Justice News

President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission Delivers Historic Report Draft

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Last May, President Donald J. Trump established the Religious Liberty Commission to advise and report to the President on opportunities to “identify emerging threats to religious liberty, uphold Federal laws that protect all citizens’ full participation in a pluralistic democracy, and protect the free exercise of religion.”

Justice Department Sues States for Failing to Provide SNAP Data to the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Justice filed lawsuits against Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Minnesota, seeking injunctions requiring their state SNAP agencies to turn over their last five years of SNAP applicant data. This comes after those four states refused to turn over the data to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) so that USDA could ensure that states are properly administering and enforcing their determinations of residents’ eligibility for SNAP, including household benefit levels.

United States Seizes Hundreds of Internet Domains Used to Illegally Stream World Cup Matches

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

The Department of Justice announced today the seizure of nearly 400 sites that were engaged in the unauthorized streaming of matches in the FIFA World Cup Finals in violation of U.S. copyright law.

Los Angeles Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

A federal jury in the Central District of California convicted a Los Angeles man today of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion.

Extradited Canadian American Man Pleads Guilty for Role in Deadly Alien Smuggling Conspiracy

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

A dual Canadian American citizen who was extradited from Canada pleaded guilty today for his role in a human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in the deaths of a family, including two children under the age of three, in the St. Lawrence River.

Two Men Sentenced to a Total of Over 21 Years in Prison for Roles in Carjacking and Robbery

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

A federal judge sentenced Marterrio Armstrong, 21, of Memphis, Tennessee, and Jacam’Ron McIntosh, 21, of Oxford, Mississippi, to eight and one-half years and 13 years in prison, respectively, for a carjacking at gunpoint.

Chicago Man Arrested in Connection with Planned Violent Attack at Ultimate Fighting Championship Event at White House

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

A Chicago man has been arrested in connection with the planned violent attack at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event at the White House earlier this month.

Alabama Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison on Federal Dog Fighting and Firearms Charges; 78 Dogs Rescued and “Destructive Device” Recovered

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Carlton Lenard Adams, of Bessemer and Adger, Alabama, was sentenced last month to 120 months in prison after pleading guilty in January to four counts of possessing dogs for fighting purposes and two counts of possessing firearms subsequent to a felony conviction. In addition to the prison sentence, the court also yesterday imposed a restitution of $548,449 for the costs of care of 78 pit bull-type dogs rescued in this investigation. At time of rescue, 78 dogs was the second-greatest number rescued from a single defendant in any federal case.

Former U.S. National Security Advisor John R. Bolton, II Pleads Guilty to Violating the Espionage Act

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

John R. Bolton, II, 77, of Bethesda, Maryland, pleaded guilty today in federal court to willfully retaining national defense information. Bolton used personal accounts to send classified information to family members who were unauthorized to access such information, including a personal email account that was later hacked by a cyber actor allegedly linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Arizona Woman Pleads Guilty to $7.7 Million Tax Refund Fraud Scheme

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

An Arizona woman pleaded guilty yesterday to attempting to steal more than $7.7 million in government funds by filing false tax returns with the IRS.

Minnesota Tax Preparer Convicted of Preparing $1M+ in False Tax Returns for Clients

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

A federal jury convicted a Minnesota man yesterday for filing false tax returns for clients of his tax preparation business.

Two Illegal Aliens Sentenced in International ATM “Jackpotting” Conspiracy with Ties to Tren de Aragua

Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Carlos Javier Padron, 36, an illegal alien from Venezuela, was sentenced yesterday to 78 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to deploy malware and steal millions of dollars from ATMs in the United States, a crime commonly referred to as “ATM jackpotting.”

Memphis Man Sentenced to Over Seven Years in Prison for RICO Conspiracy

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Larry Wilson, also known as “L,” 36, of Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced today to 87 months in prison following his conviction for RICO conspiracy.

North Carolina Man Sentenced to More than Two Years in Prison for Conspiracy Related to Videos Depicting Monkey Torture and Mutilation

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

A North Carolina man was sentenced today to 28 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release in connection with his involvement with online groups dedicated to creating and distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys.

Court Clears Way for Energy Development in Gulf of America

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland today dismissed a lawsuit challenging the National Marine Fisheries Service’s 2025 biological opinion and incidental take statement for oil and gas activities in the Gulf of America. The court held that the case is moot and that it lacks jurisdiction to proceed because the Endangered Species Committee exempted those activities from the requirements of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The dismissal was effective yesterday.

Illegal Alien from Honduras Sentenced for $89 Million Off-the-Books Payroll Tax Fraud Scheme Employing Illegal Aliens

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

An illegal alien from Honduras was sentenced yesterday to 96 months in prison for his role in operating a years-long off-the-books cash payroll scheme that facilitated the employment of illegal aliens working in the United States. The scheme caused a total loss to the United States of more than $38 million.

Northern California Man Pleads Guilty to Years-Long Securities Fraud Spoofing Scheme

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

A California man pleaded guilty yesterday to engaging in more than 3,000 instances of manipulative trading and spoofing during a years-long scheme to manipulate the securities markets.

California Man Charged with Distributing and Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

A federal grand jury in the Central District of California returned an indictment yesterday charging Andrew Dominguez, 37, of Los Angeles, California, with producing and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Former Army Soldier Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Crimes Committed in Alaska and Texas

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

A former Army soldier pleaded guilty today to child exploitation crimes he committed while living in Alaska and Texas, including attempted production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting minors known to him, and trafficking of CSAM.

Illegal Alien Sentenced for Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Samuel Flores de Dios, 36, an illegal alien from Mexico, was sentenced today to 30 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) after he placed a camera in his bedroom and recorded himself sexually abusing a victim who was under 13-years old.

Request for Agency Participation in Developing FOIA Technology Inventory

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

The Chief FOIA Officers Council is requesting agency collaboration and input in the development of a federal FOIA technology inventory.

Sixth Defendant Pleads Guilty for Role in Conspiracy to Launder Tens of Millions of Dollars in Illicit Cash Proceeds

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

A Brazilian man pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking, and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida accepted the guilty plea today. On June 1, the district court also accepted the guilty pleas of five co-defendants.

Kevin Epstein Designated as Interim U.S. Trustee for Louisiana and Mississippi

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Kevin Epstein has been designated by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as the U.S. Trustee for Louisiana and Mississippi (Region 5) on an interim basis effective June 29. Epstein replaces David Asbach, who is retiring after 35 years of distinguished service to the U.S. Trustee Program (USTP).

Homeland Security Task Force Case Sends Sibling Co-Conspirators to Federal Prison for Roles in Transnational Criminal Organization

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

As the result of a Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation, a brother and sister were both sentenced this week to life in prison and 33 years in prison, respectively, for their roles in a large-scale alien smuggling organization (ASO) directly linked to the Cartel De Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG).

Eight North Carolina Return Preparers Plead Guilty in Almost $25M Pandemic-Relief Fraud Scheme

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:00:00 +0000

The owner of a North Carolina tax return preparation business pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to prepare false returns claiming fraudulent refunds based on COVID-19 tax credits. Seven other return preparers have already pleaded guilty for their roles in the same scheme.