Federal Grand Jury Indicts 7 for Kentucky Meth Trafficking Conspiracy following Homeland Security Task Force Investigation

 

Following a lengthy Homeland Security Task Force investigation, a federal grand jury in Bowling Green, Kentucky, returned an indictment on July 15, 2026, charging seven defendants, including three Mexican and two Guatemalan nationals, as part of an Owensboro-based methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking conspiracy. The defendants were arrested and the indictment was unsealed in federal court this week.

U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Todd C. Smith of the Drug Enforcement Administration Chicago Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Chief Arthur Ealum, Jr. of the Owensboro Police Department made the announcement. 

According to the indictment, Ramon Molina-Torres,47, of Mexico, Francisco Pablo Alonzo, 23, of Guatemala, Diego Pablo Alonzo, 25, of Guatemala, Christopher Blaine McLimore, 41, of Owensboro, Deven Bellamy, 23, of Owensboro, Ayseymer Soto-Gomez, 24, of Mexico, and Eliazar Lopez-Pedraza, 46, of Mexico, were all charged with one count of conspiring together and with others to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 5 kilograms or more of cocaine from October 2025 through July 14, 2026, in Daviess County, Kentucky, and elsewhere.

Additionally, Molina-Torres was charged with 5 counts of distributing methamphetamine and having a prior serious drug felony conviction; Francisco Pablo Alonzo was charged with 2 counts of distributing methamphetamine; and Diego Pablo Alonzo was charged with 1 count of distributing methamphetamine.

On Aug. 11, 2026, Molina-Torres, Francisco Pablo Alonzo, Diego Pablo Alonzo, Bellamy, and Soto-Gomez made an initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Lopez-Pedraza will make an initial appearance on Aug. 12, 2026. McLimore is currently in state custody on unrelated charges and will make an initial appearance at a future date. If convicted, each of the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. 

“This investigation demonstrates the value of coordinated law enforcement efforts to disrupt drug trafficking organizations operating in our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Smith. “Through the Homeland Security Task Force and in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, federal, state and local law enforcement agencies combined intelligence, resources and investigative expertise to target individuals allegedly involved in the distribution of methamphetamine and cocaine. DEA remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to dismantle drug trafficking networks, remove dangerous drugs from our communities, and hold those responsible accountable."

“The Homeland Security Task Force continues to investigate and charge significant drug trafficking organizations throughout Western Kentucky. The success of the Homeland Security Task Force results from interagency cooperation and the dedication of the men and women of law enforcement who have devoted their careers to public safety," said U.S. Attorney Bumgarner.

“This indictment should serve as a wake-up call to criminal organizations who are fueling the deadly drug trade throughout the Commonwealth. The FBI, as part of the Louisville Homeland Security Task Force, is working alongside our law enforcement partners at every level to ensure those who exploit our communities for their own profit face the full force of the law,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Olson.

“The Owensboro Police Department will continue its efforts to arrest and prosecute criminals who exploit those who suffer from addiction. We hope narcotics traffickers will someday realize the risk of mandatory federal prison time far outweigh the benefits of selling drugs in our community,” said Owensboro Police Chief Ealum, Jr. “We appreciate the continued collaboration with our federal, state and local partners to combat the flow of narcotics in and around the Greater Owensboro Metropolitan Area.”

There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is being investigated by the DEA Evansville Resident Office, the FBI Owensboro Resident Agency, and the Owensboro Police Department, with assistance from IRS-CI, HSI Bowling Green Office, and the Indiana State Police.  

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Dahl and Mark Yurchisin are prosecuting the case with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Aaron Cooper.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Louisville comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, and IRS, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Husband And Wife Sentenced To Life In Prison For Charges Related To 2020 Murder Of Wife’s Ex-Husband

 

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and Superintendent of the New York State Police, Steven G. James, announced that on August 11 and August 13, 2026, JAMIE AND NICHOLAS ORSINI, respectively, were each sentenced to life in prison by U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern for one count of carjacking resulting in death and one count of participating in a conspiracy to commit carjacking in connection with the murder of JAMIE ORSINI’s ex-husband, Steven Kraft.  The ORSINIs were convicted following a two-week trial in 2024 before Judge Halpern. 

