Trad News

Houthis Fire Two Missiles at Israel, Declare Ban on Israeli Ships in Red Sea

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:05:38 +0000

JERUSALEM - Yemen’s Houthis fired two missiles at central Israel on June 8, one of which was intercepted and one of which fell short, as the jihadist group simultaneously announced a complete ban on Israeli vessels in the Red Sea in a significant escalation of its maritime campaign.

Yahya Saree, the Houthis’ military spokesperson, said the group was imposing “a complete and total ban on maritime navigation on the Israeli enemy in the Red Sea,” adding, “We consider that all movements of the enemy to be a military target from the announcement of this statement.” The Houthis claimed to be targeting sites in the Tel Aviv area.

Hindu Nationalist Mob Attacks Church in India, Injures 25 Worshippers

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:05:31 +0000

SUKMA, India — A Hindu nationalist mob attacked a Sunday worship service in the remote village of Sadrapal in Chhattisgarh state, injuring at least 25 worshippers — including the pastor’s pregnant wife — in an assault that Christian leaders say was driven by hostility toward the faith, not a land dispute as the attackers claimed.

Of the nearly 30 people injured, at least eight sustained severe head injuries and required emergency medical attention at the Sukma district Government Hospital and a nearby primary health center. Photos circulating on social media showed bloodied men and women lying on stretchers and on hospital floors due to a lack of beds. About 70 Christians had gathered for a prayer service led by local fellowship leader Pastor Hunga Mandavi when the attackers barged in wielding sticks, machetes, and bows and arrows.

Nigerian Army Frees at Least 360 Boko Haram Captives From Mandara Mountains

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:05:23 +0000

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — The Nigerian army rescued at least 360 people held captive by Boko Haram militants in a remote hideout in the Mandara Mountains of Borno state near the Cameroon border, Nigerian authorities announced this week, ending months of captivity for hundreds of women and children abducted during a devastating March attack on the village of Ngoshe.

Local community leaders from the Borno South Youth Alliance dispute the military’s account on both the numbers and the method. They claim the number of freed captives exceeds 400 and contend that months of direct negotiations with the militants — not a military assault — secured the release. Representatives of the group publicly criticized government officials for taking credit for what they described as a negotiated humanitarian outcome.

Boilermakers Union Leaders Convicted of Racketeering, Embezzling Millions in Dues

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:05:09 +0000

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A federal jury convicted four former leaders of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Forgers, and Helpers of racketeering, fraud, and embezzlement in a scheme that drained millions of dollars in union-member dues through no-show jobs, luxury international travel, unearned vacation payouts, and an unauthorized $7 million loan to a union-related bank.

Newton Jones, 72, of Chapel Hill, N.C., the union’s former president, his wife Kateryna Jones, 33, also of Chapel Hill, and former Secretary Treasurer William Creeden, 78, of Kearney, Mo., were convicted of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Former Vice President Lawrence McManamon, 78, of Rocky River, Ohio, was convicted of embezzlement. Over a 15-year period, the defendants embezzled more than $5 million in unnecessary luxury international travel, nearly $2 million in salary and benefits for no-show jobs, over $100,000 in tuition, rent, and relocation expenses for Newton Jones’s family members, hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent vacation payouts, and over $100,000 in restaurant charges.

Oklahoma Man Gets Six Years for Firearm Possession Under DOJ Domestic Violence Push

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:04:58 +0000

OKLAHOMA CITY - A federal judge sentenced Michael Dewayne Hebert, 40, of Alva, Okla., to 72 months in federal prison for illegal firearm possession after he strangled a woman and threatened to kill her during a domestic violence incident, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma announced.

U.S. District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti imposed the six-year sentence followed by three years of supervised release at a hearing last week, noting Hebert’s “extensive criminal history, including domestic violence convictions, as well as the danger he poses to the public,” according to the sentencing record. Public records show Hebert has multiple prior felony convictions in Louisiana, including several for domestic abuse and assault-related offenses.

Turkey's Interior Minister Declares Dream of Governing Jerusalem

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:04:44 +0000

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci told a ruling-party gathering that he dreams of one day serving as governor of Jerusalem and predicted that former Ottoman territories — including the contested holy city — would return to Turkish sovereignty, remarks that drew sharp reactions from Israeli officials.

Speaking at an advisory council meeting of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the central province of Corum on June 6, Ciftci described a personal prayer he has carried since his years as a provincial governor. “When I was governor, I had one supplication to Allah … my Lord, one day grant me the governorship of Jerusalem,” he said. He added that lands once under the Ottoman Empire would “again come under our sovereignty and dominion,” comparing such an outcome to recent developments in Syria and the South Caucasus.

Islamist Terrorists Demand Sharia Laws, ₦1 Billion for Nigerian Students

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:04:34 +0000

ABUJA, Nigeria — Armed terrorists linked to the Islamist group Ansaru are demanding the release of two convicted terrorist commanders, a ₦1 billion ($734,000) ransom, the return of two vehicles, and the introduction of Sharia-related legislation in exchange for dozens of Christian students and teachers abducted from schools in Oyo state.

The captives — more than 40 students, seven teachers, and a school principal — were seized when gunmen attacked schools in the communities of Esinele, Yawota, and Alawusa in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15. One of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher at Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, has been killed in captivity. Terrorists circulated a video showing his beheading, and Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde confirmed the death.

New Jersey Man Charged With Plotting ISIS Attacks on Synagogue, National Guard Site

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:04:11 +0000

WAYNE, N.J. — A 22-year-old New Jersey man who allegedly plotted attacks on a Jewish place of worship and a National Guard location in support of ISIS was charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to the designated foreign terrorist organization, the Department of Justice announced.

Mohamed Sagha of Wayne was charged by complaint with one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham. He made his initial appearance in federal court and was ordered detained. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of life of supervised release.

