U.S. Attorneys News News Update

Offices of the United States Attorneys   You are subscribed to U.S. Attorneys News news updates. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Jacksonville Man Pleads Guilty To Possessing A Machinegun 03/11/2025 08:00 AM EDT Jacksonville, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeny announces that Andres Felipe Mejia (19, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to possessing a machinegun. Mejia faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. Jacksonville Man Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy To Distribute Methamphetamine 03/11/2025 08:00 AM EDT Jacksonville, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Brian Gregory Brightman (31, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Brightman faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Arkansas man guilty of transporting illegal aliens in wheel well and fuel tank 03/11/2025 08:00 AM EDT A 48-year-old man from Jonesboro, Arkansas, has been convicted of unlawfully transporting four illegal aliens Jacksonville Woman Sentenced To Federal Prison For Credit Scheme And COVID Relief Fraud Involving The Paycheck Protection Program 03/11/2025 08:00 AM EDT Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger has sentenced Crystal Denean Harvell (37, Jacksonville) to two years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud involving a line of credit scheme and wire fraud involving COVID relief fraud through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The court also ordered Harvell to pay $131,782.63 in restitution to the victims she defrauded and to the United States government. Harvell agreed to forfeit $20,415, which is traceable to proceeds of the wire fraud offense involving COVID relief fraud. Harvell entered a guilty plea on September 4, 2024.  Man Sentenced for Violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act 03/11/2025 08:00 AM EDT NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JERAD M. BARRETT, ("BARRETT"), age 41, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on February 26, 2025, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, fifty kilograms or more of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute, fifty kilograms or more of marijuana, and maintaining a drug-involved premises, violations of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), 846, and 856(a)(1), respectively, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.  BARRETT was sentenced to 135 months imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $400 mandatory special assessment fee. Massachusetts Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Obstructing Federal Hate Crimes Investigation 03/11/2025 08:00 AM EDT BOSTON – A Massachusetts man, who was extradited from Stockholm, Sweden, was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for obstructing an investigation of fires set at Jewish institutions in Arlington, Needham and Chelsea, Mass., in May 2019.  Clayton Man Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Assistance Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, and Illegal Firearm 03/11/2025 08:00 AM EDT Convicted Connecticut Child Sex Offender Pleads Guilty To Attempting To Entice And Use An 11-Year-Old Child In Florida To Produce Photos Of Her Own Sexual Abuse 03/11/2025 08:00 AM EDT Jacksonville, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Andrew Thomas Bull (37, Tolland, CT), also known as Andrew Thomas Picard, has pleaded guilty to attempting to entice a child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing photos of her own sexual abuse. Bull faces a minimum sentence of 25 years, up to 50 years, in federal prison and a possible lifetime term of supervised release. Bull was convicted of importation and illegal possession of child pornography in 2013 in Connecticut. On May 25, 2023, FBI agents arrested Bull at his home in Connecticut. He was later transported to Jacksonville for prosecution. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 9, 2025.  Four Brazilian Nationals Arrested for Allegedly Running Illegal Prescription Drug Ring; Allegedly Distributed Misbranded Drugs Imported From Brazil 03/11/2025 08:00 AM EDT BOSTON – Four undocumented Brazilian nationals currently residing in Framingham have been arrested for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to import pharmaceutical-grade controlled substances and other misbranded drugs from Brazil and distribute them throughout the greater Framingham area. Tiverton Woman Admits Role in Bank Fraud Scheme 03/11/2025 08:00 AM EDT PROVIDENCE – A Tiverton woman admitted to a federal judge today that she participated in a scheme to defraud a Rhode Island bank of nearly a quarter of a million dollars that had been deposited as a result of a business email compromise, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. Mexican National Extradited to U.S. to Face Federal Drug Trafficking Charges in New Mexico 03/11/2025 08:00 AM EDT Guillermo Amaro-Rodriguez was extradited from Mexico to the United States to face federal drug trafficking charges in New Mexico. You have received this e-mail because you have asked to be notified of changes to the Offices of the United States Attorneys website. GovDelivery is providing this service on behalf of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW · Washington, DC 20530 · 202-514-2000 and may not use your subscription information for any other purposes. Manage your Subscriptions | Department of Justice Privacy Policy  | GovDelivery Privacy Policy Follow the Offices of the United States Attorneys on Twitter: @USAttorneys