“Justice has now been served in this tragic case,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.  “In 2020, Jamie and Nicholas Orisini orchestrated a sophisticated scheme to kill Jamie Orsini’s ex-husband, Steven Kraft, and cover up their crime.  Their actions took a life, devastated a family, and left behind years of unanswered questions.  Kraft’s body has never been found, and for years, his family has been forced to live with the unimaginable pain and uncertainty of not knowing what happened to their loved one.  While no sentence can undo the loss of a life or erase the suffering endured by Kraft’s family, these sentences bring the Kraft family a measure of finality and hold Jamie and Nicholas Orsini accountable for their horrific crimes.  Our prosecutors and law enforcement partners will not stop seeking justice for victims, their families, and our communities.” 

“The actions taken by Jamie and Nicholas Orsini that resulted in the death of Steven Kraft are a tragic and senseless crime,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr.  “Our hearts remain with the victims and their families as they confront this profound loss.  The FBI is steadfast in its commitment to pursuing violent crime investigations and will continue working closely with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.  This investigation was the result of the dedicated work of the FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, whose local and state law enforcement partners play an essential role in bringing violent offenders to justice and ensuring the safety of our communities.

“This week’s sentencings send a strong message that prison is the only future for those who take the lives of others,” said New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James.  “We hope these sentencings bring a sense of closure that the defendants will never commit a heinous crime like this again.  I commend the dedication of our members, partners at the US Attorney’s Office, and law enforcement colleagues for the justice served in this case.”

According to the Indictment, public court filings, and evidence presented at trial:

In 2020, JAMIE and NICHOLAS ORSINI plotted and executed the murder of JAMIE ORSINI’s ex-husband and the father to two of her children, Steven Kraft, as well as a sophisticated cover-up of their crime.  The murder and cover-up involved, among other things, the use of burner phones, the movement of Kraft’s car to a different city, and the destruction and disposal of all physical evidence.  Before the murder, the ORSINIs purchased items—such as a 1,000-square-foot tarp and a full-body coverall—to allow them to commit the murder and dispose of evidence, repeatedly practiced “dry runs” for how they would move Kraft’s car, and purchased a “burner phone” to use without law enforcement being able to trace the phone to them.  On April 28, 2020, Kraft dropped his children off at the ORSINIs’ home in Beacon, New York.  The ORSINIs killed Kraft in their home, taking his car and one of his cellphones.  In order to make it look as if Kraft left their home in Beacon alive and was killed elsewhere, NICHOLAS ORSINI drove Kraft’s car into Newburgh, New York, leaving it in a high-crime neighborhood, got rid of Kraft’s cellphone, and used the burner phone to call a taxi to bring him back to Beacon, throwing the burner phone out before getting into the taxi, while JAMIE ORSINI sent text messages to and from NICHOLAS ORSINI’s phone—which he had left at home—to pretend that NICHOLAS ORSINI never left the house that night.

After the murder, the ORSINIs destroyed evidence of their crimes—including Kraft’s body—buying a new burner phone to use while repeatedly driving to and from upstate New York, as well as creating large homemade incinerators.  JAMIE ORSINI sent multiple text messages to make it look like she believed that Kraft was still alive, and, having dumped Kraft’s car in Newburgh, when speaking with the police, professed ignorance, while hinting that perhaps something might have happened to Kraft had he gone to Newburgh after leaving her home.

If you believe you have information related to the location of Steven Kraft’s body, please consider reporting using the following link: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/report-crime.

JAMIE ORSINI, 38, and NICHOLAS ORSINI, 36, both of Amsterdam, New York, were sentenced to life in prison to be followed by five year of supervised release on count one (carjacking resulting in death, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2119(3)) to run concurrently with five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on count two (conspiracy to commit carjacking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371).

Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding work of the FBI and the New York State Police, which also supported the prosecution through trial.  He also thanked the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office, the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, the City of Beacon Police Department, the Town of Marlborough Police Department, and the City of Newburgh Police Department.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - INAUGURAL BRONX BLACK PRIDE CELEBRATION

 

ICE Investigation Leads to Sentencing of Illegal Alien Who Committed Identity Theft to Illegally Vote in Elections for More Than 20 Years

 

This illegal alien falsely claimed U.S. citizenship to obtain a driver’s license and register to vote

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led to the sentencing of a criminal illegal alien who falsely claimed U.S. citizenship for more than 20 years, allowing him to vote in multiple elections.