Pope Leo XIV Challenges Spain's Parliament on Abortion, Euthanasia in Historic Address

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:03:24 +0000

MADRID — Pope Leo XIV became the first pontiff to address a joint session of Spain’s Congress of Deputies, delivering a pointed challenge to lawmakers over the country’s legal protections for euthanasia, assisted suicide, and a pending constitutional amendment on abortion, telling them that “the defense of human life is neither a partisan issue nor a confessional interest: it is a goal of civilization.”

The U.S.-born pope, who spent nearly two decades serving in Peru, spoke to hundreds of lawmakers and judiciary leaders in a speech that drew on Spain’s own Catholic intellectual tradition to press the case for the inviolable dignity of the human person. “If life ceases to be recognized as a fundamental value, what future can our societies have?” he asked. “Can a community that casts into the shadows the unborn child, the elderly, the sick, those who suffer in silence, or those who depend entirely on the care of others be called fully just?”

Mexican National Deported Five Times Sentenced to 14 Months in Illinois

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:58:39 +0000

CHICAGO — A 38-year-old Mexican national with five prior deportations and a criminal record spanning aggravated assault, aggravated DUI, and escape has been sentenced to 14 months in federal prison for unlawfully re-entering the United States, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois announced.

Manuel Alberto Cortes Cuan was arrested in Lyons, Ill., after police received a report that a vehicle linked to an ongoing theft investigation had been located in a residential area. When officers approached the vehicle and attempted to detain Cortes Cuan, he “vigorously resisted arrest, causing injuries to himself and two police officers,” according to the Department of Justice.

Four Convicted in $40M Trust Tax Shelter Scheme in Colorado Federal Court

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:56:02 +0000

DENVER - A federal jury in the District of Colorado convicted four individuals of conspiracy to defraud the United States through an abusive trust tax evasion scheme that caused approximately $40 million in losses, the Department of Justice announced.

Marcia Predmore, a registered life insurance agent; Roderick Prescott; Suzanne Thompson; and Weldon Wulstein, a CPA, promoted an illegal “layered” trust tax shelter to hundreds of high-net-worth business owners nationwide. “The defendants orchestrated an abusive trust tax scheme designed to help clients evade their tax obligations through a web of sham trusts, false representations, and fraudulent transactions,” said Colin M. McDonald, Assistant Attorney General for the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Tax fraud schemes undermine the integrity of our tax system and deprive the government of resources, shifting the burden to honest Americans who follow the law.”

British Illegal Immigrant Pleads Guilty After Walking Into Maine From Quebec

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:55:48 +0000

BANGOR, Maine — A 21-year-old British citizen pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to entering the United States without inspection and lying to federal investigators after he and three companions walked through the woods from Quebec into Somerset County in the pre-dawn hours of April 3.

Hameed Mohammed Nagi and three other men crossed the heavily wooded border within a few hundred yards of the Saint Zacharie, Maine, port of entry, which was manned by agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations. Upon exiting the woods, the four began walking east on the Golden Road.

Pope Leo XIV Lands in Spain, Jokes About Competing With Bad Bunny for Youth

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:59:55 +0000

MADRID - Pope Leo XIV touched down in Spain for a seven-day apostolic journey through Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands, telling reporters aboard the papal plane that he intended to meet “all facets of society: Catholics, young people, migrants, the poor and regular citizens.”

“The Church has a message for everyone,” the pope said in Spanish before landing, his fourth foreign trip since assuming the papacy. He offered special greetings to Spanish journalists and those from other nations. “Thank you very much for your service.”

ICE Arrests Gang Member in Chicago After Police Refused Federal Warrant

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:57:41 +0000

CHICAGO — Federal immigration officers arrested a 40-year-old illegal immigrant and former La Raza street gang member on a federal arrest warrant last month after the Chicago Police Department confirmed the warrant but refused to transfer him to ICE, releasing him into the community instead.

Luis Manuel Saucedo-Cardenas, a Mexican national with prior convictions for assault, controlled substance violations, carjacking, and prison time for wire fraud, was issued a federal criminal warrant for illegal reentry on April 29. The Chicago Police Department confirmed the warrant on May 1 but declined multiple ICE requests for a custody transfer. ICE Chicago officers arrested Saucedo-Cardenas on May 6.

Ethiopian Christian Flees Somali Border After Islamist Death Threats Over Gospel Ministry

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 16:11:59 +0000

DIRE DAWA, Ethiopia — A Christian evangelist who preached the gospel in Somali-speaking communities along the Ethiopian-Somali border fled with his wife and two children in July 2025 after Islamist extremists issued death threats against him, the U.S.-based monitoring group International Christian Concern reported.

Teshome Getachew, who converted from Islam and speaks fluent Somali, had been sharing his faith in the Gode area and later in Jigjiga, drawing hostility from communities where leaving Islam is treated as a betrayal of both religion and nationality. “After converting to Christianity, I began sharing the gospel in the Gode area and later in Jigjiga,” Getachew said. “Because I speak Somali fluently, many people listened to my worship songs and testimonies. I wanted my own people to hear about Jesus in a language they understand. I knew there would be opposition, but I could not stay silent about my faith.”

Cleveland Clinic Agrees to End Pediatric Gender Procedures, Fund Detransition Care

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 16:11:03 +0000

WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice announced a resolution with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation requiring the hospital system to permanently cease performing what the department calls “sex-rejecting procedures” on minors and to dedicate $2 million toward medical care for detransitioners.

Cleveland Clinic will also pay $308,000 to resolve allegations of false billings submitted to public and private insurers to secure coverage for the procedures, which include the administration of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children and adolescents. The agreements were reached in coordination with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

ICC Report Documents Communist Vietnam's Persecution of Christians

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 16:09:10 +0000

WASHINGTON - International Christian Concern has published a new report documenting the persecution of Christians under Vietnam’s communist regime, detailing how the government uses fabricated criminal charges to silence believers and forces noncompliant churches underground.

