Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Saskatchewan RCMP and File Hills First Nation Police Service advise there is an increased police presence on Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation in relation to an ongoing investigation. People are asked to avoid the areas where police officers are present and follow any police direction provided.
We will provide an update on this investigation as soon as we are able.
If an imminent risk to public safety is identified, we will notify the public.
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
La Loche RCMP is actively working to locate and arrest 28-year-old Darcy Herman, who is wanted on multiple warrants.
Herman is wanted for charges including assault, failing to comply with a release order and failing to attend court.
The release order and court appearances are in relation to charges including resisting a peace officer, uttering threats and unauthorized possession of a firearm.
Investigators believe Herman is in the La Loche and/or Turnor Lake area and is actively evading arrest.
They ask that members of the public report all sightings of Herman and information on his whereabouts.
Herman is described as approximately 5’11” and 160 lbs. He has black hair and brown eyes. He typically has some facial hair. There is a tattoo of cursive writing on the left side of his neck.
If you see him, do not approach him. Contact La Loche RCMP by dialling 310-RCMP. Information can also be submitted anonymously by contacting Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or www.saskcrimestoppers.com.
Source: South Australia Police
Police resources allocated to investigating youth crime, domestic and family violence, cybercrime and retail theft are being significantly boosted.
More than 70 police officers are being redirected to a range of key frontline areas that will provide the most benefit to the community and enhance public safety and well-being.
The majority of the resources – 51 positions – have become available following successful programs such as the introduction of Police Security Officers in custody management areas, the civilianisation of some roles and the rationalisation of some small police stations.
Additional government funding has also delivered another 20 positions.
As part of the major initiative Commissioner of Police Grant Stevens has revealed the formation of a new Youth and Street Gangs Task Force to enhance SAPOL’s response into youth crime in South Australia.
The new task force will see the current Operation Meld and Operation Mandrake initiatives merged – with an additional 13 police officers added to its ranks.
An additional nine officers will be allocated to investigate financial and cybercrime and eight added to the successful Operation Measure anti-shoplifting initiative.
Regional communities will also benefit with 14 new positions assigned to volume crime teams and another 13 family and domestic violence investigation officers.
SAPOLs growing reliance on airborne policing operations has also resulted in 14 permanently appointed tactical flight officers who will contribute significantly to community safety and provide vital support to frontline officers involved in a variety of taskings.
Commissioner Stevens said while many of the positions will be filled immediately, others will be filled as resources become available.
“We are focusing resources on frontline roles and doing what matters most in areas that will have the most impact, the most benefit in responding to public concerns over safety and emerging crime trends,’’ he said.
“These include areas that both proactively investigate and respond to cybercrime incidents, youth crime, family violence, retail theft and our increasing reliance on airborne law enforcement operations.
“With the growing imbalance between our resources and demand, we will continue to look for opportunities to rationalise services to deliver similar frontline services where they matter the most.’’
The Youth and Street Gangs Task Force will continue the work of Operations Meld and Mandrake by responding to the evolving nature of youth street gangs by providing specialist investigative and intelligence skills.
Besides responding to specific incidents, SAPOL is working to break the cycle of criminality and recruitment of young members through interagency collaboration and community engagement.
“Youth crime is not just about the criminality, but the recruitment of younger members, so the task force provides an opportunity to break this cycle,” Commissioner Stevens said.
“This permanent task force will disrupt and reduce the criminal activities of a target group of offenders, particularly focusing on crimes of violence that pose a significant risk to community safety.”
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
ALBANY, Ga. – A Tifton resident faces up to 40 years in federal prison for distributing kilograms of Mexico-sourced methamphetamine after he was caught with a pound of methamphetamine while wearing an ankle monitor for a prior drug trafficking charge and attempted to flee from deputies.
Travarious Deshawn Mike, 29, of Tifton, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of methamphetamine before U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner on Feb. 3. Mike faces a maximum of 20 years in prison per count, to be followed by at least three years of supervised release and a $1,000,000 fine. A sentencing date will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The defendant was transporting large quantities of methamphetamine from an Atlanta source into the Tifton community. Even after his initial arrest, he willfully continued to violate the law and traffic dangerous drugs into Southwest Georgia,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker. “Our office collaborates closely with local, state and federal law enforcement to ensure that repeat offenders who are causing significant harm in the Middle District of Georgia are stopped and held accountable for their actions.”
“This investigation resulting in the seizure of meth, heroin and firearms is a clear reminder of the dangerous networks we continue to dismantle,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “The GBI remains committed to disrupting drug trafficking and criminal activity, especially those tied to dangerous sources of supply. This is a significant step in protecting our communities.”
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, GBI agents recorded Mike providing methamphetamine during a controlled buy utilizing a confidential informant (CI) on Aug. 15, 2022, at the Church’s Chicken in Tifton. A court-authorized tracking device monitored by the GBI captured Mike departing Tifton for Atlanta on Aug. 30, 2022. GBI agents observed Mike travel to two Mexican restaurants for brief periods, then immediately begin to travel back down I-75 towards Tifton. Crisp County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) deputies initiated a traffic stop on his vehicle after it observed a defective brake light and a window tint violation. A CCSO trained K9 made a positive alert on Mike’s car. During a search of the vehicle, agents seized 502 grams of heroin in Mike’s bookbag.
At the same time, GBI requested the Tifton Police Department’s (TPD) assistance to conduct surveillance on Mike’s Tifton residence. TPD initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle leaving Mike’s residence, locating 8,068 grams of 67.9% pure methamphetamine. The occupant was a drug courier delivering the narcotics from a Mexican source of supply near Atlanta to Mike and had made the trip before. GBI executed a court-authorized search warrant at Mike’s residence that same day and found four semiautomatic pistols, a revolver, rounds of ammunition, methamphetamine and a set of digital scales. A vehicle parked outside Mike’s residence and belonging to a co-defendant contained 783 grams of 80% pure methamphetamine, 168 grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, 97 oxycodone/fentanyl pills, seven grams of crack cocaine, plastic baggies and a digital scale. Interviews, evidence and text messages on seized cell phones belonging to Mike and co-defendants revealed that Mike was purchasing methamphetamine from a Mexican source of supply based in the metro Atlanta area. Mike subsequently bonded out of jail.
On June 5, 2024, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) observed a white Dodge Charger driven by Mike commit a traffic violation in Monroe County, Georgia. MCSO deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but Mike tried to escape and reached speeds over 125 mph. During the pursuit, Mike discarded a brick-shaped package out the window, which burst into a white crystal-like substance. Other MCSO officers secured the scene where the substance was discarded, finding approximately one pound of methamphetamine. Mike lost control of the vehicle and crashed onto the side of the highway. He attempted to flee on foot but was immediately apprehended. At the time of his arrest, Mike was wearing an ankle monitor and advised that he was out on bond for another drug trafficking incident.
The case was investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), the Tifton Police Department, the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Redavid is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
BOSTON – A Southbridge man has been convicted by a federal jury for his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed cocaine and fentanyl throughout the North Shore and Central Massachusetts areas.