On August 12, Carlos Felipe Jaramillo-Grajales, a criminal illegal alien from Colombia, was sentenced to three years in a federal prison after he pleaded guilty to making false statements in application for a U.S. passport, aggravated identity theft, falsely claiming a Social Security number, and making a false claim to U.S. citizenship.

Carlos Felipe Jaramillo-Grajales

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, Jaramillo-Grajales used the name, date of birth, and Social Security number of a U.S. citizen to apply for and obtain a passport. He then used the same information to claim U.S. citizenship, apply for and obtain a Florida driver’s license, and register to vote. He voted in several elections, including the 2020 general election.

Under his false name, Jaramillo-Grajales married a woman who came to the United States in September 2003 on a visitor’s visa, allowing her to apply for naturalization, as she was purportedly married to a U.S. citizen. After her naturalization in August 2017, they divorced in January 2020 and he returned to Colombia under his false name. His ex-wife then flew to Colombia and filed an application for a fiancé visa for him under his real name. After this visa was approved, Jaramillo-Grajales flew back to the United States under his real name, remarried his ex-wife in June 2025, and applied for permanent residence based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen.

“This criminal illegal alien from Colombia has just been sentenced to three years in a federal prison for identity theft and falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “Because of his fraud, he was able to obtain a driver’s license and vote in our elections. Thanks to the hard work of the men and women of HSI, along with our federal partners, this criminal is out of our communities and, at the end of his sentence, will be removed from our country. DHS will always fight to protect the integrity of our elections, because election security is national security. Only Americans should be electing American leaders.”

“Federal immigration laws serve to safeguard our nation’s borders and protect the integrity of our government,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “Those who seek to circumvent, exploit, or break these laws will be prosecuted fully.”

“This criminal illegal alien spent years exploiting a stolen identity of a United States citizen to obtain government documents, claim benefits, and unlawfully participate in the electoral process,” said HSI Jacksonville Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tim Hemker. “This conviction demonstrates that identity theft, immigration fraud, and fraud against the integrity of United States government systems will be investigated thoroughly and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. HSI remains committed to protecting victims, safeguarding public institutions, and ensuring that those who abuse our immigration and identification systems are held accountable.”

This case was investigated by HSI, along with the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.

Jaramillo-Grajales illegally entered the United States at an unknown date and location.

This sentencing is part of the Trump Administration’s broader focus on stopping non-citizens from voting in American elections. Recent examples include:

• In July, HSI arrested Marian Charitun, an alien from Slovakia who had illegally voted in the 2022 election in New Jersey.
• In July, an HSI investigation led to the arrest of Denise Nataly Migliore, an alien from Australia who illegally voted in the 2022 and 2024 elections in Louisiana.
• In May, DHS and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced charges against four non-citizens in New Jersey who illegally voted in federal elections and made false statements while applying for U.S. citizenship.
• In April, Jose Ceballos, an alien from Mexico, pleaded guilty to THREE counts of disorderly election conduct after illegally voting multiple times and falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen in Kansas.
• In March, ICE arrested Mahady Sacko, a criminal illegal alien from Mauritania who had been illegally voting in the United States since 2008.

In recent months, DHS has taken additional steps to safeguard the integrity and security of American elections. These measures include:

• In July, Secretary Mullin sent letters to secretaries of state in several states across the country warning that tens of thousands of non-citizens are registered to vote.
• In July, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that grant recipients will be required to take several key actions on election integrity.
• In June, DHS directed ICE to enforce stricter penalties for non-citizens who illegally vote in American elections, including deportation.

Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Laundering Health Care Fraud Proceeds for Transnational Criminal Organization

 

An Ohio man pleaded guilty to laundering approximately $3.4 million in illicit health care fraud proceeds through multiple regional banks on behalf of a transnational criminal organization (Organization). 

According to court documents, Eldar Zarbavel, 45, of Pepper Pike, Ohio, was a money launderer for the foreign-based Organization that spearheaded the largest health care fraud case ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice, as uncovered by Operation Gold Rush. The Organization, based in Russia and elsewhere, orchestrated a multi-billion-dollar health care fraud and money laundering scheme to target, exploit, and steal from Medicare and private health insurance companies. 

To date, 35 individuals have been charged as part of Operation Gold Rush. Zarbavel is the 16th individual to be convicted for his role in the scheme. 