The report, titled “Freedom of Worship: A False Reality in Vietnam,” examines how the Communist Party of Vietnam tightly monitors and regulates religious expression across the country. ICC found that churches that defy the regime’s regulations are driven underground, with the party apparatus wielding vague or fabricated criminal charges as tools of suppression.

Islamist ADF Militants Kill 24 Christians in Eastern Congo, 40 Dead in a Week

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 16:08:53 +0000

BENI CITY, Democratic Republic of the Congo — Allied Democratic Forces fighters attacked the village of Mbau during the night of June 2, killing at least 24 Christians including a local pastor and his wife, according to preliminary reports from International Christian Concern. Mbau lies about 12 miles from Beni City in eastern DRC’s North Kivu province.

The massacre came just days after another overnight ADF assault nine miles away in the village of Ngadi on May 30, which left 15 dead. In less than a week, the Islamist militant group has killed more than 40 people in attacks targeting Beni City and the surrounding territory. Several civilians were reportedly abducted during the assaults and remain in captivity.

Houthi Leader Pledges Escalation Readiness, Full Coordination With Iran Axis

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 16:07:37 +0000

SANAA, Yemen - Abdulmalik al Houthi, leader of the Iranian-backed Yemeni terror group, declared full coordination with Tehran’s “Axis of Resistance” and warned of possible escalation against the United States and Israel in a series of speeches over the past two weeks, even as his forces have observed a ceasefire in place since April 7.

“We also affirm our readiness to confront [the United States and Israel]-with God’s help and trust-in any escalation or any developments within the current situation. We are in full coordination with our mujahideen brothers in the (Axis of Jihad, Resistance, and Jerusalem) regarding what is happening in Lebanon and Palestine, and regarding the unjust and aggressive American measures, and whatever is necessary in response,” Houthi said in a June 5 speech. The Houthis launched drones and missiles at Israel between March 28 and April 2 but have not conducted attacks since the ceasefire took effect.

Russia Reopens 16 Military Schools to Rebuild Officer Corps Depleted by Ukraine War

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 16:07:28 +0000

MOSCOW - Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin ordered the re-establishment of the Chelyabinsk Higher Tank Command School by Aug. 1, part of a sweeping plan to reopen 16 military schools and academies through 2034 as Moscow scrambles to fill an officer corps hollowed out by the war in Ukraine.

Mishustin’s directive, published May 28, gives the Russian Ministry of Defense four months to approve the school’s charter and six months to secure the necessary real estate. Located in the city of Chelyabinsk in west-central Russia, the tank school traces its origins to the Soviet Union’s war against Nazi Germany. Moscow shuttered the institution in 2007 following a hazing incident that left a serviceman maimed, though its closure had already been planned as part of a broader consolidation of Soviet-era military schools. The school’s land and buildings were later sold at auction.

CBP Officers Seize 130 Pounds of Fentanyl, Cocaine, Meth at California Ports

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 16:07:03 +0000

SAN DIEGO - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized more than 130 pounds of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine in two separate busts at California ports of entry on a single Sunday, with the narcotics carrying a combined estimated street value of $383,091, the agency announced.

“Sunday may be a day of rest for many, but criminals don’t take days off, and neither do our CBP officers,” said Sidney K. Aki, San Diego Director of Field Operations. “Our officers remain vigilant around the clock, and these significant seizures are a direct result of their commitment to keeping dangerous drugs like these from entering our country.”

Report: 79,323 Killed in Nigeria Mass Casualty Events Since 2019

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:07:06 +0000

WASHINGTON - A joint submission to the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief has documented 79,323 people killed in mass casualty and terror events in Nigeria between 2019 and 2025, with 42,033 of those deaths identified as civilians, according to findings compiled by the International Institute for Religious Freedom and the Observatory of Religious Freedom in Africa.

The figures, published after a country visit to Nigeria, dwarf comparable U.S. data spanning six decades. Since 1966, the United States has recorded 512 mass-casualty attacks killing a total of 1,731 victims — roughly 29 deaths per year on average, excluding the Sept. 11 attacks — according to the Rockefeller Institute of Government. Nigeria’s six-year toll amounts to more than 13,000 killings per year in mass-casualty events alone, a rate that does not appear in standard criminal homicide statistics.

Trump Appointee Gregory Gilmore Sworn In as U.S. Attorney in Central Illinois

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:06:58 +0000

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gregory M. Gilmore, a federal prosecutor who has worked in the Central District of Illinois since 1994, was sworn in as the district’s 33rd U.S. Attorney at the federal courthouse here, capping a confirmation process that began when President Donald J. Trump nominated him on Jan. 13.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas J. Quivey administered the oath. The United States Senate confirmed Gilmore on May 18, and President Trump signed his commission on May 27.

Four MS-13 Members Convicted of Three Murders in Angeles National Forest

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:04:44 +0000

LOS ANGELES — A federal jury convicted four members of Mara Salvatrucha, the violent street gang and designated terrorist organization known as MS-13, of brutally murdering three victims in the Angeles National Forest, including one whose heart was carved from his chest and whose dismembered body was thrown down a canyon.

The guilty verdicts on racketeering conspiracy and violent crimes in aid of racketeering — murder — came after a 17-day trial in the Central District of California. The gang “implemented rules that require its members to use murder and extreme violence to rise within its ranks,” according to evidence presented at trial. All four defendants remain in federal custody and face one or more mandatory sentences of life in federal prison.

Arizona Couple Sentenced for $12 Million Medicaid Fraud, Bought Lamborghini

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:03:12 +0000

PHOENIX - A New River, Arizona, couple was sentenced Monday to a combined 158 months in federal prison for defrauding Arizona’s Medicaid agency of more than $12 million through a sham behavioral health clinic in Mesa, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona announced.

