Category: United States of America

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Parkersburg Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Michael David Enoch, 33, of Parkersburg, was sentenced today to five years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 15, 2024, law enforcement officers encountered Enoch on a Parkersburg street and informed Enoch of an active warrant for his arrest. When Enoch reached for his waistband, officers stopped  Enoch and recovered a Taurus model PT111 G2 9mm semiautomatic pistol that had been concealed in his waistband.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Enoch knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for wanton endangerment involving a firearm, escape, and receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle in Wood County Circuit Court on February 25, 2019.

Enoch has a criminal history that also includes multiple convictions for battery, domestic battery, fleeing from an officer, battery on a government representative, and violation of a protective order. 

Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Parkersburg Police Department.

United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted 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 (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-26.

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Members of Tacoma street gang indicted in fentanyl trafficking conspiracy

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

Used female couriers to transport pills in luggage from source in Arizona to Seattle and Baltimore airports

Tacoma – Over the last 36 hours, law enforcement executed 13 search warrants and arrested eight of nine people charged in an indictment for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Five others were arrested on Complaints based on firearms and narcotics found during searches of their residences and cars.  Some of those arrested identify as part of the Knoccout Crips street gang which has been tied to drug trafficking and violence in Tacoma. The drug trafficking ring was the subject of an 18-month investigation, including a two-month wiretap, led by the FBI.

“Over the last 18 months, law enforcement carefully tracked the activities of this drug trafficking ring, seizing kilogram quantities of fentanyl pills and powder from checked luggage at Sea-Tac airport,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “The wiretap revealed the far-reaching scope of the conspiracy, with drug mules attempting to transport fentanyl from Arizona to Tacoma and in at least one instance on to Baltimore.”

“Yesterday, the FBI’s South Sound Safe Streets Gang Task Force, together with more than a dozen partner law enforcement agencies, conducted a large-scale takedown targeting violent criminal street gangs involved in drug distribution and other violent crimes in Pierce County,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “An 18-month investigation revealed that these gang members and associates were sending couriers down to a source of supply in Phoenix to bring huge quantities of fentanyl back to Washington state in their checked luggage for redistribution. This case is an example of the FBI’s commitment to combatting violent criminals and gangs, as emphasized in Operation Summer Heat, a nationwide initiative targeting violent criminals and restoring safety in our communities.”

Those indicted in the ten-count indictment include:

  • Bryant K Moss Jr aka ‘BJ’, 29, of Tacoma
  • Gary Williams aka “Fat Boy,” 36, of Tacoma
  • Dominique Woods aka “Kane,” 33, of Spanaway
  • Joshua Logsdon aka “Bird,” 38 of Lakewood
  • Michael Lewis, 32, of Seattle
  • Dallas Martin, 28, of Phoenix
  • Josaphina Diaz, 30, of Tacoma
  • Forest Neal, 31, of Tacoma
  • Genesis Moreau, 25 of Vancouver

All nine of the defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Individual defendants are also charged for specific dates in which they had possession of fentanyl and distributed it between March 2024 and April 2025.

An additional 7 arrests of individuals connected to this conspiracy were made based on probable cause established in yesterday’s search warrants. These individuals were:

  • James Whitaker, 37 of Tacoma
  • William Young, 47 of Yelm
  • Bryant Moss Sr., 48 of Tacoma
  • Jaylin Irish, 30 of Tacoma
  • Dominique Buffington, 31 of Edgewood
  • Troy Harris, 38 of Tacoma
  • An Do, 35 of Tacoma

In the leadup to this week, law enforcement seized during the investigation:

  • Fentanyl – 34 kg
  • Marijuana – 45 kg
  • Firearms – 9

Over the last 36 hours, law enforcement seized:

  • Fentanyl – 2683.3g
  • Cocaine – 227.9g
  • Methamphetamine – 6,850.7g
  • Heroin – 40.7g
  • Marijuana – 27,593.8g
  • Cash – $ 111,524.25
  • Firearms – 23

Due to the quantity of drugs seized in this case, some defendants face a mandatory minimum ten years in prison if convicted.

The charges contained in the indictment and complaints are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This investigation was led by the FBI’s South Sound Safe Streets Gang Task Force in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations, the Tacoma Police Department, the Lakewood Police Department, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Washington State Department of Corrections. Throughout this investigation, the following agencies assisted the primary investigators: the Federal Air Marshal Service, the Port of Seattle Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Seattle Police Department, Washington State Patrol, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Fife Police Department, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristine Foerster and Crystal Correa.

