Maduro Regime Ally Alex Saab Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Scheme Involving Bribery and Public Contracts for Food and Medicine: Prosecution Part of @HSTaskForce Initiative Established by @POTUS Trump “Alex Saab exploited the U.S. financial system to profit off the backs of the Venezuelan people,” said @AAGDuva. “He created a complex web of front companies, shell accounts, and false records to perpetuate his scheme, win lucrative public contracts, and line his own pockets as well as his conspirators. The Criminal Division has held Saab accountable and will do the same for others seeking to abuse the U.S. economy for their own gain.” Read more:

Feds Uncover Massive Fraud Scheme Tied To Illegal Alien Smuggling Operation “Instead of helping American farmers, these defendants allegedly concocted a scheme to enrich themselves by manipulating the program and smuggling aliens into the country for profit." -@AAGDuva

Five Defendants Charged with Defrauding and Exploiting H-2A Visa Program to Smuggle Aliens into the United States “The H-2A is specifically designed to help farmers fill temporary or seasonal jobs when there is a shortage of domestic labor,” said @AAGDuva. “Instead of helping American farmers, these defendants allegedly concocted a scheme to enrich themselves by manipulating the program and smuggling aliens into the country for profit.” Read more:

Former Church Elder in Alaska Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material: Case Is Part of Operation Relentless Justice “Dwight Chris John repeatedly exploited a vulnerable child in Mexico and engaged in the exploitation of children online in Alaska,” said @AAGDuva. “Yesterday’s guilty plea is an important step toward justice for these children. We will hold U.S. citizens accountable wherever they exploit children.” 🔗:

Former U.S. Army Soldier Sentenced to Life in Prison for Physically and Sexually Assaulting Two Minors While Serving Abroad “Adam Schlueter betrayed the honor and duty that comes with serving in the U.S. military,” said @AAGDuva. “There is nothing honorable about subjecting the most vulnerable in our community to violence and sexual exploitation. We are grateful for the strength and courage of the survivors in this case who came forward to end this man’s reign of terror.” 🔗:

A second superseding indictment was unsealed today charging a total of NINE alleged gang members with: • Racketeering influenced corrupt organization (RICO) conspiracy • Racketeering murder and attempted murder • Firearms charges All as part of their membership with the United Bloods Nation gang and the Cautious District subset of the Immaculate Balla Family, commonly called the Makk Ballers. Read more:

United States Extradites to Chile One of Its Most Wanted Fugitives – An Alleged Tren de Aragua Leader Charged in Chile with Criminal Association, Extortion, and Kidnapping Resulting in Homicide “The United States is not a safe haven for dangerous criminal aliens,” said @AGToddBlanche. “Rafael Enrique Gamez Salas should never have been in our country in the first place, but under the Biden administration, open-border policies left the doors wide open, and hundreds of suspected and convicted Tren de Aragua terrorists poured into this country. Gamez Salas’s extradition is evidence of the strong cooperation with our Chilean partners to combat transnational crime, dismantle foreign terrorist organizations like Tren de Aragua, and hold members accountable for their heinous criminal acts.” 

A Maryland man pleaded guilty today to two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. “Brandon Sartor used violence and fear to compel the two victims to have sex with dozens of men for his monetary gain,” said @AAGDuva. “His use of violence and threats to terrorize and control vulnerable victims speaks to the depravity of his conduct and the need to hold him accountable for trafficking them. The Criminal Division will continue to stand up for these and other victims of human trafficking.” Read more:

Two Mexican nationals pleaded guilty today to multiple charges including alien smuggling and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, specifically, Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG). “The defendants smuggled methamphetamine and aliens into the United States for financial gain, then doubled down to make more money by conspiring to export AK-47 style weapons and .50 caliber rifles to Mexico for CJNG, a terrorist organization that has destroyed lives and caused death in our great country,” said @AAGDuva. “The defendant’s conduct directly threatened the national security of the United States and the well-being of American citizens.” Read more:

Mexican Fentanyl Manufacturer Pleads Guilty to International Drug Trafficking Offenses “For years, Ojeda Elenes manufactured and imported enormous quantities of fentanyl often using precursor chemicals obtained from China, which contributed to the opioid epidemic poisoning our communities,” said @AAGDuva. “This case sends a clear message: no matter where they operate, those who manufacture and then traffic deadly drugs into our country will be relentlessly pursued, prosecuted, and brought to justice. To protect the American people, the Criminal Division will continue to use every available tool to dismantle the transnational criminal organizations responsible for this devastation that has occurred in our country.”

Prosecuting child exploitation is one of the most important things we do @DOJCrimDiv. But prosecution comes after a child has been harmed. Prevention is the ultimate goal. To that end, @TheJusticeDept is offering resources and training for schools and any organization engaged with youth. Please visit and contact us at CEOS.Prevention@usdoj.gov to learn more. Together, we can prevent the online sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

Cartel Commanders Charged with International Cocaine and Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy and Firearm Offenses “The Department of Justice is committed to the total elimination of drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations,” said @AAGDuva. “By targeting these regional commanders, we take another step towards fulfilling that commitment to eliminate the scourge of cartels like CJNG.” 🔗:

An associate of the prison gang Aryan Brotherhood was convicted today of executing two men in Lomita, California, on orders given by an Aryan Brotherhood member incarcerated in Kern Valley State Prison, in Kern County, California. "The Department will continue to focus its resources on holding gang members accountable, even if they are already behind bars." -@AAGDuva Read more:

Operator of Minnesota-Based Money Transmitter Charged With Laundering Drug Proceeds for Mexican Cartel Following Homeland Security Task Force Investigation “The indictment alleges that this defendant abused his position at a financial institution to help the CJNG cartel launder money from its drug sales back to Mexico,” said @AAGDuva. “Cartels rely on financial facilitators to ensure that cartel leadership in Mexico receive the profits from the heinous crimes they perpetrate here in the United States. The Criminal Division is relentless in its mission to take the profit out of crime, including by prosecuting those who help funnel drug proceeds back to cartel management.” Read more:

🚨Dual U.S. and Canadian Citizen and Alleged Repeat Child Sexual Predator Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of a Child in Hawaii “Protecting children from sexual predators is a priority of the highest order,” said @AAGDuva. “We will continue to pursue this alleged offender and work with our law enforcement partners to return him to the United States to face trial for the crimes he is charged with committing.” Read more:

In the last month, 3 members of the Memphis-based gang known as Young Mob or Young Mob Military have pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy, robbery, death by firearm, and drug crimes. “As to the Young Mob gang alone, Criminal Division’s partnership with @WDTNNews has resulted in 20 members and associates of this violent gang have been hauled before federal courts to answer for their crimes, which include murder, attempted murder, robbery, and large-volume drug dealing, including trafficking in fentanyl. Our commitment to the people of Memphis is unwavering.” -@AAGDuva Read more:

Colorado Man Convicted at Trial of Sexually Abusing a Child on Camera And Advertising the Videos for Sale Over the Dark Web “Alekzander Bywater left the United States for Mexico and preyed upon the most vulnerable among us, a young child,” said @AAGDuva. “Child exploitative hands-on violations are among the most depraved. This defendant and his wife, Anika, perpetrated this heinous crime together, and even tried to profit off their conduct. This case is core to the Criminal Division’s mission of hunting down child predators and removing them from society.” Read more:

.@DOJCrimDiv welcomed Vietnam’s Deputy Prosecutor General and senior delegation to further our law enforcement partnership and deepen cooperation on cases involving transnational cybercriminals that target Americans. @theJusticeDept will attack scam centers wherever they operate – at home and abroad.