As alleged in charging documents, the Organization exploited the United States’ financial system by depositing insurance reimbursement checks from the fraud. The health care fraud proceeds were particularly susceptible to laundering because they originated from legitimate sources — Medicare and established private insurance carriers — giving the funds the initial appearance of legitimacy. To gain access to the United States’ financial system, the Organization deployed a range of tactics to circumvent internal controls at multiple banks and in some cases coordinated directly with associates employed at the banks.

As further alleged, to open financial accounts, the Organization armed its nominee owners with false sale documentation and false corporate registration documents. This documentation falsely reflected that the nominee owners maintained beneficial ownership and control of various fraudulent durable medical equipment (DME) companies. This disguised the true beneficial ownership and control of the companies and the financial accounts. Upon opening the financial accounts, the Organization funneled fraud proceeds from Medicare and other legitimate health care insurers into the accounts as seemingly “clean” money. From there, the Organization siphoned off the funds to shell companies and various banks overseas.

Zarbavel facilitated a critical element of the transnational scheme by opening bank accounts in Northeast Ohio for Royce Medical Supply LLC, a Florida-based DME company. Between July 2022 and July 2024, the Organization submitted $1.42 billion in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and other health insurers through this DME company. While the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services suspended reimbursement on nearly all of these claims, some claims were paid. Between June and July of 2024, Zarbavel, at the direction of members of the Organization, facilitated the deposit, transfer, and withdrawal of approximately $3.4 million in fraud proceeds for the benefit of the Organization. 

Zarbavel pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 16. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.   

Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; Miranda L. Bennett, Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan of the FBI Detroit Field Office made the announcement.

HHS-OIG and FBI are investigating the case.

Assistant Chief Shankar Ramamurthy, Acting Assistant Chief Sara E. Porter, and Trial Attorneys Brant Cook and Leonid Sandlar of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

Marion County Man Indicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute Meth

 

Pattreon Stokes (35, Summerfield) has been charged by indictment with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted, Stokes faces an enhanced minimum penalty of 25 years, up to life, in federal prison due to having two or more qualifying prior convictions for serious drug felony offenses. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.

According to the indictment, on July 14, 2026, Stokes possessed with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The offense occurred while Stokes was on federal supervised release from a prior 2018 possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine conviction. 

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Marion County Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. 

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.

Large-Scale Costa Rican Cocaine Trafficker Extradited To The United States

 

Gilbert Bell Fernandez, a/k/a “Macho Coca,” an OFAC-Sanctioned Cocaine Trafficker, Conspired to Import Massive Quantities of Cocaine to the United States

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Terrance C. Cole, announced the unsealing of a Complaint and Indictment charging Gilbert Bell Fernandez, a/k/a “Macho Coca,” with conspiring to import cocaine into the United States.  BELL FERNANDEZ was extradited from Costa Rica to the United States on the charges contained in the Indictment on August 13, 2026.  BELL FERNANDEZ was presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo and ordered detained pending trial.  The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Dale E. Ho.  

“Our Office will not stop in our efforts to disrupt international drug operations like this one,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald.   “For years, Gilbert Bell Fernandez allegedly sourced ton-quantities of cocaine from Colombia and transported this cocaine through Costa Rica for ultimate distribution in the United States and elsewhere.  Bell Fernandez’s drug organization has lost its leader.  Now, one of Costa Rica’s most notorious drug kingpins will face justice in an American courtroom for the harm he caused and sought to cause to this country.  That is because of the dedicated efforts of our prosecutors and the Drug Enforcement Administration.” 

“The extradition of Gilbert Bell Fernandez to the United States demonstrates DEA’s global reach and our commitment to holding drug traffickers accountable,” said DEA Administrator Terrance C. Cole.  “Known as ‘Macho Coca,’ Bell Fernandez allegedly built a vast criminal network to move massive quantities of cocaine through Costa Rica for distribution in American communities, including New York City.  DEA and our law enforcement partners will continue to pursue those who traffic poison into our country.  We will not stop working to save American lives and we will not allow borders to shield criminals from justice.”

According to the charging documents and other public statements and records:(1)

Until his arrest, BELL FERNANDEZ was a major international narcotics trafficker and one of the most prolific cocaine traffickers in Costa Rica, which he helped develop into a major narcotics transshipment hub. BELL FERNANDEZ, who also owned and operated commercial fishing businesses in Costa Rica, controlled the distribution of ton-quantities of cocaine imported into and transiting through the Port of Limón, a seaport in the Limón Province of Costa Rica that has served as a major transshipment point for U.S.-bound cocaine. 

