Eastern District of Texas

TYLER, Texas – An Upshur County woman has been sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Tamarisk Trejo Mathews, 52, of Big Sandy, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle on October 16, 2024.  Mathews was also ordered to pay $334,252.00 in restitution.

According to information presented in court, Mathews was responsible for accounting duties of a restaurant and music venue in Wood County, Texas.  She worked in accounts receivable, accounts payable, and had access to the financial accounts of the business.  Mathews also had authority to issue invoices to customers and issue checks and other payments to creditors.  Beginning in about December 2018, Mathews devised and began executing a scheme to wrongfully obtain money, funds, and assets under the custody and control of the restaurant.  Among other things, she wrote checks that she was not authorized to write for personal expenditures, made charges in the business’s name from vendors such as Amazon, and used business funds to make purchases through PayPal.  Mathews also opened an American Express account in the name of the business and obtained an American Express credit card. She then used the card and account to make personal purchases and expenditures and paid American Express for those purchases and expenditures using business funds and the business bank account.  The scheme resulted in a loss to the business of $334,252.00.

This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson.

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TYLER, Texas – A Terrell man has been sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Toronto Henderson, 49, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to aid, assist, counsel or advise in tax fraud and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle on October 16, 2024.  Henderson was also ordered to pay $373,230.00 in restitution.

According to information presented in court, Henderson was an owner of two tax return preparer businesses.  Henderson recruited tax preparers to work at the businesses to prepare and file income tax returns for clients. Henderson, or others at his instruction, personally trained the preparers. As part of the training, preparers were instructed on how to complete tax returns for clients. Henderson and others created a scheme to defraud the United States by instructing the tax preparers to create, among other things, fraudulent Schedule Cs on personal income tax returns. The Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business, is designed to permit a taxpayer to report income received and expenses incurred from operating a business. At Henderson’s instruction, and the instruction of others known to Henderson, preparers used taxpayer information unrelated to operation of any business or created fictitious and false information with respect to operation of a business, so that the taxpayer could claim business losses to which the taxpayer was not entitled. This scheme permitted the taxpayer to receive a refund to which the taxpayer was not entitled. The tax returns, including the fraudulent Schedule Cs, were filed by Henderson or employees working at his instruction.   The tax preparation businesses were paid a fee by the clients for preparing and filing the returns.  The offense resulted in a total tax loss of $373,230.00.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A federal inmate has been sentenced to an additional 21 years in federal prison for committing child exploitation violations while incarcerated in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. 

Jonathan Lee Edwards, 42, of Houston, pleaded guilty to distributing child pornography and was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on October 15, 2024.  Edwards was ordered to begin serving his sentence following the completion of his current federal sentence of 23 years.

According to information presented in court, in December 2021, federal agents received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding images of possible child pornography being uploaded to an online email account.  Further investigation linked the accounts to Edwards, who was currently serving a 23-year sentence in the Bureau of Prisons’ Federal Correctional Complex in Beaumont for possession of child pornography.  During the investigation, Edwards used a cellular phone to send five videos containing child pornography to a person he believed to be a minor. The cellular phone was seized by correctional officers.  Based on the evidence, Edwards is responsible for possessing 477 images of child pornography while in federal custody.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in Houston; Palm Beach, Florida; and Beaumont.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – Two men who robbed a Beaumont convenience store and killed the clerk last December have pleaded guilty to federal firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Larry Nathaniel Hagan, 27, of Houston, pleaded guilty to possessing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death before U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone on October 2, 2024.  Keandre Marquis Robinson, 20, of Beaumont, pleaded guilty to the same offense before Judge Crone on October 1, 2024.  

According to information presented in court, on December 29, 2023, Robinson and Hagan were wearing masks and brandishing semi-automatic pistols when they entered the Kris Food Mart located on Gulf Street in Beaumont.  Robinson quickly forced the clerk behind the counter and demanded cash while Hagan guarded the front door.  Seconds later, Robinson shot the clerk two times in the chest, killing him.  Robinson grabbed cigarettes from behind the counter and fled with Hagan.  No cash was taken.

Later that night, the Beaumont Police Department posted images from the robbery to social media and a tip identified Robinson.  Police detained Robinson about three hours after the robbery as he was leaving his residence just a few blocks from the store.  Robinson later confessed to his role in the robbery and killing but would not identify Hagan.

Detectives searched Robinson’s phone and discovered text messages with Hagan related to the robbery.  The texts began on December 28 at 10:15 a.m. and ended a few minutes after the robbery. During the conversation, Robinson and Hagan planned to rob the store to “[g]et some money.” In one text, Robinson told Hagan that he would “knock [the clerk’s] top” [to eliminate any] “lose [sic] ends…”.  The conversation ended on December 29 at 10:07 p.m. (approximately 4 minutes after the shooting).  In that text, Hagan told Robinson to “[s]tay in the house for some days”. 

Robinson was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 7, 2024.  Hagan, who was at large until April 24, 2024, when he was arrested in New Orleans by the U.S. Marshals Service, was added to the indictment by the federal grand jury on May 1, 2024. 

Robinson and Hagan each face up to life in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the Beaumont Police Department, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A Nederland man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Tarrell Donald Nowlin, 53, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on October 1, 2024.

According to court documents, on January 16, 2024, law enforcement officers responded to a call regarding an armed robbery at the Speedway Gas Station located on Eastex Freeway in Beaumont.  The store clerk reported the assailant pulled into the parking lot and parked near one of the gas pumps.  The driver then entered the business and pointed a revolver at the clerk and demanded money. The clerk opened the cash register, and the assailant took approximately $550 cash and left the store.  Law enforcement reviewed video footage from the gas station and local surrounding businesses and were able to identify Nowlin as the assailant.  Further investigation revealed Nowlin was a career offender with three prior robbery convictions.  Nowlin was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 3, 2024.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the FBI, Beaumont Police Department and Nederland Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Quinn.

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TYLER, Texas – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has approved an initial set of 78 communities across 47 states, territories, and the District of Columbia for designation under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022. 

The Justice Department - through its United States Attorney’s offices (USAOs) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Field Divisions - will partner with each designated jurisdiction to develop a plan to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and to prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders prohibited under 18 U.S. Code Section 922(g) from owning firearms.  In the Eastern District of Texas, Gregg County has received designation.

“Domestic violence is a significant problem in our nation and presents a special challenge to prosecutors,” said Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.  “The causes of domestic violence are numerous and varied and require a concerted national and local effort if there is going to be success at tackling this problem.  Addressing domestic and sexual violence must be a linchpin in the attack on violent crime.  As such, we are proud to announce that in Gregg County we will prioritize firearms prosecutions of domestic violence offenders to aid our state and local partners, who do the heavy lifting in this important fight.”      

“One of ATF-Dallas Field Division’s top priorities has been, and will continue to be, to reduce domestic violence, especially those incidents in which firearms are used,” said ATF Dallas Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C Boshek II.  “All people, no matter their gender, race, creed, or color, deserve to have relationships free from domestic violence– a heinous crime that terrorizes families, shatters homes, and destroys lives. Let it serve as a notice- through our partnerships with the Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney’s Office, and state and local law enforcement agencies, ATF will remain steadfast in its pursuit of domestic abusers in possession of firearms illegally.”