Senior U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow sentenced Thvoughn Lynden Curry, 34, to 88 months in prison and Alexis Daneen Curry, 34, to 70 months. Both were ordered to three years of supervised release and to pay restitution of over $12 million to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the state’s Medicaid agency. “The President tasked us to eliminate fraud and recoup every taxpayer dollar possible, and we’ve delivered in this case, bringing the Currys to justice for stealing millions from the government,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine.

Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty to Shipping Over One Million Fentanyl Pills

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 15:00:07 +0000

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A 36-year-old Sacramento man pleaded guilty to 15 counts of drug trafficking and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm for his role in a conspiracy that shipped more than one million fentanyl pills to customers across multiple states, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California announced.

Reginald Jones and his co-conspirators shipped hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills around the country for more than a year, often hiding the pills inside children’s toys before mailing them, according to court documents. Law enforcement seized approximately 450,000 fentanyl pills connected to the conspiracy through intercepted packages and search warrants. Based on additional evidence, investigators estimate the network shipped more than one million pills total.

Feds Seize $45 Million in Cocaine, Uncover 1,933-Foot Tunnel Near San Diego

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:59:50 +0000

SAN DIEGO — Federal agents uncovered a 1,933-foot cross-border tunnel running from Tijuana, Mexico, to a sham retail store near San Diego’s Otay Mesa Port of Entry and seized more than 2,200 pounds of cocaine valued at $45 million, the Department of Homeland Security announced.

Four people — Gregorio Epifanio Hernandez Lopez and Jose Jimenez of San Diego, and Brandon Escalante Sandoval and Antonio Cortez of Mexico — are charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Hernandez Lopez faces additional counts for conspiracy to use a cross-border tunnel and conspiracy to import controlled substances.

Illegal Immigrant With Kilo of Cocaine, Firearm Gets Nine Years in Oklahoma

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:59:41 +0000

OKLAHOMA CITY — A 48-year-old Mexican national living illegally in Oklahoma City has been sentenced to 108 months in federal prison after law enforcement recovered more than 1,100 grams of cocaine and a firearm from his residence, U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester announced.

U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick imposed the sentence on Ramon Zuniga-Magdelano at a hearing last week, followed by four years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, Judge Wyrick specifically noted “a lack of respect for the law demonstrated by Mr. Zuniga, who illegally entered the country to sell drugs.” Zuniga-Magdelano will be deported upon his release from prison.

Ex-D.C. Housing Authority Employee Pleads Guilty in $15 Million Mortgage Fraud

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:56:12 +0000

WASHINGTON — A former D.C. Housing Authority employee who invented a fictitious veterans housing program and forged federal voucher documents pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to a scheme that defrauded private mortgage lenders of more than $15 million, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced.

Richard Cunningham, 55, a District of Columbia resident who became a real estate developer, pleaded guilty before Judge Trevor N. McFadden to charges of false statements to a mortgage lending business. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 4.

Matrix, HealthFair to Pay $56.5 Million Over False Medicare Diagnoses

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:34:34 +0000

SHERMAN, Texas — Matrix Medical Network, mobile health-bus operator HealthFair, and HealthFair founder Shahriah “James” Ekbatani have agreed to pay a combined $56.5 million to resolve federal allegations that they submitted false and invalid diagnosis codes to the Medicare Advantage program, inflating taxpayer-funded payments for patients who were not as sick as claimed.

Matrix, headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., will pay $36.5 million to settle claims filed in the Southern District of New York. HealthFair will pay $5 million and Ekbatani will pay $15 million to resolve a separate action filed in the Eastern District of Texas. The Justice Department announced the settlements through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas.

Trump Signs Executive Order Tightening Customs Enforcement on Foreign Importers

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:30:35 +0000

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Strengthening Customs Enforcement” that requires foreign and domestic importers to meet new transparency standards or risk losing their privileges to bring goods into the United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced.

“Importing into the U.S. has for too long been treated as a right and not a privilege,” said CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott. “CBP will execute the priorities in this Executive Order and by doing so we will fortify our trading border just as we have done with our physical border.”

Iran-Backed Iraqi Militias Split Over Handing Weapons to State Control

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:30:24 +0000

BAGHDAD — Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi met with delegations from two Iranian-backed militias — Asaib Ahl al Haq and Kataib Imam Ali — after both groups announced they would sever ties with the Popular Mobilization Forces and place their arms under state authority, exposing a widening fracture among Tehran’s proxy network in Iraq over whether to submit to government control.

“During the meeting, it was decided to form a joint committee tasked with devising the appropriate mechanisms for implementing procedures to disengage from the Popular Mobilization Forces and confine arms to the hand of the state, within the next two days,” the Iraqi prime minister’s office stated. Zaidi, who was nominated on April 27 and sworn in on May 14, said the move would bolster Iraq’s security apparatus. “This step will strengthen the role of our armed forces in all their components,” he said.

DOJ Launches $300 Million Model Cities Initiative to Cut Violent Crime

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:30:10 +0000

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department announced a new grant competition directing nearly $300 million in federal funding to as few as two and as many as four American cities willing to adopt a comprehensive law-enforcement strategy the administration is calling the Model Cities Initiative.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche framed the program as a centerpiece of the administration’s public-safety agenda. “This administration is leveraging every authority to ensure the safety of all Americans,” Blanche said. “The Model Cities Initiative will supercharge our law enforcement partners and restore the rule of law to America’s neighborhoods, towns, and cities. Our message is clear: We will help those who help us Make America Safe Again.”

Attacks on Christians Surge 70% in France as Anti-Religious Violence Spikes

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:29:57 +0000

PARIS - Attacks on Christians in France surged 70% last year, including a doubling of physical assaults against members of the Christian community and church leaders, according to a new report from the French government’s Interior Ministry.

The Interior Ministry found that 53% of all anti-religious acts recorded in France in 2025 targeted Jewish people, synagogues, and communities, while 34% of reported anti-religious attacks were directed against Christians and church buildings. The report documented a sharp rise in disruptions of religious services and threats against worshippers alongside the spike in physical violence.

