Chicago Tribune Op-Ed by Andrew S. Boutros and Christopher C. Amon: The New Dawn of Federal Anti-Violence Initiatives in Chicago

“It’s Halloween, and somebody is going to die tonight.” Those were the chilling words of a Chicago gang member who made good on his threat by firing a hail of bullets into a car on Halloween night in 2009 in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood. A passenger in the car was shot multiple times and died. It’s a tragedy we sadly see all too often in Chicago. It also was entirely preventable.

I, Andrew S. Boutros, was then a new assistant U.S. attorney in Chicago when I received a call from an experienced federal agent about a large-scale case that had just been reassigned. Turns out the gang member who committed the drive-by murder had been under federal investigation for months. Prior to Halloween, federal agents coordinated undercover firearm purchases from him and referred the matter for federal prosecution. Federal agents had identified the defendant as highly dangerous and volatile, but the U.S. attorney’s office had opted not to charge him then while prosecutors looked for more evidence. The agent soon came to meet with me, and he did not mince words. I heard him; he was right.

Working alongside another assistant federal prosecutor returned multiple indictments charging nearly two dozen members of that violent gang and others. All defendants were convicted and sent to prison. But should the case have sat for as long as it did in the quest for better evidence and case building? After all of our experience, the answer to that question is almost always: No.

As I, Andrew, embark on my second year leading the Chicago U.S. attorney’s office and working closely with many law enforcement partners, including Christopher Amon, special agent in charge with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, I can now do something about cases that trouble me, such as what happened in Humboldt Park in 2009.

We, Andrew and Christopher, decided to chart a different course, which we will describe here.

With dozens of newly minted federal criminal prosecutors coming on board in Chicago, many with deep experience handling violent crime cases in federal and state courts around the country, we are building the team to do it. Indeed, we will do it, all while we continue to prosecute corrupt public officials, narco-terrorists, drug traffickers, large-scale fraud, corporate crime, government benefit schemes, child predators, human traffickers and other worthy federal targets. Just scroll through our office’s news releases from last year and this year — including the first-ever annual report we issued in January: Under fresh office-wide leadership, we are doing significantly more with far fewer resources.

On the violent crime front, there has long been a perception from some in Chicago that federal prosecutors must turn to large-scale conspiracy cases against street gangs as a centerpiece of urban violence reduction. The theory is intuitive: Dismantle the organization, incapacitate its leadership and send a deterrent message that reverberates across the streets. These noteworthy prosecutions, often built under racketeering or similar statutes, are resource-intensive, multiyear undertakings that culminate in sweeping indictments, dramatic news conferences and lengthy sentences. They are also, as a primary strategy for reducing today’s street violence, not the principal tool for the job.

If the goal is reducing shootings this week, next month or even this year, the overwhelming evidence based on empirical research and law enforcement experience — including Christopher’s more than two decades of experience in multiple cities — as well as common sense, points toward rapid, targeted and responsive interventions that interrupt violence in real time.

This is the strategy that gets results quicker. It’s the strategy that reduces violent crime and saves lives. It means measuring success not by the size of an indictment but by the absence of violence and, even more pointedly, the prevention of violence. And with the summer months ahead, it’s the strategy that will drive our violent crime initiatives at the federal level here in Chicagoland.

Long-term federal gang and violence cases are built deliberately and painstakingly. Investigations often take years, involving wiretaps, informants, controlled drug and firearm transactions, financial tracing and coordination across agencies. Arrests and charges often occur long after the individuals contributed to cycles of violence and retaliation. That means by the time an indictment is returned, the factual narrative typically reflects a backward-looking account of conduct that may stretch over a decade. That retrospective orientation is inherent to the model. It is designed to tell a comprehensive story of enterprise criminality, not to disrupt the next retaliatory shooting.

