several other retailers from within the shopping precinct.
“It is unacceptable to see young people committing these types of offences, but we are elated that the partnership and timely actions by security and Police working together resulted in their apprehension and recovery of the stolen items,” Inspector Dolheguy says.
The group were aged between 13 and 15 years old. They have been referred to Youth Aid.
Attributable to Acting Detective Sergeant Steve Leonard:
A man has been arrested in relation to an assault in Hawke’s Bay last month in which cyclists competing in a race were pelted with glass bottles.
On the afternoon of Saturday 19 April, the occupants of a black ute were seen on Mutiny Road, Poukawa throwing bottles from their vehicle towards participants of a Council-sanctioned cycle race.
A young person was hit by a bottle and fell from their bike – fortunately they were not seriously injured.
Hastings Police would like to thank the public for their response to our appeal for information at the time, as this has helped bring this matter to a resolution.
An 18-year-old man has been charged with two counts of assault with a weapon, and is due to appear in Hastings District Court on Friday 23 May.
He was a passenger in the black ute at the time. This vehicle has been seized by Police, and Police are following lines of inquiry to speak with the driver.
We would like to take this opportunity to remind road users that cyclists are legal road users under the Land Transport Act, who will on occasion ride two abreast, particularly in organised ride or race situations.
Please be patient and overtake when safe to do so for all parties, ensuring everyone arrives at their destination safely – preserving Hawke’s Bay’s reputation as a proud cycling region.
Police have made arrests following an early morning burglary at a Devonport apartment building.
Two offenders were seen allegedly breaking into the Queens Parade complex just before 2am.
Waitematā East Area Response Manager Senior Sergeant CJ Miles says Police quickly deployed into the area.
“Our staff were on scene quickly and located a vehicle travelling away from the scene,” she says.
“The vehicle was stopped on Lake Road in Hauraki and its occupants were spoken to.”
A 39-year-old woman, who was a passenger, has since been charged with a raft of offences.
She will appear in the North Shore District Court today charged with burglary, possession of instruments for burglary, resisting Police and possession of methamphetamine utensils.
Another passenger taken in custody, a 27-year-old woman, had warrants for her arrest for failing to appear in court.
Police enquiries remain ongoing into the burglary.
“I’d like to acknowledge the work of our night shift team in their response,” Senior Sergeant Miles says.
“It highlights the benefits of having good quality CCTV operating around your property.”
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Due to an increase in police demand, Katherine police have increased proactive measures in order to drive down crime and antisocial behaviour.
Alcohol remains a primary catalyst for crime an anti-social behaviour across the region, and in response, police have significantly increased Banned Drinkers Orders (BDO) for problem drinkers.
February to April saw a 354% increase in the number of BDO’s issued. For the month of April, 145 people were rejected from purchasing alcohol due to an active BDO.
In addition to these measures, since March 2025, 280 SupportLink referrals have been made by Katherine Police. Support Link delivers targeted referral and diversion services to people who require social services assistance. These referrals can be made to address issues such as domestic and family violence, drug and alcohol dependence, drug and alcohol diversions and homelessness.
Commander Terry Zhang said, “Our members have seen a noticeable increase in the demand for our services due to a sudden surge of people into the Katherine Region.
“In response to this, we have shifted to proactively tackling the drivers of crime and antisocial behaviour through support services and alcohol restrictions. In addition to these changes, we will also welcome a further 15 new constables who will start in Katherine from mid-June to further enhance our targeted operations.
“Police have also continued to work closely with other organisations in Katherine. This includes working with the local council on early morning patrols focused on rough sleepers, and a joint operation with Public Housing Officers targeting problem tenancies.
“Police would like to thank the Katherine Community for their ongoing support and re-iterate our commitment to keeping the Katherine community safe.”
An eagle-eyed camera operator alerted Police to a person possessing a firearm in Paihia overnight.
“At around 2am Police were notified by Kaitaia cameras that a male had been seen on CCTV pulling what appeared to be a firearm from his pants,” Mid North Area Response Manager Senior Sergeant Mark Barratt says.
“He was observed holding it on camera for a few seconds before adjusting it and placing it back into his pants.”
Units were dispatched to the location and located the man a short distance away after carrying out area enquiries.
Senior Sergeant Barratt says the firearm he was allegedly possessing has not been located at this stage and enquiries are ongoing.
Police have since located methamphetamine paraphernalia.
“This was great work by the camera operator who as part of proactive prevention has observed this male, and we were able to locate and charge him,” Senior Sergeant Barratt says.
“We will continue to act on this sort of information to keep our communities safe.”
A 37-year-old male, who is a patched Black Power member, has been charged with unlawfully carrying a firearm and possessing utensils for methamphetamine. He will appear in the Kaikohe District Court today.
Source: United States Senator John Hickenlooper – Colorado
Hickenlooper: “Rev. Peters carried that same commitment when he came to Denver and to Colorado. That same commitment to justice… Along the way, he had a significant impact on many of Colorado’s leaders. I was one of them.”
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper spoke on the Senate floor in memory of longtime civil rights leader Reverend Dr. James D. Peters, Jr.
“He knew that they were – that we are – strongest when we’re united, marching hand in hand. Walking next to Rev. Peters, it was impossible not to feel buoyed up by the enduring hope he carried with him pretty much at all times,” said Hickenlooper on the Senate floor.
Reverend Peters was a founding member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and worked with Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. He served as pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in the Denver metropolitan area for 28 years and previously chaired the Colorado Civil Rights Commission. He passed away on Saturday, May 10th.