ICE Arrests Sudanese National With Attempted Murder Conviction in Nashville

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:28:50 +0000

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Federal immigration officers arrested a 55-year-old Sudanese national convicted of first-degree attempted murder in a South Nashville apartment, more than 17 years after an immigration judge ordered him removed from the country, ICE announced.

Gabriel Maror Ayuel was taken into custody by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations New Orleans officers on May 5 after months of investigation. Ayuel was convicted of first-degree attempted murder in Davidson County in 2003 and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

ICE Arrests 24 Illegal Immigrants in One-Day Corpus Christi Operation

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:59:20 +0000

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Federal immigration officers arrested 24 illegal immigrants during a one-day targeted operation in Corpus Christi, partnering with state and local law enforcement to sweep up individuals with criminal records or no legal basis to remain in the United States, ICE announced.

The operation, conducted May 13, netted criminal illegal immigrants with convictions for theft, assault, and driving while intoxicated, as well as individuals arrested for possession of a controlled substance, criminal trespass, and illegal reentry into the country, according to the agency. Those with prior deportations could face additional federal charges for illegal reentry under 8 U.S.C. § 1326.

Islamist Militants Storm Church Service in Indonesia, Government Vows Arrests

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:58:33 +0000

YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia — About 15 members of the Islamic Jihad Front FJI (Laskar) stormed a Sunday morning worship service at the Misi Sejahtera Church (GMS) in the Glugo area of Panggungharjo Village, Yogyakarta, demanding the congregation halt its gathering and disperse, according to the U.S.-based persecution monitor International Christian Concern.

The Islamist group, led by Abdurahman Abu Zaki, also known as Darohman, arrived at the church at 7:59 a.m. on May 24, citing the lack of a permit and opposition from some residents. A joint statement issued by several Islamic community organizations and local residents raised objections to the church’s activities, claiming the Glugo hamlet is predominantly populated by Muslims, with virtually no non-Muslim residents, and that Christian worship “could disrupt interfaith harmony and social harmony in the local community.” Facing an increasingly tense situation, the congregation dispersed at 8:30 a.m. The FJI Laskar left the church grounds at 9:05 a.m.

Eastern Texas Federal Cases Yield 944 Months in Prison for Drug Traffickers

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:58:23 +0000

PLANO, Texas — Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Texas charged 25 defendants, secured five convictions, and sentenced five others to a combined 944 months in federal prison in Homeland Security Task Force cases during May, U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs announced.

The office brought eight new HSTF cases during the month, part of the initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The task force targets criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad.

Pakistani Police Shoot Unarmed Christian Driver, Then Pressure Him to Drop Case

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:57:51 +0000

PUNJAB, Pakistan — A 22-year-old Christian auto-rickshaw driver was shot nine times by an elite police unit in Punjab after officers mistook him for a wanted suspect, and his family is now facing pressure from the same force to drop the investigation, the U.S.-based monitoring group International Christian Concern reported.

Alayan Johnson, the primary financial supporter for his two parents and five siblings, was struck in the legs, thighs, neck, and stomach by officers of the Dolphin Force, a rapid-response unit of the Punjab Police, from approximately 12 feet away. A bullet that hit his chest was stopped by the mobile phone in his shirt pocket, saving his life. Doctors at Benazir Bhutto Hospital, where Johnson was taken after the shooting, told him he may be paralyzed in one leg.

Vietnam Arrests Two Montagnard Christians in Central Highlands Crackdown

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:57:27 +0000

GIA LAI PROVINCE, Vietnam — The communist Vietnamese government arrested two Montagnard Christian men in the Central Highlands region, the latest detentions in a long-running campaign against ethnic minority Christians who refuse to join state-controlled churches.

Pastor Siu Yúi, 68, and church member Siu Dok, 40, were taken into custody in Gia Lai Central Province and charged with using religious teachings to mobilize ethnic minority communities toward separatism and independence, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

Arlington Man Gets 42 Months for Identity Theft Scheme Targeting 20 Victims

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:04:11 +0000

GREENBELT, Md. — A 45-year-old Arlington, Virginia, man was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for a multi-victim identity theft fraud scheme in which he stole personal information from more than 20 individuals, opened bank accounts in their names, and used fraudulent identification cards bearing a U.S. Armed Forces seal.

U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang imposed the sentence on Jade Ingalls, who pleaded guilty to false use of a passport and aggravated identity theft. Ingalls will serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland Kelly O. Hayes announced the sentence alongside Special Agent in Charge David Richeson of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service Washington Field Office, Arlington County Police Department Chief Charles Penn, and Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority Chief Joseph Kluh.

Ex-FBI Agent Pleads Guilty to Forex Fraud in Second Federal Prosecution

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:22:35 +0000

DETROIT — Former FBI Special Agent Jeffrey Royer pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a foreign currency trading scheme that bilked investors out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, marking the second federal prosecution of a once-trusted law enforcement officer who previously served a multi-year prison sentence for racketeering and securities fraud.

Royer admitted he told investors their money would be used for commodity futures trading but fraudulently diverted a portion of investor funds for his own personal expenses, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced. Royer also admitted he falsely told investors their principal was protected against loss and that set future earnings would occur. After suffering significant trading losses, Royer repeatedly lied to his investors and provided them with fictitious monthly account statements showing that their investments were earning significant positive returns month after month when their investments were, in fact, suffering significant losses. As part of his plea agreement, Royer agreed to pay $576,818.83 in restitution to his victims.

Illegal Alien in Massachusetts Indicted for $44,000 in COVID and SNAP Fraud

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:21:43 +0000

BOSTON — A federal grand jury indicted a Dominican national unlawfully residing in Lowell, Mass., on six counts for allegedly using a stolen American citizen’s identity to collect approximately $30,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits and approximately $14,000 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

Arvaro Montero Diaz, 40, faces two counts of wire fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of theft of government money, and one count of SNAP fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced. Montero Diaz has been unlawfully residing in the United States since approximately 2007, according to the indictment. He was arrested on a criminal complaint on March 9 and released on pretrial conditions following a detention hearing three days later.

