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Border enforcement actions continue with 198 additional cases filed in Operation Take Back America efforts
HOUSTON, Texas, Aug. 17 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas posted the following news release:
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Border enforcement actions continue with 198 additional cases filed in Operation Take Back America efforts
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HOUSTON - The Southern District of Texas has charged another 199 people, including 188 illegal aliens, for immigration- and border security-related crimes from Aug. 7-13.
A total of 154 criminal complaints were filed for felony reentry after prior removal, while another 27 illegal aliens face charges of illegal entry. Many have prior felonies involving
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HOUSTON, Texas, Aug. 17 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas posted the following news release:
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Border enforcement actions continue with 198 additional cases filed in Operation Take Back America efforts
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HOUSTON - The Southern District of Texas has charged another 199 people, including 188 illegal aliens, for immigration- and border security-related crimes from Aug. 7-13.
A total of 154 criminal complaints were filed for felony reentry after prior removal, while another 27 illegal aliens face charges of illegal entry. Many have prior felonies involvingnarcotics, violent crime, immigration crimes, and more. In addition, 16 people have been charged with human smuggling, which includes seven illegal aliens themselves.
Among the new cases are three Mexican nationals, all charged with felony reentry after removal.
Authorities found Juan Pablo Sosa-Alvizo and Janny Martinez-Solis in the McAllen area allegedly without legal authorization to be in the United States. According to the criminal complaints, both had previously been removed already this year. Sosa-Alvizo has a prior conviction for theft of property, while Martinez-Solis has a prior conviction for injury to a child/elder/disabled, according to their respective charges.
Law enforcement also discovered Agueda Anait Ambriz-Penaloza near Rio Grande City after he had allegedly been removed Feb. 14, 2025. Court records reflect a prior conviction for conspiracy to possess meth with intent to distribute.
All face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
In addition to the new cases, Mexican national Juan Garcia-Villa was ordered to serve 42 months in federal prison for his illegal reentry conviction. The court considered his criminal history while unlawfully present in the United States, including convictions for possession with intent to manufacture and/or distribute a controlled substance, evading arrest, and illegal reentry. Authorities first removed him in October 2008, but he repeatedly returned. Law enforcement discovered him again in Houston with no authorization to be in the country.
The cases are referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are 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 immigrants, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the Southern District. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault, and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen, and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state, and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/border-enforcement-actions-continue-198-additional-cases-filed-operation-take-back
Luigi Mangione Pleads Guilty In Connection With His Murder Of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson
NEW YORK, Aug. 14 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York posted the following news release:
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Luigi Mangione Pleads Guilty In Connection With His Murder Of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson
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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 Commissioner of the New York City Police Department ("NYPD"), Jessica S. Tisch, announced that LUIGI NICHOLAS MANGIONE pled guilty today before U.S. District
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NEW YORK, Aug. 14 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York posted the following news release:
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Luigi Mangione Pleads Guilty In Connection With His Murder Of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson
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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 Commissioner of the New York City Police Department ("NYPD"), Jessica S. Tisch, announced that LUIGI NICHOLAS MANGIONE pled guilty today before U.S. DistrictJudge Margaret M. Garnett in connection with the December 4, 2024, murder of UnitedHealthcare Chief Executive Officer Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan. MANGIONE is scheduled to be sentenced on December 18, 2026.
"Today, Luigi Mangione admitted to stalking and murdering Brian Thompson on a Manhattan street in broad daylight," said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. "No grievance, political belief, or ideological cause can justify murder. With today's guilty plea, Mangione is being held accountable for a heinous crime that claimed an innocent life and drew national attention. I commend the FBI, the NYPD, our law enforcement partners, and the dedicated prosecutors of this Office for their tireless work in securing this result."
"Violence driven by such hostility toward opportunity and progress stands in sharp contrast to the values many Americans hold dear," said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. "Rest assured, the FBI and our partners never stopped working to bring a killer to justice. While a plea has been entered in this case, we know the crime has not been erased. While nothing can ease the family's grief, we hope this brings them one step closer to closure."