Violence, however, operates on a different clock. Most shootings are not the product of hierarchical gang directives or long-term conspiracies; they are reactive, situational and often impulsive. A slight, a social media post, a perceived encroachment on territory, a dispute involving a girlfriend can escalate into lethal violence in hours or even minutes. The individuals involved are frequently known to local law enforcement and community members. What is missing is not information. What is needed is clear deterrence and accountability through immediate arrest, detention and prosecution of worthy targets. Arresting and federally charging a dangerous felon in possession of a firearm before he shoots someone are far more effective — and decent — actions than prosecuting that defendant for murder after he has already killed somebody.

There is also a mismatch in scale. Long-term federal gang and violence prosecutions are designed to take down organizations. But as the data shows, violence is largely concentrated among a small number of individuals and increasingly smaller, yet no less violent and lethal, groups of street gangs and crews. Strategies that focus on rapid, targeted intervention operate at the right level of analysis and on the right timeline. They are not about building perfect courtroom cases; they are about preventing the next act of violence.

When it comes to dangerous offenders, simple and straightforward gun cases spearheaded through violent crime prevention centers like ATF’s Chicago Gun Intelligence Center and charged swiftly by federal prosecutors can do more with less to immediately curb violence in Chicago. As the head of ATF Chicago, I, Christopher, have seen firsthand that by leveraging technology such as ballistic evidence, law enforcement can identify the true drivers of violence to intervene early and disrupt the violence cycle. In doing so, we can focus on individuals with extensive criminal histories who illegally possess guns as well as those linked to prior shootings.

Federal law can also serve as a backstop when state prosecutions face complicated legal or factual scenarios, such as self-defense. In those instances, perpetrators can be charged under federal firearms statutes that carry a maximum 15-year prison sentence.

Critically, real-time prosecutions also are far less resource-intensive. A single long-term federal gang case can consume enormous prosecutorial, investigative and judicial resources. Agents are tied up for years. Prosecutors devote substantial time to managing multidefendant litigation, complex evidentiary records and massive volumes of discovery. Even successful prosecutions may not bring about the desired force-multiplier effects. Convictions have frequently resulted in retrials for one reason or another. Lengthy prison sentences imposed years after the crime may not influence other individuals making split-second decisions in volatile situations.

Meanwhile, those same law enforcement resources, if redeployed toward proactive intervention such as gun prosecutions and rapid-response initiatives, can produce swift, predictable justice that is more immediate, measurable, exact and effective in reducing violence, even if they lack major headlines, courtroom drama, celebrated outcomes and obvious career advancement.

Rapid-response strategies are not ad hoc; they depend on structured, robust collaboration among law enforcement partners and prosecutors. In Chicago, when it comes to anti-violence work, we are lucky to have first-rate federal agents and experienced federal, state and local leadership in place at all those levels, including FBI Special Agent in Charge Doug DePodesta, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Todd Smith, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino, U.S. Marshal LaDon Reynolds, Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling, Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly, Cook County Sheriff Thomas Dart, Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and many others.

This shift in mindset took hold in the federal law enforcement community many years ago, even if it has not made its way to some former prosecutors and others who practiced decades ago or never really practiced in this space at all. Those who reminisce about large-scale, multiyear violence prosecutions often speak of a bygone era when prosecutors and defendants operated with beepers, typewriters, fax machines, Dictaphones and cassette players — as opposed to the lightning speed of social media, encrypted messaging apps, drones and other forms of modern technology, such as computers, the internet and smartphones.

The Chicago U.S. attorney’s office and the ATF’s Chicago Field Division play a key role in providing investigative and prosecutorial muscle for tough-on-crime enforcement that quickly disrupts the cycle of violence and leads to safer streets and fewer victims. The next shooting will not be prevented by a case that will be indicted three years from now. It will be prevented by what happens in the next 24 to 72 hours.

The tragic murder of that young man in Humboldt Park years ago is a prime example of what we speak. But his senseless death has informed the thinking of today’s law enforcement leaders, who are working, strategizing and innovating to try to prevent such tragedies from happening again.

Against that backdrop, at the U.S. attorney’s office and ATF, our collective focus squarely resides in acting now, all while upholding the most cherished traditions of our storied offices.