Ex-Maryland Prison Officer Gets 33 Months for Covering Up Inmate Assault

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:20:45 +0000

BALTIMORE - A former Maryland correctional officer was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for conspiring to destroy video evidence of a fellow officer’s assault on an inmate at the Eastern Correctional Institution in Westover, Maryland.

U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox handed down the sentence against Jermaine Sturgis, 41, of Laurel, Delaware, who also received one year of supervised release. A federal jury convicted Sturgis in December 2025 after a five-day trial on charges of conspiring to obstruct justice and making false statements to a federal officer. Sturgis had served as a lieutenant correctional officer at ECI.

Wells Fargo Employee Sentenced to 18 Months for Embezzling Over $800,000

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:19:41 +0000

OAKLAND, Calif. — A former Wells Fargo assistant branch manager was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for embezzling more than $800,000 from the bank and laundering the proceeds through foreign currency trading, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California announced.

Tamim Haidar, 34, of Union City, California, stole cash that was designated for ATM machines and made false database entries to conceal the theft, according to his plea agreement. He then transferred the stolen funds to personal bank accounts and used the money to cover losses from foreign currency trading. U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin imposed the sentence along with a three-year period of supervised release and ordered Haidar to pay more than $800,000 in restitution.

Jamaican National Pleads Guilty in $9 Million Sweepstakes Scam Targeting Elderly

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:19:08 +0000

NEW YORK — A 30-year-old Jamaican national pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy charges for his role as a leader of an international sweepstakes fraud ring that stole more than $9 million from more than 200 elderly victims across the United States, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced.

Jordan Trought entered his plea to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud, and bank fraud before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. Trought also agreed to pay restitution and forfeiture totaling $6,166,227.

Two Men Plead Guilty to Federal Child Exploitation Charges in Maine, Pennsylvania

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:18:20 +0000

PORTLAND, Maine — A 45-year-old repeat federal offender and a Pennsylvania man who produced child sexual abuse material depicting a girl in his care over nine years each pleaded guilty to federal exploitation charges, the Department of Justice announced.

Jody G. Moczara, 45, of Portland, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland to receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material. Moczara was previously convicted of receiving child pornography in U.S. District Court in Maine in 2016 and was sentenced to over 11 years in prison. While residing in a halfway house after that sentence, Moczara obtained a cellular telephone he used to solicit child sexual abuse material over the internet, according to court records.

Honduran Illegal Alien Indicted in New Orleans for Reentry After 2023 Deportation

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:18:02 +0000

NEW ORLEANS - A federal grand jury indicted Oscar Paz-Mejia, a 33-year-old Honduran national, for illegal reentry after deportation, United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced. Paz-Mejia was found in the United States on May 26 after having been previously deported on or about May 24, 2023.

The charge, brought under 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a), carries up to ten years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.

Twice-Deported Illegal Alien Arrested in Texas for Shooting at Neighbors

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:16:10 +0000

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — A 60-year-old illegal alien from Mexico who has been deported from the United States twice and has a prior conviction for attempted homicide was arrested over Memorial Day weekend after allegedly opening fire on his neighbors with an assault rifle, ICE announced.

Juan Ayala Montero was taken into custody following his arrest on May 24 by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, which participates in ICE’s 287(g) program — a federal-local partnership that allows designated officers to confirm immigration status and lodge detainers on illegal aliens booked into local jails. A designated immigration officer from the sheriff’s office quickly confirmed Ayala’s status and lodged an immigration detainer to prevent his release on bond.

Islamist ADF Militants Kill at Least 7 Christians in Eastern Congo Attack

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:15:57 +0000

BENI, Democratic Republic of Congo — Islamist militants from the Allied Democratic Forces killed at least seven Christians during an overnight attack in Beni, North Kivu Province, in what survivors described as a targeted execution of unarmed Pygmy villagers in the Ngadi neighborhood of the Ruwenzori district.

The victims, members of the Twa ethnic group, were murdered after ADF fighters blocked escape routes and opened fire, according to the local chief and survivor testimony reported by International Christian Concern. One Christian villager who survived the attack recounted the horror: “They arrived without us realizing it. They woke us up and, with an Islamic shout, ‘Allahu Akbar,’ the shooting started, and people began to be slaughtered like animals.”

Hindu Nationalists Storm Christian Convention in India, 15 Organizers Detained

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:15:35 +0000

RATLAM, India — Hindu nationalist groups stormed a two-day Christian spiritual convention at a private hotel in Ratlam town in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh on May 27, forcing police to detain 15 members of the organizing committee and cancel the event’s second day.

Members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, a militant wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), barged into the venue and accused organizers of luring Hindus into forced religious conversions. The attackers raised objections, alleging that “if the event was designated for a specific, limited group, how could a large number of people from other communities be present inside the venue?” Hindu activists began reciting the Hanuman Chalisa, a Hindu prayer, inside the auditorium, prompting Christian attendees to counter with their own slogans invoking national figures including Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian constitution, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Fulani Gunmen Kill 8 Christians After Church Services in Nigeria's Plateau State

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:15:08 +0000

GWOMJANG, Nigeria — Suspected Fulani gunmen attacked a predominantly Christian farming village in Nigeria’s Plateau state on Saturday evening, killing eight Christians and injuring at least 15 others as residents returned home from church services and a women’s prayer meeting.

The attack struck Gwomjang, a village in Kadunu Ward of Mangu Local Government Area near the town of Gindiri, in Nigeria’s Middle Belt — a region that has suffered years of armed violence against rural Christian communities. Gunmen entered the village at approximately 7:30 p.m., opening fire on civilians before fleeing. Four men and four women were killed, and the 15 wounded sustained injuries ranging from gunshot wounds to other trauma.

