Illegal Alien with More Than 30 Prior Arrests Fatally Stabs Woman at Virginia Bus Stop, ICE Requests Virginia Authorities Not Release This Public Safety Threat

 

Another violent criminal illegal alien, another preventable murder of an American citizen

Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that on February 25, 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged a detainer requesting Virginia not release a career criminal illegal alien with more than 30 arrests after the Fairfax County Police Department charged him for allegedly fatally stabbing a woman in the neck on Monday.

According to local reports, on Monday, February 23, Stephanie Minter, 41, of Fredericksburg was found dead at a local bus stop with multiple stab wounds to the upper body. Police later published a photo of Sierra Leone national Abdul Jalloh, 32, taken from a surveillance camera alerting the public that he should be considered “dangerous” and to call police if they see him. On Tuesday, February 24, a local business owner saw him and called police.

Police then arrested and charged Jalloh with murder. Jalloh was also charged with petit larceny for an additional crime that occurred earlier in the day.

Abdul Jalloh 

Jalloh is an illegal alien from Sierra Leone who entered the U.S. illegally in 2012.

His criminal history includes more than 30 arrests for charges of rape, malicious wounding, assault, drug possession, identity theft, trespassing, larceny, firing a weapon, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and pick pocketing.

ICE previously lodged a detainer against Jalloh in 2020, and he was granted a final order of removal by a judge who found he could be removed to any country other than Sierra Leone. This case illustrated the importance of third country removals to get criminal illegal aliens out of the U.S.

“We are calling on Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger and Virginia's sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this murderer and violent career criminal from their jail without notifying ICE,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “This illegal alien’s murder of an innocent, beautiful American woman came less than 24 hours before Governor Spanberger’s demonization of ICE law enforcement. This heinous criminal is a perfect example of why we need cooperation from sanctuary jurisdictions and the importance of third country removals for the safety of the American people.”

Governor Spanberger has signed an executive order that local and state law enforcement are no longer required to cooperate with ICE, repealing an order from her Republican predecessor, Governor Glenn Youngkin.

Fairfax County has a history of refusing to honor immigration detainers. In late 2025, a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador killed a man just a day after a Fairfax County jail failed to honor an immigration detainer ICE had placed on him.

Statement from Mayor Mamdani on Military Strikes on Iran

 

“Today’s military strikes on Iran — carried out by the United States and Israel — mark a catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression. Bombing cities. Killing civilians. Opening a new theater of war.  Americans do not want this. They do not want another war in pursuit of regime change. They want relief from the affordability crisis. They want peace.  

  

“I am focused on making sure that every New Yorker is safe. I have been in contact with our Police Commissioner and emergency management officials. We are taking proactive steps, including increasing coordination across agencies and enhancing patrols of sensitive locations out of an abundance of caution.  

  

“Additionally, I want to speak directly to Iranian New Yorkers: you are part of the fabric of this city — you are our neighbors, small business owners, students, artists, workers, and community leaders. You will be safe here.” 

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Americans want peace and respect for those who keep the peace like the NYPD, not lawless pelting of the NYPD by repeat criminals. 

You can always step down as mayor if you do not agree. Make a stronger country, do not try to bring it down Mayor Mamdani!

 

United States and Israe l Attack Iran as Predicted on Talking Politics

 

We told you first, yesterday, that the United States and Israel would strike Iran to end the nuclear threat in the Middle East and topple the Iranian regime, on Talking Politics.

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdukw3WinVE]

Talking Politics

Parrot TV

Talking Politics with Co-Hosts Anthony Rivieccio and Robert Press

State of the union recap, Snowball fight, New State Pot Head, Iran the 51st State, and lots more. Live Friday at 12 pm or anytime at the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdukw3WinVE

Talking Politics

Parrot TV

DEC Announces 2026 I BIRD NY Challenge

 

Program Encourages New Yorkers to Experience the Joy of Birding Across the State

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton announced that the 2026 I BIRD NY Challenge for birders of all ages and abilities will start on March 1. The challenge encourages New Yorkers and visitors to identify birds and learn about birdlife, and finishers are awarded a commemorative I BIRD NY Challenge patch and certificate—plus the opportunity to win birding-related prizes. 