Ismael Maysonet, 40, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for June 4, 2025. In September 2022, Maysonet was charged along with 21 other co-conspirators.
“Ismael Maysonet was a member of a large-scale drug trafficking organization that pumped fentanyl and cocaine into the communities of Massachusetts. We will continue to target and dismantle these groups to keep our communities safe and hold drug traffickers accountable,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “My office is committed to prosecuting all drug traffickers who prey on the vulnerable and addicted in our communities. We will continue to root out, arrest and prosecute those who violate our drug laws.”
“Those who choose to distribute fentanyl and cocaine endanger their customers as well as the general public. Maintaining public safety requires that they be prosecuted aggressively,” said Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “We work closely each day with our law enforcement partners to target those who seek to profit from the sale of these substances.”
“Postal inspectors are committed to ensuring the U.S. Postal Service is not a mechanism to distribute deadly fentanyl and other illicit narcotics,” stated Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service. “Let today’s verdict serve as a reminder that postal inspectors, along with our law enforcement partners, remain steadfast in our resolve to combat the flow of illicit drugs impacting our communities.”
In and around August 2021 through August 2022, Maysonet was identified as a member of a Southbridge-based DTO who distributed cocaine and fentanyl to retail customers and other drug dealers at the request of the leaders of the DTO, Jonathan Pizarro Gonzalez and Isaac Gonzalez. The DTO regularly used the United States mail to conduct drug trafficking activities. Specifically, the DTO obtained large quantities of cocaine through packages mailed from Puerto Rico to addresses used by the DTO and mailed packages containing fentanyl to recipients in Florida and elsewhere. On multiple occasions Maysonet was observed retrieving packages that were delivered by the United States mail that were known to contain drugs. Throughout the investigation, Maysonet was heard over intercepted calls discussing drug trafficking, payments and pickups, as well as the packaging of fentanyl in an electronic device to be mailed to Florida. Approximately nine kilograms of cocaine from packages sent through the mail and 800 grams of fentanyl were seized from various DTO members over the course of the investigation.
Both Jonathan Pizarro Gonzalez and Isaac Gonzalez pleaded guilty in January 2025 and are scheduled to be sentenced on April 29, 2025 and May 12, 2025, respectively.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams of cocaine fentanyl provides for a mandatory minimum sentence offive5 years and up to life in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Foley, DEA Acting SAC Belleau and USPIS INC Larco-Ward made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Marshals Service, Massachusetts State Police, Southbridge Police Department, Lawrence Police Department, Essex County Sherriff’s Department and Worcester County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen W. Hassink and Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (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.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Police can now release the names of the two people who died following a crash in Acacia Bay, Taupō on Friday 17 January.
They were Purity Anne Te Pairi and Tamatoa Kimi, both aged 19, from Taupo.
Our thoughts are with the whānau of those involved.
Inquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Police have recovered stolen firearms and a large amount of ammunition from a house in Foxton, thanks to two members of the public making the decision to call 111.
Horowhenua Prevention Manager Acting Senior Sergeant Peter Vine says thanks to those calls, Police have prevented weapons and ammunition falling into the wrong hands.
The calls were made about 7:30am on Tuesday 4 February.
“A young man was seen going between houses carrying armfuls of firearms. They thought it was strange so got in touch with us.”
A Police team went to the Mark Perreau Place property where they located an 18-year-old Foxton man, 5 firearms and a large amount of ammunition.
“The firearms and ammo had been stolen a day earlier. To get that tip off from a member of the public is just fantastic – they’ve prevented these weapons from getting into the wrong hands and all the harm that goes with that.”
The 18-year-old Foxton man was taken into custody without incident. He has been charged with burglary, four counts of unlawfully possessing a firearm, two counts of unlawfully possessing ammunition, unlawfully being in an enclosed yard, and unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle.
He is due to appear in the Levin District Court today (5 January).
Acting Senior Sergeant Vine urged anyone who sees suspicious behaviour to report it.
“If it looks illegal, dodgy, or strange, tell us. Call 111 if it’s happening now, or make a report to 105 if it’s after the fact. Your call could make a huge difference.”
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
NEWARK, N.J. – An East Orange, New Jersey man today admitted possessing quantities of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine he intended to distribute, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.
Ibraheem Muhammad, 41, of East Orange, New Jersey pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti to an Indictment charging him with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, one count of possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Law enforcement investigated Muhammad for his drug distribution from an apartment in East Orange (the “Residence”). On May 9, 2022, Muhammad was arrested on a warrant after law enforcement saw him exit the Residence and engage in a suspected drug transaction. He was caught in possession of numerous envelopes of suspected heroin and keys to the Residence. A subsequent search of the Residence revealed Muhammad to be in possession of controlled substances that subsequently lab tested positive for heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl, and various glassine envelopes and other paraphernalia used for packaging drugs. Law enforcement also recovered approximately $14,000 in cash; a Girsan 9mm semi-automatic handgun, loaded with fourteen (14) rounds of 9mm ammunition; and an additional fifteen (15) rounds of 9mm ammunition.
The drug charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1 million. The felon in possession of a firearm charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. The possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime charge carries a minimum sentence of 5 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for June 24, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks Jr., Newark Field Division; and the East Orange Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Maurice Boyd.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Farhana C. Melo of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
Police can confirm one person has died following a crash on State Highway 29, Te Poi on Tuesday 28 January.
The person was transported to hospital with critical injuries following the single vehicle crash.
As a result of the injuries sustained, the person passed away in hospital last night.
Inquiries into the circumstances of the crash are ongoing.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: New Zealand Police (National News)
An investigation into the wounding of a man in Birkenhead on Tuesday afternoon will continue today.
A man suffered multiple stab wounds outside an address on Birkenhead Avenue at around 2pm.
North Shore Area Commander Inspector Stefan Sagar says the victim underwent surgery at Auckland City Hospital last night.
“The victim is now in a serious but stable condition in hospital, and we will be looking to speak with him in the coming days as we continue our enquiries.”
Police will be visible again in the Birkenhead community today with an area canvas as part of the investigation.
“From what we have established so far in our enquiries, we do not believe this is a random incident,” Inspector Sagar says.
“We are continuing to make enquiries into information about a vehicle that left the area, but at this point we do not have further information to release.”
Police acknowledge the Birkenhead community, with many people coming forward to assist the investigation.
“We have had good support from the neighbourhood, and this information is assisting us in progressing the investigation,” Inspector Sagar says.
“I know when these events take place in our communities that this can be unsettling, but we believe it is an isolated event and Police are continuing to work hard to identify and hold this offender to account.”
Police welcome further information to assist with the investigation.
Anyone that can assist enquiries can update Police online now or call 105.
Please use the reference number 250204/5489.
Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS.