Hindu Mobs Attack Christians Over Burials in India's Chhattisgarh State

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:14:56 +0000

JAGDALPUR, India — A mob of more than 100 radical Hindu nationalists armed with sickles and iron rods attacked seven Christians as they dug a grave for a fellow believer in a village roughly 16 miles south of Jagdalpur in the Bastar tribal belt of Chhattisgarh, India, the U.S.-based monitoring group International Christian Concern reported.

The attack, which took place April 13, left all seven Christians hospitalized with severe injuries. Among them was 32-year-old Mangu, whose head wound still bore fresh sutures, and 60-year-old Jaggu, who described the assault to ICC. “I couldn’t keep up with the aggressive mob as they chased me,” Jaggu said. “I fell to the ground, and one of the attackers grabbed a sharp stone and struck me on the head. My clothes were drenched in blood as I continued to receive punches and blows all over my body.”

26-Year Veteran Pete Vasquez Named U.S. Border Patrol Chief

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:11:49 +0000

WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection appointed Rosario “Pete” Vasquez, a 26-year veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol and most recently chief patrol agent of the Blaine Sector in Washington State, as the new chief of the Border Patrol, the agency announced.

Vasquez will oversee nearly 20,000 Border Patrol agents and professional staff responsible for securing roughly 7,000 miles of international land borders and 2,000 miles of coastal waters. CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott framed the pick as a field-tested operator taking command of the agency at a moment the Trump administration is pressing its border enforcement campaign.

Honduran Illegal Alien Indicted on Firearms Charge in New Orleans

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:21:49 +0000

NEW ORLEANS - A federal grand jury indicted Erlin Jovany Gamez Maldonado, a 29-year-old Honduran illegal alien, on charges of possessing a firearm while unlawfully present in the United States, U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced.

The indictment, returned last week, charges Gamez-Maldonado with violating 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8). According to court documents, Gamez-Maldonado was found in possession of an Anderson Manufacturing Model AM-15 rifle, a multi-caliber firearm, on or about May 4. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

Illegal Alien in Boston Pleads Guilty to $18,000 SNAP Fraud Using Stolen Identity

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:21:40 +0000

BOSTON — A 69-year-old Dominican national unlawfully residing in Boston pleaded guilty last week to stealing a U.S. citizen’s identity to collect more than $18,000 in federal food-assistance benefits, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced. The plea came the same day federal agents in western Kentucky arrested 13 illegal aliens, eight of whom face indictments for using false Social Security numbers to obtain employment.

Victor Suazo Reynoso pleaded guilty on May 27 before Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to illegal acquisition of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and false representation of a Social Security number. Reynoso used the name, birthdate, and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen to obtain a Massachusetts driver’s license and more than $18,000 in SNAP benefits. He was charged and arrested in March. Each count carries up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Reynoso is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed.

Border Patrol Arrests 36 Illegal Alien Truck Drivers in Yuma Sector Sweep

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:21:31 +0000

YUMA, Ariz. — U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested 52 illegal aliens during a five-day enforcement operation in the Yuma Sector, including 36 who were behind the wheel of semi-trucks on American highways, Customs and Border Protection announced.

Of the 36 illegal alien commercial drivers detained during Operation Checkmate, 29 held commercial driver’s licenses issued by states including California, New York, Washington, and Virginia. Three possessed no form of driver’s license at all. Thirty of the 36 were nationals of India; the remaining six were from Mexico, El Salvador, and Russia. Most held Employment Authorization Documents obtained during the Biden administration that are no longer valid, CBP said. All 52 individuals were processed under federal law and will be deported.

Sadr Dissolves His Militia in Iraq, Challenging Iran-Backed Factions to Follow

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:19:38 +0000

BAGHDAD - Iraqi Shiite cleric and popular leader Muqtada al Sadr announced the dissolution of his militia, Saraya al Salam, and its full integration into the Iraqi state, a move that directly challenges the network of Iran-backed armed factions that operate under the umbrella of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces.

“It has become necessary for us to announce the dissolution of Saraya al-Salam from the Shia National Movement- a complete dissolution- and their full attachment to the state and the general authority over military formations,” Sadr stated in his announcement on May 27. A document from his office said the handover process would be completed by Eid al Ghadir on June 4, with a joint committee of government and Sadr movement representatives beginning work on May 29.

Maryland Man Gets 25 Years for Sextortion of Girls as Young as 9

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:17:59 +0000

GREENBELT, Md. — A federal judge sentenced Isaiah Poole, 25, of Suitland, to 25 years in federal prison for producing child sexual abuse material after he used Snapchat to sextort at least six girls between the ages of 9 and 14, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced.

U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby ordered 20 years of supervised release to follow the prison term. According to court documents, Poole posed as a teenage girl on Snapchat and other social media platforms, manipulating victims into sending sexually explicit photographs and videos — often under the ruse of playing truth or dare. He directed the minors to expose their genital areas and engage in sexual conduct.

Canadian Citizen Sentenced to Prison for Voting Illegally in Nine North Carolina Elections

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:17:50 +0000

RALEIGH, N.C. — A 70-year-old Canadian citizen who lived in the United States since the 1960s but never obtained citizenship was sentenced to two months in federal prison for falsely claiming to be an American citizen in order to vote in North Carolina elections spanning two decades.

Denis Bouchard pleaded guilty to two counts of 18 U.S.C. § 1015(f) — making false claims of U.S. citizenship. Voting records confirm he unlawfully cast ballots in nine federal elections between 2004 and 2024, including the 2022 elections and the 2024 presidential election. He illegally certified that he was a United States citizen on North Carolina voter registration applications and ballots.