Andrew S. Boutros is United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. Christopher C. Amon is Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This Op-Ed was published in the Chicago Tribune on April 29, 2026. 

Las Vegas Homeland Security Task Force Hosts Cryptocurrency Panel

LAS VEGAS – The Las Vegas Homeland Security Task Force held a panel discussion Monday on criminal charging and asset forfeiture involving cryptocurrency, as well as how digital currency continues to evolve. The panel brought together federal and local law enforcement partners to share information, discuss recent cases, and strengthen coordination in identifying and stopping criminal activity involving cryptocurrency.

Panelists discussed trends in cryptocurrency-related crimes, tools used to investigate these cases, and the legal process for seizing digital assets. The group also talked about the challenges posed by transnational criminal organizations that use cryptocurrency to move and hide illegal proceeds, and ways agencies can continue working together to address those threats and recover funds for victims.

“The Homeland Security Task Force underscores our shared commitment to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada Sigal Chattah. “Cryptocurrency is evolving, but our task force partners are using every available tool to disrupt money laundering and seize funds for victims.”

“The FBI, along with its local, state, and federal partners have seen actors, across the full spectrum of threats that we investigate, to include criminal, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and cyber threats, leverage the encryption and anonymity that virtual currency offers,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “For these actors, virtual currency is just another layering technique, used to obfuscate who the true beneficial owners are. We are committed to any tool and partner that assists us in tracing the money, which illuminates networks and identifies opportunities for asset forfeiture.”

“Cryptocurrency can move quickly,” said Special Agent in Charge John Wester, San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “ATF is happy to be a part of this panel and discussion. Technology is constantly evolving, and it is important that members of law enforcement stay knowledgeable about new technology/platforms that may be involved in federal investigations.”

“Cryptocurrency is increasingly being adopted by Transnational Criminal Organizations, as it provides the capability to rapidly and safely transfer capital across borders through an encrypted blockchain,” said Brandon Lesky, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Las Vegas District Office. “We’ve seen this play out in some of our drug investigations. Mexican cartels and other global criminal networks, for example, trade bulk cash for cryptocurrency to facilitate global drug trafficking. Cryptocurrency has become a borderless financial tool. These new tools undoubtedly complicate detection. This is why we must align our efforts and pool resources. This symposium provided an opportunity for law enforcement to collaborate with federal prosecutors and improve their strategy for tracking and prosecuting financial crimes.”

“As cryptocurrency has become an integral part of the global financial system, its mainstream presence unfortunately makes it an attractive vehicle for opportunistic criminals,” said IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Phoenix Field Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Dave Lowe. “But at their core, all financial crimes have the same bones. This is why IRS-CI remains committed to our foundational strength: following the money. By combining our deep financial expertise with cross-agency collaboration, we are uniquely positioned to deconstruct even the most complex transactions to identify stolen funds and hold bad actors accountable.”

Participants included representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation, United States Marshals Service, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

The Smiley Face Killers and the Anatomy of a Modern Myth

In the early 2000s, a controversial theory emerged suggesting that a series of young men found drowned in waterways across the United States were victims of a coordinated network of serial killers. Dubbed the “Smiley Face Killers” theory, the idea rested in part on the reported presence of smiley face graffiti near some of the recovery sites. Promoted by a small group of retired law enforcement officials, the theory gained traction through books, documentaries, and media coverage. Yet despite its persistence in public discourse, the theory has been widely rejected by federal and local law enforcement agencies. Examined through a criminal justice lens, the Smiley Face Killers narrative offers a compelling case study in the formation and endurance of modern myths.

At the center of the theory are claims advanced by retired detectives Kevin Gannon and Anthony Duarte, along with criminal justice professor Gilbertson. They argued that dozens of drowning deaths shared common characteristics: victims were typically college-aged males, last seen after consuming alcohol, and later found in bodies of water. In some instances, investigators or proponents of the theory noted the presence of graffiti—occasionally including smiley faces—near where bodies were recovered. These elements were interpreted as evidence of a coordinated effort by organized offenders operating across jurisdictions (Gannon, Duarte, & Gilbertson, 2010).

