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Category: Crime
January 20, 2026
Crime
News

Overdose Deaths Down by a Fifth Amid Trump’s Cartel Crackdown.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. fell by more than 20 percent last year, according to provisional data.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), President Donald J. Trump, former President Joe Biden, and law enforcement officials.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Data covering deaths through August 2025; significant drops occurred in states like Louisiana, Florida, and Vermont.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Securing the borders has a lot to do with the drop.” – Joseph Giacalone, retired police sergeant and criminal justice professor.

🎯IMPACT: Stronger border enforcement, military strikes on drug boats, and other measures have coincided with a significant decline in overdose deaths.

IN FULL

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that drug overdose deaths in the United States fell by more than 20 percent last year, according to provisional data covering fatalities through August 2025. The decline marks a sharp reversal after years of rising or stagnant overdose numbers nationwide. The data shows overdose deaths were increasing before President Donald J. Trump’s first term, leveled off during that administration, and then surged during former President Joe Biden’s tenure before beginning to fall late in his term, as President Trump was preparing to reclaim the White House.

Joseph Giacalone, a retired New York City Police Department (NYPD) sergeant and adjunct professor at Penn State Lehigh Valley, said the timing of the decline raises questions about policy expectations. “The fall begins at the end of the Biden administration, but the question is, was it in anticipation of a tough-on-crime president coming in?” he said.

Giacalone argued that border security has played a decisive role in reducing the flow of lethal drugs into the country. “Securing the borders has a lot to do with the drop. Less chance for drug dealers and their mules to bring drugs into the country,” he said. “Nothing made a bigger impact than shutting down the floodgates at the border.” He added that aggressive enforcement actions can discourage traffickers, saying, “Deterrence matters in criminal justice policy.”

Federal enforcement agencies have continued to report major drug interdictions. In one recent case, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized a massive shipment of methamphetamine hidden in a commercial load at the southern border. Other federal operations have dismantled open-air drug markets and led to criminal charges against dealers linked to fatal overdoses. The U.S. military has also begun conducting deadly strikes against drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea and the East Pacific.

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January 19, 2026
Crime
Immigration

Students Gang Raped, Sexually Assaulted in Migrant ‘Integration’ Experiment.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Students living alongside asylum seekers at Stek Oost in the Netherlands reported years of sexual assaults, violence, and harassment, according to an investigation.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Students, migrants, local authorities, and Stadgenoot, the housing association managing Stek Oost.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Stek Oost in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; attacks reported from its opening in 2018 to present.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “We were completely overwhelmed. We no longer wanted to be responsible for the safety of the complex.” – MariĂ«lle Foppen, Stadgenoot representative.

🎯IMPACT: Stek Oost is set to close by 2028, with reports of ongoing safety issues continuing to affect students and staff.

IN FULL

An investigation has found that Dutch students living at the Stek Oost housing complex in Amsterdam endured years of sexual assault, intimidation, and violence while sharing accommodation with migrants under a government-backed integration initiative. Stek Oost opened in 2018 with 125 students and 125 asylum seekers living side by side. The project promoted a “buddy” system intended to help migrants integrate into Dutch society.

Former residents told the investigative television program Zembla that instead of fostering safety and cooperation, the arrangement exposed students to repeated harassment, stalking, and violent and sexual crime.

One former resident, identified as Amanda, said she was raped in 2019 by a Syrian migrant after he invited her to his room to watch a movie. She reported the incident to police, but the case was dropped due to insufficient evidence. The same man was arrested in 2022 and later convicted of raping two residents of the complex. He received a short three-year prison sentence in 2024. Students also reported other violent incidents, including a case in which a man said he was threatened with an eight-inch kitchen knife by a migrant.

Residents said they repeatedly raised concerns with authorities but felt their complaints were not taken seriously. Police confirmed receiving seven reports of sexual assault connected to Stek Oost, though they claim they have no record of a reported gang rape mentioned by students interviewed for a documentary about the site.

