News

Baltimore, Maryland – Today, a recidivist sex offender pled guilty in federal court to more child sex abuse crimes. Patrick Daniel McKernan, 45, of Pasadena, Maryland, is charged with the sexual exploitation of a child as he persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct.

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland’s recent prosecutions in connection with the Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America, including sentencing for an illegal alien who resisted arrest. 

Greenbelt, Maryland – A Maryland man learned his fate in federal court today for committing child sex abuse crimes. The Honorable Lydia Kay Griggsby sentenced Fode Sitafa Mara, 41, to life in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for forcibly sexually assaulting two minor girls in Burkina Faso, in 2022 and 2023. 

Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal jury convicted a prominent appellate attorney who argued more than 40 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, and co-founded the widely read legal website SCOTUSblog, of tax and mortgage fraud.

Baltimore, Maryland – Eight individuals connected to a Baltimore County-based MS-13 clique, including the leader of a New Jersey gang, now face a superseding indictment in federal court in connection with RICO Conspiracy charges. Several members and associates of the MS-13 clique known as “Los Ghettos Criminales Salvatruchas” allegedly committed firearms trafficking, drug trafficking, and robbery crimes associated with the conspiracy.

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted a Baltimore man for child sex trafficking crimes. Deion “Poppa Fetti” Philip, 33, is charged with two counts of sex trafficking of a child and one count of transportation of a minor.   

Greenbelt, Maryland – A Cameroonian National, who committed crimes against the United States from abroad, received a federal prison term today, in connection with an unemployment insurance (UI) fraud scheme. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Anais Thalia Ossele Massaba, 34, to 54 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted a Baltimore man for child sex trafficking crimes. Antoine “Tony” Miles, 57, is charged with sex trafficking of a child and coercion and enticement.   

Baltimore, Maryland – A 66-year-old Maryland man made his initial appearance in federal court today, in connection with flying an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) in restricted airspace. Stuart Bennett, of Frederick, Maryland, is charged with violating national defense airspace.

Greenbelt, Maryland – A Prince George’s County Public Schools employee made his initial appearance in federal court in connection with alleged child sexual abuse crimes. Xaviour Smith, 28, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, is charged with five counts of producing child sexual abuse material. 

Baltimore, Maryland – A 46-year-old man pled guilty in federal court to making threats online. Raymond Pumphrey, of Aberdeen, Maryland, is charged with making threats transmitted by interstate communication.

Baltimore, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced federal charges today, in connection with a large-scale, targeted law-enforcement operation, resulting in hundreds of federal and state arrests. Through this operation, law enforcement also arrested more than 200 violent fugitives and individuals affiliated with organized criminal activity throughout the Baltimore area.