Communities have been designated in close coordination with community stakeholders. They include rural areas, suburban areas, urban areas, and Tribal communities. The Justice Department used data to identify communities that could benefit from increased focus on intimate partner violence resources and where the local jurisdiction is committed to partnering with the Department to increase the use of federal tools to prosecute offenders under 18 U.S.C. 922(g). The designation represents the partnership and coordination between the department and the local jurisdiction to ensure federal resources are being leveraged effectively to address intimate partner firearm violence.

The Justice Department anticipates additional jurisdictions to be designated as USAOs continue coordination with their local stakeholders.  All USAOs, with or without specific community designations under Section 1103, will continue to combat intimate partner firearm violence and prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders as part of their Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy and in support of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime.  

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay over $1 million in restitution for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. 

Michael James White, 35, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on September 17, 2024.  White was also ordered to pay $1,179,216.92 in restitution. 

According to information presented in court, White was the owner and operator of Gold Pro, LLC, a business in Vidor, Texas that bought and sold precious metals like gold and silver.  The company marketed their products as “financial security for future financial uncertainty.” Gold Pro operated by promising potential buyers from across the United States a certain number of precious metals, then obtaining payment from customers through the wire transfer of funds from the buyer’s bank account to Gold Pro’s bank account.  White communicated by email, telephone, or computer chat with potential buyers about the amount of precious metals the buyer would buy and agreed on a price for the precious metals and their delivery. Beginning in 2021, in multiple instances after receiving payment, White did not deliver the precious metals to the buyer, delivered a product of lesser value, or delivered fake precious metals. For approximately three years, beginning in 2020, White defrauded numerous victims throughout the United States, resulting in a loss of more than $1 million.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reynaldo P. Morin.

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PLANO, Texas – A Dallas man has been charged with a federal drug trafficking violation related to the death of two women in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. 

Durran Allistair Walker, 46, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on August 15, 2024, in the Eastern District of Texas. The indictment charges Walker with the distribution of nitazene, a synthetic opioid, resulting in death. Walker made his initial appearance on September 16, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bill Davis.

According to the indictment, in January of 2024, Walker is alleged to have sold pills to two young women from The Colony, Texas, who overdosed and died from the drugs. Nitazenes are a new type of synthetic opioid which can be up to 40 times stronger than fentanyl. These deaths are the first known nitazene overdoses in this area.  A search of Walker’s residence at the time of his arrest led to the seizure of additional pills.

If convicted, Walker faces up to life in federal prison.

This case is being investigated by the The Colony Police Department; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley Brooks.

A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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TEXARKANA, Texas – A Texarkana federal inmate has been sentenced to an additional 87 months for trafficking drugs inside the prison, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Verlan Perez, Jr., 36, of Dallas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and buprenorphine and was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III, on September 11, 2024.

According to information presented in court, in March 2021, mail staff at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Texarkana, Texas, intercepted two incoming packages addressed to federal inmate, Verlan Perez, Jr.  The packages contained buprenorphine, a controlled substance.  Further investigation revealed Perez was conspiring with Rosa Solano-Olivares, to have her deliver methamphetamine into the prison, which he would then distribute to others inside the prison. On October 30, 2021, Solano-Olivares entered the FCI Texarkana to visit Perez. After she entered and exited the women’s restroom in the visitation area, prison staff conducted a search of the restroom and located a package of methamphetamine rolled in black electrical tape, a baggie of marijuana, and rolling papers. Perez was responsible for distributing 43 grams of methamphetamine in FCI Texarkana.

Perez was ordered to serve this sentence consecutively to his current federal sentence of 157 months for drug trafficking imposed on January 30, 2019, in the Northern District of Texas.  On July 16, 2024, Rosa Solano-Olivares, 41, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for her role in the offense.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Prisons-FCI Texarkana; Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Lab; and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Crime Lab.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allen Hurst and Lauren Richards.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – An Orange convicted felon has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Terryence John Nelson, 40, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on September 12, 2024.

According to information presented in court, on October 29, 2023, law enforcement officers were dispatched to the Orange Boat Ramp in reference to a large disturbance with shots fired. Upon arrival, officers could see a large crowd with numerous vehicles in the boat ramp parking lot. As officers approached the scene, they heard several gunshots and observed muzzle flashes.  Witnesses identified a dark green Lincoln Continental town car and told police that some of the occupants were involved in the shooting. Police identified the driver of the car as Nelson. Further investigation revealed Nelson had an active warrant for his arrest and he was detained.  During the arrest, Nelson was found to have a semi-automatic pistol in his pants pocket.  The firearm had previously been reported stolen out of Orange County, Texas, and it had an extended magazine loaded with approximately 19 rounds of ammunition.

Nelson admitted to officers that he carried the firearm everywhere he went for protection. He told officers that he knew it was wrong because he was a convicted felon.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the Orange Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Quinn.

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TYLER, Texas – A Longview man who sold fake prescription pills containing fentanyl has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, announced Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Don Paul Rickman, 39, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death and was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on September 12, 2024.

According to information presented in court, Rickman admitted to selling the victim what were purported to be prescription pills, after which the victim’ mother found him dead in his bedroom. The pills sold by Rickman were later determined to be laced with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid commonly used as an analgesic or anesthetic that is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.  An autopsy of the victim confirmed the cause of death to be a fentanyl overdose.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a public safety alert warning Americans of the alarming increase in the lethality and availability of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine.  The public safety alert coincides with the launch of DEA’s One Pill Can Kill public awareness campaign to educate the public of the dangers of counterfeit pills and urges all Americans to take only medications prescribed by a medical professional and dispensed by a licensed pharmacist.  The campaign aims to raise public awareness of a significant nationwide surge in fake pills that are mass-produced by criminal drug networks in labs, deceptively marketed as legitimate prescription pills, and are killing unsuspecting Americans at an unprecedented rate. For more information, please visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill.

This case was investigated by the DEA; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Longview Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek. 

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TYLER, Texas – An El Salvadorian man has been sentenced to federal prison for immigration violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Robert Daniel Argueta-Lopez, 51, pleaded guilty to being illegally in the United States and was sentenced to 140 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on September 12, 2024.

According to information presented in court, on July 9, 2022, local law enforcement stopped a car being driven by Argueta in Van Zandt County, Texas, and he was arrested on state charges. After being booked into the Van Zandt County Jail, federal law enforcement found Argueta in the Eastern District of Texas and determined that he was without lawful immigration status in the United States. The investigation determined that Argueta was a citizen and national of El Salvador and had previously been deported or removed from the United States on December 13, 2007, April 25, 2012, and on July 30, 2021. Argueta’s first removal followed a state conviction for first-degree murder in Tarrant County, Texas in 1994. His second removal followed a federal conviction for illegal reentry after deportation in the Northern District of Texas in 2008. And his third removal followed a federal conviction for assault on a federal officer in the Southern District of Texas in 2013.

This case was investigated by DHS Immigration Customs Enforcement-Enforcement Removal Operations; Homeland Security Investigations; the Wills Point Police Department; and the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen Hurst.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been sentenced to federal prison for animal cruelty violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today.

Donaldvan Williams, 30, pleaded guilty to animal crushing and aiding and abetting and was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on September 10, 2024.