Stadgenoot, the housing association managing the complex, sought to close Stek Oost as early as 2023, citing ongoing safety risks. Local authorities initially opposed shutting it down, but the project is now scheduled to end in 2028 when its contract expires. Stadgenoot representative Mariëlle Foppen described the strain on staff, saying, “We were completely overwhelmed. We no longer wanted to be responsible for the safety of the complex.”

The revelations have renewed debate over migrant integration failures, coming amid wider scrutiny of migrant-linked sexual violence across Europe. Recent criminal cases and official statistics in several European countries have highlighted the disproportionate involvement of recently arrived migrants in serious sexual offences. However, in some instances, populist politicians have faced penalties for publicly citing government crime data related to migrant rape statistics.

Image by cottonbro studio.

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January 18, 2026
Crime
News

Foreigners Responsible for Most Train Thefts, Huge Share of Violent and Sexual Crimes.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Data from the British Transport Police (BTP) revealed that foreign nationals accounted for 79 percent of all arrests for theft on British trains in 2025, and 40 percent of all railway arrests overall.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: British Transport Police, the Centre for Migration Control (CMC) think tank, and foreign nationals involved in various offenses.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Data pertains to arrests across England, Wales, and Scotland in 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “They have made our trains unsafe. It is the responsibility of any sane government to end immigration and begin a programme of mass deportations to protect the British people,” said Robert Bates, research director at CMC.

🎯IMPACT: The data has prompted calls for stricter immigration policies, with recommendations for immediate deportations of foreign nationals convicted of crimes.

IN FULL

Foreign nationals accounted for a large share of arrests on Britain’s rail network in 2025, according to figures released by the British Transport Police (BTP) following a Freedom of Information request from the Centre for Migration Control (CMC). The data shows that foreign nationals were responsible for 79 percent of all theft arrests on British trains and 40 percent of arrests overall across the railway system.

The CMC said the figures also point to disproportionate involvement by foreign nationals in other serious crimes on the rail network. According to the group’s analysis, foreign nationals made up 40 percent of arrests for drug-related offenses, 37 percent of arrests for sexual offenses, and 36 percent of arrests for violent crime. Overall, they accounted for 37.7 percent of all railway arrests. “We have imported a huge problem,” the CMC said in a post on X.

CMC research director Robert Bates blamed government immigration policy for the trend. “They have made our trains unsafe. It is the responsibility of any sane government to end immigration and begin a programme of mass deportations to protect the British people,” he said. The CMC has also called for the introduction of a visa “red list” barring entry from certain countries whose nations have high rates of criminality, similar to policies implemented by President Donald J. Trump, and for legal changes to ensure foreign nationals convicted of crimes are deported immediately.

The railway data aligns with broader crime statistics that have fueled debate over immigration and public safety. Recent analyses of conviction records indicate that migrants were significantly overrepresented in sexual offense convictions compared with Britons, with foreign nationals estimated to be around 70 percent more likely to be convicted of sex crimes during the early 2020s.

Concerns have also been raised about enforcement, with reports suggesting that staffing shortages and administrative pressures have led to some foreign criminals being wrongly released rather than removed from the country.

Similar patterns have been reported elsewhere in Western Europe. In France, foreigners were responsible for 64 percent of violent crimes on Paris public transport in 2024, with North Africans disproportionately represented. In Germany, foreigners accounted for 59 percent of sexual crimes committed on trains and at train stations in 2024.

Image by Andrew Abbott.

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January 16, 2026
Crime
Immigration

Feds Offer $15K for Capture of Illegal Who Rammed ICE Agents.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: An illegal immigrant allegedly rammed his car into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicles, injuring multiple agents during a traffic stop in Dallas, Texas, with federal officials offering a reward for information leading to his arrest.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Jerson Lopez-Sanchez, a 28-year-old Honduran national, ICE agents, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and federal authorities.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The incident occurred on December 1, 2025, in Dallas, Texas, with the indictment filed on January 14, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The ramming was so violent that it deployed all the airbags in the vehicle,” said Jay Combs, interim U.S. attorney for the district.