Hickenlooper continued: “As Rev. Peters’ friend and mentor Dr. King famously said that ‘the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.’ Like many around the country today, I’ve felt that, in recent years, that arc has not bent as far as we had hoped. But, if Rev. Peters’ taught us one thing, it is that neither today or tomorrow is the day to bow our heads.”
Hickenlooper with Rev. Peters outside of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery.
To download a full video of Hickenlooper’s remarks, click HERE. A full transcript of his remarks is available below:
“I come to the floor today to honor the incredible life of Rev. Dr. James D. Peters, seated here.
“Rev. Dr. James D. Peters, I should say, who passed away last week at the age of 92. And what a life he lived.
“James was truly one of the greatest men I’ve ever known.
“Rev. Peters’ story started not far from these walls here in Washington, D.C.
“He grew up in Washington during a time of deep segregation and became an early leader in the civil rights movements of the 1950s and 1960s and into the 1970s.
“In 1957, he helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference along with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“He worked with Dr. King for many years to help shape the course of American history.
“He marched unbowed in the March on Washington in 1963 and numerous other marches. Notably, Selma across the Edmund Pettus bridge in 1965.
“Rev. Peters carried that same commitment when he came to Denver and to Colorado. That same commitment to justice.
“For more than 28 years, he preached Dr. King’s gospel of freedom and unity as pastor of New Hope Baptist Church, the largest Black church in Denver.
“He also served many years on the Colorado Civil Rights Commission to make Colorado a better place for all our residents.
“Along the way, he had a significant impact on many of Colorado’s leaders. I was one of them.
“In 2003, I was the newly elected Mayor of Denver. Not quite inaugurated yet when on July 5th, Paul Childs was shot and killed in his own front hall by an inexperienced Denver police officer.
“Paul was only fifteen years old. But he was beloved by his community and his death shook the entire city.
“Following that awful tragedy, Rev. Peters, alongside my predecessor, Wellington Webb, who’s one of the great mayors of the 20th century, they helped organize their community and mentored me on the appropriate ways to address this tragedy in such a way that it could be constructive. That somehow the community could be made more stronger and more resilient.
“Reverend Peters knew that the community had to change and use this tragedy to make a better future for the entire community.
“He was one of those leaders who helped us create Denver’s first Citizen Oversight Board to oversee the Denver Police and Sheriff Departments, and make sure any allegation of police misconduct could be investigated. And to make sure all neighborhoods would have an active voice in how their neighborhoods were policed.
“He also helped us start the Office of the Independent Monitor, with subpoena power again to make sure that allegations of police misconduct could be fully investigated.
“Over the past twenty years, the Citizen Board and the Independent Monitor has worked to improve the policies of Denver’s police departments and improve the relationship and the trust between the community and law enforcement.
“Many, many years later, about eight years ago, I was fortunate enough to join Rev. Peters, along with Rev. Dr. Patrick Demmer and a small group, in Montgomery to visit the National Memorial for Peace and Justice – our country’s first national memorial to victims of lynching and racial terrorism in the United States.
“And it’s hard to describe the feeling of that memorial. The power is so immense. The weight of our country’s nagging, persistent shame remains so heavy.
“Walking through the memorial with Rev. Peters, he spoke about his life growing up in Washington D.C. during segregation and his fierce belief in nonviolence and nonviolent movements.
“He reflected on how their nonviolent tactics led more and more people to join them. He knew that they were – that we are – strongest when we’re united, marching hand in hand.
“Walking next to Rev. Peters, it was impossible not to feel buoyed up by the enduring hope he carried with him pretty much at all times.
“I think so many of those lessons from Rev. Dr. Peters still ring true today.
“As Rev. Peters’ friend and mentor Dr. King famously said that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
“Like many around the country today, I’ve felt that, in recent years, that arc has not bent as far as we had hoped.
“But, if Rev. Peters’ taught us one thing, it is that neither today or tomorrow is the day to bow our heads.
“We can’t give up our work and our dreams that Dr. Peters fought for.”
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force have charged a 21-year-old male in relation to an aggravated robbery in Sadadeen on 27 April.
He was arrested yesterday afternoon by members of the Southern Investigations team and was subsequently charged with aggravated robbery. He is remanded to appear in Alice Springs Local Court today.
The 24-year-old male arrested on 2 May 2025 was subsequently charged with Aggravated robbery and was remanded to re-appear in Alice Springs Local Court on 5 June 2025.
A 22 year old Lake Taupo mystery involving a Russian stuntman has been solved thanks to some useful information being sent in following an appeal by Police.
Artour Melikov was 36 when he was reported missing on 10 September 2002. Turangi Police located his vehicle at the Jellicoe Reserve, 400 metres north of Bulli Point at Lake Taupo.
Despite extensive search efforts, there was no sign of Artour and Police established he hadn’t been seen since he left Auckland two days prior.
On 9 January this year, Police were called to a holiday park at Motutere, where several bones were located near a walking track. Police believed the bones were those of Artour, but extensive enquiries had been unable to lead to a positive identification.
Senior Constable Barry Shepherd QSM, of the Taupo Area Search and Rescue Squad, said following an appeal for information two people have come forward with photos which have enabled Police to formally identify Artour.
“The two photos sent in have shown clear evidence of his gold teeth and clothing he was wearing when he was found,” Senior Constable Shepherd said.
“I want to thank these people for coming forward to allow us to formally identify Artour and provide some closure.”
Dominique Terrel Gonzales, 35, was sentenced today to 11 years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of sex trafficking a minor. Gonzales has been in federal custody since his arrest for illegal firearms possession in August 2020. The court has set a restitution hearing date for Aug. 18.