However, these claims have been met with substantial skepticism from the broader law enforcement community. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted a review of the alleged pattern and found no evidence supporting the existence of an organized group responsible for the deaths. According to the FBI, the cases lacked the forensic, geographic, and behavioral consistencies typically associated with serial homicide. Instead, many of the incidents were consistent with accidental drownings involving alcohol consumption and environmental hazards (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2008).

The divergence between the theory and official findings highlights a critical issue in criminal justice: the distinction between pattern recognition and evidentiary proof. Humans are inherently predisposed to identify patterns, even when those patterns arise from coincidence rather than causation. In the Smiley Face Killers narrative, the clustering of similar victim profiles and circumstances created a framework that invited interpretation. Yet similarity alone does not establish linkage. Without corroborating forensic evidence—such as common offenders, shared methods, or credible witness accounts—the pattern remains speculative.

The role of the smiley face symbol itself is particularly significant in understanding the theory’s appeal. Symbols carry psychological weight, especially when they juxtapose innocence with harm. The smiley face, widely associated with positivity and simplicity, becomes unsettling when linked to death. This contrast enhances memorability and emotional impact, reinforcing the narrative in the public imagination. Importantly, graffiti featuring smiley faces is common in urban environments, and investigators have noted that many of the markings cited in the theory were not unique, temporally connected, or definitively related to the incidents in question (Snopes, 2019).

Authority also plays a key role in myth formation. The Smiley Face Killers theory gained credibility in part because it was advanced by individuals with law enforcement backgrounds. Even in retirement, professional affiliation can lend weight to claims, particularly when presented to a public audience unfamiliar with investigative standards. When combined with media exposure, these claims can evolve from hypotheses into widely accepted narratives, despite lacking institutional support.

Media amplification further contributes to the endurance of such myths. True crime programming, books, and online platforms often prioritize compelling narratives over methodological rigor. Repetition of the theory across multiple outlets increases familiarity, and familiarity can be mistaken for validity. As a result, the Smiley Face Killers concept has persisted in public discourse long after being dismissed by primary investigative agencies.

From an investigative standpoint, the theory also underscores the challenges of interpreting equivocal deaths. Drownings, particularly those involving alcohol, often present limited physical evidence. Environmental factors such as current, temperature, and terrain can obscure timelines and complicate determinations. In such contexts, the absence of clear explanations can create space for alternative narratives to emerge. These narratives, while not supported by evidence, fulfill a psychological need for coherence and intentionality.

The Smiley Face Killers theory ultimately illustrates how myths can develop within the intersection of uncertainty, symbolism, and authority. It demonstrates that in the absence of definitive answers, patterns can be constructed, meanings assigned, and conclusions drawn that extend beyond the available evidence. For criminal justice professionals, this serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to evidentiary standards, resisting premature conclusions, and maintaining clear distinctions between hypothesis and proof.

At a broader level, the persistence of the Smiley Face Killers narrative reflects a fundamental aspect of human cognition: the desire to impose order on ambiguity. While this impulse can drive investigative inquiry, it can also lead to overinterpretation when not grounded in empirical validation. The challenge for both investigators and the public is to recognize the difference between a compelling story and a substantiated conclusion.

References

Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2008). FBI sees no evidence of “Smiley Face Murder Theory.” Retrieved from FBI press statements and field reports.

Gannon, K., Duarte, A., & Gilbertson, L. (2010). Case studies in drowning forensics. CRC Press.

Snopes. (2019). Are the “Smiley Face Killers” real? Snopes Media Group.

Orangeburg Man Pleads Guilty to Burning a Puppy Alive

COLUMBIA, S.C. Desmond Levon Brown, 29, of Orangeburg, has pleaded guilty to animal crushing, which includes burning, under the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (PACT Act). This is the first known PACT Act Conviction in South Carolina.  