🎯IMPACT: Multiple ICE agents were injured, and the FBI is offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to Lopez-Sanchez’s arrest.

IN FULL

Federal authorities are searching for Jerson Lopez-Sanchez, a 28-year-old illegal migrant from Honduras, after he allegedly rammed his vehicle into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicles during a traffic stop in Dallas on December 1, 2025. The attack injured multiple agents, according to federal prosecutors. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to the arrest of Lopez-Sanchez, who remains at large.

Lopez-Sanchez reportedly attempted to flee when his Chevy Silverado was surrounded by three ICE vehicles. He reversed into a law enforcement Jeep, injuring an ICE agent who had one leg outside the vehicle. Prosecutors allege he then drove around the other law enforcement vehicles to escape.

According to the federal indictment, Lopez-Sanchez later rammed into a Chrysler van operated by ICE agents, injuring two more agents inside. Photos in the indictment reveal severe damage to the van, including a smashed front and smoke coming from the engine block. “The ramming was so violent that it deployed all the airbags in the vehicle,” said Jay Combs, interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas.

The chase continued for 10 minutes before the truck stopped on a median, and all five occupants fled on foot. While three were detained with the help of civilians, Lopez-Sanchez remains at large. He faces three counts of assaulting ICE agents and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

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January 16, 2026
Crime
News

Mexico Claims Successful Cartel Crackdown as Trump Threatens Intervention.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that efforts to combat cartels and migration are yielding “compelling results” amid U.S. pressure for tougher action and threats of military intervention on Mexican soil.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, President Donald J. Trump, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Mexican Foreign Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Statements were made during Sheinbaum’s press briefing on Friday, following a joint U.S.-Mexico call on Thursday and a phone conversation between Sheinbaum and Trump on Monday.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “There are very compelling results from the joint cooperation and the work that Mexico has been doing.” – Claudia Sheinbaum.

🎯IMPACT: The U.S. is working to address cartels and illegal immigration, but tensions with the Mexican government remain over sovereignty.

IN FULL

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum claimed her administration has made progress in combating organized crime and reducing northward illegal immigration during a press briefing on January 16, emphasizing cooperation with the United States. Her remarks come after President J. Donald Trump recently suggested taking direct action against Mexican cartels on Mexican soil, saying, “We’ve knocked out 97 percent of the drugs coming in by water. And we are going to start now hitting land, with regard to the cartels.”

Sheinbaum pointed to a reduction in homicides, decreased fentanyl seizures at the U.S. border, and a major methamphetamine seizure earlier in the week as evidence of progress. “There are very compelling results from the joint cooperation and the work that Mexico has been doing,” she said.

A joint statement issued Thursday night by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Mexican Foreign Secretary Juan RamĂłn de la Fuente emphasized the need for further efforts to address shared security threats. The statement followed a phone call between Sheinbaum and Trump, which the Mexican president described as “very good.” She said Mexico’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity were respected” and added, “We told him, so far it’s going very well, it’s not necessary, and furthermore, there is Mexico’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and he understood.”

Sheinbaum also called on the United States to address its domestic drug consumption crisis and curb the flow of firearms into Mexico from the U.S. “The other side also has to do its part. This consumption crisis they have over there also has to be addressed from a public health perspective, through education campaigns,” she said.

Mexico has one of the strictest gun control regimes in the world, but officials say most weapons seized at crime scenes come from the United States, often through illegal purchases and smuggling. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed Mexico’s lawsuit seeking damages from U.S. gun companies, ruling that it did not meet the legal standards required under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.

Tensions have also arisen over the U.S. designation of certain cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, which Mexico protested, warning that any action violating its territorial sovereignty would be unacceptable.

