FBI Phoenix

Former Phoenix Mariachi Instructor Pleads Guilty to Production of Child Pornography Carlos Jobany Castaneda Lechuga, 38, of Laredo, Texas, pleaded guilty to five counts of Producing Child Pornography involving five minor age girls. Lechuga has been detained in federal custody since his arrest in December 2024. During the change of plea hearing, Lechuga admitted that between 2013 and 2019, he taught mariachi music classes at a school and gave private music lessons at his home in Phoenix, AZ. The victims were students who came to his home for private music lessons. More: justice.gov/usao-az/pr/for…

Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Center 16 cyber actors continue to exploit poorly configured and vulnerable networking devices worldwide, targeting devices across critical infrastructure sectors. These vulnerabilities can give hostile actors access to the systems that power essential services Americans rely on every day, including communications, energy, financial services, healthcare, and government operations. Today, the FBI, CISA, NSA, DC3, and international partners released a joint cybersecurity advisory providing network defenders with tactics, techniques, and procedures to more fully understand mitigation actions to counter the threat. The FBI will continue to work with our partners to expose this activity and hold actors accountable. Learn more: ic3.gov/CSA/2026/26071…

♦️*Seeking Victims* ♦️ Sells Man Pleads Guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child Mario JB Juan, 39 years old, of Sells, Arizona, pleaded guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child. Juan admitted that in 2015, he knowingly engaged in sexual contact with the victim, who was under the age of 12 at the time. Juan was employed at the Head Start Program in Sells at the time of the incident. If you or someone you know may have also been a victim of this defendant, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov. justice.gov/usao-az/pr/sel…

Michigan Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Role in Arizona-Based Drug Conspiracy after #HSTF Arizona-Tucson investigation. As part of the conspiracy, Mark Craythorn Thompson, 63, of Detroit, Michigan, picked up a package in Detroit that contained 997.3 grams of powdered fentanyl. The package had been shipped to Michigan from Arizona in the U.S. Mail. Putting a stop to the threat nationwide coordination across 52 states and territories. justice.gov/usao-az/pr/mic…

Following an investigation by the FBI Lake Havasu office and Colorado River Indian Tribe Police Department, Andre Anthony Miller, 33, of Parker, Ariz. was sentenced to 28 years in prison for second degree murder. On February 18, 2024, on the Colorado River Indian Tribes (“CRIT”) Reservation, Miller shot the victim, who was a former intimate partner, in front of the victim’s minor children. The victim sustained life-threatening injuries, including quadriplegia. Approximately eleven months later, the victim died from her injuries. More: justice.gov/usao-az/pr/par…

With summer vacations in full swing, the FBI urges individuals who have experienced any of the following incidents: 🛳️ Assault with serious bodily injury 🛳️ Kidnapping 🛳️ Sexual assault aboard a cruise ship, to report the matter to security staff immediately. After disembarking: Contact your local police and the FBI at 1‑800‑CALL‑FBI or online at ow.ly/CFxE50Zla00

Federal, state, and local law enforcement—working as one. #HSTF Tucson is making an impact and working hard to protect the American people. Last month, the HSTF in Tucson indicted and arrested Jorge Luis Castro-Mercado, 51, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, on multiple drug violations. The indictment alleges that Castro-Mercado was a principal leader of a drug trafficking enterprise that involved the importation and distribution of dangerous drugs into the United States from Mexico. Read more: justice.gov/usao-az/pr/mex…

#ICYMI California Man Pleads Guilty to Harassment in Connection with Ransom Demand In his plea, Derek Callella, 42, admitted that he called and sent text messages to a missing person’s family on Feb. 4, 2026, which asked about a bitcoin transfer. justice.gov/usao-az/pr/cal…

As we celebrate America 250, the #FBI reaffirms our commitment to upholding the Constitution and protecting the American people. We are proud to serve, and we wish you a safe and happy #IndependenceDay.

Statement on Guthrie Investigation

Fraud doesn't stop at borders—and neither does #YourFBI. Ghanaian National Extradited to U.S. Pleads Guilty in Romance and Inheritance Scheme Targeting the Elderly Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, also known as, “Dada Joe Remix,” a citizen of Ghana, admitted that he and his co-conspirators engaged in a romance and inheritance fraud scheme from 2013 through March 2023, targeting the elderly from Arizona and around the U.S. The FBI Phoenix Division’s Sierra Vista office conducted the investigation in this case. justice.gov/usao-az/pr/gha…

TUCSON, Ariz. - Last week, Joseph Kwadwo Badu Boateng, also known as, “Dada Joe Remix,” a citizen of Ghana, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. Boateng was arrested in Ghana and extradited to the U.S. in June 2025. In his plea, Boateng admitted that he and his co-conspirators engaged in a romance and inheritance fraud scheme from 2013 through March 2023, targeting elderly from AZ and around the U.S. @FBIPhoenix justice.gov/usao-az/pr/gha…

The FBI Phoenix Evidence Response Team (ERT) visited Muscular Dystrophy Associations (MDA) annual summer camp for their "Detective and Mystery" day. We showed the "detectives in training" how to properly collect prints and evidence.

Your online identity is a valuable asset and must be protected. Scammers actively seek to collect personal information. Review your sharing practices to ensure your security. Learn more: fbi.gov/how-we-can-hel…

Laser pointers are great for highlighting PowerPoint slides - not so much for pointing at aircraft - as one Buckeye, Arizona man has learned. justice.gov/usao-az/pr/buc…

Your FBI in Arizona has been hard at work putting those who harm our children behind bars. Following investigations in our Gallup and Flagstaff offices, two men were recently sentenced for sexual abuse. Read more on the cases here: justice.gov/usao-az/pr/nav… justice.gov/usao-az/pr/for…

Arizona Man Charged with Hate Crime for Defacement of Synagogue Yesterday, Kevin Charles Pyles, 33, of Glendale, AZ was indicted for the Intentional Defacement of Religious Real Property. The indictment alleges that Pyles defaced Sha’arei Shalom Congregation, a synagogue in Phoenix, on July 11, 2025. On that day, Pyles posted an antisemitic flyer on the synagogue’s front door. The FBI’s Phoenix Division and the Phoenix Police Department are handling the investigation. More: justice.gov/usao-az/pr/ari…

Israeli Citizen Sentenced for Conspiring to Steal Trade Secret Guy Galanti, 48, an Israeli citizen who resided in Scottsdale, AZ, worked as a senior level manager for Green Technology Investments (GTI). Over the course of several months, Galanti secretly sent photos of GTI’s Glass Detect Design, information, and software, to his co-conspirator in an effort to recreate GTI’s proprietary system. The FBI Phoenix Field Office investigated this case. Read more here: justice.gov/usao-az/pr/isr…

Today marks the 11th anniversary of the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, a multi-agency team dedicated to recovering American hostages abroad and supporting the families whose loved ones are being held captive. The FBI remains committed to working with our federal and international partners to return Americans being held captive home and bring their captors to justice.

Congratulations to the four local law enforcement professional who graduated from the FBI National Academy Session 298 last week! The FBI NA is a leadership training program for local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement partners from FBI instructors, their class peers, and more to bring back to their law enforcement agencies. #FBI #FBINA #NationalAcademy #298