Animal crushing is defined under federal criminal law as, “actual conduct in which one or more living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians, is purposely crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled, or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury.”

According to information presented in court, on October 15, 2021, Williams and Decorius Mire encountered a live domestic cat in the parking lot of a Beaumont apartment complex. Williams, encouraged by Mire, kicked the cat as if kicking a football field goal, propelling the cat approximately 15 to 20 feet through the air.  Williams was aware that Mire filmed the event with his cellular telephone and posted the video on his social media accounts where it was commented on and shared with others.

Williams and Mire were prosecuted under the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act.  Signed into law in November 2019, the PACT Act bans the intentional crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, impalement or other serious harm to “living non-human mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians.”  The law also bans “animal crush videos,” meaning any photograph, motion picture film, video or digital recording or electronic image that depicts animal cruelty.

Mire was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison in July 2023.

This case was investigated by the Beaumont Police Department and the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Batte and Department of Justice and Environmental and Natural Resource Division Trial Attorney Ethan Eddy.

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SHERMAN, Texas – Two north Texas men have been sentenced to federal prison for child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.   

Justin Mark Jones, 35, of Dallas pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant on August 27, 2024.

According to information presented in court, between October 2022 and May 2023, Jones was communicating online with an individual he believed to be a 13-year-old minor.  Jones contacted the purported child on a social media application, asking for a photograph and whether they “could have a little naughty chat.”  Over the ensuing months, Jones and the purported child communicated on multiple social media platforms, during which Jones repeatedly raised sexually explicit topics of conversation.  For example, Jones initiated discussions about the use of sexual toys, the purported child’s sexual experience, and the types of sex acts the two could perform on and with one another.  On May 17, 2023, Jones traveled to a location in Plano, to meet the child and to engage in illegal sex.  Jones arrived with a backpack containing sexual objects and condoms. 

This case was investigated by the Plano Police Department and the FBI-Dallas Crimes Against Children Human Trafficking Task Force.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Miller.

Eric Victor Henry Blood, 44, of Carrollton, was convicted at trial of three counts of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.  He was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant on August 27, 2024.

According to information presented in court, Blood came to the attention of law enforcement when an Internet-based communications, storage, and email platform reported his email address had been used to upload images and videos of child pornography onto the company’s platform on multiple occasions.  Homeland Security Investigations special agents served a federal search warrant at Blood’s Carrollton residence in May 2022, during which Blood admitted to using that account.  Agents located child pornography files on multiple electronic devices he owned and possessed, including depictions of prepubescent minors and the violent sexual abuse of minors. 

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa Miller and Lesley Brooks.

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PLANO, Texas – A Carrollton man has been charged with federal violations related to a COVID-19 fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. 

Faruk Syed, 44, was named in the two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on August 15, 2024, in the Eastern District of Texas.  The indictment charges Syed with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.  Syed made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kimberly C. Priest Johnson.   

According to information presented in court, Syed was employed by the U.S. Small Business Administration as a loan specialist and was responsible for reviewing and approving applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.  Syed allegedly conspired to submit multiple fraudulent applications for EIDL loans requesting hundreds of thousands of dollars of CARES Act funds.  As an SBA loan specialist, Syed approved these fraudulent loan applications in his official capacity. He then received the loan proceeds and laundered the money through his Fidelity Investment account.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

If convicted, Syed faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

This case is being investigated by the SBA-OIG and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean J. Taylor.

A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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TEXARKANA, Texas – A Texarkana woman who sold multiple fake oxycontin pills containing fentanyl has been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison, announced Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Nickie Jo Mattison, also known as Nickie Hall, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 204 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder III, on August 21, 2024.

According to information presented in court, between September 2021 and August 2022, Mattison conspired with at least three others, to distribute fentanyl.  Mattison and her co-conspirators distributed thousands of blue pills stamped to mimic 30mg oxycontin pills, known on the streets as “M-30s.”  however, the pills were counterfeits that contained fentanyl.  As a result, three people died and one person was seriously injured after using the drugs.  Mattison sold the pills that killed one of the overdose victims.

Courtney Lewis was sentenced to 120 months and Darrell “Monty” Trotter was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for their roles in the conspiracy.  Christopher “Candyman” Candelaria and Kolton Saulsbury have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. 

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case was investigated by the Texarkana Texas Police Department, the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Locker and Jonathan Hornok.

PLANO, Texas – A San Marcos man has been sentenced to Life in federal prison for child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.   

Christopher Scott Little, 48, pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of minors and was sentenced to Life in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on August 19, 2024.

According to information presented in court, in the summer of 2021, a child living in North Texas reported being extorted by individuals online.  The Texas Rangers and FBI began investigating and discovered that Little had been targeting the child in North Texas from his residence in San Marcos.  At the time of his arrest, Little was found to be communicating with hundreds of individuals on social media applications, most of whom appeared to be minors.  In each conversation, Little used the same strategy – identifying himself as a young girl named “Amber,” who was deaf and mute, and thus unable to engage in videochatting.  Amber would then coerce and entice the children into taking pictures of their nude bodies and recording videos of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  Amber also introduced the children to her cousin, “Brandon,” also actually Little, and encouraged the children to sexually submit to Brandon in order to please Amber.  If the children refused to comply, Amber and Brandon threatened them with harm, including threatening to kill the children and their families.  To date, 10 children have been identified as Little’s victims.  Little has been convicted of multiple offenses against children, stretching back almost 20 years.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Miller.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A Lufkin man has been sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

John Richard Burch, Jr., 40, was found guilty by a jury on August 16, 2023, of four counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and intent to distribute on a premises where children are present.  Burch was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on August 8, 2024. 

According to information presented in court, in early 2022, law enforcement conducted an investigation into methamphetamine sales occurring at Burch’s Lufkin residence.  During the execution of a search warrant, investigators seized a large amount of methamphetamine, marijuana, multiple digital scales used to weigh narcotics, small plastic baggies used to package methamphetamine, a methamphetamine bong, and a total of nine firearms.  The firearms included a semi-automatic rifle and a gun reported stolen in Livingston as well as a fully loaded thirty round magazine.  Small children, who resided at the residence, where present during the search.

Further investigation revealed Burch has a previous felony conviction for theft and a conviction for assault family violence and as a convicted felon, is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Donald S. Carter and Lauren Gaston.

BEAUMONT, Texas – A Timpson man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Austin Yarbrough, 31, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on August 7, 2024. 

According to information presented in court, from 2021 through 2023, law enforcement conducted an investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating throughout East Texas. Yarbrough was identified as a member of that organization and a distributor of methamphetamine, as well as a firearms trafficker.  As a member of the organization, Yarbrough would receive methamphetamine transported by his co-conspirators and then distribute the methamphetamine in the Timpson area.  On multiple occasions, law enforcement conducted operations leading to the purchase of methamphetamine and firearms from Yarbrough, including a modified .45 caliber rifle with a shortened barrel and an adjustable stock.

Further investigation revealed Yarbrough has previous felony convictions, including possession of a controlled substance, burglary of a building, and bail jumping.  As a convicted felon, Yarbrough is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Angelina County Sheriff's Office; Drug Enforcement Administration; and FBI.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter.

MARSHALL, Texas – A Marshall man has been arrested and charged in connection with federal firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. 