Image via Mexico City Government.

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January 16, 2026
Crime

D.C. Public Transit System Reports Lowest Crime Rate in 25 Years Amid Trump’s National Guard Deployment.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), which operates the Washington, D.C. area Metro subway and bus system, reported a significant drop in crime rates for 2025, reaching a 25-year low.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD), President Donald J. Trump, and National Guard troops.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The report was discussed at a board meeting on January 15, 2026, covering the year 2025.

🎯IMPACT: A crackdown on fare evasion and increased enforcement contributed to a safer Metro system, enabled in large part by President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), which operates the Washington, D.C. area Metro subway and bus system, has announced that 2025 marked the lowest crime rate in over two decades. According to data from the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD), the subway system—which serves D.C., Maryland, and Virginia—saw a 35 percent drop across the board in violent crime and theft last year.

Notably, the dramatic fall in criminality on the Metro system comes as President Donald J. Trump deployed several thousand National Guard troops to the nation’s capital in a major crackdown on crime. These soldiers have been instrumental in deterring crime in high-traffic areas—including Metro stations—allowing Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the MTPD to focus on crime prevention in areas that previously lacked policing.

At a Thursday meeting of WMATA’s board of directors, MTPD chief Michael Anzallo explained that in 2025, transit police refocused and dedicated new resources to bus policing—an area that had been an ongoing problem for the transit system. Overall, crime on Metrobuses fell 37 percent, while Metrorail saw a 34 percent decline, and crime in Metro parking facilities fell 40 percent.

The decline in criminality on D.C.’s rail and bus system coincides with an overall decline in crime in the city during 2025—again largely attributed to President Trump’s National Guard deployment and crime crackdown. While WMATA’s crime rate has fallen, arrests on the transit system increased by five percent—likely due to increased police presence—and infraction tickets rose by 34 percent as WMATA ramped up fare evasion enforcement.

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January 15, 2026
Crime
News

Minnesota Daycare Worker Admits to Killing Infant for ‘Attention.’

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: A former Minnesota daycare employee confessed to intentionally suffocating two children, one of whom died in September.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Former daycare employee Theah Loudemia Russell and her victims, including 11-month-old Harvey Muklebust.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The abuse occurred in September 2025 at Rocking Horse Ranch daycare in Savage, Minnesota.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Harvey was such a blessing to our family, and his death has left a tremendous hole in our hearts.” – Julie Muklebust

🎯IMPACT: Rocking Horse Ranch’s license was suspended, and Russell faces second-degree murder charges, with additional charges expected.

IN FULL

Theah Loudemia Russell, a former employee at a daycare in Savage, Minnesota, has admitted to “intentionally suffocating” two children under her care, one of whom—11-month-old Harvey Muklebust—died in September 2025. Savage Police Chief Brady Juell confirmed that Russell is currently in custody and faces a second-degree murder charge in connection with Harvey’s death, with more charges expected to be filed.

On September 22, 2025, Russell placed a 911 call from Rocking Horse Ranch daycare reporting that a child was not breathing. The infant, identified as Harvey Muklebust, was rushed to the hospital but was soon pronounced dead. At the time, Russell had been working at the facility for only about three weeks.

Investigators learned that three days earlier, police responded to the daycare after reports of a four-month-old baby found unresponsive with blood around their nose and mouth. The child had been involved in a similar incident hours prior, but the police had not been called on that occasion. Chief Juell said Russell’s actions and demeanor at the scene immediately drew suspicion, making her the focus of the investigation. Further probing revealed Russell’s prior pattern of “attention-seeking behavior”, which included making “nonsensical” 911 calls, displaying erratic conduct, and even starting fires.

