News Blog
The FBI plays a key role in combating violent crimes across our country—and in some cases, abroad—through our investigative work targeting gangs and criminal organizations, violent crimes against children, Indian Country crime, human trafficking and involuntary servitude, bank robbery, and jewelry and gem theft.
FBI investigators usually work in partnership with other law enforcement groups, often establishing task forces to concentrate resources and efforts. This round-up is only a partial list of recent FBI violent crime stories—for a full list, read more FBI violent crime news and press releases.
Four Facing Federal Charges for Brink’s Truck Robbery in Illinois
A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging four individuals for their involvement in an armed robbery of a Brink’s truck in Madison.
- Lee O. Griffin Jr. is facing one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, one count of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of arson, and one count of possession of a weapon in furtherance of a crime of violence.
- Antonio T. Harris and Patrick D. Johnson are each facing one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery.
- Taneisha M. Davis was charged with one count of arson for her involvement in setting the getaway car on fire.
- Full press release
Montana Man Sentenced to More Than 19 Years in Prison for Trafficking Meth, Fentanyl in Community
Alejandro Romero, who admitted to distributing pounds of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills that were shipped from Washington, was sentenced to 19 years and seven months in federal prison.
- Court documents allege that from December 2023 through March 2024 in Missoula, Montana, Romero possessed fentanyl and meth for distribution. The court noted during the sentencing hearing that Romero was distributing fentanyl, including pink fentanyl.
- One person purchased about two pounds of methamphetamine directly from Romero in separate transactions. They also bought fentanyl pills and heroin from Romero.
- “We won’t make progress against our nation’s drug epidemic unless the biggest drug traffickers are held accountable, which we’ve done today,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana Jesse Laslovich. “Romero is responsible for peddling pounds and pounds of meth and thousands of fentanyl pills, including pink pills, as well as distributing fentanyl powder. His lengthy federal prison sentence shows we are determined to make the progress Montanans expect and deserve regarding drug traffickers poisoning our communities.”
- Full press release
Louisiana Man Charged with Kidnapping Resulting in Death and Transporting a Minor in Interstate Commerce with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity
Daniel Wayne Callihan was with kidnapping resulting in death and transporting a minor in interstate commerce with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
- Callihan was previously charged for his crimes in a June 14, 2024, federal complaint. He’s since remained in federal custody.
On or about June 13, 2024, Callihan allegedly kidnapped two minor victims from Loranger, Louisiana, and transported them to Mississippi using a 2012 Chrysler 200. His actions allegedly resulted in the deaths of one of the minors. - He also allegedly transported one of the minor victims to Mississippi with the intent that the victim would engage in sexual activity.
- Callahan is also allegedly responsible for an adult victim’s death.
- Full press release
FBI Offers Reward in Death of Minor on Ute Mountain Ute Reservation
The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward to anyone providing information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the man wanted in the shooting death of a minor on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation in Colorado.
- A federal arrest warrant has been issued for Jeremiah Hight, who is wanted in the death of the minor in Towaoc in the early morning hours of December11, 2024.
- Hight is a 23-year-old Native American man with brown hair and brown eyes. He is 6 feet tall and weighs 400 pounds. He has tattoos on his right leg, left arm, right arm, right shoulder, neck, and left shoulder. He has a pierced left ear and a scar on his chest.
- He might be armed and has proven he can be dangerous.
- Anyone with information about the homicide or about Jeremiah Hight’s whereabouts is urged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or make a report at tips.fbi.gov.
- Full press release
Tampa Bay-Area Doctor Charged with Producing Child Sexual Abuse Materials and Enticing Minors to Engage in Sexual Activity
Stephen Andrew Leedy was indicted and arrested on three counts of production of child sexual abuse material and two counts of coercing or enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. Leedy faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison if he is convicted on all counts.
- Leedy, a Tampa Bay-area palliative care doctor, used the username “maximumuncle#9112” to sexually exploit and victimize approximately 10 minors online, according to the indictment and court documents.
- In online conversations and video chats, Leedy instructed the minors to produce sexually explicit images of themselves. He also directed them to self-harm and take their own lives.
- In November 2022, a minor victim was found dead, having died of suicide in a manner consistent with instructions Leedy had previously given her.
- Full press release
FBI National Human Trafficking Prevention Month graphic
This January, the FBI and our U.S. government partners commemorate National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
Human trafficking occurs when a person is illegally exploited. Federal law authorizes the Bureau to investigate three forms of this crime: sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and domestic servitude.
You can visit fbi.gov/humantrafficking to read more about this crime, how we approach trafficking investigations, and how victims can report suspected trafficking and seek help.
You can also visit fbi.gov/victims to learn more about the FBI’s Victim Services Division and access support resources.
Finally, you can listen to the Inside the FBI episode below to learn more about our efforts to combat human trafficking:
On this episode of the Inside the FBI podcast, we dispel some myths about human trafficking with the help of a special agent from our office in Phoenix, discuss how the FBI combats this crime and supports victims, and explain how you can get that support if you need it for yourself or someone you know. Transcript
This is an FBI timeline of the January 1, 2025, attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
The FBI continues to investigate the January 1 attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
As of January 5, the Bureau had surged over 200 out-of-state personnel—including agents, victim specialists, evidence technicians, and more—to Louisiana to support the investigation and assist victims, Counterterrorism Division Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia said. Headquarters divisions and FBI field offices across the United States are also supporting the effort, he added.
"We are not done investigating—the FBI will continue to dig in and investigate to learn all that we can about this despicable attack, on behalf of the victims and for their loved ones,” Raia said.
You can visit our investigation resource page to read Bureau statements and press releases about the attack, view multimedia related to the investigation, and more. If you have information, photos, or video about the attack, you should call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at fbi.gov/bourbonstreetattack.
“Thanks to information provided by the public, this investigation is crossing state and international borders as our agents follow leads in Houston, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Tampa, Florida; and internationally,” said FBI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Lyonel Myrthil.
The Bureau is also seeking to identify potential victims of the attack. You can visit our victim resources landing page to view our victim questionnaire and learn more about support resources available to you.
On December 30, FBI Albuquerque released an updated list of Native Americans it has verified as missing throughout New Mexico and the Navajo Nation. This list is part of an effort to improve the reporting and recovery of missing persons in Indian Country.
The FBI is seeking public assistance and information on the cases. If you have information concerning any of these cases, please contact your local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov (tips can remain anonymous).
Since December 30, 2024, four people have been removed and eight people added.
Below is a list of those who were added:
- Camille Brendon
- Elramsey Clah
- Ondrea Hannaweeka
- Eddie Lopez Jr.
- Richard Mildren
- Tamara Nicole
- Albert Peywa
- Stanley Salt