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on Dec. 18, 2024, the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office received reports of a Facebook Live video showing Brown throwing a puppy into a fire that day. Deputies discovered the deceased puppy in a wooded area near the incident location. Federal law enforcement obtained the Facebook video, which showed Brown holding the puppy above the fire, dropping it into the fire, and repeatedly kicking the puppy into the fire, burning it alive. Further evidence showed that the fire, which was started by Brown’s associate, was made using a brand of rum that was imported from the Caribbean and bottled in Kentucky. After his arrest, Brown was recorded on jail calls admitting to burning the puppy.

“Brown’s gruesome torture of a puppy was heinous,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina.  “He showed no mercy in his crime, and we look forward to his sentencing.  Our office will lead the fight to protect the welfare of animals in South Carolina.”

Brown faces a maximum penalty of seven years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment.  United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Brown after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

If you know of suspected animal fighting or other animal welfare violations, please report them at https://www.justice.gov/enrd/webform/animal-welfare/report-suspected-animal-welfare-violation

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting the case.

White House Honors National Guard-Supported Counterdrug Operations

April 10, 2026 | By Army Sgt. 1st Class Christy Sherman, National Guard Bureau |

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy recognized personnel assigned to National Guard counterdrug programs for their support to 10 award-winning law enforcement investigations during a ceremony in Washington, April 2. 

 
The investigations were part of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program, a White House-led effort that brings together federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement to target major drug-trafficking networks across the United States. 
 
"We're celebrating our High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area groups and recognizing the men and women on the front lines of this fight every day, ensuring our children and our communities are safe," said Sara Carter, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. 
 
Nine National Guard counterdrug programs contributed to the investigations, supporting efforts to disrupt drug-trafficking networks and improve public safety. 
 
Twenty-seven National Guard members attended the ceremony and stood alongside their law enforcement and community partners. The awards recognized outstanding law enforcement efforts to combat drug trafficking and related criminal activity nationwide.

These awards underscore the power of partnerships in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking and related crime."

Air Force Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, National Guard Bureau chief

National Guard personnel support these investigations by working directly with law enforcement agencies that are embedded in multijurisdictional task forces. They analyze data, identify key criminal network nodes and help build cases that lead to arrests and the disruption of larger threat networks, said Air Force Col. Laurie Rodriguez, National Guard Bureau counterdrug division chief. 
 
The National Guard Counterdrug Program provides criminal analysts, reconnaissance and strategic community engagement support to all 33 High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area programs. 
 
"Our guard members act as force multipliers and provide support that enhances the integration of state, local, tribal and federal law enforcement agencies with the detection, interdiction and disruption of drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations," Rodriguez said. 
 
The program, which operates in all 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia, supports law enforcement agencies with analysis, training and operational coordination. Many of these investigations span multiple states and require close coordination between agencies.
 
Participating National Guard counterdrug programs include Alabama, California, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, New Mexico, Texas, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Washington. 
 
"These awards underscore the power of partnerships in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking and related crime," said Air Force Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, National Guard Bureau chief. "Together, with our partners, we're fighting to protect our children and our communities from drug-trafficking threats. Just last year, guard counterdrug operations helped remove $15 billion in illicit narcotics from American communities. We remain committed to this vital mission."

U.S. Attorney, ATF Offer Law Enforcement Training on Firearms Trends

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey will open a one-day training about firearms intelligence and trends offered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in Eastern Panhandle today.

“I commend the ATF for keeping our law enforcement partners on the cutting edge of firearms tracing and technology that is critical to solving gun crimes and preventing further violence,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “With effective firearms investigations, we can ensure that those committing violent crimes are held accountable.”

“This eight-hour training course is designed to enhance the capabilities of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors in investigating and prosecuting firearm-related violent crime” said ATF Special Agent in Charge John Nokes. “Participants will receive instruction on the latest crime gun investigative tools and techniques, including firearms tracing, emerging firearm and 3D-printing technologies, and advanced resources such as ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).”

ATF Crime Gun Intelligence-Building a Bulletproof Case will include crime gun trends, effective firearms tracing, and offer a demonstration of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) machine. NIBIN offers national tracing of expended shell casings and ammunition, connecting crimes across the nation by an individual firearm.