“New York State’s globally significant habitat supports a wide range of bird species,” Commissioner Lefton said. “Whether you are an expert birder or birding for the first time, the I BIRD NY program offers opportunities to experience birds and the diverse habitats they call home.” 

New York State offers exceptional opportunities to experience the joy of birds across wide-ranging habitats. From the Atlantic Ocean’s sandy beaches to the Great Lakes coastlines, Adirondack and Catskill peaks, and everywhere in between, the state supports more than 450 different bird species throughout the year. The I BIRD NY Challenge incentivizes observing birds in neighborhoods, local parks, or DEC and partner lands throughout the state. 

New and experienced birders can discover the thrill of birding by taking the I BIRD NY Challenge, visiting a site along the New York State Birding Trail, and viewing additional birding resources on DEC’s website. 

The I BIRD NY program was launched in 2017 to build on the State’s efforts to increase access to New York’s vast natural resources and promote no- and low-cost opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors and connect with nature. Because people can observe birds wherever they live, work, or recreate, birding is an accessible activity that does not require transportation or the purchase of specialized equipment. Bird watching can be enjoyed by people from all economic backgrounds and education levels. While binoculars can help, many birds can be identified without them. 

The 2026 I BIRD NY Challenge is open to all ages and runs from March 1 to November 1. To complete the challenge, participants must identify any 10 wild bird species and submit a challenge sheet to DEC. Over 1,600 birders completed this fun challenge in 2025. 

Challenge sheets can be submitted online via Survey Monkey or sent via email or mail. Entries must be received by November 18, 2026. Entry forms will be available in Spanish, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, French, and Urdu. All participants will be awarded a commemorative patch, given a completion certificate, and entered into a drawing for great birding prizes. Two youth and two adult winners will be chosen. Participants will also receive an extra prize entry for providing a photo documenting their challenge experience. 

Those interested in taking the challenge can visit the “I BIRD NY” webpage to access this year’s challenge sheet and find information on where and how to watch birds, upcoming birding events, a downloadable Beginner’s Guide to Birding (PDF) (also available in Spanish), and additional resources. Those interested may also opt to sign up for DEC’s monthly birding newsletter, Words of a Feather, for birding tips and tricks, New York State Birding Trail site recommendations, events, and more delivered right to one’s inbox. 

DEC also reminds the public that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is currently widespread in wild birds and mammals. The public can help minimize risk and the spread of disease by preventing contact between domestic animals and wild birds. The public is encouraged to report sick or deceased wildlife to DEC. In cases where field staff may be unavailable to collect samples or carcasses from the landscape and removal is necessary, use proper personal protective equipment, including disposable gloves, a mask, and eye protection. Avoid direct contact with the carcass or fluids by using a shovel to transfer it to a tripled garbage or contractor bag, which should be placed in an outdoor trash receptacle. More information about HPAI, including how it is spread and which animals can be infected, is available on DEC’s “Animal Diseases” webpage. 

As always, participants are encouraged to Love Our New York Lands all year by practicing Leave No Trace^TM principles and by recreating safely and sustainably.

Governor Hochul Appoints New York State's First-Ever Director of Security and Intelligence

Leading International Cybersecurity Expert and Chief Cyber Officer Colin Ahern Tapped To Lead State’s Unified Security and Intelligence Strategy and Response

New Senior Leadership Position Will Synchronize State’s Defenses and Advance New York’s Growing Defense Industrial Base

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the appointment of Colin Ahern to serve as New York State's first-ever Director of Security and Intelligence (DSI). In this role, Director Ahern, who previously served as New York State's Chief Cyber Officer, will provide strategic direction and further unify the State’s security assets on national security and intelligence matters. The DSI will also coordinate statewide activities to better respond to global risks and seize opportunities for advancing the defense industrial base and technologies crucial to national security.

“Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority, and the threats we face are more complex and interconnected than ever before, which is why we need to be aggressive, innovative and adaptive in the way we combat new threats and adversaries,” Governor Hochul said. “To meet these challenges and seize these opportunities, I am appointing Colin Ahern as the State’s first Director of Security and Intelligence. Colin has served New York State well as our first-ever Chief Cyber Officer combatting cyber threats, and now, he will take his work to a new level collaborating with state, local and federal government partners to ensure we are meeting this moment head on, and keeping our state and community safe from new and emerging threats.”