"Luigi Mangione carried out a ruthless act of violence that shocked this city, and today's guilty plea is an important moment of accountability for this heinous crime," said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. "This case demonstrated the extraordinary work of NYPD detectives, who relentlessly pursued every lead, pairing sophisticated technology with painstaking, old-fashioned police work to identify the suspect and build the case that brought us to this day. I want to thank all the members of the NYPD who worked tirelessly on this case, and the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI for their partnership. And to those who idolize Mangione-violence is not a cause, murder is not a message, and a killer is not a hero."
As alleged in the Indictment and other public filings in this case:
In the months leading up to December 4, 2024, MANGIONE developed and executed a plan to kill Brian Thompson. MANGIONE targeted Thompson because of his role as Chief Executive Officer of UnitedHealthcare. He traveled from outside New York to New York City specifically to carry out the attack. After arriving in the city more than a week before the murder, MANGIONE conducted surveillance on locations Thompson frequented, including the area surrounding the hotel where Thompson was staying and the venue hosting UnitedHealthcare's investor conference.
On the morning of December 4, 2024, MANGIONE positioned himself near the conference venue in Midtown Manhattan and waited for Thompson to arrive. At approximately 6:45 a.m., MANGIONE approached Thompson from behind and shot him multiple times, causing Thompson's death. MANGIONE then fled the scene.
Five days later, on December 9, 2024, law enforcement officers arrested MANGIONE in Altoona, Pennsylvania. At the time of his arrest, MANGIONE possessed a false driver's license that he had previously used while in New York City. Law enforcement also recovered a firearm and other evidence linking him to the murder.
MANGIONE, 28, of Maryland, pled guilty to one count of interstate stalking resulting in death, which carries a maximum potential sentence of life in prison, and one count of cyberstalking through use of interstate facilities resulting in death, which carries a maximum potential sentence of life 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. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI's Violent Crime Task Force, the NYPD, the Altoona Police Department in Altoona, Pennsylvania, and the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The case is being handled by the Office's Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dominic A. Gentile, Jun Xiang, Alexandra Messiter, and Thomas John Wright are in charge of the prosecution.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/luigi-mangione-pleads-guilty-connection-his-murder-united-healthcare-ceo-brian
Kentucky Woman Charged with Vandalizing World War II Memorial on D.C.'s National Mall
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia posted the following news release:
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Kentucky Woman Charged with Vandalizing World War II Memorial on D.C.'s National Mall
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farris_mellisa_-_complaint.pdf
WASHINGTON - Melissa Farris, 41, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was charged by criminal complaint this morning in connection with vandalizing the Atlantic Theatre Pavilion of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
"Defacing the World War II Memorial is a disgusting act and an insult to the Americans
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia posted the following news release:
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Kentucky Woman Charged with Vandalizing World War II Memorial on D.C.'s National Mall
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farris_mellisa_-_complaint.pdf
WASHINGTON - Melissa Farris, 41, of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, was charged by criminal complaint this morning in connection with vandalizing the Atlantic Theatre Pavilion of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
"Defacing the World War II Memorial is a disgusting act and an insult to the Americanswho fought and died for our country," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "This memorial stands in honor of the 16 million veterans who served, the millions who supported the war effort, and the more than 400,000 heroes who never came home. Vandalizing a monument dedicated to their sacrifice is a shameful attack on the legacy of our nation. We will not tolerate this kind of criminal activism, and we will ensure that anyone who desecrates a veterans' memorial is held fully accountable."
Farris, aka "Melissa Lovewell," is charged with Willfully Injuring or Committing a Depredation against Property of the United States and with Destruction of a Veterans' Memorial.
According to the criminal complaint, U.S. Park Police were called about 2 p.m. on August 13 for a report of a disorderly person. A witness told officers that they had observed a woman spray painting graffiti on portions of the Atlantic Theatre Pavilion of the World War II Memorial at the eastern end of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
A United States Park Ranger arrived at the scene and observed foam in the fountain area of the Atlantic pavilion. Multiple people were gathered around the balcony watching a woman shooting video of herself. The woman fled when she became aware of the Ranger's presence.