Brooklyn Man Charged With Threatening to Kill ICE Officer and Family at Newark Facility

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:17:42 +0000

NEWARK, N.J. — A 27-year-old Brooklyn man was charged with threatening to assault and murder a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer and the officer’s family during a demonstration outside an ICE detention facility in Newark, the Department of Justice announced.

Nicholas Matthew Scelfo was arrested on a charge of influencing, impeding, and retaliating against a federal officer by threat, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He was scheduled to appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Newark federal court. “Federal law enforcement officers face danger with great courage, and they should be able to do their jobs without being threatened and fearing for their families’ lives,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We take such threats very seriously and will prosecute those who make them to the fullest extent of the law.”

House Rejects Smithsonian Women's Museum Bill in 204-216 Vote Over Gender Ideology Fight

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 17:56:19 +0000

WASHINGTON — The House rejected HR 1329, legislation to establish the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum on the National Mall, in a 204-216 vote last week after an amendment requiring the museum to recognize biological women turned the bill into a flashpoint over gender ideology.

Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., initially introduced the bill, which had bipartisan backing and a statement of support from the Office of Management and Budget. The measure became contentious after Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., added language clarifying that the museum’s exhibits would recognize biological women — a provision that prompted most Democrats who had previously supported the bill to withdraw.

Arizona Charges 331 Illegal Aliens in Single Week Under Operation Take Back America

Sun, 31 May 2026 02:07:26 +0000

PHOENIX - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona filed immigration-related criminal charges against 331 individuals in a single week of enforcement operations ending Thursday, the Department of Justice announced, in one of the largest weekly caseloads reported under the nationwide Operation Take Back America initiative.

Of the 331 charged, 146 were illegal aliens who had unlawfully re-entered the United States after prior removal — a federal felony under 8 U.S.C. § 1326. Another 163 were charged with illegal entry. The office also filed 18 smuggling cases against 22 individuals accused of transporting illegal aliens into and within the district.

U.S. and Iran Near 60-Day Ceasefire Extension Amid Drone Attack on Kuwait

Sun, 31 May 2026 02:07:13 +0000

WASHINGTON - U.S. and Iranian negotiators have reportedly reached an agreement to extend the current ceasefire by 60 days, a deal that would also launch a new round of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear facilities and its stockpile of enriched uranium, according to White House officials. The agreement is awaiting President Donald Trump’s approval.

The deal would see the United States drop its blockade on Iranian ports in exchange for a return to unrestricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the White House. Axios first reported the agreement after White House officials confirmed the terms.

Cambridge Man Gets 13 Years for Manufacturing Millions of Counterfeit Fentanyl Pills

Sun, 31 May 2026 01:17:58 +0000

BOSTON - A 35-year-old Cambridge, Mass., man who manufactured millions of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine while communicating directly with an illegal chemical supplier in China was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced.

U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV sentenced Schuyler Oppenheimer, also known as “SK” and “Michael Sylvain,” to the 13-year term followed by five years of supervised release. Oppenheimer pleaded guilty in January to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and two counts of wire fraud. He was arrested in July 2025 and indicted the following month.

Anti-ICE Protesters Threaten Federal Officers as Newark Clashes Enter Second Week

Sun, 31 May 2026 01:17:39 +0000

NEWARK, N.J. — Anti-ICE protesters clashed with federal officers outside the Delaney Hall detention center for a second consecutive week, with masked demonstrators blocking facility entrances and shouting threats including “Grab your guns and kill yourself” and “Every cop, every fed, shoot yourself in the head” at law enforcement.

Agents deployed pepper spray and batons as the crowd surrounded the Newark facility late Wednesday night and into Thursday morning. Members of the crowd wore masks and keffiyehs. A garbage truck driver blocked by protesters confronted the crowd in a video captured by Freedom News. “If I hit one of y’all, I go to jail,” the driver yelled. “What’s wrong with ya’ll?”

Oregon Woman Gets Federal Prison for Dumping 500,000 Gallons of Toxic Waste

Sun, 31 May 2026 01:16:53 +0000

PORTLAND, Ore. — A Troutdale woman who directed the illegal discharge of 500,000 gallons of industrial wastewater contaminated with hydrofluoric acid and toxic metals into the Hillsboro sanitary sewer was sentenced to 5 months in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon announced.

Kayla Hartley, 36, who served as Director of Operations at Northwest Slurry Solutions and Hydro Excavation, LLC, in Hillsboro, Oregon, also received a $25,000 fine and 3 years of supervised release. Hartley pleaded guilty on January 21, 2026, to conspiracy to violate the Clean Water Act after a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment against her on July 15, 2025.

Former Wisconsin County Prosecutor Gets 10 Years for Child Pornography

Sun, 31 May 2026 00:42:22 +0000

MADISON, Wis. — A former county prosecutor from Neenah, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for distributing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma announced.

Adam J. Westbrook, 35, received the sentence from Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson, who also imposed 20 years of supervised release. Westbrook pleaded guilty to the charge on Sept. 16, 2024. The case originated when law enforcement arrested a man in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, in early February 2024 for various sex crimes and found videos on his phone showing a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct — videos that evidence showed Westbrook had sent him.

ICE Arrests Honduran Convicted in Fatal DUI, Vietnamese Cop-Shooter Free 15 Years

Sun, 31 May 2026 00:42:06 +0000

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — ICE arrested Kelvin Mejia-Romero, a criminal illegal alien from Honduras, upon his release from the Northwest Correctional Complex near Memphis after he completed a six-year sentence for vehicular homicide in a drunk-driving crash that killed 66-year-old Nashville musician Samuel Dismuke Sr. on New Year’s Day 2022.

Mejia-Romero was traveling east in the westbound lanes of Interstate 24 in Nashville around 2:45 a.m. when he crashed head-on into Dismuke’s pickup truck, according to local law enforcement. Mejia-Romero told authorities he had consumed eight or nine beers before driving and showed signs of impairment. Dismuke died at the scene; his family told local media the longtime musician was on his way home after playing with his band.

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