This operation is part of Summer Heat, the FBI’s nationwide initiative targeting violent crime during the summer months. As part of this effort, the FBI has launched a multi-pronged offensive to crush violent crime. By surging resources alongside state and local partners, executing federal warrants on violent criminals and fugitives, and dismantling violent gangs nationwide, we are aggressively restoring safety in our communities across the country.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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Convicted Felon On Federal Supervision Is Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For Firearm Possession

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Juve Markie Lequan McAlpin, 24, of Asheville, was sentenced to 15 years  in prison followed by three years of supervised release today for possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and  Chief Michael Lamb of the Asheville Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement. 

According to court records, on August 4, 2022, McAlpin was convicted in federal court of illegal firearm possession and sentenced to prison. Following his release he was placed under federal supervision.

On April 24, 2024, while serving his term of supervised release, McAlpin was arrested at a Shell gas station in Hendersonville, N.C. During the arrest, law enforcement searched the vehicle in which McAlpin was a passenger and recovered a loaded Taurus model 65 .357 caliber revolver with an obliterated serial number from the passenger-side floorboard. Officers also seized a distinctive black hoodie from the vehicle.

Court records show that McAlpin had been wearing that same hoodie on April 20, 2024, when he fired two rounds into a moving vehicle at an apartment complex in Asheville, striking a passenger in the leg. The victim was treated at the hospital for a gunshot wound.

McAlpin is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the ATF and the Asheville Police Department for their investigation of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Gast of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted 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).

 

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Chinese National Arrested for Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Child

Source: United States Department of Justice (Human Trafficking)

BOSTON – A Chinese national lawfully residing in Boston has been arrested and charged for allegedly attempting to traffic a child for sex.

Qichen Yuan, 31, was charged with one count of attempted sex trafficking of a child. The defendant was arrested last night and appeared in federal court in Boston today.

According to the charging documents, on Aug. 16, 2025, Yuan responded to an advertisement posted by undercover law enforcement on a website commonly used to advertise commercial sex acts. The advertisement contained images of a young females and language purported to be written by a female describing herself as a “flower ready to blossom.”

During a text conversation and phone call between Yuan and an undercover agent posing as the purported minor, the undercover agent stated that she was a 15-year-old girl available to perform sex acts in exchange for money. It is alleged that when the undercover agent told Yuan she was young, Yuan stated, “I love you being young lol.” He then allegedly agreed to pay $250 to have sex with the purported minor after learning that she was just 15 years old.

According to court documents, at approximately 8:00 p.m. on Aug. 19, 2025, Yuan arrived at an agreed-upon meeting location and stood outside. It is alleged that when an unmarked law enforcement vehicle pulled up, Yuan attempted to flee. He was immediately apprehended. It is alleged that during a search of his person, two condoms were found in Yuan’s pocket.

The charge of attempted sex trafficking of a child provides for a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years and up to life  in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Torey B. Cummings, of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit is prosecuting the case.

If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.

This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law. 

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OIP Issues Guidance on Backlog Reduction Plans for FOIA Offices

Source: United States Attorneys General 1

The Office of Information Policy (OIP) released guidance this week on the benefits of and considerations for developing and updating agency backlog reduction plans.  A request is backlogged if it is pending past the FOIA’s standard 20- or 30-day response timeframes. Developing adaptable and sustainable plans to manage and reduce backlogs is a key part of agency FOIA administration.

The guidance is tailored to address considerations for agencies that are in the process of developing or updating their backlog reduction plans.  It explains the importance of involving key stakeholders, tailoring content based on component-specific needs, and obtainable goal-setting and accountability measures.  The guidance also stresses the importance of implementing and maintaining agency backlog reduction plans as living documents subject to modification as improvements to processes are made or changes in the law occur over time.  By implementing backlog reduction plans, agencies and requesters will benefit from institutionalized best practices of effective FOIA administration.

OIP is available to answer any questions or provide additional guidance to agencies.  Please contact 202-514-3642 or DOJ.OIP.FOIA@usdoj.gov for assistance.     

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Italian man sentenced to two years in prison for using unauthorized credit card information to purchase a firearm

Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Italian national residing in Woodbridge was sentenced today to two years in prison for aggravated identity theft.

According to court documents, on June 2, 2024, Wilford Amoako Osei, 23, placed a $1,249 online order for a firearm using another person’s name and credit card number without that person’s permission. The victim’s credit card was later reported lost or stolen. Osei received the firearm on June 24, 2024, from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Woodbridge.

In six instances from June 24, 2024, through August 30, 2024, Osei attempted to place online orders for additional firearms using the names and credit card numbers of other victims without their authorization. The attempted orders were blocked or cancelled and were not fulfilled.

Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel K. Amzallag prosecuted the case.

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. 1:25-cr-41.