According to court documents, Gonzales first met the victim when she was 13 or 14 years old. In July and August 2020, when the victim was 17 years old, Gonzales caused her to engage in commercial sex acts. He arranged her travel across state lines and directed her acts in a rented apartment in Portland, Oregon. Gonzales collected the illicit proceeds and controlled the victim with various rules that he implemented.
“Today’s sentence holds the defendant accountable for the criminal conduct he perpetrated for years within the Western District of Washington,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Predators who target and coerce the vulnerable face appropriately serious sanctions under federal law, and the Justice Department will continue to seek significant sentences to vindicate the rights of human trafficking victims.”
“For years this defendant used violence, threats, and emotional coercion to force vulnerable young women into having sex with strangers and giving their earnings to him,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller for the Western District of Washington. “He preyed upon teenagers and young women who were insecure and estranged from their families. To maintain control over his victims, Gonzales physically beat them, verbally assaulted them, and forced them to install tracking programs on their cellphones so that he could follow their every move. He used whatever means necessary to ensure that his victims engaged in prostitution to fund his luxurious lifestyle.”
“Today’s sentencing is a powerful reminder that those who prey on vulnerable children through violence and exploitation will be held fully accountable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy of ICE Homeland Security Investigations Seattle. “This individual used force and coercion to rob a minor of their freedom and dignity, and justice has now been served. This outcome was made possible through the unwavering collaboration with our law enforcement partners across multiple jurisdictions, whose dedication and coordination were vital to this investigation. We remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting victims, dismantling trafficking networks, and ensuring that those responsible face the full weight of the law.”
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), Olympia Police Department, Vancouver Police Department, Idaho State Police, Ada County (Idaho) Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), and the Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Crisham for the Western District of Washington and Trial Attorney Jessica Arco of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Dominique Terrel Gonzales, 35, was sentenced today to 11 years in prison followed by 15 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of sex trafficking a minor. Gonzales has been in federal custody since his arrest for illegal firearms possession in August 2020. The court has set a restitution hearing date for Aug. 18.
According to court documents, Gonzales first met the victim when she was 13 or 14 years old. In July and August 2020, when the victim was 17 years old, Gonzales caused her to engage in commercial sex acts. He arranged her travel across state lines and directed her acts in a rented apartment in Portland, Oregon. Gonzales collected the illicit proceeds and controlled the victim with various rules that he implemented.
“Today’s sentence holds the defendant accountable for the criminal conduct he perpetrated for years within the Western District of Washington,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Predators who target and coerce the vulnerable face appropriately serious sanctions under federal law, and the Justice Department will continue to seek significant sentences to vindicate the rights of human trafficking victims.”
“For years this defendant used violence, threats, and emotional coercion to force vulnerable young women into having sex with strangers and giving their earnings to him,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller for the Western District of Washington. “He preyed upon teenagers and young women who were insecure and estranged from their families. To maintain control over his victims, Gonzales physically beat them, verbally assaulted them, and forced them to install tracking programs on their cellphones so that he could follow their every move. He used whatever means necessary to ensure that his victims engaged in prostitution to fund his luxurious lifestyle.”
“Today’s sentencing is a powerful reminder that those who prey on vulnerable children through violence and exploitation will be held fully accountable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Murphy of ICE Homeland Security Investigations Seattle. “This individual used force and coercion to rob a minor of their freedom and dignity, and justice has now been served. This outcome was made possible through the unwavering collaboration with our law enforcement partners across multiple jurisdictions, whose dedication and coordination were vital to this investigation. We remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting victims, dismantling trafficking networks, and ensuring that those responsible face the full weight of the law.”
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), Olympia Police Department, Vancouver Police Department, Idaho State Police, Ada County (Idaho) Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), and the Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Crisham for the Western District of Washington and Trial Attorney Jessica Arco of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man who was on supervised release when he brought methamphetamine and a firearm to a meeting with his United States Probation Officer was sentenced today by United States District Judge James C. Mahan to 151 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Anthony Valenzuela was on supervised release for a felony conviction for felon in possession of a firearm. On March 7, 2023, he drove to the United States Probation Office for a meeting with his supervising officer. During a search of his vehicle, officers found a bookbag containing a digital scale, plastic bags, mail, and a fake drink can containing methamphetamine. In another bag, officers found additional methamphetamine and a Taurus 9mm semiautomatic pistol. The drugs recovered from the vehicle consisted of at least 150 grams but less than 500 grams of methamphetamine.
Photo of methamphetamine powder in resealable bag concealed in drink can.
Photo of a black Taurus 9mm semiautomatic pistol in a bag.
In January 2025, Valenzuela pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the United States Probation Office with assistance by Homeland Security Investigations and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jean Ripley prosecuted the case.
RICHMOND, Va. – A Petersburg woman was sentenced today to five years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, between June 28, 2024, and July 2, 2024, Miranda Lynn Hubert, 29, distributed 141.75 grams of meth. On July 2, 2024, Hubert, who had several outstanding warrants at the time, arrived at a 7-Eleven in Richmond to sell meth. Law enforcement took Hubert into custody and conducted a search of her vehicle. Investigators recovered 84 grams of meth, a handgun, and a digital scale.
Hubert was convicted previously for possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, larceny, probation violation, entering a house to commit larceny, and assault and battery.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; and Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne. The Prince George County Police Department assisted in the investigation of this case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Gilliland, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-168.
TYLER, Texas – A Jefferson man has been found guilty of federal sex trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.
Corey Lamar Johnson, 42, was found guilty by a jury on all counts following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker, on May 19, 2025. Specifically, the jury convicted Johnson of two counts of sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, obstruction of a sex trafficking investigation, three counts of interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution, and conspiracy to violate the Travel Act. Johnson’s co-defendants, Jessica Smith and Rachel Walker, previously pleaded guilty to related charges.