The training is free and open to law enforcement, offering 8 hours of education credits through LEPS. It will be held at Jefferson High School in Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia Thursday, April 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Repeat Drug Offender Faces Life After Pointing Gun at Police During Chase

ALBANY, Ga. – A South Georgia resident with three prior felony convictions for drug distribution is facing up to life in prison after he pointed a loaded gun at a Southwest Georgia police officer as he attempted to flee arrest.

Quentin Hall, 30, of Valdosta, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime before Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands on April 8, 2026. Hall faces a maximum imprisonment of life. A sentencing date will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system.

“Armed repeat offenders will face steep federal penalties when they choose to endanger the community with ongoing criminal conduct, especially when possessing firearms,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “This case highlights the constant danger police encounter as they work to keep our streets safe and uphold the law. I commend the Moultrie police officer and all dedicated law enforcement personnel who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our communities and work for justice.”

"This case underscores the importance of collaboration between agencies, as we work tirelessly to protect our communities from harm,” said ATF Atlanta’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Davis.

According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Hall was pulled over for a traffic violation on Nov. 26, 2024, on 7th Avenue in Moultrie, and didn’t immediately pull over, but instead continued driving and entered the Art Center Apartments. While the car he was driving was still moving, Hall jumped out and ran away holding a bookbag.

A Moultrie Police Department officer chased after Hall; Hall threw his bookbag as he ran, then lost his balance and fell to the ground. Hall ignored the officer's verbal commands to lie on the ground and not move, but pulled out a black handgun, pointed it at the officer, and said to “go on” before he turned and ran. The chase continued, with Hall again falling and dropping the gun before picking it up and continuing to run. He ran behind a stairway and eventually surrendered to officers.

Law enforcement retrieved the firearm that Hall had pointed at the police officer, which had a round in the chamber. Inside Hall’s backpack, officers found several small baggies containing cocaine and other drugs. Later, Hall admitted to officers that the drugs belonged to him and that the gun was not his, but a family member’s. He said he blacked out when he pointed the gun at the officer. Hall told officers that he was on parole and had been out of prison for 16 months.

Hall has three prior drug distribution state convictions, two in Colquitt County, Georgia, and one in Bulloch County, Georgia. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.

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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The Moultrie Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monica Daniels and Tamara Jarrett are prosecuting the case for the Government.

Former BIA Officer Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Lying to Investigators

Murrell Deela, a former Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) officer, pleaded guilty today to sexual abuse involving a minor and to lying to federal investigators.

“Rather than serve and protect those within the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, the defendant used his position of power to sexually assault a minor entrusted to his care, and then he lied and attempted to conceal his crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The minor victim suffered harm that cannot be quantified, but this Justice Department will hold accountable those who violate positions of public trust and prey on the citizens they have sworn to protect.”

“The outcome reflects the victim’s courage in coming forward,” said Special Agent in Charge Jutin Gerken of the FBI Billings Field Office. “Any abuse of authority, especially against a minor, causes lasting harm and is a betrayal of everything law enforcement stands for. The FBI will continue working to ensure accountability for those who exploit positions of trust to harm others.”

According to records filed in the case, on Aug. 7, 2024, Deela, then 29 years old, was on duty and acting in his official capacity as a BIA officer in the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, when he encountered the minor. The minor victim was apprehended and placed in the back of Deela’s patrol vehicle. Instead of driving the teenager to her family’s house, Deela drove the minor to an alternate location. Deela then proceeded to engage in sexual acts with the minor victim without the victim’s consent. The minor victim disclosed the victimization the following day, and the FBI’s analysis of the evidence provided additional facts that corroborated the minor’s outcry.

Several days after the incident, Deela was instructed to bring his patrol vehicle to the BIA station for evidence collection. Hours prior to the scheduled report time, Deela reported that his patrol vehicle was on fire. The patrol vehicle and its video system were severely burned.  An investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) determined the patrol vehicle was set on fire intentionally.

