Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
RICHMOND, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Richmond man yesterday for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, on Feb. 23, Henrico County Police observed Tajon Rasheed Baskerville, 35, rummaging through a purse, which had been taken from a nearby vehicle earlier. As an officer performed a pat-down of Baskerville, the officer felt a firearm in a holster on Baskerville’s hip. Baskerville pulled away from and struck the officer. The officer fell, at which time Baskerville drew his firearm and, in response, the officer drew his service weapon. Baskerville tossed his firearm and attempted to flee on foot. The officer recovered the firearm and Baskerville was apprehended.
Investigators found items that had been taken from the purse in Baskerville’s pockets. They also found a wallet, which had been in the purse, in Baskerville’s shirt.
At the time of the offense, Baskerville had previously been convicted for possession of a schedule I or II controlled substance (2010 and 2012), felony probation violation (2012, 2014, and twice in 2017), grand larceny (2015 and 2018), and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2022). As a previously convicted felon, Baskerville cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Baskerville faces a up to 15 years in prison when sentenced on Dec. 17. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Eric D. English, Chief of Henrico County Police Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge David J. Novak accepted the verdict.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick J. McGorman and Stephen E. Anthony are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-79.
Allwaste Onsite, doing business as Onsite Environmental (Onsite Environmental), entered two guilty pleas today in relation to federal Clean Water Act violations. As part of the plea, Onsite Environmental has agreed to pay a fine of $512,000 and serve a three-year term of probation that requires Onsite Environmental to properly treat industrial wastes according to a detailed facility operating plan.
According to court documents, Onsite Environmental operated a facility in Nashville, Tennessee, that treated liquid non-hazardous industrial wastes before discharging them into the sewer. Onsite Environmental had obtained a pretreatment permit from the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County (Metro) under an approved Clean Water Act pretreatment program. The permit required Onsite Environmental to remove pollutants in the industrial wastes prior to discharging them into the sewer.
However, from Dec. 5-22, 2022, and again from Jan. 4-17, 2023, Onsite Environmental employees knowingly bypassed treatment processes and discharged untreated or partially untreated industrial wastes into the Metro sewer system in direct violation of the pretreatment permit.
U.S. District Court Judge Aleta A. Trauger for the Middle District of Tennessee accepted the guilty pleas. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 15.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) and Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Criminal Investigation Division and EPA Office of Inspector General investigated the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Matthew T. Morris of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie N. Toussaint for the Middle District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Large number of firearms displayed on and leaning against a table.
CHICAGO – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Chicago Police Department announce results of a two-month enhanced enforcement initiative that targeted offenders believed to have illegally possessed, used, and trafficked firearms and machinegun conversion devices in the Chicagoland area.
The initiative, led by ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago (CGIC), used both federal and state charges, resulting in the arrest of 41 offenders and the recovery of approximately 171 firearms, and 64 machinegun conversion devices. National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) data shows that a significant number of the recovered firearms are connected to violent criminal activity, including homicide and aggravated assault, that took place in the Chicagoland area and throughout the U.S., from 2017 through 2025.
Notable federal defendants included Alec Chisolm-Blockton, who was on parole for aggravated battery in connection with a shooting that resulted in the death of a 14-year-old. Eddie Arguelles allegedly carried out a shooting in a crowded park using a firearm equipped with a machinegun conversion device. Torrence Lindsay-Bynum, previously convicted for threatening a mass shooting, was arrested while in possession of a firearm affixed with a machinegun conversion device.
A tabletop displaying machine gun conversion devices.
“Machinegun conversion devices are increasingly being used by criminals, putting both innocent civilians and law enforcement in danger,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon. “This operation aggressively targeted offenders suspected of trafficking illegal machinegun conversion devices into our communities. I want to thank our federal, state, and local partners whose support of the Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago was integral to the success of this initiative. This multi-agency effort is a testament to what can be accomplished when we combine our resources and expertise towards a common goal of making our communities safer for all.”
“The illegal possession, use, and trafficking of firearms equipped with conversion devices pose a grave threat to public safety,” said Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago will lean into using various federal law enforcement tools and law enforcement partnerships to hold firearm offenders accountable and reduce violent crime in Chicago. We are proud to partner with ATF, CPD, and state prosecutors in this important initiative, and I commend their outstanding work to keep dangerous weapons off the streets and out of the wrong hands.”