“Congratulations to the team who brought Corey Johnson to a well-deserved appointment with justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. “For far too long, the defendant treated vulnerable, young women in ways no person should ever be treated, but today justice was served. There is no more important work for the U.S. Attorney’s Office than to rescue the oppressed and protect those who cannot protect themselves.”
“The defendant used violence and threats of violence to compel his victims to engage in commercial sex for his profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “There is no place in a civilized society for the defendant’s inhumane conduct, and the Justice Department is committed to punishing human trafficking and achieving justice for its victims.”
On June 15, 2023, Johnson and two co-conspirators were named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury, charging them with sex trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking, transportation, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy to violate the Travel Act.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Johnson trafficked young women across the United States and compelled them to engage in commercial sex through force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion. Johnson recruited vulnerable, young women through social media posts that boasted of his lavish lifestyle. He promised the victims he recruited that they could also achieve such a lifestyle. Once they were recruited, Johnson introduced the victims to commercial sex, and when the victims wanted to leave him, he became violent, using force and threats, brandishing firearms, and bragging about having “beat” a murder charge, all to keep the victims engaged in commercial sex for his profit.
At sentencing, Johnson faces a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of life in federal prison as well as mandatory restitution. The statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division with assistance from the Canton Police Department, the Chandler Police Department, the Arlington Police Department, and the Bossier City Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert A. Wells, and James Mack Noble, IV, and Trial Attorney Slava Kuperstein of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit with the assistance of Trial Attorney Julie Pfluger and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
TEXARKANA, Texas – A Texarkana man has been found guilty of federal drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.
Deablo Deshon Lewis, 34, was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III, on May 15, 2025.
According to information presented in court, Lewis was arrested on April 1, 2021, in Texarkana, Arkansas, after agreeing to sell 150 counterfeit oxycontin “M-30” pills to another person. After the arrest, Lewis admitted that he had marijuana at his home in Texarkana, Texas, and a search warrant was issued. During the search, officers located over 2,800 counterfeit “M-30” pills containing fentanyl, over 700 “ecstasy” pills containing methamphetamine, over 180 counterfeit Xanax pills containing clonazolam, bulk marijuana, THC edibles, and synthetic marijuana products. Officers also recovered two loaded firearms. In February 2022, after being released on bond, officers stopped a vehicle leaving a suspected drug transaction with Lewis. The occupant confirmed that they had just purchased counterfeit “M-30” pills from Lewis. A search warrant was issued, and officers discovered additional fake “M-30” pills containing fentanyl and hundreds more “ecstasy” pills containing methamphetamine.
At sentencing, Lewis faces up to 40 years in federal prison. The statutory maximum sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the Texarkana (Texas) Police Department, Texarkana (Arkansas) Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Bowie County Sheriff’s Office, Miller County (Arkansas) Sheriff’s Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Locker, Lauren Richards, and Jonathan Hornok.
FAIRFAX, Va. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested an illegally present Guatemalan gang member with an extensive history of criminal activity that includes a multitude of charges and convictions for assault and battery, burglary, credit card fraud, trespassing and drug crimes. Officers with ICE Washington, D.C. arrested Mykol Santos-Santos, 25, in Fairfax May 12, after the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center refused to honor ICE’s 16th immigration detainer lodged against him.
Santos-Santos resisted the arrest heavily, resulting in the injury of an ICE officer.
“Mykol Santos-Santos is a habitual offender. He is a documented member of a violent criminal gang with a lengthy criminal history and represents an egregious danger to our Virginia communities,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Washington, D.C. Field Office Director Russell Hott. “While we are happy to have arrested him, we find it inexcusable that local law enforcement refused to honor 16 separate immigration detainers against Santos-Santos, forcing ICE officers to make an at large arrest where one of our officers was injured. We could have worked together with local law enforcement to arrange a safe transfer of custody. Instead, they decided to place politics ahead of public safety, and as a result one of our brave officers was injured. ICE Washington D.C. will continue to prioritize the safety of our public by arresting and removing criminal alien threats to our communities.”
U.S. Border Patrol arrested Santos-Santos July 11, 2014, after he illegally entered the United States near Hidalgo, Texas. Border Patrol officials issued him a notice to appear before a Justice Department immigration judge.
ICE Washington, D.C. arrested Santos-Santos July 17, 2018, during a targeted enforcement operation in Annandale, Virginia.
On Jan. 2, 2019, a Justice Department immigration judge granted him an $8,000 immigration bond.
On June 30, 2023, a Justice Department immigration judge ordered Santos-Santos removed from the United States to Guatemala.
Between Feb. 20, 2020, and May 8, 2025, Fairfax County Police arrested Santos-Santos at least 30 times and charged him with crimes including assault and battery, drug possession, drug possession with intent to distribute, burglary, theft, larceny, trespassing, property damage, obstruction of justice, attempting to flee police, failure to appear and violating court orders.
Between June 17, 2022, and May 12, 2025, ICE Washington, D.C. lodged 16 separate immigration detainers against him with the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. The facility ignored all 16 detainers and released Santos-Santos back into the community on each occasion.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X at @EROWashington.
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a 20-count indictment charging MYCALL OBAS, 42, of Danbury, MBALI NCUBE, 35, of Danbury, PIERRE OBAS, 49, of Danbury, TERESA VARGAS, 43, of Hartford, and STEPHEN WALKER, 30, of New Canaan, with offenses related to fraudulent small business loan applications in Connecticut and Washington.