Following the incident, Deela wrote a false report omitting that he had driven the minor victim to the alternate location. When interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Deela falsely told agents that he drove the minor directly to her family’s home and had not made any other stops. When confronted with evidence, Deela later admitted that he had driven the minor to an alternate location.

The case was investigated by the FBI and ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Lee for the District of North Dakota and Senior Sex Crimes Counsel Tara Allison and Trial Attorney Taylor Payne of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

2025: Best of CGIC Award Recipients

ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) of Chicago hosted its 2025 Year in Review meeting with partner agency executives. At the conclusion of the meeting, ATF Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon, joined by each awardee’s agency head, presented this year’s 2025: Best of CGIC awards to individuals who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the pursuit of justice and the mission of the Crime Gun Intelligence Center of Chicago. Below are this year’s award recipients:

Officer Patrick Fahey Jr.
CGIC of Chicago Investigator of the Year

Intelligence Research Specialist Daniel P. Golden
CGIC of Chicago Intelligence Research Specialist of the Year

Legal Assistant Denise Descamp
Exceptional Organizational Leadership and Commitment to the Mission of the CGIC of Chicago

Supervisory Legal Assistant Kristin Golfis
Exceptional Organizational Leadership and Commitment to the Mission of the CGIC of Chicago

Assistant U.S. Attorney William Dunne
CGIC of Chicago Prosecutor of the Year

Assistant State's Attorney Anne Kelly
CGIC of Chicago Prosecutor of the Year

Deputy Chief Andrew Whitfield
CGIC of Chicago Prosecutor of the Year

Brothers from D.C. Charged with Multiple Counts in Shooting of U.S. Park Police Officer

WASHINGTON – Asheile Foster, 22, and Darren Foster, 21,  brothers who reside in the District of Columbia, were charged today in U.S. District Court in connection with the March 23 shooting of a U.S. Park Police Officer, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.  

The Foster brothers face counts of Assault on a Federal Officer, Assault With Intent to Kill While Armed, Possession of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, Aggravated Assault While Armed, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and Possession of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence. The Fosters made their first appearances today before Magistrate Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya who scheduled a detention hearing for tomorrow, March 26.  

“Those who target law enforcement officers will be identified, apprehended, and held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Asheile Foster, 22, and Darren Foster, 21, fled the scene, but were quickly apprehended by law enforcement. This office will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law to ensure they face the consequences they deserve.” 

According to court documents, multiple law enforcement agencies responded about 7:30 p.m. on March 23 to Queens Stroll Place SE and 51st Street SE for a report of a shot U.S. Park Police officer.  

The USPP officer had been sitting in an unmarked Tesla Model Y, conducting surveillance on Asheile Foster, who had just departed the U.S. Park Police Anacostia Operations Facility after retrieving personal property stemming from his arrest the previous day.  

As the USPP officer sat in his vehicle, two men approached. The men fired several shots in his direction. At least one of the bullets struck the officer in the shoulder. The officer radioed for help, calling out that he’d been hit. 

Investigators arrived from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Department of Forensic Sciences. They scoured the scene and recovered 32 shell casings.  

Officers canvassed the neighborhood and discovered a black backpack wedged in a fence. The bag contained a Diamondback DB-15 (marked "Cal. Multi") AR-style rifle with no stock. The DB-15 was loaded with 15 rounds of .300 blackout caliber ammunition in the magazine and one round in the chamber. 

Police located Darren Foster, took him into custody, and interviewed him shortly after midnight the morning of March 24. Asheile Foster was taken into custody about 6:30 a.m. March 24 as he left a nearby residence. A search of the home’s attic revealed a Glock 19, 9mm pistol loaded with 17 rounds of ammunition in the magazine and one round in the chamber. 

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Park Police, the ATF Washington Field Division, The Department of Forensic Sciences, and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Helfand. 

 

Corrections Outbreak Response

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This e-course provides an overview of infectious disease outbreaks in correctional and detention facilities and describes the critical role correctional nurses and others play in an outbreak investigation.

Everyday Correctional Emergency Management Webinar Series – Episode 2

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