News and reports from the Department of Justice.

News Release: Carlos Silva Arellano, also known as “Bolas," was arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge Lois Bloom at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn on an indictment charging him with participating in a large-scale narcotics distribution conspiracy and using one or more firearms in connection with narcotic offenses. The defendant, a Mexican citizen, was extradited from Mexico to the United States on Nov. 23, 2022. Silva Arellano was ordered detained pending trial.

News Release: Tampa, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Alexander Lesczcynski (24, North Redington Beach) has pleaded guilty in two cases against him. In a case pending before U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven, Lesczcynski pleaded guilty to wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering.

News Release: KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for possessing methamphetamine to distribute.

News Release: DENVER - The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Jerome Bravo, age 39, of Denver, has pleaded guilty to ten counts of bank robbery and three counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

News Release: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Nicholas Turnquist, 36, of West Falls, NY, who was convicted of transportation and attempted transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, was sentenced to serve 156 months in prison and 15 years supervised release by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.

News Release: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal jury has convicted Charles Porterfield, 37, of Springville, NY, of production of child pornography and committing the offense as a registered sex offender. The charges carry a mandatory penalty of life in prison.

News Release: Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Ubertino Zavala-Perez (59, Plant City, Florida) to more than 12 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Zavala-Perez pleaded guilty on Aug. 31, 2022.

News Release: Des Moines, Iowa - Brett Michael Dobberke, age 22, of Des Moines, was sentenced today to 16 years in prison for discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute it.

News Release: A Mason City, Iowa man who possessed large amounts of child pornography was convicted by a jury on Nov. 17, 2022, after a 4-day trial in federal court in Sioux City.

News Release: MOBILE, AL - A Theodore man was sentenced to 92 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a stolen firearm.

News Release: MOBILE, AL - A Los Angeles, California woman was sentenced to 21 months in prison for conspiring to distribute kilograms of marijuana.

News Release: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Bradley D. Knapp, 43, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

News Release: PITTSBURGH, PA - A former resident of Pittsburgh’s Troy Hill neighborhood has been sentenced in federal court to 120 months’ imprisonment and six years of supervised release on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.

News Release: FBI Media Alert: FBI Offers Reward in Laguna Pueblo Homicide.

News Release: A California man was sentenced Nov. 17, 2022, to 10 years in federal prison. Wesley Wood, age 43, from San Marcos, California, received the prison term after a May 26, 2022, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.