News from April 2023


New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act

MARVIN SIMS, age 34, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded on March 30, 2023 before the Honorable Eldon E. Fallon to charges of violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans.


Raceland Man Pleads Guilty to Violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act

TERRANCE STEWART, age 32, of Raceland, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier to a one-count indictment for possession with intent to distribute forty (40) grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidinyl] propanamide (fentanyl), in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B), announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans.


Texas Man Sentenced in Nationwide Cocaine Conspiracy

A commercial truck driver from Texas was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for transporting large amounts of cocaine and drug proceeds to and from Massachusetts on behalf of a drug trafficking organization based in Mexico and Texas.


Clinton Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for Production of Child Pornography and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm

A Clinton man was sentenced Tuesday to 27 years in federal prison for production of child pornography and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.


U.S. Attorney Dena J. King Joins Panel Discussion On “Diversifying The Criminal Justice Landscape ” At Johnson C. Smith University

U.S. Attorney Dena J. King joined professionals in the criminal justice field for a panel discussion at Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) on the topic of “Diversifying the Criminal Justice Landscape.”


Mississippi Resident Sentenced to Twelve Years in Prison for Armed Carjacking

A federal judge today sentenced a Mississippi resident for a carjacking that occurred in Moody, Alabama, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.


Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Transporting Firearms from Alabama into Massachusetts

A Boston man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to illegally transporting firearms from Alabama into Massachusetts.


Former Air Force Sergeant Pleads Guilty to Stealing Firearm Silencers Intended for Military Use

Troy Lynn Misiak, age 47, of Spring Lake pleaded guilty to felony theft of government property and unlawful possession of an unregistered weapon. According to the Government’s statement during the plea hearing, Misiak used his former position as a United States Air Force Master Sergeant (MSgt) to obtain, among other things, firearm suppressors supposedly for use by his military unit, but which he stole for himself. These items required proper registration under the National Firearms Act, which designated them as property of the United States Air Force. The Government further explained that after Misiak left the Air Force and became a civil service employee of the United States Army, he continued to try to obtain weaponry, sometimes successfully, from firearms dealers and manufacturers that were again purportedly intended for the military’s use, but which Misiak took for his personal collection.


Ballwin Man Admits Sex with Minors, Distributing Child Pornography

A man from Ballwin, Missouri on Thursday admitted distributing child pornography and engaging in sexual contact with underage girls he’d approached on Snapchat.


Alamogordo man pleads guilty to enticement of a minor

Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Alfonso Salcido Herrera, Jr. pleaded guilty to the enticement of a minor. Herrera, 45, of Alamogordo, New Mexico, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.


Gary Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison

Modesto Ricard IV, 32 years old, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson.


Oral Surgeon Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Fentanyl Tampering

An Iowa City man was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison for tampering with his dental practice’s fentanyl supply by removing the medication from vials for his own personal use.


Iowa City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child Pornography Charge

An Iowa City man was sentenced to 204 months in prison for receiving child pornography.


Former National Guardsman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child Pornography Possession

A Salem man was sentenced yesterday to 100 months in prison for possession of child pornography.


Dominican Republic national pleads guilty to possession of 630 kilograms of cocaine

United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Victor Reyes-Martinez, 40, of Nicaragua, pleaded guilty before Magistrate Judge Emile A. Henderson, III, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. A sentencing date for Reyes-Martinez will be set by the Court, and he will face a maximum of 20 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.


Jury Convicts St. Louis Man for Attempted Sex Crimes Against a Minor

In a U.S. District courtroom Wednesday, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts against a St. Louis man accused of several attempted sex crimes against a minor.


United States Files Forfeiture Action Against Over One Million Rounds of Ammunition Enroute from Iran to Yemen

The Justice Department announced the filing of a forfeiture complaint against over one million rounds of ammunition, thousands of proximity fuses for rocket-propelled grenades, and thousands of pounds of propellant for rocket-propelled grenades that the U.S. Navy seized in transit from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to militant groups in Yemen.


United States Files Forfeiture Action Against More Than One Million Rounds of Ammunition Enroute from Iran to Yemen

The Justice Department announced the filing of a forfeiture complaint against more than one million rounds of ammunition, thousands of proximity fuses for rocket-propelled grenades, and thousands of pounds of propellant for rocket-propelled grenades that the U.S. Navy seized in transit from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to militant groups in Yemen.


Justice Department and EPA File Complaint Against Norfolk Southern for Unlawful Discharge of Pollutants and Hazardous Substances in East Palestine Derailment

On behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division announced a complaint against Norfolk Southern Corporation and Norfolk Southern Railway Company (Norfolk Southern) related to the Feb. 3, derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The complaint seeks penalties and injunctive relief for the unlawful discharge of pollutants, oil, and hazardous substances under the Clean Water Act, and declaratory judgment on liability for past and future costs under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).


Poplar Bluff Man Sentenced to Serve 10 Years in Federal Prison on Drug and Gun Charges

U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. on Friday sentenced Daniel K. Hendrickson, 31, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, to serve a total of 10 years in federal prison for the offenses of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of firearms and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.