Jarred Williamson/NZ Police
Source: US State of New York
NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James’ Office of Special Investigation (OSI) today released its report on the death of Rakim Tillery, who died on January 3, 2024 following an encounter with the New York State Police (NYSP) in Ramapo, Rockland County. Following a thorough investigation, which included interviews with witnesses, review of home and body-worn camera footage, and comprehensive legal analysis, OSI concluded that a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officers’ actions were justified under New York law.
At approximately 2:53 p.m. on January 3, two NYSP troopers pulled over a car on the New York State Thruway based on a report about an incident that had taken place earlier the same day in Albany. The troopers were in two separate marked police vehicles, with their turret lights activated. The first trooper pulled over behind the car, and the second trooper pulled over behind the first trooper’s vehicle. As the troopers were getting out of their vehicles, the driver of the car, Mr. Tillery, was already out of his vehicle, armed with a firearm, and discharged his weapon at the troopers. One trooper discharged his service weapon in response, and Mr. Tillery fell to the ground. As the trooper approached Mr. Tillery, he got up, and a struggle ensued. Mr. Tillery grabbed for the trooper’s gun, and the second trooper discharged his service weapon three times, striking Mr. Tillery.
Under New York’s justification law, a police officer may use deadly physical force when the officer reasonably believes it to be necessary to defend against the use of deadly physical force by another. In this case, the troopers had reason to believe Mr. Tillery had been involved in an earlier incident in Albany and had reason to stop Mr. Tillery based on the radio dispatch. When the troopers encountered Mr. Tillery, he discharged a firearm at officers and engaged in a struggle with one trooper, attempting to grab his service weapon. Under these circumstances, given the law and the evidence, a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officers’ use of deadly physical force against Mr. Tillery was justified, and therefore OSI determined that criminal charges would not be pursued in this matter.
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
Police can confirm that a person has died following a crash near Ngāhinapōuri this morning.
Emergency services attended the crash involving three vehicles, reported at around 2.20am. In addition to the fatality, two other people were moderately injured.
State Highway 39 is closed while the scene is cleared and Serious Crash Unit conduct a scene examination.
Diversions are in place, motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, age 29, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty today to civil rights and firearm charges related to his firing shots outside of an Albany synagogue.
Alkhader pled guilty to obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force, brandishing a firearm during the commission of this offense, and conspiring to purchase a firearm unlawfully. Alkhader was arrested on December 7, 2023, and has been in federal custody since that date.
On the afternoon of December 7, 2023, Alkhader took an Uber from his home in Schenectady to Temple Israel in Albany. Upon arriving, he walked up the front steps of the synagogue, removed a shotgun from a duffel bag, and discharged two rounds into the air shouting, “Free Palestine!” Still holding the shotgun, he then attempted to remove an Israeli flag from a flagpole outside of the synagogue before walking away. He was arrested shortly after by Albany Police Officers.
United States Attorney Carla Freedman stated: “The defendant’s violent, antisemitic and terrifying act targeted the Temple Israel congregation, the larger Jewish community, and the right of every person to practice their religion without fear of violence. I commend law enforcement for acting swiftly to arrest Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, to investigate his motives and his illegal acquisition of the shotgun, and to bring about today’s guilty plea to a crime carrying a minimum term of 7 years in prison.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig Tremaroli stated: “Mr. Alkhader’s plea confirms his deliberate and premeditated intentions to illegally acquire a gun and use it to bring terror to the Temple Israel community as they were preparing to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah. Thanks to the swift actions of the Temple Israel community and our law enforcement partners, justice has been served. The FBI remains steadfast in our mission to ensure all our communities can live without fear of hateful violence.”
Alkhader’s threatening actions forced the daycare operating inside of Temple Israel at the time of his actions to go into lockdown. Alkhader also significantly disrupted activities that the Temple Israel community had planned to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah and made congregants afraid to return to their place of worship.
Alkhader also admitted that in November 2023, he and Andrew Miller agreed that Miller would purchase a shotgun for Alkhader by lying to a firearms dealer and falsely representing that Miller was the purchaser of the shotgun. On November 5, 2023, Alkhader and Miller drove to a federal firearms dealer in Albany and Miller purchased the Kel-Tec KS7 12-gauge pump-action shotgun; Miller later gave the shotgun to Alkhader. Alkhader fired this shotgun outside of Temple Israel.
ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller stated: “This guilty plea shows accountability for unlawfully obtaining a firearm and using it to instill fear. By stopping those who seek to use firearms to threaten and intimidate others, we are sending a message that gun violence will not be tolerated. This case demonstrates the dangerous consequences of unlawful gun possession. The cooperation between federal, state and local agencies remains critical in dismantling illegal gun trafficking. The successful resolution of this case was made possible due to collaboration between ATF NY Albany, FBI Albany, Albany PD, New York State Police and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox stated: “The Albany Police Department wants to reassure the community that these incidents are taken very seriously, and we are dedicated to maintaining peace and safety for everyone in our community. Alkhader directly targeted the Jewish community, and I am pleased with our department’s quick action in apprehending the defendant, as well as the collective partnerships with the FBI Albany Office and the ATF who helped bring justice to this case.”
Sentencing is scheduled for June 6, 2025, before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. Alkhader faces at least 7 years and up to life in prison, and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 5 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
Andrew Miller pled guilty and was sentenced to 14 months of imprisonment for his role in the straw purchase conspiracy.
The FBI Albany Field Office, in conjunction with the ATF and the Albany Police Department, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Belliss and Alexander Wentworth-Ping for the Northern District of New York, Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, and Trial Attorney Trevor Kempner of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
Source: US State of California
SACRAMENTO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta joined a coalition of 20 attorneys general today in sending a letter to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Dick Durbin, urging the Senate to require Kash Patel, President Trump’s nominee for Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director, to return for further questioning before the Senate Judiciary Committee in advance of a confirmation vote. The request follows alarming reports of politically motivated firings at the FBI and efforts to compile a list of agents involved in investigating the January 6th Capitol insurrection.
“The Federal Bureau of Investigation plays a critical role in protecting public safety, and they are a crucial partner to state Departments of Justice as we work to tackle fentanyl, organized crime, white collar crime, and security threats to our communities,” said Attorney General Bonta. “The disturbing reports of the Trump administration’s politically motivated firings and retaliation against FBI agents and staff who worked investigations and prosecutions related to the January 6th Capitol riots emphasize the need for answers, and for an objective, nonpartisan FBI Director. President Trump may say that he cares about law and order, but his recent pardon of 1,500 individuals who stormed the U.S. Capitol tells a very different story. Not only did those individuals try to stop the peaceful transfer of power, many of them violently assaulted law enforcement officers. Retaliating against FBI agents and staff who did their duty is nothing short of an attack on our law enforcement and public safety. We urge the Senate to demand answers about the pending FBI purge before voting on Mr. Patel’s nomination.”