Cameron Deshun Payton, 22 was named in a three-count indictment in the Eastern District of Texas in June 2024, charging him with possession of a machine gun, possession of an unregistered firearm, and felon in possession of a firearm.  Payton appeared in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Roy Payne in late July 2024, and was ordered to be detained until trial. 

“In June, I announced Operation Texas Kill Switch, a statewide initiative targeting illegal machinegun conversion devices, commonly known as switches,” stated U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.  “As promised, my office and our law enforcement partners will find these devices and take them off of the streets.”

“Mr. Payton is now about to face the music as it relates to the illegal possession of machine gun conversion devices. Several months ago, ATF and our four Texas United States Attorney partners announced Operation Texas Kill Switch to combat the scary proliferation of these dangerous devices.  These are not toys and will not by treated as such by law enforcement.  I’d like to thank all of our partners, especially those in this case, for their diligence in the fight against violent firearms crime.  Mr. Payton now knows these partnerships are real and are here to stay,” stated ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II.

“Mr. Payton’s arrest marks a significant step in addressing the rampant violent crimes within our community.  His involvement in multiple car chases, deadly conduct with firearms, and the pending charge of sexual assault of a child highlights the urgency and importance of our collaborative efforts.  I commend the relentless dedication of the Joint Harrison County Violent Crime & Narcotics Task Force, our officers in Marshall, the ATF, and the FBI.  Together, we are demonstrating our unwavering commitment to justice and the safety of our citizens,” stated Marshall Police Department Chief Cliff Carruth.

According to information presented in court, on April 16, 2024, law enforcement arrived at Payton’s Marshall residence to serve outstanding felony warrants for sexual assault of a child and evading arrest or detention with a motor vehicle.   At the time of his arrest, law enforcement found photographs of Payton with a pistol with an alleged machinegun conversion device, also referred to as a switch, installed.  The weapon was located in Payton’s residence at the time of his arrest.

At only about an inch long, switches may be made of metal or plastic and can be manufactured using a 3D printer.  They generally slot into the butt of a gun and allow the shooter to fire in “full auto.”  Switches have been used in numerous fatal shootings, and law enforcement are finding them at a dramatically increasing rate in recent months.

If convicted, Payton faces up to 15 years in federal prison.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive strategies to address them.   Among these strategies is ‘Operation Texas Kill Switch.’  Operation Texas Kill Switch is aimed at raising awareness of illegal machine gun conversion devices, which pose a serious threat to East Texas communities and law enforcement. 

From now until Aug. 31, local Crime Stoppers programs will offer cash rewards for information leading to the apprehension or prosecution of those who possess switches or 3D printers being used to manufacture them. To be eligible for cash rewards, tipsters must provide information to their local Crime Stoppers program. Tipsters may also use **TIPS to be connected to a Crime Stoppers program in their area. Tips can be submitted 24 hours a day, and anonymity is guaranteed by law. Information may also be submitted directly to ATF at www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips.

This case is being investigated by the Marshall Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Texas Department of Public Safety and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Farahnak.

A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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PLANO, Texas – The former Argyle Fire Chief has been sentenced for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. 

Troy Mac Hohenberger, 65, pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges related to misuse and theft of funds from the Argyle Fire District, Inc. operating account, along with making false statements to the Department of Labor and was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III on August 1, 2024.  He was also ordered to pay $509,807.50 in restitution to the Argyle Fire District, Inc., and to forfeit $28,048.34. 

According to information presented in court, Hohenberger stole money from the operating account of the Argyle Fire District, Inc., (which received federal funds in the form of Medicare reimbursements) and used over $490,000 of those funds to pay personal credit card bills.  Those personal credit card expenses included cash advances at casinos, payments related to a family member’s business in Hawaii, and other personal uses.  The evidence also showed that Hohenberger failed to fund firefighter retirement accounts in the time required by federal regulations, embezzled or stole the funds, and made false statements related to the ERISA-qualified firefighter retirement plan on a form submitted to the Department of Labor.  Hohenberger was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2022.

“Today’s sentence sends a message that my office takes seriously crimes related to the misuse, theft, and embezzlement of retirement- and pension-plan assets, particularly when such offenses are committed by fiduciaries, like the defendant, who are charged with protecting the assets of employee benefit plans,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.  “Because the defendant chose personal gain over his fiduciary responsibilities, he will now spend significant time in prison.  We appreciate the diligence and partnership of the FBI and the Department of Labor in investigating these offenses and bringing the evidence of these crimes to light.”

“Financial fraud is not a victimless crime. The defendant didn't just embezzle federal funds. He took money that was meant to fund the retirement accounts of his colleagues and selfishly spent it on himself,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough. “Thank you to our partners at the Department of Labor and the U.S. Attorney's Office for helping us hold this individual accountable for his crimes.”

Deborah Perry, Dallas Regional Director of the Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration said, " I hope this sends a clear message to all who sponsor or transact business with employee benefit plans that the federal government will aggressively pursue those who commit crimes against employees and retirees of private-sector pension and health plans."

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Department of Labor – EBSA.

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PLANO, Texas – The Justice Department announced today its findings that the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) is violating the U.S. Constitution, as well as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

“Children are committed to TJJD facilities to receive treatment and rehabilitation so that they may return to their communities as law-abiding, productive citizens,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our investigation showed that, far from achieving those objectives, TJJD engaged in a pattern of abuse, deprivation of essential services and disability-related discrimination that seriously harms children and undermines their rehabilitation. State officials have an obligation to keep these children safe, to teach them, to provide them necessary health services and to treat them fairly, without discrimination. The Justice Department is committed to protecting the rights of vulnerable children in juvenile facilities. We look forward to working with state officials to remedy these violations, institute needed reform and improve outcomes for Texas children.”

The department’s report details findings from a comprehensive investigation of five TJJD youth facilities, including the Evins Regional Juvenile Center, Gainesville State School, Giddings State School, McClennan County State Juvenile Correctional Facility, and Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex. The report concludes that:

• TJJD routinely violates the constitutional rights of children in all five facilities by:
  • Exposing them to excessive force and prolonged isolation;
  • Failing to protect children from sexual abuse; and
  • Failing to provide adequate mental health services.
• TJJD violates the IDEA by failing to provide special education and related services to children with disabilities.
• TJJD discriminates against children with disabilities in violation of the ADA by:
  • Not providing reasonable modifications necessary to permit their participation in programming required for release and
  • Denying them an equal opportunity to benefit from education.

These violations of the Constitution and federal law place children at substantial risk of serious physical and psychological harm and impede successful outcomes for children.

“States that receive federal funds to help educate children with disabilities are required to use those funds appropriately for the benefit of these children,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs for the Eastern District of Texas. “Systematically failing to evaluate children suspected of having disabilities inevitably deprives these children of the special education these funds were meant to provide. Texas received funds under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, but failed to meet their obligation to ensure that children with disabilities would receive adequate education according to their special needs, among other things. Without appropriate services, children with disabilities in Texas juvenile corrections facilities cannot access the general education curriculum, preventing meaningful rehabilitation and progress. We look forward to working with Texas to rectify the issues we identified in our investigation so that these children, through meeting their educational needs, may have a better chance to succeed when they return to our communities.”