The Director of Security and Intelligence will report directly to Director of State Operations Jackie Bray, and will coordinate across state agencies, local governments, federal partners and the private sector to ensure a whole-of-state response to foreign malign influence, hybrid warfare and other national security issues. Furthermore, the DSI will champion and advocate for investment in New York’s defense and security industries, facilitating partnerships in key areas including the defense industrial base, drones, quantum, and other technologies crucial to national security.

Director of Security and Intelligence Colin Ahern said, "It’s an honor to be named New York State’s first Director of Security and Intelligence and to continue working to help keep New Yorkers safe. New York continues to meet today’s challenges, stepping up to strengthen our security, defense, and intelligence efforts, and I’m grateful to Governor Hochul for her continued leadership and commitment to making sure New York remains a national leader in security and intelligence."

Director Ahern brings nearly two decades of experience in intelligence and security to this new role. He previously served as the State’s first Chief Cyber Officer. He is a decorated former U.S. Army officer, Bronze Star recipient and veteran of two tours in Afghanistan. Director Ahern has also taught hybrid warfare, intelligence, and cybersecurity at Columbia University and the George C. Marshall Center for European Security Studies, is a term member at the Council on Foreign Relations, and holds an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business.

Michaela Lee will be the Acting Chief Cyber Officer until a permanent Chief Cyber Officer is named. 

FORMER NYC DOC OFFICER SENTENCED FOR SMUGGLING CONTRABAND WORTH $15,000 INTO RIKERS ISLAND

 

Defendant Illegally Smuggled 200 Cigarettes and Cell Phone

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that a former NYC Department of Correction Officer was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution for taking a bribe to smuggle cigarettes and a cell phone into Rikers Island. 

District Attorney Clark said, “Correction Officers protect, serve, and embody public trust. This defendant’s misconduct placed his fellow officers, and the people incarcerated in jeopardy, by smuggling valuable commodities that fuel violence. He tarnished Correction Officers reputation and broke his oath for $3,000. Now, he’s on probation for three years and must pay restitution.”

Acting NYC Department of Investigation Commissioner Christopher Ryan said, “This defendant accepted thousands of dollars in bribes in return for smuggling cell phones and cigarettes into the Rikers Island jail facility, compromising the security of the facility and placing his fellow officers and persons in custody at risk. Today’s sentence publicly holds him accountable for his criminal actions and requires he pay the City what he took in bribes. I thank the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for its partnership on this investigation and the Department of Correction for its cooperation.” 

District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Kendell Felix, 38, was sentenced February 26, 2026, by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Jay Kim to three years’ probation and ordered to pay $3,000 and participate in two years of programming. The prosecution had asked for a sentence of one to three years in state prison. The defendant pleaded guilty to third-degree Bribe Receiving on January 8, 2026. 

According to the investigation, between August 25 to 27, 2024, Felix was working as a Correction Officer assigned to the North Infirmary Command when he smuggled in 200 cigarettes and a cell phone in exchange for $3,000. Cigarettes are sold for $50 to $100 each in Rikers Island jails, and the estimated value of the contraband smuggled in by Felix was worth approximately $15,000.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYC Department of Investigation Correction Officer Investigator Brian Hilario, supervised by Assistant Inspector General Sasha Holguin, Deputy Inspector General Sony Fortune, Inspector General Whitney Ferguson, and Deputy Commissioner/Chief of Investigations Dominick Zarrella for their work on the case. 

Florida Man Sentenced for Aggravated Identity Theft and Fraud Committed Against at Least 450 Victims

A Florida man was sentenced to 55 months in prison and three years of supervised release for possessing approximately 450 fraudulent, stolen or counterfeit access devices, which included others’ credit card numbers, social security numbers, and means to gain access to bank accounts.

Mckenzie Levar Monestine, 33, of Miami, pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of possessing 15 or more unauthorized access devices and one count of aggravated identity theft. Monestine pleaded guilty to these charges based on conduct stemming from a 2020 FBI investigation.