In the letter, the attorneys general note how critical it is for Patel to address recent reports of politically motivated firings at the FBI. “Shortly after his confirmation hearing, we learned that more than a dozen high-ranking FBI officials were fired and that the FBI is developing a list of all agents and staff who worked investigations and prosecutions related to the January 6th Capitol insurrection. It is critical for Mr. Patel to answer questions about this unprecedented attack on the FBI before Senators vote on his confirmation.”
The letter raises additional concerns over reports that “the Administration plans to fire at least six high-ranking career FBI officials if they do not retire” and that “acting deputy attorney general Emil Bove directed FBI staff to compile a list of all staff who were ‘assigned at any time to investigations and/or prosecutions’ relating to the January 6th insurrection.” The attorneys general state, “If true, this is a purge of FBI employees.”
The attorneys general stress that before any confirmation vote, “the United States Senate should know what Mr. Patel plans to do with the list of FBI agents and staff that is currently being compiled.”
“Purging over 6,000 FBI agents and staff will have disastrous effects on public safety across the country and will make our communities more dangerous. FBI employees and staff protect America from the public safety harms that President Trump listed in his executive orders—fentanyl, the Mexican Cartels, foreign terrorist organizations, and harms to Americans’ pocket books.”
Beyond the FBI purge, the letter condemns additional attacks on law enforcement by the Trump administration, stating, “The President’s efforts to undermine the FBI follow unprecedented attacks on our country’s public safety. In just two weeks, the President has fired United States Attorneys, pardoned insurrectionists who killed and injured Capitol Police Officers, and attempted to defund law enforcement across the country.”
The Administration’s pardoning of over 1,500 Capitol insurrectionists, including those with serious criminal records, as well as its attempts to dismiss pending cases against January 6th insurrectionists, emphasize the need for an objective, nonpartisan FBI Director. At least one judge has already found that the pardons and dismissals will harm public safety and are unjustified.
Now is the time for Congress to act. Over the past two weeks, President Trump has taken actions that make our country less safe. The attorney general believes that Congress must act to protect Americans and hold the Administration accountable. The first step is requiring Mr. Patel to answer questions about the pending FBI purge before a confirmation vote.
Joining Arizona in sending the letter are the attorneys general from Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaiʻi, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
A copy of the letter is available here.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A citizen of Honduras has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of illegal re-entry of a removed alien, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Luis Fernando Diaz-Garcia, 27, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, in August 2024, Diaz-Garcia was found in western Pennsylvania after having been removed from the United States on or about November 13, 2019. Public records show that Diaz-Garcia was charged by criminal complaint in Allegheny County by the Pennsylvania State Police for conduct allegedly occurring on or about August 19, 2024.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: US State of California
A New York man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Albany, New York, to civil rights and firearm charges related to his threatening conduct targeted at a Jewish synagogue.
According to court documents, Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, 29, of Schenectady, pleaded guilty to an information charging one count of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force, one count of brandishing a firearm during the commission of this offense, and one count of conspiring to purchase a firearm unlawfully. Alkhader was arrested on Dec. 7, 2023, and has been in federal custody since that date.
“The defendant’s violent, antisemitic and terrifying act targeted the Temple Israel congregation, the larger Jewish community, and the right of every person to practice their religion without fear of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Carla Freedman for the Northern District of New York. “I commend law enforcement for acting swiftly to arrest Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, to investigate his motives and his illegal acquisition of the shotgun, and to bring about today’s guilty plea to a crime carrying a minimum term of seven years in prison.”
“Mr. Alkhader’s plea confirms his deliberate and premeditated intentions to illegally acquire a gun and use it to bring terror to the Temple Israel community as they were preparing to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Tremaroli of the FBI Albany Field Office. “Thanks to the swift actions of the Temple Israel community and our law enforcement partners, justice has been served. The FBI remains steadfast in our mission to ensure all our communities can live without fear of hateful violence.”
“This guilty plea shows accountability for unlawfully obtaining a firearm and using it to instill fear. By stopping those who seek to use firearms to threaten and intimidate others, we are sending a message that gun violence will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller of the New York Field Division for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “This case demonstrates the dangerous consequences of unlawful gun possession. The cooperation between federal, state and local agencies remains critical in dismantling illegal gun trafficking. The successful resolution of this case was made possible due to collaboration between ATF NY Albany, FBI Albany, Albany PD, NYSP, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
On the afternoon of Dec. 7, 2023, Alkhader took an Uber from his home in Schenectady to Temple Israel Synagogue in Albany. Upon arriving, he walked up the front steps of the synagogue, removed a shotgun from a duffel bag he had been carrying, and discharged two rounds into the air, shouting, “Free Palestine!” Still holding the shotgun, he then attempted to remove an Israeli flag from a flagpole outside of the synagogue before walking away. He was apprehended shortly after by Albany Police Department officers.
Alkhader’s threatening actions forced the daycare operating inside of Temple Israel at the time of his actions to go into lockdown. Alkhader also significantly disrupted activities that the Temple Israel community had planned to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah and made congregants afraid to return to their place of worship.
For obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force, Alkhader faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a mandatory minimum penalty of seven years for brandishing a firearm during the commission of his crime. Alkhader faces a maximum of five years in prison for participating in a conspiracy to unlawfully purchase a firearm. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 for each count. Alkhader is scheduled to be sentenced on June 6. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Albany Field Office investigated the case with assistance from ATF and the Albany Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Belliss and Alexander Wentworth-Ping for the Northern District of New York and Trial Attorney Trevor Kempner of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Mexico has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of illegal re-entry of a removed alien, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Dario Fortunato-Torres, 37, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, in October 2024, Fortunato-Torres was found in this District after having been removed from the United States on seven prior occasions between September 2013 and October 2017. Public records show that Fortunato-Torres was charged by the Moon Township Police Department on October 8, 2024, for conduct allegedly occurring on October 1, 2024. He was arrested on November 19, 2024, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement related to this charge.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to two years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: United States Attorneys General 7
A New York man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Albany, New York, to civil rights and firearm charges related to his threatening conduct targeted at a Jewish synagogue.
According to court documents, Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, 29, of Schenectady, pleaded guilty to an information charging one count of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force, one count of brandishing a firearm during the commission of this offense, and one count of conspiring to purchase a firearm unlawfully. Alkhader was arrested on Dec. 7, 2023, and has been in federal custody since that date.
“The defendant’s violent, antisemitic and terrifying act targeted the Temple Israel congregation, the larger Jewish community, and the right of every person to practice their religion without fear of violence,” said U.S. Attorney Carla Freedman for the Northern District of New York. “I commend law enforcement for acting swiftly to arrest Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, to investigate his motives and his illegal acquisition of the shotgun, and to bring about today’s guilty plea to a crime carrying a minimum term of seven years in prison.”
“Mr. Alkhader’s plea confirms his deliberate and premeditated intentions to illegally acquire a gun and use it to bring terror to the Temple Israel community as they were preparing to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Tremaroli of the FBI Albany Field Office. “Thanks to the swift actions of the Temple Israel community and our law enforcement partners, justice has been served. The FBI remains steadfast in our mission to ensure all our communities can live without fear of hateful violence.”