The Justice Department launched its investigation of TJJD’s juvenile justice facilities in October 2021, under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which authorize the department to address a pattern or practice of deprivation of constitutional and federal rights of children confined to state or local government-run correctional facilities. 

The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in Texas investigated the case.

For more information about the Civil Rights Division and the Special Litigation Section, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section. You can also report civil rights violations to the section by completing the complaint form available at https://civilrights.justice.gov.

To provide information related to the department’s investigation of TJJD’s facilities, please call 1-866-432-0438 or by email at TX.Juveniles@usdoj.gov.  

Spanish translation forthcoming. (La traducción al español estará disponible próximamente.)

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The Justice Department announced today its findings that the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) is violating the U.S. Constitution, as well as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

“Children are committed to TJJD facilities to receive treatment and rehabilitation so that they may return to their communities as law-abiding, productive citizens,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our investigation showed that, far from achieving those objectives, TJJD engaged in a pattern of abuse, deprivation of essential services and disability-related discrimination that seriously harms children and undermines their rehabilitation. State officials have an obligation to keep these children safe, to teach them, to provide them necessary health services and to treat them fairly, without discrimination. The Justice Department is committed to protecting the rights of vulnerable children in juvenile facilities. We look forward to working with state officials to remedy these violations, institute needed reform and improve outcomes for Texas children.”

The department’s report details findings from a comprehensive investigation of five TJJD youth facilities, including the Evins Regional Juvenile Center, Gainesville State School, Giddings State School, McLennan County State Juvenile Correctional Facility, and Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex. The report concludes that:

• TJJD routinely violates the constitutional rights of children in all five facilities by:
  • Exposing them to excessive force and prolonged isolation;
  • Failing to protect children from sexual abuse; and
  • Failing to provide adequate mental health services.
• TJJD violates the IDEA by failing to provide special education and related services to children with disabilities.
• TJJD discriminates against children with disabilities in violation of the ADA by:
  • Not providing reasonable modifications necessary to permit their participation in programming required for release and
  • Denying them an equal opportunity to benefit from education.

These violations of the Constitution and federal law place children at substantial risk of serious physical and psychological harm and impede successful outcomes for children.

“My office was proud to partner with the Civil Rights Division and with other U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in our state on this thorough investigation of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “The children in these facilities are uniquely vulnerable to harm and abuse, which hinders their prospects for rehabilitation. They deserve to be protected from harm, to receive adequate mental health care and to receive special education services and reasonable modifications that will give them a chance at productive lives in the community, outside of the walls of these institutions.”

“According to our report, TJJD falls short of creating an environment that fosters rehabilitation,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton for the Northern District of Texas. “Instead, some of its personnel engage in the use of excessive force and subject children to prolonged isolation, both of which are damaging. Texans know that this is not how we rehabilitate our children. We look forward to working with the State and TJJD to eliminate these issues going forward. Together, I am confident that we can implement practices that result in a better rehabilitative environment at the TJJD and ensure a pathway for children in their care to grow, heal and reach their full potential.”

“The conditions in the facilities are unacceptable,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas. “Our investigation found that children in these facilities face sexual abuse by staff and other children. Tragically, this is not the first investigation into allegations of sexual abuse at TJJD facilities. Since the early 2000s, other investigations by Texas state agencies and the Texas Rangers substantiated sexual abuse allegations of the children at TJJD facilities, yet this horrifying problem persists. Working with Texas’s other U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the Civil Rights Division and the State of Texas, my office hopes to provide protections to the vulnerable and help right wrongs that have existed for far too long.”  

“States that receive federal funds to help educate children with disabilities are required to use those funds appropriately for the benefit of these children,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs for the Eastern District of Texas. “Systematically failing to evaluate children suspected of having disabilities inevitably deprives these children of the special education these funds were meant to provide. Texas received funds under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, but failed to meet their obligation to ensure that children with disabilities would receive adequate education according to their special needs, among other things. Without appropriate services, children with disabilities in Texas juvenile corrections facilities cannot access the general education curriculum, preventing meaningful rehabilitation and progress. We look forward to working with Texas to rectify the issues we identified in our investigation so that these children, through meeting their educational needs, may have a better chance to succeed when they return to our communities.”

The Justice Department launched its investigation of TJJD’s juvenile justice facilities in October 2021, under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act and the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, which authorize the department to address a pattern or practice of deprivation of constitutional and federal rights of children confined to state or local government-run correctional facilities. 

The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in Texas investigated the case.

For more information about the Civil Rights Division and the Special Litigation Section please visit www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section. You can also report civil rights violations to the section by completing the complaint form available at civilrights.justice.gov.

To provide information related to the department’s investigation of TJJD’s facilities please call 1-866-432-0438 or email at TX.Juveniles@usdoj.gov.  

Spanish translation forthcoming. (La traducción al español estará disponible próximamente.)

El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy sus conclusiones de que el Departamento de Justicia de Menores de Texas (TJJD, por sus siglas en inglés) está violando la Constitución de los Estados Unidos, así como la Ley de Educación para Personas con Discapacidades (IDEA, por sus siglas en inglés) y la Ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA, por sus siglas en inglés).

“Los menores son internados en centros del TJJD para recibir tratamiento y rehabilitación, a fin de que puedan regresar a sus comunidades como ciudadanos respetuosos de la ley y productivos”, declaró Kristen Clarke, la fiscal general adjunta de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. “Nuestra investigación demostró que, lejos de lograr esos objetivos, el TJJD incurrió en un patrón de abuso, privación de servicios esenciales y discriminación relacionada con la discapacidad que perjudica gravemente a los niños y socava su rehabilitación. Los funcionarios del estado tienen la obligación de mantener a estos niños a salvo, de enseñarles, de proporcionarles los servicios sanitarios necesarios y de tratarlos con equidad y sin discriminación. El Departamento de Justicia se ha comprometido a proteger los derechos de los niños vulnerables internados en centros de menores. Esperamos trabajar con los funcionarios del estado para remediar estas violaciones, instituir las reformas necesarias y mejorar los resultados para los niños de Texas”.

El informe del departamento detalla los hallazgos de una investigación exhaustiva de cinco centros de menores del TJJD, incluidos el Centro Regional de Menores de Evins, la Escuela Estatal de Gainesville, la Escuela Estatal de Giddings, el Correccional Juvenil Estatal del Condado de McLennan y el Complejo Correccional Juvenil Estatal Ron Jackson. El informe concluye que:

• El TJJD sistemáticamente viola los derechos constitucionales de los niños en las cinco instalaciones al:
  • Exponerlos a fuerza excesiva y aislamiento prolongado;
  • No proteger a los niños de actos de abuso sexual; y
  • No proporcionar servicios de salud mental adecuados.
• El TJJD viola la ley IDEA al no proporcionar educación especial y servicios relacionados a los niños con discapacidades.
• El TJJD discrimina a los niños con discapacidades en violación de la ADA al:
  • No proporcionar las modificaciones razonables necesarias para permitir su participación en los programas requeridos de liberación y
  • Negarles la igualdad de oportunidades para beneficiarse de la educación.

Estas violaciones de la Constitución y de la ley federal exponen a los niños a un riesgo considerable de sufrir daños físicos y psicológicos graves e impiden que los niños salgan adelante.