Orange-colored paint had been sprayed onto the wall with the words: "Clean Hands Dirty $." Additionally, green-colored paint was also sprayed onto the wall just under the orange spray paint, and pink-colored paint was splattered on the ground. In a trash can near the north entrance of the balcony, law enforcement recovered a white sign with painted letters. The paint used on the sign appeared to match the paint that was used to vandalize the northern entrance balcony.
A witness had taken a photo of the woman defacing the Memorial. One U.S. Park Police officer recognized her as someone police had arrested on August 10 for unlawfully camping on federal property near 18th Street NW and Virginia Ave. NW, just a few blocks away from the World War II Memorial.
On August 10, as she was arrested by Park Police, she had live streamed the event over her Facebook and Instagram social media accounts on which she identified herself as "Melissa Lovewell."
In a review of Farris's public social media accounts, investigators discovered that she had recorded multiple livestream videos on August 13. In one recorded video, she allegedly admitted to damaging the World War II Memorial.
Before Farris defaced the World War II Memorial, she had allegedly recorded and posted a video in which she stated, "I am cognitively aware and executively (sic) of the choices I am making and I am doing so to push my whistleblower case into the courtroom... someone has to make choices that are different and I am accountable for my actions. I am going to make these choices today and I will step foot into the courtroom, and I will wait to be arrested... I am accountable for the things that I do and the choices that I make and our government needs to be accountable for their choices too."
The Memorial honors the 16 million American service members who served during World War II, the millions more who supported the war effort from the home front, and the more than 400,000 Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice during the war. The Memorial contains two main pavilions, the Atlantic and Pacific pavilions, named for the two main theaters of the war. Over four million tourists pay their respect at the memorial annually.
A witness took this photograph of a woman defacing the World War II Memorial on August 13, 2026.
The vandalized World War II Memorial on August 13, 2026.
Foam in the fountain of the World War II Memorial.
Charges in a complaint are merely allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
26mj140
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/kentucky-woman-charged-vandalizing-world-war-ii-memorial-dcs-national-mall
D.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Deadly Arson Spree
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia posted the following news release:
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D.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Deadly Arson Spree
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WASHINGTON - D'Aundrey Scott, 32, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today, for several arsons, which killed one victim, Darryl Finney, caused injuries to another victim, Charles Newton, and damaged the homes of two others in May 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
"D'Aundrey Scott's actions were shocking, deliberate, and devastating," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "He set multiple fires across Northeast Washington,
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia posted the following news release:
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D.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Deadly Arson Spree
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WASHINGTON - D'Aundrey Scott, 32, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today, for several arsons, which killed one victim, Darryl Finney, caused injuries to another victim, Charles Newton, and damaged the homes of two others in May 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
"D'Aundrey Scott's actions were shocking, deliberate, and devastating," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "He set multiple fires across Northeast Washington,killing Darryl Finney, injuring Charles Newton, and endangering the lives and homes of others in the community. This was a calculated spree of violence that inflicted immeasurable harm. Today's conviction ensures that Scott will be held fully accountable for the destruction he caused, and our communities are safer as a result."
Scott pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of second-degree murder, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of arson and one count of felony destruction. This was an 11c plea to a range of 15 to 35 years of imprisonment.
Superior Court Judge Todd Edelmen scheduled sentencing for October 23, 2026.
According to the government's evidence, on May 13, 2020, Scott went on an arson spree. On May 13, 2020, at approximately 12:23 a.m. The defendant approached the first victim, Charles Newton, who was lying on the sidewalk in the 1300 block of H Street Northeast, Washington, D.C. The defendant ignited a small, flammable object and threw that burning object onto Mr. Newton. Mr. Newton was able to kick it off before his clothing ignited. At approximately 1:04 a.m., Scott approached the second victim, Darryl Finney, who was sleeping on the sidewalk in the 900 block of H Street Northeast, Washington, D.C. The defendant ignited a small, flammable object and tossed it onto Mr. Finney. The defendant then splashed an ignitable liquid onto Mr. Finney. The defendant's actions caused Mr. Finney and his personal effects to catch fire. Mr. Finney, who was engulfed in flames, managed to get up and walk toward H Street, where the Metropolitan Police Department and D.C. Fire and EMS responded to assist. Mr. Finney suffered burns to multiple parts of his body, and despite treatment at MedStar Washington Hospital Center he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead on May 15, 2020. An autopsy was conducted by the D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, which concluded Mr. Finney's cause of death to be complications from thermal injury and his manner of death to be homicide.