“This guilty plea shows accountability for unlawfully obtaining a firearm and using it to instill fear. By stopping those who seek to use firearms to threaten and intimidate others, we are sending a message that gun violence will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller of the New York Field Division for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “This case demonstrates the dangerous consequences of unlawful gun possession. The cooperation between federal, state and local agencies remains critical in dismantling illegal gun trafficking. The successful resolution of this case was made possible due to collaboration between ATF NY Albany, FBI Albany, Albany PD, NYSP, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
On the afternoon of Dec. 7, 2023, Alkhader took an Uber from his home in Schenectady to Temple Israel Synagogue in Albany. Upon arriving, he walked up the front steps of the synagogue, removed a shotgun from a duffel bag he had been carrying, and discharged two rounds into the air, shouting, “Free Palestine!” Still holding the shotgun, he then attempted to remove an Israeli flag from a flagpole outside of the synagogue before walking away. He was apprehended shortly after by Albany Police Department officers.
Alkhader’s threatening actions forced the daycare operating inside of Temple Israel at the time of his actions to go into lockdown. Alkhader also significantly disrupted activities that the Temple Israel community had planned to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah and made congregants afraid to return to their place of worship.
For obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force, Alkhader faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a mandatory minimum penalty of seven years for brandishing a firearm during the commission of his crime. Alkhader faces a maximum of five years in prison for participating in a conspiracy to unlawfully purchase a firearm. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 for each count. Alkhader is scheduled to be sentenced on June 6. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Albany Field Office investigated the case with assistance from ATF and the Albany Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Belliss and Alexander Wentworth-Ping for the Northern District of New York and Trial Attorney Trevor Kempner of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Wetaskiwin RCMP Crime Reduction Unit has concluded a two-day project focusing on active property crime offenders in the surrounding rural areas. During the project, Wetaskiwin RCMP officers worked in collaboration with RCMP officers from the Leduc Crime Reduction Unit, RCMP Air Services, and Camrose Police Service.
On Nov. 27, 2024, Wetaskiwin RCMP Crime Reduction Unit officers located a stolen truck in Camrose. A tire deflation device was utilized to disable the vehicle, and the lone occupant was arrested.
The vehicle had been stolen in Devon, Alta. on Oct. 26, 2024.
RCMP charged a 39-year-old individual, a resident of Camrose County, with:
The 39-year-old individual was taken before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody with his next court date set for Dec. 11, 2024, at the Albert Court of Justice in Camrose.
On Nov. 27, 2024 Camrose Police officers arrested repeat offender, a 57-year-old individual, a resident of Bawlf, Alta., for breaching a conditional sentence order. The 39-year-old individual was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and unstamped cigarettes.
She has been additionally charged with:
The 39-year-old individual was taken before justice of the peace and remanded into custody with her next court date set for Dec. 11, 2024.
On Nov. 28, 2024 officers from the Camrose Police Service located a stolen vehicle. Officers were able to safely stop the vehicle and arrest the driver.
A 26-year-old individual, a resident of Camrose, has been charged with:
The 26-year-old individual was taken before a justice of the peace and released with her next court date set for Jan. 8, 2025, at the Albert Court of Justice in Camrose.
On Nov. 28, 2024, officers from the Wetaskiwin Crime Reduction Unit were monitoring a property in Leduc County, Alta., known for prolific offenders and stolen property. Officers attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle, and the driver fled. The vehicle was disabled from a tire deflation device. The vehicle fled onto the property and the driver was arrested.
A 28-year-old individual, a resident of Leduc County resident, has been charged with:
Additionally, the 28-year-old individual was arrested for outstanding warrants out of Edmonton which including breaking and entering.
While on the property, police observed a stolen truck from Calmar, Alta. on Nov. 12, 2024. Officers obtained a search warrant for the property and seized the stolen truck.
RCMP charged two individuals from the home a 58-year-old individual and a 32-year-old individual, they were charged with:
Additionally, the 32-year-old individual had warrants for breaching a probation order.
The 58-year-old individual was released from custody with her net court date set for Jan. 23, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Leduc.
The 32-year-old individual was taken before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody with his next court date set in the future.
“Coordinated enforcement efforts focusing on repeat offenders can be very effective,” says Cpl. John Learn, “having these kinds of successes working closely with our Camrose Police Services partners will no doubt foster more similar projects in the future.”
Sgt. Scott Sveinbjornson of the Camrose Police Services emphasizes the importance of targeting prolific offenders and breaking down judicial boundaries to achieve successful outcomes. He notes that integrated efforts and close collaboration with the R.C.M.P. will remain key strategies for producing positive results in future projects.
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
On August 4, 2024, Prince Albert RCMP received a report of a single vehicle rollover on Whitfield Road, in the RM of Buckland.
Officers immediately responded. One adult female passenger was declared deceased by EMS at the scene. The adult female driver and an adult male passenger were taken to hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening in nature.
Prince Albert RCMP continued to investigate with the assistance of a Saskatchewan RCMP collision reconstructionist.
As a result of continued investigation, an adult female was arrested in Prince Albert on January 22.
33-year-old Destiny Michel from Prince Albert is charged with:
– one count, operate a conveyance causing death, Section 320.13(3), Criminal Code;
– one count, operate a conveyance with a blood alcohol concentration equal or greater than 80 mg/100 ml of blood, Section 320.14(3), Criminal Code; and
– one count, operate a conveyance in a manner that was dangerous to the public, Section 320.13(3), Criminal Code.
She is scheduled to appear in Prince Albert Provincial Court on February 13, 2025.
Source: New Zealand Police (District News)
State Highway 39 is closed following a crash near Ngāhinapōuri.
Emergency services attended the crash involving three vehicles, reported at around 2.20am. Critical injuries are reported.
Serious Crash Unit are conducting a scene examination.
The road is closed and diversions are in place, motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
ATLANTA — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended an unlawfully present Guatemalan national convicted of driving under the influence when officers with Enforcement and Removal Operations Atlanta’s Mobile Criminal Alien Team arrested Miguel Andres-Mateo, 20, Jan. 21 in Cornelia, Georgia.
Mateo illegally entered the United States at an unknown time and place and an immigration judge ordered him removed on Oct. 7, 2014. Mateo then failed to appear for his voluntary departure.
The Habersham County, Police Department in Georgia arrested Mateoa May 1, 2023, and charged him with driving under the influence. The Habersham County Court convicted him on May 22, 2023, and sentenced him to 12-months of probation.
ICE officers issued Mateo a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge following his arrest, and he remains in ERO custody.
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 Georgia on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROAtlanta.
Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
BALTIMORE — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended an undocumented Guatemalan alien with criminal charges. Gener Pop-Cuz, 20, was arrested Feb. 1, after the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections declined to honor ICE’s immigration detainer.
The corrections department released Pop into the lobby, instead of safely handing him over to the ICE deportation officer who was waiting for the exchange, and he resisted arrest during the initial encounter. However, Pop was eventually subdued and placed in handcuffs as corrections officers failed to intervene.