According to court documents, on or about June 22, 2020, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Monestine’s home. That search uncovered a trove of fraud evidence inside Monestine’s padlocked room, including mechanisms to access the banking information of other people, such as personally identifying information (PII), social security numbers, account passwords, driver’s license numbers, phone numbers, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, debit card numbers, and dates of birth belonging to other persons. Because much of the fraudulent activity was committed online and using social media and email, the evidence of how Monestine committed the fraud was found on numerous electronic devices, such as cellphones and a Macbook laptop. Monestine kept information consisting of the PII in various forms and locations on his devices including in a spreadsheet containing approximately 450 access devices and in notes maintained on his MacBook Pro. Monestine exchanged numerous text messages on his phone that contained PII as well, including logins for banking information, pin numbers for credit and debit cards, and data used to access other people’s bank accounts.

In addition, the search uncovered physical evidence of fraud, including over $11,000 in U.S. currency; a large number of credit, debit, and gift cards, in the names of other people; fake identification cards; Western Union money orders; a credit card re-encoder that the information encoded in a credit card’s chip or magnetic strip and mail in other people’s names.

The estimated loss to victims in this case is between $250,000 and $550,000.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida; and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Miami Field office investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Jinah Chang and Jennifer E. Burns of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Maultasch for the Southern District of Florida prosecuted the case.

This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Miami. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute offenders and prevent violence. 

FORMER NEW YORK CITY REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER PLEADS GUILTY TO DEFRAUDING INVESTORS

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that JOSHUA SCHUSTER pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni to securities fraud for his role in a scheme to defraud investors in large real estate development projects located in New York City. SCHUSTER is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9, 2026.   

“Joshua Schuster promised to use investor funds to develop real estate projects throughout our City,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Schuster instead constructed a fraud, stealing more than $13 million from his investors in order to fund his lifestyle and pay off earlier investors in a Ponzi-like fashion. Fraud in the Real Estate market costs all New Yorkers, including through higher rents and home prices. This Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect investors in this market—and all markets—from fraudsters who line their own pockets at the expense of New Yorkers.”

According to the Indictment, plea agreement, and statements made in Court:

Over a five year period, JOSHUA SCHUSTER engaged in a scheme to defraud investors who had entrusted him with millions of dollars to finance real estate development projects in New York City. SCHUSTER induced investors to contribute capital to his projects by promising them equity in high-end real estate developments, and by representing that investor funds would be used exclusively for the acquisition and development of specific New York-based projects. Instead, SCHUSTER misappropriated in excess of $13 million dollars in investor money to fund his lifestyle, including over $1 million in personal credit card payments and hundreds of thousands of dollars in gambling losses; to repay earlier investors in a Ponzi-like fashion; and to cover unrelated business obligations and payroll.

SCHUSTER, 42, of Boca Raton, Florida, pled guilty to one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. Clayton also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which has filed a separate civil action against SCHUSTER, for its assistance and cooperation in the investigation.

This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force.

State Senator Gustavo Rivera - Next Tuesday 03/03: Secure a Spot at our FREE Tax Preparation Session in partnership with NMIC and the NYC Free Tax Prep Initiative.

 

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - JOIN US: HOMEOWNERSHIP RESOURCE FAIR

 

              

Assemblymember John Zaccaro, Jr.'s Job Fair is BACK!

Friends,

I am proud to announce that on March 21st, from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM at MS 80, we will be hosting a Job Fair Expo. Whether you are a recent graduate, looking for a career change, or seeking a new opportunity, this is the place to speak with experts and connect with organizations looking for talented, qualified individuals in our community.

To register, please use the QR code in the flyer below or click here

Job Fair Details:

When: March 21, 2026

Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Where: MS 80 - (149 E. Mosholu Parkway)

Please bring copies of your résumé and be ready to step into your future career.

If you have any questions, please contact our office at 718-409-0109 or email district80@nyassembly.gov.

Looking forward to seeing you at our March Job Fair Expo!

Yours truly,

John Zaccaro, Jr. 

Mayor Mamdani Announces Completion of Weeksville Restoration, Preserving One of the Nation’s Oldest Free Black Communities

 

Four pre-Civil War homes restored months ahead of schedule in Crown Heights

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) and the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) announced today the completion of a $4 million restoration of the historic Hunterfly Road Houses at the Weeksville Heritage Center in Brooklyn.

Construction began in fall 2024 and wrapped in February 2026 – two months ahead of schedule – preserving four wood-frame homes built in the 19th century that stand as the last remaining structures of one of the nation’s largest free Black communities before the Civil War.  