After the defendant set the two men on fire, at approximately 1:25 a.m., the defendant poured an ignitable liquid onto the porch, steps, and walkway of the house at 1403 Morse Street Northeast, Washington, D.C. The defendant then ignited the liquid, scorching the porch and steps and causing discoloration to the concrete. Finally, at approximately 1:28 a.m., Scott ignited a fire on the porch of the house at 1431 Morse Street Northeast, Washington, D.C., damaging the exterior of the house and porch furniture belonging to the homeowner.
Scott was arrested on May 19, 2020, and has been in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey Merikas and was initially investigated by Assistant United States Attorney Ariel Dean.
2020 CF1 004775
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/dc-man-pleads-guilty-deadly-arson-spree
D.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Beating Two-Year-Old Child to Death
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia posted the following news release:
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D.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Beating Two-Year-Old Child to Death
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WASHINGTON - Dasean Matthews, 27, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today for repeatedly beating 2-year-old Mars Jones, causing his death in October 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Matthews pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder. Sentencing is scheduled for February 1, 2027, before Superior Court Judge Jason Park.
"The senseless crime of an innocent two-year-old child
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia posted the following news release:
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D.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Beating Two-Year-Old Child to Death
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WASHINGTON - Dasean Matthews, 27, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today for repeatedly beating 2-year-old Mars Jones, causing his death in October 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Matthews pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder. Sentencing is scheduled for February 1, 2027, before Superior Court Judge Jason Park.
"The senseless crime of an innocent two-year-old childbeing beaten to death has no place in our society," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "This conviction reflects our unrelenting commitment to securing justice for victims of violent crime, and we will continue to pursue those who commit especially heinous acts such as this."
According to the government's evidence, on October 13, 2022, two-year-old Mars, Matthews, and co-defendant Monet Jones (Mars' mother and defendant Matthews's romantic partner) drove to a Dunkin Donuts just before noon. While in the Dunkin Donuts, video evidence shows Matthews striking the young child with a closed fist in the upper body causing Mars to fall and slam against a metal railing. Later that day, while in a parking garage, video evidence shows Matthews grabbing Mars by the neck of his clothing, swing him by the clothing, and minutes later, strike Mars in the upper body or face, causing the young child to again fall to the floor. Later the same day, while alone in a vehicle with Mars, video evidence shows defendant Matthews repeatedly strike the young child so forcefully that the vehicle shakes from the impact of the blows. Immediately thereafter, Matthews delivers an unconscious and bloody baby Mars to co-defendant Jones and then flees the scene. An autopsy determined that Mars died from complications of inflicted head trauma.
Matthews was arrested on November 4, 2022, and remains in custody.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Special Victims Unit of the Homicide Section at the Metropolitan Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emma McArthur and Shauna Payyappilly.
2022 CF1 006566
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/dc-man-pleads-guilty-beating-two-year-old-child-death
Brims Gang Member and Felon Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm While a Fugitive from Justice
TAMPA, Florida, Aug. 14 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida posted the following news release:
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Brims Gang Member and Felon Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm While a Fugitive from Justice
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Tampa, Florida - Lonnie Washington (25, Gainesville) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Washington pleaded guilty on April 28, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, in
... Show Full Article
TAMPA, Florida, Aug. 14 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida posted the following news release:
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Brims Gang Member and Felon Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm While a Fugitive from Justice
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Tampa, Florida - Lonnie Washington (25, Gainesville) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Washington pleaded guilty on April 28, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, inMay 2022, Washington was a fugitive for a felony he had committed in Gainesville one month earlier when he used his vehicle to strike a police car occupied by an officer and then fled on foot. Investigators learned that Washington, who was a known member of the Fruit Town Brims gang, was hiding at the home of gang leader Micheal Hankerson in Poinciana. The FBI learned that Washington, while on the run from law enforcement, had posted a statement on social media, "I'm finna go on a killing run," which demonstrated that he knew he was wanted and that he should be considered armed and dangerous.