“Nobody wins when jurisdictions fail to transfer custody of violent offenders,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Baltimore acting Field Office Director Matthew Elliston. “Cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE is critical to ensuring the safety of our officers, the public, and even the criminal aliens in custody. I strongly encourage our local jurisdictions to evaluate their policies and look forward to the day when we can put aside politics and do what’s best for the people of Maryland.”
The U.S. Border Patrol encountered Pop near Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Nov. 13, 2017, and served him a notice to appear, transferring him to ICE custody on the same date. ICE released Pop on an order of recognizance Nov. 15, 2017.
A Department of Justice immigration judge ordered Pop removed to Guatemala Nov. 16, 2022, after he failed to show for his immigration hearing.
The Laurel Police Department arrested and charged Pop on Feb. 1 with possession of a loaded handgun, illegal possession of ammunition, possession of a firearm, and trespassing on private property. He was released on bond by the Prince George’s County Commissioner’s Office the same date. ICE then lodged an immigration detainer on Pop with the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections in Upper Marlboro.
Pop will remain in the custody of ICE pending removal.
ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. EOIR is a separate entity from DHS and ICE. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case, determining if a noncitizen is subject to a final order of removal or eligible for certain forms of relief from removal.
Detainers are critical public safety tools because they focus enforcement resources on removable noncitizens who have been arrested for criminal activity. Detainers increase the safety of all parties involved — ERO personnel, law enforcement officials, the removable noncitizens and the public — by allowing an arrest to be made in a secure and controlled custodial setting as opposed to at-large within the community. Since detainers result in the direct transfer of a noncitizen from state or local custody to ERO custody, they also minimize the potential that an individual will reoffend. Additionally, detainers conserve scarce government resources by allowing ERO to take criminal noncitizens into custody directly rather than expending resources locating these individuals at-large.
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 Maryland communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROBaltimore.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
EVANSVILE- 29 defendants have been sentenced to a combined 378 years in federal prison for their roles in a large methamphetamine and fentanyl drug trafficking organization that operated in Southern Indiana.
According to court documents, between January 2020 and November 2021, the following 29 individuals conspired together to distribute a total of nearly 500 pounds of methamphetamine and over three kilograms of fentanyl. This investigation led to the seizure of over 80 pounds of methamphetamine, over 560 grams of fentanyl, and $240,000 in United States currency.
Jeramey Smith served as the leader of the drug trafficking operation. Smith began obtaining multiple pound quantities of crystal methamphetamine from Julian Green in early 2020 until April of 2021 when he changed his source of supply to a cartel linked individual based in Houston, Texas. In June of 2021, Smith was robbed of a large amount of cash and was unable to pay his supplier for the lost product. Smith resorted back to Green to obtain the crystal methamphetamine.
DeJarnett was one of Smith’s top methamphetamine customers, often purchasing up to 20 pounds at a time. After Smith obtained the methamphetamine from either Green or his Mexican source of supply, he then distributed the methamphetamine to mid -level distributors in Indianapolis and Evansville.
In September 2021, Smith branched out to also begin selling large quantities of fentanyl-laced pills. Smith would obtain fentanyl powder from Markey and/or Moore, who would then press the powder into pills. Smith then used his same distributors to distribute the fentanyl throughout Southern Indiana. Law enforcement seized an automated pill press during the course of the investigation. Smith also used violence and intimidation to further his drug business by having his distributors robbed of their drug proceeds at gun point.
Additionally, several members of the drug trafficking used firearms to protect themselves and their profits. In total, law enforcement officers seized over 30 firearms from the defendants during court-authorized searches at multiple locations in Indianapolis and Evansville.
The charges and sentences are described below:
| Defendant | Charge(s) | Prison Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Jeramey Smith, 35 Indianapolis, IN |
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl Felon in Possession of a Firearm Obstruction of Commerce by Robbery |
240 months (20 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
Julian Green, 36 Indianapolis, IN |
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine Felon in Possession of a Firearm |
210 months (17.5 years) Indianapolis, IN |
|
Hannah Kissel, 28 Indianapolis, IN |
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl |
97 months (8 years) 3 years supervised release |
|
Jordan Wilson, 41 Evansville, IN |
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl Felon in Possession of a Firearm |
216 months (15.7 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
Timothy Rice, 35 Evansville, IN |
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine |
204 months (17 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
Archilles Johnson, 40 Evansville, IN |
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine |
180 months (15 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
Deonte Howard, 36 Evansville, IN |
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine |
180 months (15 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
Julie Hunt, 37 Petersburg, IN |
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl |
60 months (5 years) 3 years supervised release |
|
Torrance Mimms, 34 Evansville, IN |
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine |
180 months (15 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
Keisha Jewell, 40 Princeton, IN |
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl |
108 years (9 years) 3 years supervised release |
|
Davion Hays, 38 Evansville, IN |
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine |
144 months (12 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
Jason Mitchell, 43 Henderson, KY |
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine |
204 months (17 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
Denny Taylor, 49 Princeton, IN |
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine |
180 months (15 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
Aaron Hardiman, 42 Princeton, IN |
Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl |
120 months (10 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
Roman Wills, 43 Evansville, IN |
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine |
180 months (15 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
Michael Sanders, 48 Owensboro, KY |
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine |
168 months (14 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
Gregory Snyder, 62 Evansville, IN |
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine |
36 months (3 years) 4 years supervised release |
|
Joshua Gahagan, 41 Evansville, IN |
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine |
180 months (15 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
Gregory Markey, 35 Indianapolis, IN |
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl |
168 months (14 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
L.C. Moore, II, 31 Indianapolis, IN |
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Fentanyl |
120 months (5 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
Dominique Baquet, 31 Indianapolis, IN |
Obstruction of Commerce by Robbery |
57 months (4.7 years) 3 years supervised release |
|
Antonio DeJarnett, 36 Evansville, IN |
Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine |
264 months (22 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
Ryan Pinkston, 42 Evansville, IN |
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine Felon in Possession of Ammunition |
240 months (20 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
Robert Embry, 46 Evansville, IN |
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine |
60 months (5 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
Becky Edwards, 39 Evansville, IN |
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine |
120 months (10 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
Edward Meredith, 59 Evansville, IN |
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine |
120 months (10 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
Joshua Wilson, 33 Evansville, IN |
Use of a Communication Facility with the Intent to Commit or Facilitate the Distribution of Methamphetamine |
30 months (2.5 years) No supervised release |
|
Tabitha Seabeck, 32 Henderson, KY |
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine |
180 months (15 years) 5 years supervised release |
|
Zachary Addison, 42 Evansville, IN |
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine Felon in Possession of a Firearm |
300 months (25 years) 5 years supervised release |
“The members of this conspiracy will spend decades in federal prison for pumping pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl onto our streets,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Drug use devastates so many families and kills hundreds of Hoosiers every year. That’s why we will work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to dismantle armed organizations trafficking in deadly drugs. The sentences imposed in this case demonstrate our continued commitment to protecting the public from these dangerous criminals.”