In or about March 2022, members of BELL FERNANDEZ’s drug organization began discussions with a DEA confidential source (“CS-1”) about the purchase of large shipments of cocaine for CS-1’s purported customers in New York and elsewhere.  During these initial conversations, BELL FERNANDEZ’s co-conspirators confirmed that BELL FERNANDEZ was the leader of the organization and could facilitate ton-quantity shipments of cocaine.   

In the months that followed, CS-1 spoke directly with BELL FERNANDEZ on multiple occasions, in person and telephonically, to negotiate the terms of their cocaine distribution partnership.  During those conversations, BELL FERNANDEZ confirmed, among other things, that he had the means to export ton-quantities of cocaine out of Costa Rica and that his organization could arrange for CS-1 to purchase a sample of the cocaine in advance of potential larger deals in the future. 

After negotiating the purchase of this sample, in or around February 2023, with BELL FERNANDEZ’s approval, a member of BELL FERNANDEZ’s organization provided CS-1 with a sample of one kilogram of cocaine in Costa Rica in exchange for approximately $6,000 in United States currency.  Following CS-1’s acquisition of the one-kilogram sample, CS-1 continued conversations with BELL FERNANDEZ and other members of BELL FERNANDEZ’s organization about the large-scale distribution partnership they had been negotiating. In early August 2023, CS-1 met again with BELL FERNANDEZ in Costa Rica to continue discussions about a potential cocaine deal.  During that meeting, BELL FERNANDEZ discussed providing CS-1 with approximately 700 kilograms of cocaine and eventually transporting that cocaine to New York City. 

In November 2023, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) sanctioned BELL FERNANDEZ.  In announcing its sanctions, OFAC described BELL FERNANDEZ as being “known not only for the volume of drugs he moves but the violence with which he operates,” noting that BELL FERNANDEZ “has played a significant role in Costa Rica’s recent transformation into a major narcotics transit hub.”  OFAC also noted that BELL FERNANDEZ was one of the “most prolific” and “most violent” traffickers in Limón.

BELL FERNANDEZ, 63, of Costa Rica, is charged with conspiring to import over five kilograms of cocaine into the United States, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.   

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

Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding efforts of the DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit. Mr. McDonald also thanked the DEA’s Costa Rica Country Office, the Office of International Affairs of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, and Costa Rica’s Organismo de Investigación Judicial for their assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of BELL FERNANDEZ. 

This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Cheng, Kaylan E. Lasky, and David J. Robles are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint and Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

1.  As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and Indictment and the descriptions of the Complaint and Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation. 

Speaker Julie Menin Announces Launch of New Council-led Census Taskforce

 

Taskforce brings together community leaders, census experts, advocates, and trusted voices to develop best practices and recommendations for the Office of the Census ahead of 2030 Census

New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin and civic engagement leaders this week announced the launch of a new Census Taskforce and convened for the group’s inaugural meeting. In early preparation for the 2030 Census, the New York City Council Census Taskforce is bringing together community leaders, census experts, advocates, researchers, faith leaders, labor representatives, and civic institutions to inform the work of the newly established Office of the Census.

Taskforce co-chairs, in addition to Speaker Menin, include:

•    L. Joy Williams, President, NAACP New York State Conference
•    Emely Paez, Associate Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, United Way of New York City
•   Jeffrey M. Wice, Director, New York Elections, Census, and Redistricting Institute, and Distinguished Adjunct Professor & Senior Fellow, New York Law School

Over the course of the next year, the Taskforce will meet, conduct research and community outreach, hear feedback, and produce a report with best practices and recommendations to help New York City achieve the most complete, accurate, and inclusive census count in City history and establish the infrastructure necessary for a successful 2030 Census.

The newly established Office of the Census was spearheaded by Speaker Menin and signed into law last November, with the intent of maximizing local participation in the federal census. The goal is to start this work early to reach and engage communities across the city and educate about the importance of the Census—particularly among groups that have been historically undercounted.