The indictment was returned on May 14, 2025. Mycall Obas, Ncube, Pierre Obas, and Vargas were arrested on May 15, and Walker was arrested today. Each has entered a plea of not guilty and is released on bond pending trial.
According to the indictment, the National Development Council (“NDC”), now known as Grow America, was a not-for-profit lender that provided capital to small businesses, including through state-sponsored small business loan programs. The Connecticut Small Business Boost Fund (“CT Boost”) was an economic initiative supported by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development that connects Connecticut small businesses and non-profits with support services, including access to flexible funding for capital expenditures. The Small Business Flex Fund (“Flex”) was an economic initiative supported by the Washington State Department of Commerce that connected Washington state small businesses and nonprofits with support services, including access to flexible funding for capital expenditures. NDC worked with CT Boost and Flex to provide loan funding to small businesses in Connecticut and Washington, respectively.
As alleged in the indictment and statements made in court, Mycall Obas, Ncube, Pierre Obas, and Walker used stolen personal and business identities, or created false business identities, to apply to NDC for small business loans through the CT Boost and Flex programs. In connection with the loan applications, they created and submitted false business records, including fraudulent certificates of organization, false income statements, false balance sheets, and false tax returns. Vargas, who was a contractor for NDC and responsible for processing and underwriting small business loan applications, processed some of the fraudulent loan applications and submitted them to NDC for approval. She also specifically requested to be the loan processor on certain loan applications submitted by her co-conspirators in order to further the scheme.
It is alleged that the co-conspirators applied for and obtained 12 loans totaling more than $2 million through this scheme.
The indictment charges each of the five defendants with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and multiple counts of wire fraud. Each of these charges carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. The indictment also charges each of the five defendants with one more counts of making illegal monetary transactions, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years on each count. Mycall Obas and Pierre Obas are also charged with aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory term of imprisonment of two years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the Meriden and Danbury Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie T. Levick.
ALBUQUERQUE – A Ojo Amarillo man has been charged by criminal complaint with assault following an incident that left the victim with multiple fractures and severe facial injuries.
According to court documents, on May 6, 2025, the Navajo Nation Police Department responded to a residence in Ojo Amarillo, New Mexico, where officers discovered the victim suffering from extensive facial lacerations, swelling, and a right eye swollen shut. She was immediately transported to San Juan Regional Medical Center for emergency treatment.
The victim reported that Kyle Kee, 33, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, attacked her without warning, striking her repeatedly in the face, back, and stomach. The assault only ended when a phone call interrupted the attack. The victim said that Kee had previously assaulted her and was on probation for a prior offense.
Officers located Kee hiding in a nearby field. After initially attempting to evade capture, Kee was apprehended and became verbally aggressive, spitting on and kicking an officer during the arrest.
Medical records confirm the victim sustained an orbital fracture, nasal bone fractures, multiple contusions, and a laceration above her right eye requiring sutures.
Keeis charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted, Kee faces up to 10 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jordan is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Greenbelt, Maryland – Today, U.S. District Judge Lydia K. Griggsby sentenced William David Hill, aka Old Man, aka Tank, 68, of Washington, D.C., to more than 33 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. This sentence is in connection with two armed commercial robberies — and the discharging of a firearm during one of the robberies — in November 2016.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office.
On July 3, 2019, following a seven-day trial, a federal jury convicted Hill and co-defendant Ronnell Francis Lewis of the robberies. According to the evidence presented at trial, on November 22, 2016, Lewis, Hill, and a co-conspirator robbed an auto repair business in Clinton, Maryland.
Specifically, the evidence showed that the robbers entered the business brandishing firearms and ordered two employees to get on the ground. The defendants took money from the victims’ pockets and ordered them into the front office. They then bound and gagged one victim with zip ties and duct tape, respectively. The second victim fought. As a result, the robbers shot and ultimately paralyzed the second victim, before fleeing in a vehicle that they stole earlier in the day.
As detailed at trial, on November 26, 2016, the defendants also robbed a barbershop in Seat Pleasant, Maryland. According to the trial testimony, the two defendants entered the business, ordered everyone on the ground, and then robbed them.
During the robbery, the defendants threatened the victims with violence. According to the evidence, the robbers put the cash in a dark, single-strap duffle bag and fled in a stolen minivan.
Police saw the minivan at a traffic light and attempted to halt the vehicle, but the driver refused to stop, fleeing into Washington, D.C. Law enforcement eventually stopped Lewis and the driver and seized their vehicle. The third person, later identified as Hill, escaped but authorities eventually apprehended him.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. 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.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI for its work in the investigation and thanked the Prince George’s County Police Department, Seat Pleasant Police Department, and the Metropolitan Police Department for their assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan S. McKoy and Elizabeth Wright who prosecuted the case.
WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas woman made her initial appearance in federal court after a grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging her with distributing child sexual abuse materials.
According to court documents, Addilynn Jean Onuffer, 23, of Haysville is charged with three counts of distribution of child pornography for alleged actions that took place between June 2024 and July 2024.
The defendant made initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brooks Severson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.
The Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce (ICAC) and Wichita Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood 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 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 visithttps://www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###
Henderson County, TN – On May 19, 2025, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) arrested Dawson Maness for Felony Reckless Endangerment against a law enforcement officer.
On May 16, 2025, a State Trooper with the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) met a white Chevrolet truck traveling left of center of the roadway in Henderson County, TN. The Trooper was forced to run off the road to avoid a collision with the truck. When the Trooper activated his emergency equipment, the truck fled the scene in a reckless manner, endangering the lives of others. An investigation by the THP determined that Dawson Maness was the driver.