“Dismantling a major drug trafficking organization that was responsible for distributing multi-hundred-pound quantities of methamphetamine and kilogram quantities of fentanyl onto the streets of Indiana was a big win for law enforcement. Because of the exceptional collaborative efforts by law enforcement, we were able to achieve this remarkable outcome,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Michael Gannon. “This investigation was a wonderful victory for all Hoosiers and sends a crystal-clear message to major drug dealers we will continue working together with our partners to dismantle their illicit operations.”
“This sentencing is a significant victory in the relentless fight against the trafficking of deadly drugs and underscores the FBI’s commitment to pursue those who wreak havoc on our communities through their illegal drug trade,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure those who endanger public safety and contribute to this crisis are held accountable.”
“I would like to thank the dedicated Evansville Police Officers and Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office Deputies as well as our federal partners in the DEA and US Attorney’s Office for their roles in getting these individuals off our streets. The manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl have brought death and destruction to our communities and have done irreversible damage to families in the worst way possible. This community will not tolerate that kind of behavior and illegal activity, and we will use every resource available to us to stop it and put dealers behind bars.”
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Evansville Resident Office, with the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Evansville Vanderburgh County Joint Task Force, DEA Indianapolis and Indianapolis Metro Drug Task Force providing valuable assistance. The sentenced were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman.
Acting U.S. Attorney John E. Childress thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Wheatley and Jeremy Kemper, who prosecuted this case.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage—a tiny amount that can fit on the tip of a pencil. Seven out of ten illegal fentanyl tablets seized from U.S. streets and analyzed by the DEA have been found to contain a potentially lethal dose of the drug.
One Pill Can Kill: Avoid pills bought on the street because One Pill Can Kill. Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of death for adults in the United States. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid that drug dealers dilute with cutting agents to make counterfeit prescription pills that appear to be Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and other drugs. Fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl are usually shaped and colored to look like pills sold at pharmacies. For example, fake prescription pills known as “M30s” imitate Oxycodone obtained from a pharmacy, but when sold on the street the pills routinely contain fentanyl. These pills are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in different shapes and a rainbow of colors. They often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill. Do not take these or any other pills bought on the street – they are routinely fake and poisonous, and you won’t know until it’s too late.
###
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
LOS ANGELES – A Los Angeles man who ran a Beverly Hills luxury watch consignment business and was known as “The Timepiece Gentleman” was sentenced today to 70 months in federal prison for swindling dozens of his customers of out a total of at least $5.6 million.
Anthony Farrer, 36, formerly of downtown Los Angeles, was sentenced by United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton.
Farrer pleaded guilty in October 2024 to one count of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud. He has been in federal custody since November 2023.
“This defendant stole millions of dollars from customers who trusted him and then used his ill-gotten gains to fund his exorbitant lifestyle,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “The sentence imposed today sends a message that those who defraud the public will be held accountable.”
“The so-called ‘Timepiece Gentleman” was actually a con-man whose time living lavishly ran out when the high-end watch owners he victimized brought his crimes to the attention of law enforcement,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field. “This successful prosecution is the result of a joint collaboration among local and federal partners working together in order to bring Mr. Farrer to justice.”
“Mr. Farrer exploited his clients’ trust for personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “Instead of making good on his business promises, Mr. Farrer swindled his clients out of money and property to fund his own extravagant expenditures, and now he’ll suffer the consequences. IRS-CI is committed to protecting clients and consumers from this sort of dubious behavior, and we are proud to have been a partner in this investigation.”
From November 2022 to November 2023, Farrer used his business – also called “The Timepiece Gentlemen” – to connect purchasers and sellers of high-end watches. In a typical consignment sale, a client would ship a watch to The Timepiece Gentleman and Farrer would take possession of the watch, agreeing to display it at his Beverly Hills store and through online and social media marketing. The items involved in this case included luxury watches by Rolex, Richard Mille, and Patek Phillipe, among others.
Once the watch was sold, Farrer was supposed to remit the sales proceeds back to the client, minus a consignment fee, which typically was approximately 5% of the sales price. If the watch did not sell within a specific time or for a specified price, Farrer was to return the watch to the client.
But instead of remitting watch sales proceeds – or the unsold watches themselves – back to the clients, Farrer sold the client watches and kept the proceeds for himself. He also used client watches – without the client’s knowledge or permission – as collateral for loans that he took out from lenders.
When a client asked about the status of a watch on consignment sale, Farrer lied and said that the watch had not yet been sold. In fact, Farrer already had sold the watch or otherwise disposed of it, keeping the funds for his own personal benefit.
In addition to his consignment sale business, Farrer also purported to purchase watches on behalf of his clients. Typically, a client sent funds to Farrer, often by wire transfers to his bank accounts or through payment processors such as Zelle, for the purpose of Farrer locating and buying a specified watch on the client’s behalf.
But Farrer took the clients’ money and used it for other purposes, including to fund his lavish lifestyle such as buying or leasing luxury automobiles, apartments, and other luxury goods.
When a client who had sent him money asked Farrer about the status of a watch purchase, Farrer often sent another watch to the client to tide the client over or lull them into a false sense of security regarding the status of the purchase. Like a Ponzi scheme, the other watch Farrer sent to the client often belonged to other clients who had themselves sent him that watch for a consignment sale. These clients were unaware Farrer was using their watches for that purpose, rather than attempting to sell the watches on behalf of the clients.
In total, Farrer fraudulently obtained money and property belonging to more than 40 victims and caused total losses of at least $5,691,005. Farrer also will be subject to a restitution order for payment owed to victims in amounts to be determined later.
The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Beverly Hills Police Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Joshua O. Mausner of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
WAYCROSS, GA: A newly unsealed federal indictment alleges dozens of defendants, many of them in prison, participated in an extensive drug trafficking operation spanning several south Georgia communities.
The indictment in USA v. Brinson, et al., names 37 individuals in the Coffee, Atkinson, and Bacon County area as conspirators, charging them with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Oxycodone, and Marijuana, said Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Conviction on the charge carries a maximum penalty of up to life in prison for most defendants, along with substantial financial penalties and a period of supervised release upon completion of any prison term.
There is no parole in the federal system.
“This operation makes it clear that rural communities aren’t immune from the scourge of drug trafficking,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lyons. “We applaud the diligent work of our law enforcement partners in this investigation.”
As described in the indictment, the defendants are alleged to have participated in a conspiracy to import and distribute large amounts of illegal drugs in the Douglas, Georgia, community and surrounding counties. Much of the conspiracy was directed from inside Georgia state prisons using contraband cell phones. The 60-count indictment includes the seizure of 21 illegally possessed firearms and more than $17,000.