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USNS Comfort Returns Home After Continuing Promise 2025

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

The Mercy-class hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) returned to Naval Station Norfolk (NSN), Aug. 17, 2025, marking the successful completion of Continuing Promise 2025 (CP25). Comfort returned to NSN after a 79-day deployment, providing medical care, humanitarian assistance and strengthening relationships with partner nations in the Caribbean and South and Central America.

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Fuerzas Comando 2025

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

Sixteen special operations teams from across Central and South America and the Caribbean will gather in Ilopango, El Salvador, Aug. 18–29, for Fuerzas Comando 2025, the 19th iteration of the premier special operations skills competition and senior leadership seminar.

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Secretary Noem Delivers $12 Billion in Savings to the American People in 200 Days

Source: US Department of Homeland Security

On average, Secretary Noem saves U.S. taxpayers more than $50 million a day

WASHINGTON — Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, in seven months, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem has saved the American people $12 billion through common-sense cost accountability processes across DHS.  

By reducing the size of government and eliminating career bureaucrats, Secretary Noem saved U.S. taxpayers $1.3 billion. All of these savings were achieved without cuts to key law enforcement, border security, national security, immigration enforcement and positions with a public safety responsibility. 

Secretary Noem personally reviews and approves any contract above $100,000. This process saved U.S. taxpayers an additional $10.7 billion.  

For years, unelected bureaucrats rubber-stamped hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts, fueling a culture of waste, fraud, and abuse. Under Secretary Noem, that era is over. 

“It is stunning that for years, career bureaucrats were unilaterally signing off on hundred-million-dollar contracts leading to massive waste, fraud, and abuse of U.S. taxpayer dollars,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “While lobbyists and special interests are fighting for government contracts, Secretary Noem is fighting for the American taxpayer. In less than seven months, she’s saved the U.S. taxpayer $12 billion–that’s more than $50 million a DAY since she took office.” 

These figures don’t even include the additional savings from DHS’s immigration enforcement efforts under President Trump’s leadership.  

The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) estimates the net cost of illegal immigration at the federal, state, and local levels was at least $150.7 billion annually as of early 2023. This translates to an average cost of $8,776 per illegal immigrant or U.S.-born child of illegal immigrants per year. Removing 1.6 million illegals from the country has resulted in an additional $14 billion in cost savings per year. 

Since taking office, Secretary Noem has reviewed more than 5,000 contracts and reviews all contracts within 24 hours.  

Secretary Noem’s reforms have exposed years of unchecked spending, including infamous examples such as the federal government paying $1,300 for a single reheatable coffee cup.   

Secretary Noem’s leadership has delivered results every American can be proud of including the most secure border in American history, removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from our communities, and the $50 million in taxpayer savings every single day since she took office.

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CISA Issues Draft Software Bill of Materials Guide for Public Comment

Source: US Department of Homeland Security

WASHINGTON – Today, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released a draft Minimum Elements for a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) for public comment. Reflecting the growing maturity of SBOM practices, this guide incorporates lessons learned from increased SBOM generation and usage and provides an updated baseline for how software component information is documented and shared. Members of the public may submit public comment on this guidance starting today. 

Software continues to underpin critical systems and services, and transparency into its composition is essential. SBOMs illuminate the software supply chain by providing data about software’s ingredients. Analysis of SBOM data gives organizations insights about their software that can then drive actions to improve software security.  

Since the 2021 SBOM Minimum Elements was published by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), SBOM practices have evolved significantly to include expanded tooling and increased stakeholder familiarity and adoption. The advancements of tooling and adoption allow organizations requesting SBOMs to demand more information about their software components and supply chain than they could have in 2021. By incorporating these advancements, the 2025 SBOM Minimum Elements raises expectations for SBOMs to align with current capabilities. 

“CISA remains focused on working with industry, interagency, and international partners to develop resources to increase SBOM adoption across the broader software ecosystem, the U.S. government, and the world. SBOM is a valuable tool that helps software manufacturers with addressing supply chain risks and several best practices have evolved significantly in recent years,” said CISA Acting Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity Chris Butera. “This voluntary guidance will empower federal agencies and other organizations to make risk-informed decisions, strengthen their cybersecurity posture, and support scalable, machine-readable solutions. We encourage members of the public to review this guidance and provide comment on how we can improve this list of minimum elements.”    

Additions introduced in the draft Minimum Elements for a SBOM include component hash, license, tool name, and generation context. Existing elements, such as SBOM author, software producer, component version, and others, have been updated for improved clarity. The public comment period concludes on October 3, 2025. During the comment period, members of the public can provide comments and feedback via Federal Register: Request for Comment on 2025 Minimum Elements for a Software Bill of Materials. Following the public comment period, CISA will issue a revised version of the minimum elements. 

For more information and resources, visit Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) on CISA.gov.  

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