The USMS Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force in Jackson was asked to assist in finding and apprehending Maness. This morning, deputy marshals and task force officers went to Maness’ residence on Bargerton Road in Lexington, TN and took him into custody.
This was not the task force’s first encounter with Maness. He was released from jail on bond for a December 2024, incident where he is alleged to have shot and struck a FedEx delivery truck during a road rage incident in Jackson, TN. The Jackson Police Department charged him with Attempted First-Degree Murder and Felony Reckless Endangerment. The USMS subsequently arrested him at his home on January 22, 2025, for those charges.
The U.S. Marshals Service Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force is a multi-agency task force within Western Tennessee. The TRVFTF has offices in Memphis and Jackson, and its membership is primarily composed of Deputy U.S. Marshals, Shelby, Fayette, Tipton, and Gibson County Sheriff’s Deputies, Memphis and Jackson Police Officers, Tennessee Department of Correction Special Agents and the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Since 2021, the TRVFTF has captured over 3,000 violent offenders and sexual predators.
Officers are appealing for the public’s help trace a man who was last seen at a hospital In Leytonstone.
Aleks Abutayun, 29, was last seen at 17:00hrs on Monday, 19 May after he left Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone.
He is described as a white man and 5ft8 tall. He is of a medium build, with short dark hair and a beard.
Aleks was last known to be wearing a grey cardigan, green trainers and brown chino trousers. He has links to Hollow Ponds, Epping Forest and Waltham Forest.
Met officers are becoming increasingly concerned for Aleks’ wellbeing and if seen, we are advising people to call police rather than approach him.
Please call 999 immediately if you see Aleks, quoting CAD5635/19MAY.
Responding to the arrest of Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad in Delhi, India, for ‘sedition’ following his social media post, Aakar Patel, chair of board at Amnesty International India, said:
“The Haryana police must stop treating Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad like a criminal simply for expressing an opinion. The shameful arrest of the Professor for a social media post seeking support for justice for victims of lynching and ‘bulldozer injustice’ in the country is a violation of his rights to freedom of expression and liberty.
“Accusing Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad of sedition and other charges is not only absurd and completely unwarranted but also shows how authorities have been consistently misusing the law to target anyone who has a critical view in the country. Section 152 of the Indian criminal code, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which the professor has been accused of, is nothing but a new version of the old sedition law which the Supreme Court had stayed in 2022. In its new avatar, the law is once again being used to censor critical voices and create a climate of fear.
“The Indian government should urgently repeal this pernicious legislation and comply with their international human rights obligations. The Haryana Police must immediately release Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad and terminate the investigation against him.”
The Haryana police must stop treating Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad like a criminal simply for expressing an opinion.
Aakar Patel, chair of board at Amnesty International India
Background:
Ali Khan Mahmudabad is an associate professor and the head of political science department at Ashoka University in India. On 8 May, in a social media post he said that he was glad to see right-wing praise for Colonel Sophia Qureishi, who was one of the Indian armed forces spokespersons for media briefings on Operation Sindoor, but they should also speak up for ‘victims of mob lynchings, arbitrary bulldozing’ and the ruling-party ‘BJP’s hate mongering.’
The Haryana State Women’s Commission, however, accused the professor of attempting to “vilify national military actions”. Based on this along with a BJP Youth Wing leader’s complaint, the Haryana police filed a report against the Professor based on articles 152 (sedition), 353 (statements conducing to public mischief) and 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman) of the BNS.
Professor Ali Mahmudabad was arrested on 18 May from his Delhi residence and currently subject to 2-day police custody. He has defended his comments and said that they had been misunderstood.
Last year, the Rajasthan High Court had ruled against the misuse of Section 152 to suppress legitimate dissent
Charleston, WV — A U.S. Marshals Southern District of West Virginia CUFFED (Cops United Felony Fugitive Enforcement Division) Task Force two-week warrant operation has resulted in 40 felony arrests.
During Operation Shake Down, conducted from May 5 -16, law enforcement officers also recovered 40 grams of methamphetamine, 1 oz of fentanyl, and five firearms.
The wanted subjects had a wide range of felony warrants to include kidnapping, sexual assault, soliciting a minor via computer, possession with intent to deliver and distribute controlled substances, armed robbery, weapons offenses, child neglect causing risk of injury, burglary, and failure to register as a sex offender.
Significant arrests include:
Christopher Spaulding, 53, of Ripley, wanted out of Jackson County for possession with intent to deliver controlled substances and felon in possession of a firearm. Spaulding was also wanted in the Southern District of West Virginia on a federal supervised release violation. Spaulding’s underlying federal conviction is felon in possession of firearms.
Kirk Donovan Thomas, 36, of Charleston, wanted for failure to register as a sex offender, has been evading apprehension since 2023 from the West Virginia State Police. Thomas was also wanted on a circuit court capias warrant out of Putnam County. Since Thomas’s arrest, the West Virginia State Police has charged Thomas with additional counts of failure to register as a sex offender in Kanawha County.
Dwayne Edward White Jr., 27, of Ripley, wanted in Jackson County for delivery of methamphetamine. White has self-proclaimed gang affiliations.
David Argueta-Marquez, 29, of Lyburn, wanted out of Harris County, Texas, for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault of a child. Argueta-Marquez was arrested in Kimper, Kentucky, by U.S. Marshals task force members. Argueta-Marquez is also under investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s and is an alleged member of the 18th Street Gang in El Salvador.
Two individuals were also federally indicted from U.S. Marshals Service investigations.
Ronald Tinsley, 52, of Charleston, was indicted by a federal grand jury for escape. Tinsley is alleged to have escaped from Bureau of Prisons custody March 19.