In interviews with police, Russell confessed that she had suffocated both children “in an attention-seeking act.” Chief Juell stated that she “confessed to the attempted murder of our first victim on two occasions and to the murder of Harvey Muklebust.” Rocking Horse Ranch’s license was suspended on September 23, 2025

At a press conference, Harvey’s grandmother, Julie Muklebust, expressed the family’s profound loss, saying, “Harvey was such a blessing to our family, and his death has left a tremendous hole in our hearts.” A fundraiser opened by friends of the Muklebusts described him as “pure happiness and sunshine from the moment he was born,” who “filled everyone’s hearts with joy when he giggled.”

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January 15, 2026
Crime
Immigration

Outrage as Judge Reduces Charges of Migrant Who Impregnated 10-Year-Old.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: An Italian judge downgraded sexual assault charges against a 29-year-old migrant who impregnated a 10-year-old girl, sparking widespread outrage.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: A 29-year-old Bangladeshi migrant, a 10-year-old girl, and Italian politicians.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The abuse occurred in the summer of 2024 at the Hotel Il Cacciatore migrant centre in Collio, Lombardy, Italy.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “The mere five-year sentence handed down to a person responsible for the atrocious and unspeakable violence against a child leaves me stunned.” – Simona Bordonali, a lawmaker from the League (Lega) party that forms part of Italy’s ruling coalition.

🎯IMPACT: The reduced sentence has provoked anger among Italian politicians and citizens, questioning the proportionality of justice in cases involving minors.

IN FULL

A court ruling in Italy has ignited widespread backlash after a judge downgraded charges against a 29-year-old Bangladeshi migrant who impregnated a 10-year-old girl at a migrant reception center. The abuse took place in the summer of 2024 at the Hotel Il Cacciatore in Collio, Lombardy, a facility housing roughly 20 asylum seekers.

The child, originally from sub-Saharan Africa, was taken to hospital after her mother noticed troubling changes in her behavior and complained of abdominal pain. Medical tests revealed the girl was pregnant, and she later underwent an abortion.

Prosecutors initially charged the perpetrator with aggravated sexual assault against a minor. However, the judge reclassified the offense as sexual acts with a child, a lesser charge under Italian law, as he claimed to be in a relationship with the child. Combined with a fast-track trial procedure that automatically reduced the penalty by one-third, the decision resulted in a meager five-year prison sentence.

During proceedings, the migrant’s lawyers argued there was no violence, a position that played a role in the court’s dubious decision to downgrade the charges. The court’s formal reasoning is expected to be filed within 90 days.

The ruling has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from the League (Lega) party, which is a junior partner of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy (FdI) party in Italty’s ruling coalition. League lawmaker Simona Bordonali said, “The mere five-year sentence handed down to a person responsible for the atrocious and unspeakable violence against a child leaves me stunned.” She called for changes to sentencing laws to ensure punishments reflect the gravity of crimes against minors.

League leader Matteo Salvini also condemned the decision, calling it “appalling” and “unacceptable.”

The case has reignited Italy’s broader debate over migration, crime, and public safety. Prime Minister Meloni has repeatedly argued that failures in border enforcement can have serious social consequences. However, while her government has reported sharp declines in illegal arrivals following an initial increase early in her term, it has also expanded legal migration channels to address supposed labor shortages, drawing criticism from immigration skeptics.

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January 14, 2026
Crime
Economy
Immigration

Mass Deportations Have Made Homes More Affordable, Boosted Wages, and Cut Crime.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: President Trump’s administration achieved significant reductions in crime, improved housing affordability, and boosted wages for American workers through strict immigration enforcement and mass deportations.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, American workers, law enforcement, and local jurisdictions impacted by immigration policies.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Throughout 2025, with notable impacts in cities such as Washington, D.C., Chicago, Memphis, and New Orleans.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Under President Trump, the America First promise is a reality. While Democrats fight to sabotage these gains and drag us back to the chaos of open borders, skyrocketing costs, and rampant crime, President Trump remains unwavering in his commitment to delivering the security, prosperity, and safety the American people deserve.” – White House statement

🎯IMPACT: Reduced crime rates, increased wages for blue-collar workers, improved housing affordability, and improved safety in America’s cities.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump’s focus on border security and immigration enforcement has produced tangible benefits for Americans in his first year back in office. Large-scale deportations are contributing to falling home prices in 14 of the top 20 metropolitan areas that have significant populations of illegal immigrants by reducing pressure on housing, showing year-over-year declines in December. Notably, three areas that experienced slight price increases were all sanctuary cities.