Those named in the indictment include:
Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“The FBI and our law enforcement partners were able to achieve today’s arrests and seizures because all of us never stopped working together, combining our resources, and advocating for a safer place to live for everyone in this community,” said FBI Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brian Ozden. “And we will not rest until we bring back to our community a sense of security and law and order that is so greatly needed.”
“This operation was only successful because of the collaborative effort of the various agencies,” said Coffee County Sheriff Fred T. Cole. “As the sheriff, it is my mission to eliminate the spread of illegal drugs in our community. This operation highlights the importance of community safety and the lasting effects it has on our community.”
This investigation took place under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer.
The case also was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
Agencies conducting the investigation include the FBI, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Southeast Regional Drug Enforcement Office, the Georgia State Patrol, the Georgia Department of Community Supervision, the Douglas Police Department, the Bacon County Sheriff’s Office, the Atkinson County Sheriff’s Office, the Waycross Police Department, the Marion County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office, and the Jacksonville (Florida) County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bradley R. Thompson and Joshua K. Davis.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
ROANOKE, Va. – The third man involved in robbing the Carter Bank and Trust on Hershberger Road in Roanoke in June 2023, pled guilty recently in U.S. District Court in Roanoke for his role in the robbery.
Tishawn Simpson, 25, of Roanoke, pled guilty last week to one count of bank robbery.
According to court documents, on June 22, 2023, two masked men, Simpson and Demonte Belcher, entered the Carter Bank and Trust, one carrying a blue bank bag and the other carrying a green plastic bag and presented the teller with a note that stated “[l]ets make everything right you have least (sic) than 30 seconds to give me $50K or die got nothing to lose.” As a result of this threat, the men left the bank with $8,659 in cash, but left the demand note behind. Simpson was identified as a suspect when a DNA analysis revealed that he had contributed to a DNA profile that the FBI Laboratory had developed from one of the robber’s masks that law enforcement recovered.
A third man, Ramel Abrams, did not physically enter the bank, however his fingerprints were found on the demand note and the clothing worn by both robbers was found inside of his apartment. Furthermore, location information obtained from Abrams’ phone records indicates that he was near Carter Bank & Trust just prior to the robbery.
All three men have pled guilty for their roles in the robbery. In August, Belcher was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison and in December Abrams was sentenced to 30 months for his role in the robbery Simpson will be sentenced in May.
Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’ s Richmond Division Stanley M. Meador, and Chief of the Roanoke City Police Department Scott Booth made the announcement.
The Roanoke City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case and received assistance from the Star City Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Salem Police Department, and the Roanoke City Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Keith Parrella and M. Coleman Adams are prosecuting the case.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Defendant Conspired with Other to Set the Stores on Fire, Robbed a Store, and Went Back Later to Steal Money from an ATM
Greenbelt, Maryland – After a 5-day trial, a federal jury found Stephen Kennedy, 33, of Temple Hills, Maryland, guilty of conspiracy to commit arson, arson affecting interstate commerce, commercial robbery, using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, carrying and explosive device during the commission of a felony, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The Defendant was found not guilty as to one count of arson affecting interstate commerce.
The verdict was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Acting Maryland State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray; St. Mary’s County Sheriff Steven A. Hall; Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department; and Chief Tiffany D. Green of the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department.
According to the 8-count superseding indictment, from at least January 2021 to January 2022, Kennedy and other conspirators, including co-defendant Donnell Kelly, conspired to commit arsons at 7-Eleven convenience stores so that they could later steal cash contained in ATMs in the stores. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Kennedy and Kelly traveled to 7-Eleven locations while they were open for business and deployed explosive devices to set fire to the buildings, and on at least one occasion, demanded the contents of the cash register. The defendants burned the stores to force their closure and shut off power to the security cameras, which enabled them to return to the unguarded locations to burglarize the ATMs. This resulted in losses to the ATM company of at least $90,000. To conceal the evidence of their crimes, one of Kennedy’s co-conspirators made false police reports regarding stolen license plates.
Kennedy faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the arson conspiracy and for arson affecting interstate commerce; a maximum of 20 years in prison for commercial robbery; a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years and up to life in federal prison for using a destructive device in furtherance of a crime of violence; a ten year sentence for carrying an explosive during the commission of another federal felony; and a maximum of 10 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Co-defendant Donnell Kelly pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson and was sentenced to 10 years with supervised release for a term of 3 years, on October 2, 2024 before Judge Peter J. Messitte. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for Kennedy on May 30, 2025 at 2:30 p.m.
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.
U.S. Attorney Barron commended the ATF’s Baltimore Field Division’s Arson & Explosive Investigations Group, the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department, and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the ATF Washington Field Division, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Alexandria, Virginia Fire and Police Departments for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Rosenthal and Christopher Sarma, who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Source: Eurojust
French and Spanish authorities, with the support of Eurojust and Europol, have stopped an illegal drug delivery into France arriving from Spain. The drug seizure is part of an operation against an international trafficking network active in the two countries. Authorities arrested 24 members of the network, including the two leaders, and seized over 150 kg of drugs with a market value of EUR 2.5 million.
The French criminal group set up import routes to transport drugs into France from their headquarters in Spain. Using vehicles with hidden compartments, the group was able to avoid detection and transport multiple types of synthetic drugs and cannabis into France. By frequently changing the routes used, the group further ensured that they remained undetected.
French authorities started investigating the network together with their partners in Spain in June 2024. They soon located the head of the network in Southern Spain and investigated the criminal activities such as drug trafficking and money laundering. A takedown of the network was planned, with the preparation of European Investigation Orders and European Arrest Warrants taking place at Eurojust.
Europol supported the investigation by providing analytical expertise to map out the syndicate’s structure, identify key players and track smuggling routes. Europol also coordinated intelligence sharing and funded the deployment of French officers to Spain to facilitate cross-border cooperation. On the action day, Europol deployed experts to France and Spain to ensure real-time information exchange between the involved law enforcement authorities.
On 28 January, actions to take down the group took place simultaneously in Spain and France. Authorities caught a drug convoy arriving in France in the early morning. Over 120 kg of drugs were intercepted from the delivery. The three drivers and the head of the network in France were arrested on the spot. During searches in France, money, drugs and weapons were seized, and 13 suspects were put in police custody and 9 in preventive custody. In Spain, the two leaders of the criminal group were arrested, and cash and drugs were seized during house searches. The leaders are now awaiting extradition to France. The members of the criminal group who were involved in drug trafficking and money laundering could face up to 30 years in prison.
The following authorities carried out the operations:
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Bay Roberts RCMP is seeking the public’s assistance in relation to a vehicle stolen from Bay Roberts in the overnight hours of Monday, February 3, 2025.
The grey, four door 2017 Honda Civic Touring, NL license plate JGZ 878, was stolen from a residential property in the Water Street area. A stock photo of the same vehicle is attached.
Anyone with any information about this crime, the identity of the person(s) responsible or the current location of the vehicle is asked to contact Bay Roberts RCMP at 709-786-2118. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit www.nlcrimestoppers.com or use the P3Tips app. #SayItHere