“Weeksville tells the story of Black New Yorkers who built freedom for themselves in a country that tried to deny them it,” said Mayor Mamdani. “It was a sanctuary that offered safety, dignity, and opportunity in the face of economic injustice and systemic racism. It was nearly erased by urban renewal. By restoring the Hunterfly Road Houses, we are preserving not just historic buildings but a living legacy of resilience and self-determination.” 

"Weeksville is a treasured part of our city's cultural community, an organization that both preserves an important part of our city's Black story and keeps it alive, relevant, and vital for future generations," said DCLA Deputy Commissioner Alton Murray. "Together with our partners at DDC, DCLA is proud of our support for this important project to restore the historic Hunterfly Road Houses so they can continue to anchor Weeksville's extraordinary mission and tell a key part of our city's Black history."  

“This project was designed and completed with the greatest respect for the legacy of this community and this important part of the City’s African American history,” said Department of Design and Construction Acting Commissioner Eduardo del Valle. “We are proud to have finished the restoration two months ahead of schedule, and to be able to celebrate the completion of this project for the center, the largest African American cultural institution in Brooklyn, during Black History Month.” 

“The restoration of the Hunterfly Road Houses is a major milestone for Weeksville and for Brooklyn’s cultural landscape,” said Dr. Raymond Codrington, President and CEO of Weeksville Heritage Center. “We are deeply grateful to our partners at the City of New York, including the Mayor’s Office, the Department of Cultural Affairs, the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office, the New York City Council, and the Department of Design and Construction, for making this work possible and helping ensure these historic homes are preserved for generations to come.”

“I am proud to celebrate the restoration of the Hunterfly Road Houses at the Weeksville Heritage Center. Weeksville stands as a testament to Black self-determination, resilience, and cultural excellence in the face of systemic exclusion," said NYC Chief Equity Officer and NYC Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice Commissioner Afua Atta-Mensah. “We must ensure that preservation and growth move forward together, strengthening rather than displacing the communities that shaped our city. This restoration safeguards more than historic structures; it preserves a legacy of freedom, community-building, and possibility that continues to shape and inspire New York City’s future." 

The Hunterfly Road Houses are the only African American historic site in the Northeast located on its original site. The community of Weeksville, in present-day Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant, was founded in 1848 by James Weeks, a formerly enslaved man from Virginia who purchased the land with a group of free Black men. By the 1850s, Weeksville had grown to more than 500 residents, becoming a haven for Black New Yorkers seeking opportunity and safety. It also served as a refuge during periods of racist violence, including the 1863 Draft Riots in Manhattan.

Today, Weeksville Heritage Center educates the public about this history while serving as a vibrant space hosting yoga classes, arts and crafts, film screenings, exhibitions and intergenerational events that carry forward the spirit of self-determination that defined the original settlement.  

As Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant face ongoing development and displacement pressures, the preservation of the Hunterfly Road Houses stands as a bastion of community memory – where everyday artifacts like spoons and hand-altered dolls, once mundane objects, now serve as sacred reminders of resilience, refuge, and the enduring power of Black self-creation. 

The project restored the exterior of the houses, including the façades, siding, windows, doors and front-entry porches. The project also installed a climate-controlled storage room in the cellar of one of the homes to help preserve historical items. Upgrades also include new plumbing, exterior lighting, an upgraded fire alarm system equipped with smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, and a new CCTV monitoring system. Funding for the project was provided by the NYC Mayor’s Office, the Brooklyn Borough President, and the New York City Council.  

In 1968, local preservationists rediscovered the surviving houses, which had nearly been lost to urban renewal and development, and fought to preserve them for future generations. The Hunterfly Road Houses were designated a New York City Landmark in 1970 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. 

United States Seeks Forfeiture of Oil Tanker and 1.8M Barrels of Crude Oil That Supported Iran and Venezuela

 

A complaint has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia seeking to forfeit the Motor Tanker Skipper – a crude oil tanker seized by the United States on the high seas in December 2025 – and approximately 1.8 million barrels of crude oil cargo supplied by Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), the state-owned oil company of Venezuela. As alleged, the Skipper and its cargo are forfeitable as property affording a person a source of influence over the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including the IRGC-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), a designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO).

“Under President Trump's leadership, the era of secretly bankrolling regimes that pose clear threats to the United States is over,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This Department of Justice will deploy every legal authority at our disposal to completely dismantle and permanently shutter any operation that defies our laws and fuels chaos across the globe.”