The number of suspected machinegun conversion devices recovered by law enforcement and subsequently traced by ATF increased more than 784% nationwide between 2019 (658) and 2023 (5,816), according to the National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment. In the year 2024 alone, the Chicago Police Department recovered 604 machine gun conversion devices—up from 81 in 2020.
“This operation directly addresses the proliferation of machine gun devices inflicting trauma in our communities,” said Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling. “Far too many lives have been lost to the senseless violence that only becomes more dangerous and fatal because of these conversion devices.”
Firearms seized during operation.
“Combatting gun violence is my office’s highest priority, and there is no doubt the recent proliferation of MCD’s is a threat to our progress,” said Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke. “A firearm equipped with one of these devices and an extended magazine can fire off 30 rounds in less than two seconds, terrorizing our neighborhoods and too often catching innocent bystanders in the crossfire. The CGIC is a national model, and working in a collaborative fashion with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners on this threat is a force multiplier. This initiative is a great start, and shows what’s possible when we work together strategically.”
“State-federal partnerships, such as with the ATF, are essential to my office’s work to prevent illegal firearms from entering communities, hold gun traffickers accountable and address other gun crime cases,” Attorney General Kwame Raoul said. “Collaborations and resource sharing between all levels of law enforcement – local, state and federal – are vital in our work to prevent gun violence in Illinois.”
The 18 federal cases are being coordinated by Violent Crime Section Chief Scott Edenfield and Violent Crime Section Deputy Chief Jared Jodrey of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The 23 state cases are being coordinated by Multi-Jurisdiction Bureau Chief Maureen McCurry of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and Assistant Attorney General Greg Gansmann of the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.
Special Agent in Charge Amon, Superintendent Snelling, U.S. Attorney Boutros, State’s Attorney Burke, and Illinois Attorney General Raoul also acknowledged the valuable investigative assistance provided by our federal, state, and local partners at the Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Illinois State Police, and Cook County Sheriff’s Police.
Federal Firearms and Machinegun Conversion Device Investigations:
United States v. Chris NEAL, Case No. 25-cr-00389 (Possession of a machinegun) United States v. Dakotah MALATARE, Case No. 25-cr-00306 (Possession of a machinegun) United States v. Alonzo VELASCO, Case No. 24-cr-00447 (Possession of a machinegun) United States v. Torrence LINDSEY-BYNUM, Case No. 25-cr-00440 (Possession of a machinegun) United States v. Eddie ARGUELLES, Case No. 25-cr-00437 (Possession of a machinegun) United States v. Erik OCAMPO, Case No. 25-cr-00331 (Possession of a machinegun) United States v. Gerardo IBARRA, Case No. 25-cr-00395 (Possession of a machinegun) United States v. Joanna RICHARDSON, Case No. 25-cr-00397 (Hobbs Act robbery, firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, felon in possession of a firearm) United States v. Donte PATTERSON, Case No. 25-cr-00348 (Hobbs Act robbery, firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, carjacking) United States v. Osbia MOORE, Case No. 25-cr-00347 (Felon in possession of a firearm) United States v. Jovan ANDERSON, Case No. 25-cr-00438 (Felon in possession of a firearm) United States v. Velar MAYFIELD, Case No. 25-cr-00409 (Felon in possession of a firearm) United States v. Melvin DOYLE, Case No. 25-cr-00367 (Felon in possession of a firearm) United States v. Alec CHISOLM-BLOCKTON, Case No. 25-cr-00428 (Felon in possession of a firearm) United States v. Floyd JORDAN, Case No.25-cr-00442 (Felon in possession of a firearm) United States v. Eric LATHAM, Case No. 25-cr-00190 (Felon in possession of a firearm) United States v. Cortez FLEMING, Case No. 24-cr-00077 (Felon in possession of a firearm, dealing without a license) United States v. Julian VENERABLE, Case No. 24-cr-00077 (Felon in possession of a firearm, dealing without a license)
State Firearms and Machinegun Conversion Device Investigations:
State of Illinois v. Demetrius MIMS (Possession of a machinegun) State of Illinois v. Caron WEATHERS (Possession of a machinegun) State of Illinois v. Benjamin KAMINSKI (Possession of a machinegun) State of Illinois v. Justin ANDERSON (Gunrunning, possession of a machinegun) State of Illinois v. Jaylan POWELL (Gunrunning, possession of a machinegun) State of Illinois v. Montez WELLS (Gunrunning, possession of a machinegun) State of Illinois v. Todd WILLIAMS (Gunrunning, possession of a machinegun) State of Illinois v. Eric RAINES-SYLVESTRE (Gunrunning and possession of a machinegun) State of Illinois v. “JUVENILE” (Gunrunning, possession of a machinegun) State of Illinois v. “JUVENILE” (Gunrunning, possession of a machinegun) State of Illinois v. Xavier CARRIZALWS-LISHMAN (Gunrunning, armed violence) State of Illinois v. Elijah DELEON (Gunrunning) State of Illinois v. Bernard BUTLER (Attempted murder) State of Illinois v. Jerome TOWNSEND (Armed violence) State of Illinois v. Jerome COLEMAN (Armed violence) State of Illinois v. Israel FERNANDEZ (Armed violence) State of Illinois v. Joshua THOMAS (Armed violence) State of Illinois v. Bernard SPENCER (Armed violence) State of Illinois v. Ronald GRIGGS (Felon in possession of a firearm) State of Illinois v. Marcus SMITH (Felon in possession of a firearm) State of Illinois v. Michael LEWIS (Manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance) State of Illinois v. Isaiah DELEON (Unlawful purchase of a firearm) State of Illinois v. Jabori PRYOR (Unlawful possession of a firearm)
The charges outlined in the indictments and complaints are merely allegations and not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the government proves their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
ATF is the lead federal law enforcement agency with jurisdiction involving firearms and violent crimes. More information about ATF and its programs is available at www.atf.gov.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
WASHINGTON – Lawrence Jordan, 44, a previously convicted felon from the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 27 months in prison in connection with being in illegal possession of a Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic firearm that he had secreted in a bulky knee brace, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Jordan pleaded guilty on June 17, 2025, to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
In addition to the 27-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss ordered Jordan to serve three years of supervised release.
Joining the announcement of the sentencing were Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
According to court documents, on Nov. 23, 2023 at 6:16 a.m., MPD officers responded to the 1300 block of H Street NE for a report of aggressive panhandling. One of the officers recognized Jordan as wanted in connection with an indecent exposure offense a week earlier. Jordan was placed under arrest for lewd, indecent, and obscene acts.
At the First District, Jordan was searched more thoroughly. Underneath Jordan’s knee brace, officers recovered a Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic firearm, loaded with one round in the chamber and eight rounds in the magazine.
Jordan previously was convicted in 2009 in Maryland for second degree assault, fleeing, and driving while revoked and sentenced to 18 months in prison. He also has a 2010 conviction in Virginia being a felon in possession of a firearm and 35 prior arrests.
This case was investigated by the ATF and MPD. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on August 4, 2025, Daniel McSwiggan, 52, of Rutland, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 24 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 2-year term of supervised release. McSwiggan previously pleaded guilty to managing and controlling a residence and making the residence available for the purpose of unlawfully manufacturing, storing, distributing, and using cocaine base, a Schedule II controlled substance.
According to court records, in late June and early July of 2024, McSwiggan rented and occupied a residence in Rutland, Vermont, where he used and allowed others to use cocaine base, and from which he and others distributed cocaine base. McSwiggan – a former practicing nurse at a local medical center, who had been terminated from that position in April 2024 – also possessed firearms at the residence. And in the early morning hours of June 24, 2024, McSwiggan shot a rifle in the direction of another suspected drug distributor as the man ran away from the residence. In executing a search warrant at the residence, law enforcement recovered a Savage Model 10 .308 caliber rifle, a Ruger 10/22 .22 caliber rifle, 282 rounds of ammunition, cocaine base, and drug paraphernalia.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Rutland Police Department, the Vermont State Police, and the Vermont Drug Task Force.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corinne Smith. McSwiggan was represented by Jordan Handy, Esq.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Seattle – A 40 -year-old Seattle resident with a history of making death threats and violently attacking a neighbor, was sentenced late yesterday in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 18 months in prison for lying in his attempt to purchase a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Filmore Doyoon Kim attempted to purchase a firearm on February 13, 2025, just days after emailing a series of threats to his Washington State Department of Corrections Probation Officer. In sentencing Kim to the top of the guidelines range, U.S. District Judge Lauren King said, “The crime is extremely serious… repeatedly threating the life of a corrections officer and continuing to threaten others with violence. You are a danger to the public.”