“Mi oficina se sintió orgullosa de colaborar con la División de Derechos Civiles y con otras Fiscalías de los EE. UU. de nuestro estado en esta investigación exhaustiva del Departamento de Justicia de Menores de Texas”, dijo Jaime Esparza, el fiscal federal para el Distrito Oeste de Texas. “Los niños en estas instalaciones son especialmente vulnerables a sufrir lesiones y abusos, lo que limita sus posibilidades de rehabilitación. Merecen ser protegidos contra cualquier lesión, recibir una atención de salud mental adecuada y recibir servicios de educación especial y modificaciones razonables que les den la oportunidad de llevar una vida productiva en la comunidad, fuera de los muros de estas instituciones”.

“Según nuestro informe, el TJJD no consigue crear un entorno que fomente la rehabilitación”, declaró Leigha Simonton, la fiscal federal para el Distrito Norte de Texas. “Por el contrario, parte de su personal emplea fuerza excesiva y somete a los menores a un aislamiento prolongado, lo que resulta perjudicial. Los tejanos sabemos que no es así como rehabilitamos a nuestros niños. Estamos deseosos de trabajar con el estado y el TJJD para eliminar estos problemas en el futuro. Juntos, estoy segura de que podemos implementar prácticas que resulten en un mejor ambiente de rehabilitación en el TJJD y aseguren un camino para que los niños bajo su cuidado crezcan, sanen y alcancen su máximo potencial”.

“Las condiciones de estos centros son inaceptables”, declaró Alamdar S. Hamdani, el fiscal federal para el Distrito Sur de Texas. “Nuestra investigación encontró que los niños en estas instalaciones se enfrentan a abusos sexuales por parte del personal así como de otros niños. Trágicamente, esta no es la primera investigación sobre alegatos de abuso sexual en los centros del TJJD. Desde principios de los años 2000, otras investigaciones realizadas por agencias del estado de Texas y los Rangers de Texas corroboraron alegatos de abuso sexual de los niños en los centros del TJJD; sin embargo, este horrible problema persiste. En colaboración con las demás fiscalías de los EE. UU. en Texas, la División de Derechos Civiles y el estado de Texas, mi oficina espera proteger a las personas vulnerables y ayudar a corregir errores que han existido durante demasiado tiempo”.  

“Los estados que reciben fondos federales para ayudar a educar a los niños con discapacidades están obligados a utilizar esos fondos adecuadamente en beneficio de estos niños”, dijo Damien M. Diggs, el fiscal federal para el Distrito Este de Texas. “No evaluar sistemáticamente a los niños de los que se sospecha que tienen discapacidades, priva inevitablemente a estos niños de la educación especial que estos fondos estaban destinados a proporcionar. Texas recibió fondos al amparo de la Ley de Educación para Personas con Discapacidades, pero no cumplió con su obligación de garantizar que los niños con discapacidades recibieran una educación adecuada de acuerdo con sus necesidades especiales, entre otros aspectos. Sin los servicios adecuados, los niños con discapacidades internados en centros correccionales de menores de Texas no pueden acceder al plan de estudios de educación general, lo que impide una rehabilitación y un progreso significativos. Esperamos colaborar con Texas para rectificar los problemas que hemos detectado en nuestra investigación, a fin de que estos niños, mediante la satisfacción de sus necesidades educativas, tengan más posibilidades de triunfar cuando vuelvan a nuestras comunidades”.

El Departamento de Justicia inició su investigación de los centros de justicia de menores del TJJD en octubre de 2021, al amparo de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de las Personas Internadas en Instituciones y la Ley de Represión de Delitos Violentos y de Orden Público de 1994, que autorizan al departamento a investigar una pauta o práctica de privación de los derechos constitucionales y federales de los menores internados en centros correccionales gestionados por el gobierno estatal o local. 

La Sección Especial de Litigios de la División de Derechos Civiles y las Fiscalías de los EE. UU. en Texas investigaron el caso.

Si desea obtener más información sobre la División de Derechos Civiles y la Sección Especial de Litigios, visite www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section. También puede denunciar violaciones de los derechos civiles a la sección completando el formulario de denuncia disponible en https://civilrights.justice.gov.

Si desea proporcionar información relacionada con la investigación del departamento sobre los centros del TJJD, llame al 1-866-432-0438 o envíe un correo electrónico a TX.Juveniles@usdoj.gov.  

TEXARKANA, Texas – A Texarkana man has been sentenced to federal prison for child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.   

Brandon Neil Sams, 48, pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor while serving as a band instructor at Texas High School in Texarkana, Texas and was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III, on July 16, 2024.

According to information presented in court, Sams communicated with several of his minor students through social media and messaging applications to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce them to participate in sexual activity.  Sams provided his victims with gifts, such as cell phones, clothes, and prepaid credit cards to encourage them to do what he asked of them.  After the Texas High police department uncovered Sams’s criminal activity, several victims came forward to explain that they had been victimized by Sams in the past but had been too afraid to come forward about it for fear of backlash.

“We expect teachers to protect and keep their students safe from harm, not to abuse their positions of trust to take advantage of them,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.  “Mr. Sams used his access to teenagers to groom them to participate with him in illegal sexual activity.  The sentence he received today should serve as a warning to all child predators: we will find you, and you will face justice.”

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations and the Texarkana, Texas Independent School District.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Austin Wells.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A Port Arthur man was sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Johnathon Andre Granger, 24, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on July 2, 2024.

According to information presented in court, on August 4, 2023, local law enforcement executed a search warrant at Granger’s Port Arthur residence.  During the search, Granger was found asleep in a bedroom with a firearm nearby.  In all, three firearms, 19 grams of cocaine, and nearly $3,000 cash were found in the home. 

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the Port Arthur Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tommy Coleman.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A Nederland man has pleaded guilty to a federal violation in relation to an armed robbery of a gas station in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Tarrell Donald Nowlin, 53, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christine L. Stetson on July 2, 2024.

According to court documents, on January 16, 2024, law enforcement officers were dispatched to the Speedway Gas Station located at 2795 Eastex Freeway in Beaumont for a reported robbery.  According to the store clerk, a dark-colored Dodge Caravan pulled into the parking lot of the business and parked near one of the gas pumps. The driver, described as a white male, entered the business wearing a black mask, blue latex gloves, and a gray hat.  The driver pointed a silver revolver at the clerk and demanded cash.  The clerk opened the cash register and the driver took approximately $550 cash and left the store.  The investigation identified Nowlin as the subject.

Nowlin faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing.  The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the FBI, Beaumont Police Department, and Nederland Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Quinn.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – The final defendant in a racketeering conspiracy that resulted in the nationwide lockdown of the federal prison system has pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Juan Carlos Rivas-Moreiera, a/k/a “Juan Carlos Moriera,” a/k/a “Stocky” pleaded guilty on July 2, 2024, for his role in a racketeering conspiracy in furtherance of the violent transnational criminal organization La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13. 

In April 2022, seven defendants, including Rivas-Moreiera, were indicted and charged with the planning and execution of a violent attack orchestrated by members of MS-13 against Mexican Mafia and Sureños associates that resulted in two deaths, two attempted murders, and a nationwide lockdown of all inmates in the Federal Bureau of Prisons for almost a week.  Rivas-Moreiera admitted to his role in the deadly prison attack and faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.  Rivas-Moreiera was the last remaining defendant to plead guilty. 