“This forfeiture complaint for the M/T Skipper and its oil cargo demonstrates the FBI’s unwavering commitment to enforcing U.S. sanctions and thwarting hostile regimes who exploit the global oil trade,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI, working alongside our interagency partners, will continue aggressively identifying, disrupting, and dismantling the financial networks used by our foreign adversaries to fund terrorist organizations and destabilize international security. We remain steadfast in safeguarding both the integrity of the international financial system and the security of the American people.”

“Because of the coordinated efforts of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, a ghost tanker that for years secretly moved illicit oil from Iran and Venezuela around the globe has been taken off the seas,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s actions are an important step in making America and the world safer by disrupting the flow of millions of dollars to foreign terrorist organizations. The Criminal Division will continue to use every tool at our disposal to end to terrorist financing.”

“For too long, a shadow fleet of stateless and falsely registered vessels has operated with impunity while shuttling illicit oil around the world, generating billions in revenue for adversary regimes and foreign terrorist organizations,” said John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “This forfeiture complaint reflects the National Security Division’s commitment to shutting down those networks and enforcing U.S. sanctions.”

“We will aggressively enforce U.S. sanctions against Iran and relentlessly pursue ghost fleet vessels whose illicit oil shipments have served as revenue sources for the IRGC and its terrorist proxies,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro for the District of Columbia. “With the continued seizures and forfeitures of tankers and related profits, we are sending a clear message that there will be no safe harbor for sanctions evasion – and that we will deny Iran the ability to fund terrorism through its shadowy maritime networks.”

“Homeland Security Investigations played a critical role in the investigation that led to today’s forfeiture complaint against the Motor Tanker Skipper and its illicit cargo. By leveraging our expertise, partnerships, and unwavering commitment to protecting the homeland, HSI helped disrupt a complex sanctions-evasion and illicit finance network supporting designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations,” said HSI acting Executive Associate Director John Condon. “I am proud of the dedication and professionalism demonstrated by our special agents and law enforcement partners, whose collaborative efforts were instrumental in advancing this case. HSI remains committed to safeguarding national security and upholding the rule of law by targeting criminal organizations that threaten global stability.”

The forfeiture complaint alleges a scheme, between at least 2021 and the present, to facilitate the shipment and sale of petroleum products for the benefit of the IRGC, including the IRGC-QF. During this time, the Skipper moved crude oil from Iran and Venezuela and, through ship-to-ship transfers, delivered it to various locations around the world, including to other rogue regimes. The Skipper disguised its illicit activities by spoofing its locations, flying false flags and employing other tactics to obfuscate its routes and conceal its sanctions evasion. For example, as alleged in the complaint, in 2024, the Skipper delivered approximately three million barrels of crude oil from Iran to Syria. The Skipper continued to transport illicit oil from Iran and Venezuela into 2025, including loading oil from Iran at least twice in 2025. For its facilitation of illicit oil shipments, on Nov. 3, 2022, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the Skipper (then named the Adisa).

The civil forfeiture complaint further alleges that the petroleum product, which was loaded onto the Skipper from Venezuela before it was seized, is part of the Skipper’s scheme to perpetuate its operations in support of the IRGC, including the IRGC-QF. As alleged, revenue from the sale of petroleum products supports the IRGC’s full range of malign activities, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, support for terrorism and both domestic and international human rights abuses. The ghost fleet, including the Skipper, plays an essential role in generating revenue for these regimes by moving Iranian and other illicit oil around the world.

Most recently, in November 2025, the Skipper loaded approximately 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan-origin crude oil at the José Terminal in Venezuela. According to bills of lading, approximately 1.1 million barrels of the Skipper’s oil cargo were to be delivered to Cubametales, the Cuban state-run oil import and export company that was designated by OFAC in July 2019.

On Dec. 10, 2025, U.S. law enforcement seized the Skipper on the high seas pursuant to a judicially authorized seizure warrant. At that time, the Skipper was claiming a false Guyanese flag, rendering it stateless. The Skipper and its cargo were thereafter transported to the waters off the coast of Texas.

FBI Minneapolis Field Office and HSI Washington D.C. Field Office are investigating the case. Substantial assistance was provided by HSI New York Field Office.