According to records filed in the case, Kim was sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2022, for burglary. In that case he broke into a neighbor’s apartment and beat the neighbor unconscious in front of the man’s 4-year-old child. Kim left a note for the neighbor written in blood threatening to kill him. Kim also has harassment convictions for threatening to kill apartment managers and others in various residences. While Kim was on probation for the burglary case, he sent threatening emails to the supervising probation officer threatening to kill him. Kim then went to a federal firearms licensed store and attempted to purchase a handgun. Kim lied on the form and claimed he had not been convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year in jail. When the background check revealed his conviction, the store refused to sell the gun and alerted law enforcement.
In asking for the top end 18-month sentence Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg wrote to the court that it was important to consider the attempt to buy the gun in the context of the threats. “Kim’s offense conduct was extremely serious. He intentionally subverted the background check laws designed to keep guns away from dangerous people – like himself. The larger context of Kim’s attempted firearm purchase – immediately after threatening to kill his supervising CCO and declaring, ‘Don’t forget I can buy gun’ – makes his offense conduct even more concerning.”
Judge King ordered Kim to be on supervised release for three years following his prison term.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.
Royal Sovereign International Inc. (Royal Sovereign), a New Jersey corporation that sold office and home appliances, pleaded guilty today to a criminal information charging it under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) with failing to report immediately to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) information concerning portable air conditioners allegedly linked to more than 40 fires and one death. Additionally, Royal Sovereign agreed to a civil settlement with the United States that included a $16,025,000 civil penalty, the maximum civil penalty authorized by the CPSA.
According to court documents, Royal Sovereign, which also did business as Royal Centurian Inc., imported and sold more than 33,000 defective air conditioners between 2008 and 2014. The air conditioners were defective due to a faulty drain motor that could electrically short and cause them to catch fire and burn uncontrollably. The company’s CEO, Takwan Lim, previously signed a settlement agreement with CPSC stemming from allegations that a related entity, Royal Sovereign Corporation, sold certain portable ceramic heaters that posed a fire risk. Royal Sovereign recalled the defective air conditioner models in 2021.
“It is critical for companies, corporate executives, and their employees to exercise strict compliance with their obligations under the Consumer Product Safety Act to safeguard the American public and recall hazardous products as soon as possible,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Companies cannot attempt to evade liability by delaying or avoiding reporting. When they do, they must be held accountable.”
“The criminal and civil resolutions in this matter show this Office’s commitment to protecting the public and holding companies accountable for violating their obligations under the Consumer Product Safety Act,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba for the District of New Jersey.
“Royal Sovereign’s failure to report a deadly defect led to tragedy, including the death of a mother and serious injuries to her children,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman. “CPSC will not hesitate to use the full weight of its executive power to pursue violations of the law — including criminal penalties — and we thank our partners at DOJ for helping to bring this company to justice.”
In pleading guilty, Royal Sovereign admitted that, despite knowing of the defects from numerous consumer complaints and lawsuits, it willfully failed to report information about the air conditioners immediately to CPSC, as was its obligation under the CPSA. According to the information filed in the case, the company misled the CPSC in November 2010 by telling the agency that it was aware of only two fire incidents related to the air conditioners and that the products had been discontinued. In reality, the government alleged, the company was aware of at least 16 fires and continued to distribute the products anyway. According to the recall notice, a woman died in August 2016 from smoke inhalation and her two children were injured after their Royal Sovereign air conditioner caught fire. In connection with the guilty plea, Royal Sovereign is required to pay $395,786.48 in restitution to victims.
The civil settlement resolves allegations that Royal Sovereign failed to notify the CPSC “immediately,” as required by law, that its portable air conditioners contained a defect presenting a substantial product hazard and that the products created an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death.
Takwan Lim, the former CEO of the company, died in 2023. Royal Sovereign has permanently ceased all company operations related to the marketing, sale, or distribution of consumer products. In recognition of the company’s limited ability to pay, all but $100,000 of the civil penalty was suspended. The consent decree requires Royal Sovereign and certain individuals associated with it to notify the government and to develop internal controls and procedures designed to ensure timely, truthful, complete, and accurate reporting to CPSC as required by law before resuming the marketing, sale, or distribution of any consumer products.
Trial Attorney Ethan Carroll of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch (CPB) prosecuted the criminal case with the assistance of Renee McCune of CPSC’s Office of the General Counsel. CPB Trial Attorney David Crockett handled the civil settlement with the assistance of Patricia Vieira of CPSC’s Office of the General Counsel. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey provided valuable assistance.