Charles Clement, 42, of Hillsboro, was indicted by a federal grand jury for violations of the Adam Walsh Act. Clement, a sex offender, is alleged to having failed to register as a sex offender after moving to the state of West Virginia and establishing residency.
Both men are currently incarcerated.
“I would like to thank our partner agencies across Southern West Virginia for dedicating officers to the CUFFED Task Force,” said Michael T. Baylous, U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of West Virginia. “Their commitment and dedication have allowed the CUFFED Task Force to become one of the most efficient and effective in the country at apprehending fugitives.”
U.S. Marshals task forces combine the efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate and arrest the most dangerous fugitives. They also serve as the central point for agencies to share information on fugitive matters. Task force officers are state and local police officers who receive special deputations with the Marshals. While on a task force, these officers can exercise U.S. Marshals authorities, such as crossing jurisdictional lines.
Agencies involved in operation included:
U.S. Marshals CUFFED Task Force U.S. Marshals Central Kentucky Fugitive Task Force West Virginia State Police Kentucky State Police Fayette County Sheriff’s Office Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office Logan County Sheriff’s Office Mason County Sheriff’s Office Mingo County Sheriff’s Office Putnam County Sheriff’s Office Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office Parkersburg Police Department Saint Albans Police Department South Charleston Police Department
Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment against Brendyn Andrew, 33, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Dominique Collins, 37, of Stafford, Virginia.
In February 2025, a grand jury indicted Andrew for aggravated identity theft, supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits fraud, social security number misuse, and theft of government property. Andrew is now charged with additional criminal charges for possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices, aggravated identity theft, passport fraud, and tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant. Collins is named as a co-defendant for tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) Northeast Region, and Special Agent in Charge David M. Richeson, U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) – Washington Field Office.
According to the superseding indictment, in October 2022, with the intent to defraud, Andrew possessed 15 or more electronic benefit transfer cards. In February 2024, Andrew used someone else’s identification to apply for a U.S. passport. Then in March 2025, Andrew and Collins corruptly tampered with a Google electronic-mail account so that it could not be used in a court proceeding.
If convicted, Andrew faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years for aggravated identity theft, up to five years for supplemental nutrition assistance program benefits fraud, up to five years for misuse of a social security number, and up to 10 years for theft of government property. Additionally, Andrew is facing up to 10 years for possession of 15 or more unauthorized access devices and up to 15 years for passport fraud. Andrews and Collins both face up to 20 years for tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant.
A federal district court judge determines sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. An indictment or a superseding indictment are not findings of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment, or a superseding indictment, are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended USDA-OIG and DSS for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes thanked the Montgomery County Police Department for its investigative assistance and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kertisha Dixon who is prosecuting the case.
CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a man to more than a decade in prison for possessing multiple guns, including a semiautomatic rifle, while trafficking fentanyl and other narcotics in the Chicago suburbs.
A jury last year found OMARI ANDREWS, JR. guilty of possessing an AR-15 style firearm and three handguns while trafficking fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana in Mt. Prospect, Ill., in 2023. Andrews also pleaded guilty prior to trial to distributing fentanyl and heroin in Westmont, Ill., Villa Park, Ill., Des Plaines, Ill., and Hillside, Ill., in late 2022 and early 2023.
Andrews, 26, of Mt. Prospect, Ill., has been detained in federal custody since his arrest in 2023. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang sentenced Andrews to ten years and three months in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago. The Skokie, Ill. and Evanston, Ill. Police Departments provided valuable assistance.
“The defendant possessed a small arsenal of guns and ammunition in his apartment to protect his drug trafficking activity,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandro G. Ortega argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Drugs, and especially fentanyl, are a scourge to the public health and to law enforcement across the country, and a stain on the community.”
Holding firearm and drug offenders accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ricardo Sanchez, 32, of Stockton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb to four years and three months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, on Aug. 20, 2023, law enforcement officers contacted Sanchez and found him to be in possession of a Springfield Armory Hellcat 9 mm semi-automatic pistol. Sanchez is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to multiple prior felony convictions, including conspiracy to commit a crime and inflicting injury on a spouse/cohabitant or fellow parent.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Sacramento Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitnee Goins prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that APOLINAR FRANCISCO PAREDES ESPINOZA, also known as “Pancho,” 58, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 40 months of imprisonment, for illegally reentering the U.S. and his involvement in a scheme to smuggle aliens into the U.S., harbor them at Hartford area residences, force them to work, and threaten to harm them in various ways if they failed to pay exorbitant fees, interest, and other living expenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in September 2022, the FBI and Hartford Police interviewed several Mexican nationals who disclosed that they were smuggled from Mexico into the U.S. and transported to Hartford. The investigation revealed that victims typically arranged with Maria Del Carmen Sanchez Potrero and others in Connecticut and Mexico to cross the border into the U.S. in exchange for a fee of between $15,000 and $20,000 that each would need to pay once they were in the U.S. In most cases, the victims were required to turn over a property deed as collateral before leaving Mexico. They were then smuggled across the border and transported to Hartford area residences, including Sanchez’s and Paredes’ residence on Madison Street in Hartford, often at a substantial risk of bodily injury or death.
After the victims arrived in Connecticut, they were told that they would have to pay approximately $30,000, with interest, and that they would have to pay Sanchez and her co-coconspirators for rent, food, gas and utilities. Sanchez, Paredes, and their co-conspirators created false documents for the victims, including Permanent Residence cards and Social Security cards, and helped the victims find employment in the Hartford area. In addition to their own jobs, some victims were required to perform housework and yardwork, or to assist Paredes in his job responsibilities, without compensation and without having their debt reduced.
