News from April 2023


Four Indicted in Scheme to Deliver Drugs into State Prisons by Drone

An indictment, brought on Feb. 16, 2023, has been unsealed, charging four defendants in a scheme to use drones to deliver drugs and other contraband into state prisons, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.


Leader Of Hillsborough Drug Trafficking Organization And His Wife Sentenced To Federal Prison For Conspiracy And Distribution Of Heroin And Fentanyl

U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced William Franqui (37, Tampa) to 14 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl. Franqui’s wife, Marie Rodriguez (41, Tampa), was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months in federal prison for distribution of heroin and fentanyl. Franqui and Rodriguez had both pleaded guilty on May 31, 2022.


Wyoming Felon Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Unregistered Sawed-Off Shotgun

News Release: BILLINGS - A Wyoming man who admitted to possessing an unregistered sawed-off shotgun after an attempted traffic stop and chase on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation was sentenced today to two and one-half years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.



FBI Albany Honors Syracuse University Professor Dr. Robert Silver with Director’s Community Leadership Award

aneen DiGuiseppi, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Albany Field Office, announced Syracuse University Professor Dr. Robert Silver as the division’s 2021 recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award (DCLA).


New York Litigation Funder Convicted In Trip-And-Fall Fraud Scheme Sentenced To 36 Months In Prison

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ADRIAN ALEXANDER, a New York litigation funder, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for his participation in a scheme to obtain large insurance settlements and lawsuit recoveries from fraudulent trip-and-fall accidents.


Erie Drug Dealer Gets Federal Prison Sentence

A former resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 70 months in prison on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.


FBI Statement on Arrest of Jack Douglas Teixeira

FBI took 21-year-old Jack Douglas Teixeira into custody without incident at a residence in North Dighton, Massachusetts, for his alleged involvement in leaking classified U.S. government and military documents.


FBI Miami Reiterates State Department Haiti Travel Advisory

FBI Miami is informing U.S. Citizens and Legal Permanent Residents (LPR) in South Florida who are considering traveling to Haiti that the U.S. State Department has issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel Advisory for this country.


Rochester Man Pleads Guilty To Receipt Of Child Pornography

U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Nathan Follett, 36, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years and a $250,000 fine.


Chicago man who illegally possessed firearm during home burglary in Cincinnati sentenced to more than 7 years in prison

A Chicago man who committed a home burglary in Cincinnati while illegally possessing two firearms before leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit was sentenced in federal court to 87 months in prison.


Elmira Man With Prior Child Sex Conviction Arrested On Federal Child Pornography Charge

U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Eugene R. Criss, Jr., 55, of Elmira, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography by an individual with a prior sex offense conviction, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of 20 years.


FBI Seeking Information From a Bank Robbery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The FBI is seeking information from a bank robbery that took place on April 13, 2023, at approximately 9:05 a.m. at a Bank of America branch, 941 SE 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316.



Middle District Of Florida Task Force Continues To Combat COVID-19 Fraud

United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the results achieved by the Middle District of Florida’s efforts to combat fraud related to COVID-19. Those efforts have included complementary actions by the United States Attorney’s Office’s (USAO-MDFL) Criminal, Asset Recovery, and Civil Divisions, along with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.


Six Indicted in Alleged Drone Prison Smuggling Scheme

A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment charging six people with conspiring to smuggle contraband into a federal prison in Kansas.



Contractor Pleads Guilty to Bribing Former School Board President of Madison District Public Schools

A school contractor pleaded guilty today to bribing and conspiring with Albert Morrison, the former School Board President of Madison District Public Schools, in a half-million dollar pay to play scheme, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced.


Grant County residents sentenced to a combined 50 years for child porn

Two Petersburg, West Virginia, residents have been sentenced for creating and distributing sexual images of a minor under the age of 12.


Lee County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing Firearm as a Convicted Felon

News Release: Fort Myers, Florida - U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Clayton Mack Rhodes (45, Fort Myers Beach) to seven years and six months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. The court also ordered Rhodes to forfeit the firearm and ammunition he possessed during the offense. Rhodes had pleaded guilty on August 9, 2022.