“The Census determines everything from how much federal funding New York receives to our representation in Congress, which is why we can’t afford to wait until 2029 to begin preparing,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “That’s why we’re launching this Taskforce nearly four years ahead of the count and bringing together the trusted leaders who are best positioned to reach every possible New Yorker. Having led NYC Census 2020, I know that achieving a complete count takes years of planning, deep community partnerships, and vigilance against efforts like proposed citizenship question that are designed to discourage participation. Every New Yorker counts, and we’ll keep fighting to ensure every community receives the representation and resources it deserves.”

This effort is a continuation of an ongoing push from the City Council for proactive planning and investment ahead of the next count, to ensure New York receives an appropriate share of federal funding and Congressional representation.

This initiative also continues to push back against the Trump administration’s effort to include a citizenship question in the testing phase of the 2030 Census, which, if inserted into the Census, would discourage participation from New York City’s diverse communities and undermine efforts to count every New Yorker. In April, Speaker Menin and New York Attorney General Letitia James sent a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick expressing their strong opposition to the inclusion of the citizenship question in census field tests, a likely precursor to including them in the 2030 Census. In 2019, Attorney General James successfully defeated the first Trump administration’s attempts to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census after a months-long legal battle that went to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Speaker Menin served as the Director of NYC Census 2020, in which New York City saw the highest self-response rate compared with other major cities. The City gained over 620,000 new residents, accounting for a majority of the state’s population growth since 2010.

“For New York City—the census is not just an administrative task. It is a high-stakes battle ground. Every single response dictates our political weight, our economic share, and our local quality of life. And the census count has never been more threatened as it faces threats and promises of a citizenship question, limited language outreach, fewer enumerator visits, poorer national planning, insufficient testing, a shortage of funds, the specter of federal agents interfering- the list goes on,” said Jeffrey M. Wice, Director of New York Law School’s New York Elections, Census, and Redistricting Institute and Distinguished Adjunct Professsor & Senior Fellow. “The census is not about politics in the partisan sense. It is about equity, visibility, and justice. It ensures our children have textbooks in their schools; it ensures our seniors have hot meals and reliable healthcare; it ensures our roads are safe and our transit systems function; and it ensures that when decisions are made in the halls of Congress, Albany, and City Hall, New Yorkers have a full team at the table fighting for our city. Every New Yorker matters. Every community counts. Let us work together to make sure every single New Yorker is included.”

“For Black communities, the Census is not just a statistical count, it is the bedrock of our political power and civic infrastructure. This new Census Taskforce in New York City ensures that our communities are not erased through lines drawn on a map or shortchanged in city, state, and federal funding,” said L. Joy Williams, President of the NAACP New York State Conference. “As NAACP New York State Conference prepares for the next decade and the 2030 redistricting cycle, we refuse to enter the fight for resources and representation just hoping to be heard. We are moving Black New York Forward using undeniable data to be decisive and guarantee that Black New Yorkers are accurately counted and our communities and institutions are adequately resourced.”

“A complete 2030 Census begins with trust. At United Way of New York City, we know that people are more likely to participate when they feel informed, respected, and confident that their voices matter,” said Emely Paez, Associate Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at United Way of New York City. “An accurate Census is essential to ensuring that our communities have the resources and representation they need. I am honored to serve as Co-Chair of the Census Task Force and grateful to Speaker Julie Menin and the New York City Council for this appointment. I look forward to working with partners across the city to build trust, strengthen participation, and help ensure no community is overlooked in the 2030 Census.”

The full Taskforce includes representatives from:

•    New York City Council
•    New York Law School
•    NAACP NY State Conference
•    United Way of New York City
•    Medgar Evers College – DuBois Bunche Center
•    CUNY Graduate Center for Urban Research
•    Hispanic Federation
•    Irie Jam Radio
•    NY Community Trust
•    UJA Federation of New York
•    Jewish Community Relations Council of New York
•    Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
•    Yemeni American Merchants Association
•    African American Clergy and Electeds (AACEO)
•    Christian Cultural Center
•    NY Immigration Coalition
•    Dominicanos USA
•    Afrikana
•    Association for a Better New York
•    NYC Central Labor Council
•    32BJ SEIU
•    United Federation of Teachers
•    YMCA
•    United Neighborhood Houses
•    Disabled in Action of Metropolitan New York
•    LGBT Center
•    Brooklyn Library Systems
•    New York Public Library
•    Queens Library Systems
•    Additional community and civic leaders