According to information presented in court, MS-13 is a transnational criminal organization composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, but also includes members from other countries such as Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico.

The Mexican Mafia controls large portions of the Hispanic prison population in California and Texas and the federal prison system. Although MS-13 has had a symbiotic relationship with both the Mexican Mafia and the Sureños, which is a close association of Hispanic gangs that pay tribute to the Mexican Mafia, that relationship has begun to deteriorate resulting in violent clashes between the groups.

On January 31, 2022, seven MS-13 members imprisoned at the U.S. Penitentiary in Beaumont attacked multiple Sureños members and one Mexican Mafia associate.  Defendant Rivas-Moreiera began the prison attack when he approached Guillermo Riojas and stabbed Riojas twice in the chest.  Riojas fell immediately, and other MS-13 defendants stabbed and kicked Riojas while he lay motionless on the prison floor.  The MS-13 defendants then chased, cornered, beat, and repeatedly stabbed Andrew Pineda, and other Sureños members.  The prison attack lasted approximately three minutes.  Riojas and Pineda died as a result of the attack. 

Defendants Rivas-Moreiera, Alfaro-Granado, and Landaverde-Giron are all serving sentences of life imprisonment for their participation in MS-13 and committing murder in aid of racketeering in furtherance of MS-13.  Defendant Ramires is also serving a sentence of 27 years in federal prison following his conviction for participating in MS-13 and committing a murder on behalf of the gang.

This case is a result of coordination between the Eastern District of Texas and Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), which was created in August 2019 as a whole-of-government approach to dismantle transnational criminal organizations, such as MS-13. Since its creation, JTFV has successfully increased coordination and collaboration with foreign law enforcement partners, including El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala; designating priority MS-13 programs, cliques and leaders, who have the most impact on the United States, for targeted prosecutions; and coordinating significant MS-13 indictments in U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the first use of national security charges against MS-13 leaders, such as the Ranfla Nacional, in El Salvador. JTFV has been comprised of members from U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including EDTX; the Eastern District of New York; the Southern District of New York; the District of New Jersey; the Northern District of Ohio; the District of Utah; the Eastern District of Virginia; the District of Massachusetts; the District of Alaska; the Southern District of Florida; the Southern District of California; the District of Nevada; and the District of Columbia, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. In addition, all Department of Justice law enforcement agencies are involved in the effort, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; and the Bureau of Prisons. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations also plays a critical role in JTFV.

This case is being prosecuted by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Batte; Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher A. Eason from the Eastern District of Texas and JTFV; Assistant U.S. Attorney Stewart M. Young from JTFV and the District of Utah; and Trial Attorney Jacob Warren from the National Security Division. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Prisons.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A Little Rock, Arkansas, man has pleaded guilty to a federal firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Jajuan Lee Bonds, 23, pleaded guilty to possession of a machinegun before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christine L. Stetson on July 2, 2024.

According to information presented in court, on July 21, 2022, an officer with the Corrigan Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Bonds. The officer observed what appeared to be marijuana in a clear plastic baggie in the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, the officer located a firearm outfitted with a machinegun conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock Switch”. The modified handgun had been previously reported stolen. Federal law defines a machinegun as a weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.

Bonds’ plea comes less than a month after Diggs and U.S. Attorneys for the Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas announced, “Operation Texas Kill Switch,” a statewide initiative targeting illegal machinegun conversion devices. At a June 10, 2024, press conference, U.S. Attorney Diggs stated that, “machinegun conversion devices are incredibly dangerous and pose an unacceptable risk to the public and law enforcement.” Diggs went on to say, “they’re also illegal and simply possessing a machinegun conversion device—let alone firing one—comes along with a hefty prison sentence.  As U.S. Attorney, I am committed to keeping them off the streets of the Eastern District of Texas.” Operation Texas Kill Switch relies on partnerships with state and local law enforcement as well as rewards offered by Crime Stoppers.

Bonds faces up to ten years in federal prison at sentencing.  The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Corrigan Police Department and prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tommy Coleman.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A New Orleans, LA, man has been sentenced to over 12 years in federal prison for a 2022 violent carjacking in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Aubrey Young, 37, pleaded guilty to carjacking and was sentenced to 150 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on July 1, 2024.

According to information presented in court, on October 26, 2022, Young approached two people in Vidor asking if they had any work for him.  When they said they did not, Young pulled a firearm from his backpack and demanded the keys from the victims.  Young then fled in their vehicle.  The car was spotted near Anahuac and a high-speed chase ensued.  Young was arrested and a firearm was located in the stolen vehicle. 

On April 18, 2024, U.S. Attorney Diggs announced the newly formed Carjacking Task Force in the Eastern District of Texas.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), will work alongside state and local law enforcement partners to more effectively address the threat of carjackings in Southeast Texas.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Vidor Police Department, the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been sentenced for federal violations related to a COVID-relief fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.           

Acheon King Aleidron, formerly known as Cameron Alexander, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on July 1, 2024.  Aleidron was also ordered to pay $415,900.00 in restitution.

According to court documents, Aleidron used a Beaumont address for a business named The Fishing Factor, LLC to fraudulently obtain $415,000 under the Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for COVID-19 pandemic relief.  Aleidron filed numerous fraudulent loan applications and received the funds which were intended to cover payroll, fixed debts, utilities, rent/mortgage, accounts payable and other bills incurred by qualifying businesses during and resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.  Aleidron opened five bank accounts with four different banks in in order to receive funds from the scheme.  The government was able to seize $186,413.78 from Aleidron’s various bank accounts, which will be forfeited to pay back a portion of the loss.                                                                                                  

The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses.  In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional  funding.

The Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (“EIDL”) was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the SBA that provided loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses.  EIDL loans were intended to cover payroll, fixed debts, utilities, rent/mortgage, accounts payable and other bills incurred by qualifying businesses during, and resulting from, the COVID-19 pandemic. EIDL loans are processed outside the State of Texas.  According to the SBA website (www.sba.gov), the stated purpose of an EIDL loan is “[t]o meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had the disaster not occurred.”  EIDL loans are low interest loans and are not forgivable.

To obtain an EIDL loan, a qualifying business had to submit an EIDL loan application, which was signed by an authorized representative of the business.  The EIDL loan application required the business (through its authorized representative) to acknowledge the program rules and make certain affirmative certifications to be eligible to obtain the EIDL loan, including that the business was in operation and needed the funds for working capital to alleviate economic injury caused by disaster occurring in the month of January 31, 2020, and continuing thereafter.  For a business to be eligible for an EIDL loan, the business must have been in operation before February 1, 2020.

EIDL applications were submitted directly to the SBA and processed by the agency with support from a government contractor, Rapid Finance.  EIDL loan applications were received by SBA servers located in Virginia, Iowa, or Washington.  Once approved, the individual or business received the EIDL loan proceeds via an electronic funds transfer to a financial account under the control of the business.

The amount of the loan, if the application were approved, was determined based on the information provided by the applicant about employment, revenue, and cost of goods, as described above.  Any funds issued under an EIDL advance were issued directly by the SBA.  EIDL funds could be used for payroll expenses, sick leave, production costs, and business obligations, such as debts, rent, and mortgage payments.