On May 10, 2022, a United States Marshals Service (USMS) Fugitive Task Force team, working in collaboration with the FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), went to Hankerson's residence to apprehend Washington. After Washington refused calls to come out of the home and voluntarily surrender, the USMS team entered the home. While performing a protective sweep of the residence, officers observed a semi-automatic firearm in Hankerson's bedroom. They found Washington in an adjacent bedroom and arrested him.
FDLE investigators searched the house and recovered a CZ Scorpion Evo 3 semi-automatic firearm with a loaded 50-round drum magazine in Hankerson's bedroom found. The search team found additional firearms in the home and an additional magazine, loaded with 19 rounds of ammunition, in Hankerson's bedroom.
The FBI obtained a search warrant for a cellphone Washington possessed at the time of his arrest. While reviewing the contents of the cellphone, the FBI found a video, recorded one week before his arrest, showing Washington inside Hankerson's residence holding the CZ Scorpion Evo 3 firearm with the magazine that was later found in Hankerson's bedroom.
Washington, who had previously been convicted of felony offenses including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
Hankerson, also a previously convicted felon, was federally charged and found guilty of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon in 2022. He was sentenced to six years in federal prison and ordered him to forfeit the firearms and ammunition found in his home.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice's nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys' offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department's commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump's Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/brims-gang-member-and-felon-sentenced-70-months-federal-prison-possessing-firearm
21-Year Sentence Handed Down for Fatal Bar Shooting
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia posted the following news release:
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21-Year Sentence Handed Down for Fatal Bar Shooting
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WASHINGTON - Robert Lowe, 42, of Montgomery Village, MD, was sentenced today to 21 years in prison for murdering 43-year-old Kenneth Goins in April 2024 at a Northwest D.C. bar, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
"Robert Lowe chose to turn a barroom confrontation into a deadly encounter, attacking Mr. Goins from behind and ultimately taking his life," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "This senseless violence
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia posted the following news release:
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21-Year Sentence Handed Down for Fatal Bar Shooting
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WASHINGTON - Robert Lowe, 42, of Montgomery Village, MD, was sentenced today to 21 years in prison for murdering 43-year-old Kenneth Goins in April 2024 at a Northwest D.C. bar, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
"Robert Lowe chose to turn a barroom confrontation into a deadly encounter, attacking Mr. Goins from behind and ultimately taking his life," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "This senseless violencetears families apart and endangers everyone around it. Today's 21-year sentence reflects the gravity of his actions and the commitment of our office to hold armed offenders fully accountable."
Lowe was found guilty on May 5, 2026, on one count each of second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and unlawful possession of a firearm (prior felony conviction). The Honorable Todd Edelman sentenced Lowe to the prison term to be followed by five years of supervised release.
According to the government's evidence, in the early morning hours of April 27, 2024, Lowe went to the Desperados Burger and Bar, in the 1300 block of U Street, NW. The victim, Kenneth Goins, was at the bar enjoying himself. At some point, the defendant came up behind Mr. Goins and struck him in the back of the head. Then the two men began to fight. In the ensuing fight, the defendant shot Mr. Goins, striking him once in the abdomen. The defendant then fled the bar, got on his motorcycle, and drove away. Unfortunately, after efforts from responding officers and EMS, Mr. Goins succumbed to his injuries.
Lowe was arrested on May 22, 2024, and has been in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll acknowledged the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Stephanie Dinan and Tamara Rubb, who prosecuted the case.
2024 CF1 004974
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Original text here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/21-year-sentence-handed-down-fatal-bar-shooting