Victims who experienced bodily injury or damage, destruction, or loss of property caused by a fire involving a portable air conditioner made or distributed by Royal Sovereign International Inc., or Royal Centurian Inc., with a model number beginning with PAC-3012, ARP-3012, or ARP-3014, should contact the Department of Justice at victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov by Sept. 5, if they have not previously received compensation and believe they are entitled to restitution.
Two Chinese nationals – one of them an illegal alien – have been arrested on a federal criminal complaint alleging they knowingly exported to China tens of millions of dollars’ worth of sensitive microchips used in artificial intelligence (AI) applications.
Chuan Geng, 28, of Pasadena, and Shiwei Yang, 28, of El Monte, are charged with violating the Export Control Reform Act, a felony that carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Geng surrendered to federal authorities on Saturday. Yang was arrested earlier that day.
At their initial appearance late Monday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, a federal magistrate judge ordered Geng released on $250,000 bond and scheduled an Aug. 12 detention hearing for Yang. Arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 11. No pleas were taken Monday.
Geng is a lawful permanent resident. Yang is an illegal alien who overstayed her visa.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, from October 2022 to July 2025, the defendants – through their El Monte-based company, ALX Solutions Inc. – knowingly and willfully exported from the United States to China sensitive technology, including graphic processing units (GPUs) – specialized computer parts used for modern computing – without first obtaining the required license or authorization from the U.S. Department of Commerce. According to the complaint, ALX Solutions Inc. was founded shortly after the Commerce Department began requiring licenses for the advanced microchips that Yang and Geng are alleged to have illegally exported.
A review of export records, business records, and company websites indicates that a December 2024 shipment and at least 20 previous shipments by ALX Solutions involved exports from the U.S. to shipping and freight-forwarding companies in Singapore and Malaysia, which commonly are used as transshipment points to conceal illegal shipments to China.
ALX Solutions has not received payments from the entities to which they purportedly exported goods. Instead, ALX Solutions received numerous payments from companies based in Hong Kong and China, including a $1 million payment from a China-based company in January 2024.
For example, in December 2024, ALX Solutions sent a shipment that falsely labeled that it was sending GPUs subject to federal laws and regulations. In fact, the shipment contained GPUs that required a license for export to China. Neither the defendants nor their company applied for, nor did they obtain a license from the Commerce Department.
According to the complaint and public information, the chip – made by a manufacturer of high-performance AI chips – is the “most powerful GPU chip on the market,” and is “designed specifically for AI applications,” such as “to develop self-driving cars, medical diagnosis systems, and other AI-powered applications.”
Last week, law enforcement searched ALX Solutions’ office and seized the phones belonging to Geng and Yang that revealed incriminating communications between the defendants, including communications about shipping export-controlled chips to China through Malaysia to evade U.S. export laws.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg, U.S. Attorney Bilal A. Essayli for the Central District of California, and Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI Counterintelligence Division made the announcement.
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security and the FBI are investigating this matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin S. Scott, Joseph Guzman, and Jenna Long for the Central District of California are prosecuting this case with assistance from Trial Attorney Chantelle Dial of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: United States Department of Justice (Hate Crime)
The FBI released detailed data on over 14 million criminal offenses for 2024, reported to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program by participating law enforcement agencies. More than 16,000 state, county, city, university and college, and tribal agencies, covering a combined population of 95.6% United States population, submitted data to the UCR Program through the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) and the Summary Reporting System.
The FBI’s crime statistics estimates, based on reported data, show a violent crime occurred, on average, every 25.9 seconds in 2024. The breakdown shows on average a murder occurred every 31.1 minutes and a rape occurred every 4.1 minutes. National violent crime decreased an estimated 4.5% in 2024 compared to 2023 estimates:
Murder and non-negligent manslaughter recorded a 2024 estimated nationwide decrease of 14.9% compared to the previous year.
In 2024, the estimated number of offenses in the revised rape category saw an estimated 5.2% decrease.
Aggravated assault figures decreased an estimated 3.0% in 2024.
Robbery showed an estimated decrease of 8.9% nationally.
In 2024, 16,419 agencies participated in the Hate Crime collection, population coverage of 95.1% of the U.S. population. Law enforcement agencies submitted incident reports involving 11,679 criminal incidents and 13,683 related offenses as being motivated by bias toward race, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender, and gender identity.
