The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia released a recap covering enforcement actions and case developments from December 19 through January 23, highlighting a range of prosecutions tied to violent crime, fraud, cybercrime, and public safety. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro delivered the update, framing it as part of ongoing efforts to reduce crime and hold offenders accountable in Washington, D.C.
Pirro opened by citing recent crime statistics for the District, attributing improvements to federal leadership and local law enforcement efforts. According to her remarks, violent gun crime reached its lowest level since the city began tracking such data nearly two decades ago. She said robberies involving firearms were down 54 percent, gun homicides had declined by 30 percent, and overall violent crime was at a 30-year low. She also stated that the city recorded its fewest homicides in 17 years. These figures were presented as context for the cases her office pursued during the reporting period.
Among the most prominent cases was the charging of Armando Gómez Núñez, whom Pirro described as a high-ranking member of a Mexican cartel. Núñez was charged in Washington, D.C., with multiple drug trafficking and firearms offenses. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he is alleged to have led an enforcement arm of a cartel known for violence and was among a group of Mexican nationals expelled from Mexico and transferred to U.S. custody earlier in January. Pirro said the case reflects a broader effort to pursue transnational criminal organizations through U.S. courts.
Another case involved Felipe Contreras Varela, a Mexican national previously deported three times. Pirro said Contreras was charged with unlawful reentry after being arrested outside a hotel in Northwest D.C., where he allegedly arranged to meet a 14-year-old boy for sex. The charges include immigration violations and alleged sexual offenses involving a minor.
The update also covered financial crime. Joseph Farinoli, a 61-year-old from Rochester, New York, pleaded guilty to his role in a multi-year fraud scheme involving approximately $250 million. Farinoli was one of five former principals of Theia Group, a now-defunct aerospace startup based in Washington. According to prosecutors, the company sought funding for an ambitious satellite project but ultimately raised money through loans and investments that were allegedly obtained by fraudulent means. Farinoli is the first defendant in the case to enter a guilty plea.
Violent crime cases were also highlighted. Maurice Felder, 54, was sentenced to 54 months in prison for stabbing a tourist visiting Washington in November 2024. Prosecutors said the victim was attacked after intervening in an argument, suffering a stab wound near the heart. The sentencing marked the conclusion of that case.
In addition, the office announced a guilty plea from Nicholas Moore, a 24-year-old from Tennessee, who admitted to repeatedly hacking into restricted computer systems, including those of the U.S. Supreme Court, AmeriCorps, and the Veterans Affairs health system. According to court records, Moore accessed confidential information using stolen credentials and posted screenshots online, where he publicly boasted about the intrusions.
Pirro concluded the update by emphasizing that her office operates continuously to address a wide range of criminal activity, from street-level violence to complex cyber and financial crimes. The wrap-up was presented as a snapshot of recent prosecutions intended to illustrate the scope of cases handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its role in public safety efforts across the District and beyond.
Source: USAO District of Columbia YouTube, “USAO-DC Wrap up – December 19 – January 23”