Blue-collar wages have also increased at the fastest pace in decades, with truck drivers and construction workers, whose sectors have been heavily infiltrated by sometimes dangerously unqualified illegal immigrants, among those seeing substantial pay raises. Real wages for American workers are projected to have risen by 4.2 percent overall during President Trump’s first full year back in office.

Between January and December 2025, employment increased by two million native-born Americans, while 662,000 foreign-born workers experienced job losses, indicating that the administration’s policies are rebalancing the economy away from cheap foreign labor.

The near-halt to illegal immigration and increase in deportations, particularly in America’s interior, has also been accompanied by the country’s largest-ever single-year decline in murders last year, along with reductions in rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, shooting deaths, traffic fatalities, and overdose fatalities—with the last of these likely to have been further influenced by the administration’s aggressive military action against drug traffickers in Latin America.

In Washington, D.C., murders fell by 60 percent, carjackings decreased by 68 percent, and overall crime dropped by nearly a third, according to the White House. Chicago, subject to the administration’s Operation Midway Blitz against illegal immigrants, posted its lowest number of murders since 1965, while Memphis had fewer than 200 murders for the first time since 2019, and New Orleans achieved its lowest homicide rate in nearly 50 years.

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January 14, 2026
Corruption
Crime

Transgender Migrant Activist Sentenced to Prison, Must Repay $956K in Fraud Case.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: The founder of a nonprofit that provided LGBTQ+ services in Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 33 months in prison for diverting federal COVID-19 relief funds.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ruby Corado, also known as Vladimir Orlando Artiga Corado, a transgender activist and founder of Casa Ruby, along with U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Sentenced on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., following a guilty plea on July 17, 2024.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Instead of using the funds as promised, Corado stole over $950,000, transferred at least $150,000 to bank accounts in El Salvador, and hid it from the IRS,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.

🎯IMPACT: Corado was ordered to pay $956,215 in restitution to the Small Business Administration, with the nonprofit shutting down in 2022 amid allegations of financial mismanagement.

IN FULL

The founder of Casa Ruby, a now-defunct LGBTQ+ nonprofit in Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 33 months in prison and ordered to pay $956,215 in restitution for the fraudulent use of federal COVID-19 relief funds. Ruby Corado, also known as Vladimir Orlando Artiga Corado, pleaded guilty to wire fraud on July 17, 2024.

U.S. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden noted during the sentencing that Corado “found an opportunity to defraud U.S. Americans” instead of assisting them. Corado was also sentenced to two years of supervised release following imprisonment, unless deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Corado received over $1.3 million from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program for Casa Ruby. However, as U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro stated, “Instead of using the funds as promised, Corado stole over $950,000, transferred at least $150,000 to bank accounts in El Salvador, and hid it from the IRS.”

During the hearing, Corado claimed he was remorseful, saying, “I never intended to become a fugitive. I want to tell you how sorry I am.” Casa Ruby, which opened in 2012 and provided shelter and services to LGBTQ-identifying minors, expanded significantly over the years but closed in 2022 following allegations of fraud and financial mismanagement.

In 2022, Corado sold his Maryland home and fled to El Salvador after financial irregularities surfaced. He was arrested by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents on March 5, 2024, at a hotel in Laurel, Maryland, after returning to the U.S. unexpectedly. The stolen funds are to be repaid to the Small Business Administration (SBA).

The National Pulse reported last week that Corado, while admitting to the fraud, had asked to be spared prison time and deportation due to being transgender.

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