To publish a national trend, the FBI’s UCR Program used a dataset of reported hate crime incidents and reported zero incidents submitted by participating agencies reporting six or more common months of hate crime data to the FBI’s UCR Program for both 2023 and 2024. According to this dataset, reported hate crime incidents decreased 1.5 percent from 11,041 in 2023 to 10,873 in 2024.
“Reported Crimes in the Nation” is comprised of five parts—“Crime in the United States, 2024,” “NIBRS, 2024,” “Hate Crime Statistics, 2024,” Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted 2024 assault tables, and “UCR Summary of Reported Crimes in the Nation, 2024.” The compilation’s name has been changed to best reflect the UCR Program’s products, which are based on data reported by participating law enforcement agencies to the FBI.
The violent crime estimate published as part of “Crime in the United States” comprises murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault offenses. For the first time, the 2013 through 2024 violent crime estimates are based on the rape offenses reported using the 2013 revised rape definition. The violent crime figures will still be based on the legacy rape definition for years 2005 to 2012. The revised rape definition (https://le.fbi.gov/cjis-division/cjis-link/ucr-program-changes-definition-of-rape) encompasses additional circumstances beyond the parameters of the legacy definition. In 2016, the FBI Director approved the recommendation to discontinue the reporting of rape data using the UCR legacy definition beginning in 2017. Since 2017, table one of the “Crime in the United States” was the only table using the legacy definition to publish the historic trend. This year’s change streamlines the publication of reported rape.
Newark, NJ – The U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force is proud to announce the successful apprehension of several high-profile fugitives during the month of July, making a significant impact across multiple jurisdictions in the state of New Jersey.
Throughout the month, U.S. Marshals-led task force teams across the state arrested over 158 wanted individuals, including suspects wanted for homicide, attempted murder, rape, bank robbery, and other violent offenses. Notably, coordinated enforcement actions led to the arrests of the subjects below:
Shaquan Landrum, 34, wanted out of Hillside for attempted murder and parole violations, arrested July 28 in Newark after shooting at law enforcement officers.
Jackson Nazaire, 29, wanted out of Rahway for an armed bank robbery, arrested July 23 in Elizabeth after barricading himself in a hotel with a weapon.
Chenal Dixon, 31, wanted out of Plainfield for Aggravated Sexual Assault, was arrested on July 25th in Newark after attempting to flee on foot.
Joshua Bethea, 27, wanted out of Essex County for murder and weapons offenses, arrested July 21 in Newark.
Keyona Tyler, 22, wanted out of Irvington for attempted murder, arrested July 25 in Hillside.
Phu Nguyen, 35, wanted out of Voorhees for armed bank robbery, arrested July 3 in Horsham, Pennsylvania.
Ebony Gee, 42, wanted out of Camden County for desecration of human remains, arrested July 14 in Philadelphia.
Jordan Glisson, 19, wanted out Asbury Park for Homicide, arrested July 14 in Newark.
These arrests highlight the relentless dedication and coordination of our deputies and task force partners,” said Juan Mattos Jr., U.S. Marshal for the District of New Jersey. “We will continue to pursue justice and ensure that those who threaten our communities are held accountable.”
“This summer surge is an example of the U.S. Marshal Service’s unwavering resolve to track down the most dangerous fugitives,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Alina Habba. “The clear success of this operation highlights law enforcement’s commitment to reducing violent crime and safeguarding our communities. I will always stand with the brave agents who serve to protect our country each and every day. My office will continue working with our partners to ensure that those who pose a threat to our state are brought to justice swiftly and effectively.”
The U.S. Marshals Service remains committed to its mission of tracking down the nation’s most dangerous fugitives and enhancing the safety of communities through collaboration with federal, state, and local partners.
The U.S. Marshals Service New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force is composed of individuals from the following agencies:
NJ State Police, NJ State Parole, NJ Department of Corrections, Port Authority Police Department, Passaic County Sheriff, Essex County Sheriff, Union County Sheriff, Mercer County Sheriff, Monmouth County Sheriff, Ocean County Sheriff, Burlington County Sheriff, Camden County Sheriff, Hudson County Sheriff, Gloucester County Sheriff, Salem County Sheriff, Atlantic County Sheriff, Somerset County Sheriff, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, Salem County Prosecutor’s Office, Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office, Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Newark PD, Jersey City PD, Trenton PD, Camden Metro PD, Atlantic City PD, Asbury Park PD, Vineland PD, Pennsauken PD, Flemington PD, Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, CBP, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.