Victims were rarely provided with an accounting of their debt. If victims failed to make regular payments, or in amounts that Sanchez, Paredes, and their co-conspirators expected, they were sometimes threatened, including with threats to harm family members in Mexico, to take property in Mexico that had been secured as collateral, to reveal victims’ immigration status to U.S. authorities, and to raise their interest payments.
To date, investigators have identified 19 victims of this scheme. Multiple victims were minors, and at least two were smuggled into the U.S. unaccompanied by a relative or legal guardian.
In November 2014, Paredes was encountered in the U.S. and removed the same day via foot at Hildago, Texas. He illegally reentered the U.S. and, in December 2018, was arrested by East Hartford Police and charged with various motor vehicle offenses. He was again removed to Mexico in February 2019, and subsequently illegally reentered the U.S.
Paredes has been detained since his arrest on March 1, 2023. On November 22, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to encourage and induce, bring in, transport, and harbor aliens, and to illegal reentry of a removed alien.
Sanchez and her daughter, Porfiria Maribel Ramos Sanchez, previously pleaded guilty to related charges. On April 11, 2025, Sanchez was sentenced to 51 months of imprisonment, and on March 7, 2025, Ramos was sentenced to 36 months of imprisonment.
Judge Dooley ordered Paredes to pay, jointly and severally with his codefendants, restitution of $574,608.
Paredes, Sanchez, and Ramos face immigration proceedings when they complete their prison terms.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hartford Police Department, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel Krull and Shan Patel.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Tracey Mann (Kansas, 1)
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (KS-01) spoke on the U.S. House floor to honor the service of the nation’s law enforcement officials. To celebrate National Police Week, Rep. Mann joined his Republican colleagues in passing multiple bills, including theLEOSA Reform Act, theBELO’s Act, andH.Con.Res.30. Rep. Mann also participated in a vigil for fallen police officers in the U.S. Capitol.
Rep. Mann’s Remarks as Prepared:
Mr. Speaker, this week the nation has come together to celebrate National Police Week—a time to honor the brave men and women who wear the badge and put their lives on the line every single day to protect our families and communities.
In the Big First and across the country, law enforcement officers run toward danger when the rest of us run away. They wake up every day with a calling to uphold the rule of law, serve their neighbors, and keep their communities safe. And yet, too often, they are met with hostility and policies from Washington that make their job harder and put their safety at risk.
Let me be clear: I unapologetically stand with the men and women in blue. I will always oppose any effort to defund, demoralize, or dismantle the law enforcement agencies that keep our streets safe. These men and women put their lives on the line every day to make our communities stronger, safer, and more secure, and we should all be grateful.
I express my deepest gratitude to the police officers, Customs and Border patrol agents, detectives, state troopers, sheriffs, investigators, correction officers, drug enforcement agents, and U.S. marshals who have dedicated their careers to serving their communities. Today and every day, we recognize your sacrifice and honor all that you do to serve our great nation.
America is grateful for all you do.
###
For more information about Representative Mann, visit: www.mann.house.gov
Detectives investigating the murder of a 26-year-old man in Brent have named the victim.
Ali Faris Muhammad, who lived in Harrow, sadly died following an altercation in the early hours on Sunday, 18 May.
At 03:31hrs, police were called to reports of the incident in Kingsbury Road, NW9.
Ali was taken to hospital with a stab wound. Despite the best efforts of medical staff, he died.
His next of kin are being supported by specially trained officers. A murder investigation is under way.
Detective Chief Inspector Allam Bhangoo, who is leading the investigation, said:
“Our thoughts are with Ali’s family and loved ones. They have asked for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time.
“Our team of detectives and forensic specialists are working at pace to establish the full circumstances that led to his tragic death. We urge anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has any information that could assist us, to come forward as soon as possible.
“We understand this incident may cause concern within the Kingsbury community, and we’re grateful for their continued patience and co-operation as we carry out our investigation.”
Anyone who can help is asked to call police on 101, quoting reference: 1052/18May. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was convicted in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire.
Thomas D. Clegg, 42, was found guilty by a jury of participating in a conspiracy to commit murder for hire.
Clegg and others conspired from Aug. 19, 2021, to June 13, 2022, to murder a victim identified as “J.C.” and his family members for payment in cash and marijuana.
The conspiracy included two occasions when Clegg shot J.C. On Aug. 19, 2021, Clegg shot J.C. in the leg and back in the parking lot of Ugly Joe’s bar in Kansas City, Mo. On May 25, 2022, Clegg shot J.C. in the back in the parking lot of a strip mall located at 4010 Sterling Avenue, Kansas City, Mo. The businesses in and near the strip mall included an accounting firm, daycare, and fitness center. One witness had just picked two of her children up from the daycare when her vehicle was struck by the gunfire. One of her windows was shot out, but no one in her vehicle was injured.
Investigators seized Clegg’s cell phone when he was arrested. Investigators also obtained search warrants for Clegg’s cell phone. Text messages between Clegg and co-conspirators indicated that Clegg was hired to murder J.C.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for approximately two and a half hours before returning guilty verdicts to U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips, ending a trial that began Monday, May 12.
Clegg pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm utilized in the May 2022 shooting on Tuesday, May 6.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Clegg has two prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, as well as prior felony convictions for unlawful use of a weapon, trafficking in drugs, voluntary manslaughter, discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle, assault, armed criminal action, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Under federal statutes, Clegg is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashleigh A. Ragner and Heather Siegele. It was investigated by the FBI, the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department, the Independence, Mo. Police Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.