Trial Attorney Josh Sohn of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Dilorenzo and Rajbir Datta of the District of Columbia and Acting Deputy Chief Sean Heiden of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are litigating the case.

A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation.  The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government.

MAN ARRESTED FOR PLOTTING WITH OTHERS TO MURDER OR KIDNAP TWO VICTIMS ABROAD AND RELATED TERRORISM OFFENSES

 

Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Roman Rozhavsky, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence & Espionage Division, and James C. Barnacle, Jr., the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the FBI, announced today that DENIS ALIMOV, a/k/a “Denis Nazarovich Alimov,” a/k/a “Denis N Alimov,” a/k/a “Denis Nevsky,” a/k/a “Dionis Nevsky,” a/k/a “Denis Klimenkov,” a/k/a “Denis Nazarovich Klimenkov,” was arrested on February 24, 2026 in Bogotá, Colombia, based on an Interpol Red Notice related to charges filed in Superseding Indictment S2 25 Cr. 122 (JPC) in the Southern District of New York. The Superseding Indictment charges ALIMOV with participating in an alleged plot to murder or kidnap two well-known dissidents abroad, as well as related terrorism offenses. U.S. authorities plan to seek the extradition of ALIMOV from Colombia. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan. 

“As alleged, Denis Alimov and his co-conspirators tried to murder or kidnap two well-known dissidents, with Alimov offering a co-conspirator $1.5 million for each victim,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “This chilling attempt shows not only the lengths malign actors will go to silence critics, but also, the resolve, expertise, and ability of American law enforcement and our partners abroad to disrupt those plots and bring those responsible to justice.” 

“Alimov has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a plot to locate, kidnap, and murder political dissidents who dared to speak out against their authoritarian regime,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence & Espionage Division. “Transnational repression poses a serious and growing threat to individual rights and freedoms, and the FBI is committed to investigating all plots involving U.S.-based criminal actors or victims. Today’s announcement makes clear that combating this threat is among our highest priorities, and we will work with our partners at home and abroad to find and hold accountable those who use threats and violence to silence dissent.”

“Denis Alimov allegedly plotted with others to kidnap or murder two foreign dissidents and offered a co-conspirator a bounty for his help carrying out that plot,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle. “The FBI will continue to prevent hired guns from prowling the globe to carry out the nefarious agenda of others, no matter where they are.”

As alleged in the Superseding Indictment unsealed today and Indictment 25 Cr. 122 (JPC):[1]

An investigation by the FBI revealed that from at least in or about October 2024 through in or about March 2025, ALIMOV orchestrated a plot, with others, to kidnap or murder two well-known dissidents residing abroad (collectively, the “Targets”) from a republic in a particular foreign country. The Targets have previously been the subject of multiple reprisal and assassination attempts. In furtherance of the plot, in or about October 2024, ALIMOV met with an alleged co-conspirator, Darko Durovic,[2] at a restaurant near the headquarters of a particular foreign country’s internal security and counterintelligence service. During that meeting, ALIMOV paid Durovic approximately $60,000 to finance the plot. ALIMOV also agreed to pay Durovic approximately $1.5 million in exchange for murdering or kidnapping each of the Targets.

Following their meeting in or about October 2024, ALIMOV repeatedly communicated with Durovic regarding the planning and status of the plot, including providing Durovic with IP address and phone number information for one of the Targets. Durovic, among other things, researched Glock handguns while planning travel to a European country to find one of the Targets; traveled to a second European country to locate another of the Targets; and recruited another co-conspirator to participate in the plot, who discussed with Durovic the need to “finance a hunting team” to find the Targets.

ALIMOV, 42, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit murder and kidnapping in a foreign country, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; one count of provision and attempted provision of material support to terrorists, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to finance terrorism, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of financing of terrorism, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The potential maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI New York Counterintelligence Office, the FBI Counterintelligence and Espionage Division, and the FBI International Operations Division. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, the Office of International Affairs of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, the Judicial Attaché Office in Bogotá, our partners at the United States Embassy to Colombia, and our law enforcement partners in Colombia, for their assistance.

This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas S. Bradley and Kaylan E. Lasky are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Michael Dittoe of the Counterterrorism Section.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.

[2] Durovic was subsequently arrested in or about March 2025, and his case is pending before Judge Cronan.