This case was investigated by the SBA Office of Inspector General and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reynaldo P. Morin.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A Richmond man was sentenced to federal prison for firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Aaron Martinez, 33, pleaded guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on June 27, 2024.

According to information presented in court, on August 3, 2021, Martinez was stopped for a traffic violation in Vidor.  During the stop, it was discovered that Martinez had an outstanding felony warrant.  A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded firearm and ammunition.  Further investigation showed Martinez to be a convicted felon and prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the Vidor Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A Lufkin man was sentenced to federal prison for firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Johnathan Edward Brandt, 38, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on June 27, 2024.

According to information presented in court, in early 2023, law enforcement agents made multiple undercover purchases of methamphetamine from Brandt. Agents were also able to purchase a firearm from Brandt during one of the undercover purchases.

In March of 2023, Brandt was arrested after law enforcement responded to a report of individuals wearing ski masks and carrying flashlights at a Lufkin business.  Brandt was found in possession of a stolen firearm and had an outstanding warrant.  Further investigation revealed Brandt drove to the location in a stolen vehicle which also happened to contain another 13 firearms, a large amount of ecstasy pills, methamphetamine, alprazolam, a large amount of cash, and ammunition and magazines. Brandt admitted to trading narcotics for the firearms.  A search of Brandt’s residence resulted in the seizure of methamphetamine, digital scales, ecstasy, marijuana, firearms, and a stolen vehicle.  Brandt has prior felony convictions for multiple felony thefts, multiple burglary of a habitation offenses, possession of a prohibited weapon, and multiple felony possession of a controlled substance offenses.  As a convicted felon he is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Angelina County Sheriff’s Office; and the Lufkin Police Department.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter.

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SHERMAN, Texas – An Orlando, Florida man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. 

James Walker Watson, Jr., 68, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in May 2023 and was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III, on June 20, 2024.  Judge Mazzant announced restitution to victims would be determined at a separate hearing.

According to information presented in court, from 2016 to 2020, Walker devised and carried out a scheme to commit fraud against multiple individuals in the North Texas area by representing to them that he was a successful concert promoter and was looking for investors to give him money to put on concert events, including two purported concerts at the Southfork Ranch in Plano, Texas.  Walker took the victims’ money but failed to return the investments as he had promised.   He would often tell investors that, without further investment and involvement with his ventures, they would not receive any of their money back.  The fraudulent activity resulted in a loss to victims of approximately $3 million. 

“The U.S. Attorney's Office will continue to bring charges against and prosecute those who commit fraud and steal money from victims in our district,” said U. S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.  “These crimes often take advantage of individuals who trust the defendants with their hard-earned savings and investments, only to lose them forever.  We appreciate the work of the FBI in investigating and partnering with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring this defendant to justice.”

This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Combs.

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The Justice Department announced today that the Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas secured settlement agreements with Runnels County, Colorado County, Smith County and Upton County to resolve the department’s findings that the counties violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by maintaining election websites that discriminate against individuals with vision or manual disabilities.

“Voting in the 21st century requires that officials make their websites accessible to people with disabilities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Discriminatory barriers on election websites can prevent people with disabilities from exercising their right to vote. These agreements should send a message to state and local officials across the country about the importance of ensuring that their election websites are accessible for voters with disabilities so that they can participate equally in our democratic process.”

The election websites for these four Texas counties provide essential information about how to vote, such as registration requirements, identification requirements and voting information for people with disabilities. The websites also link to other critical information, including details about early voting and voting on election day.

Under the settlement agreements, the counties agreed to make all future and existing online election content accessible to people with disabilities. The counties also agreed to hire an independent auditor to evaluate the accessibility of their election websites’ content, adopt new policies and training for relevant personnel, provide notice to visitors and users of the websites to solicit comments and requests about any accessibility barriers and designate an employee to coordinate its efforts.

These four investigations are part of the department’s ADA Voting Initiative, which safeguards the voting rights of individuals with disabilities. To read more about the ADA and how it applies to voting, please visit www.ada.gov/topics/voting/. These settlement agreements also are part of the Civil Rights Division’s Tech Equity Initiative to combat disability discrimination that occurs through technology such as websites and mobile apps.

The Justice Department announced today that the Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas secured settlement agreements with Colorado County, Runnels County, Smith County and Upton County to resolve the department’s findings that the counties violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by maintaining election websites that discriminate against individuals with vision or manual disabilities.

“Voting in the 21st century requires that officials make their websites accessible to people with disabilities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Discriminatory barriers on election websites can prevent people with disabilities from exercising their right to vote. These agreements should send a message to state and local officials across the country about the importance of ensuring that their election websites are accessible for voters with disabilities so that they can participate equally in our democratic process.”

The election websites for these four Texas counties provide essential information about how to vote, such as registration requirements, identification requirements and voting information for people with disabilities. The websites also link to other critical information, including details about early voting and voting on election day.

Under the settlement agreements, the counties agreed to make all future and existing online election content accessible to people with disabilities. The counties also agreed to hire an independent auditor to evaluate the accessibility of their election websites’ content, adopt new policies and training for relevant personnel, provide notice to visitors and users of the websites to solicit comments and requests about any accessibility barriers and designate an employee to coordinate its efforts.

These four investigations are part of the department’s ADA Voting Initiative, which safeguards the voting rights of individuals with disabilities. To read more about the ADA and how it applies to voting, please visit www.ada.gov/topics/voting/. These settlement agreements also are part of the Civil Rights Division’s Tech Equity Initiative to combat disability discrimination that occurs through technology such as websites and mobile apps.

TYLER, Texas – Smith County has entered into a settlement agreement which resolves findings it violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by maintaining an election website that discriminates against individuals with vision or manual disabilities, announced Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.  

“The Eastern District of Texas is committed to ensuring that all eligible voters, including those with disabilities, can access critical election information,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.  “By entering into this settlement agreement, Smith County has taken a significant step towards removing barriers and promoting inclusivity on their election websites. This ensures that voters in the Eastern District of Texas with impairments are not disenfranchised and can fully participate in the democratic process."

The county’s election website provides essential information about how to vote, such as registration requirements, identification requirements and voting information for people with disabilities. The website also links to other critical information, including details about early voting and voting on election day.

Under the settlement agreement, Smith County agreed to make all future and existing online election content accessible to people with disabilities. The county also agreed to hire an independent auditor to evaluate the accessibility of their election website’s content, provide notice to visitors and users of the website to solicit comments and requests about any accessibility barriers, designate an employee to coordinate its efforts, revise its procedures and train relevant personnel.

This investigation is part of the Department of Justice’s ADA Voting Initiative, which safeguards the voting rights of individuals with disabilities. To read more about the ADA and how it applies to voting, please visit Voting and Polling Places. This settlement agreement is also part of the Department of Justice’s Tech Equity Initiative to combat disability discrimination that occurs through technology such as websites and mobile apps.

The Eastern District of Texas is committed to vigorously enforcing the ADA. Additional information is available at Civil Rights Division for the Eastern District of Texas.

This case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aimee Cooper.  

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El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que la División de Derechos Civiles y las Fiscalías Federales de los distritos del Este, Norte, Sur, y Oeste de Texas han llegado a acuerdos conciliatorios con los Condados de Colorado, Runnels, Smith y Upton para resolver los hallazgos del departamento que los condados infringieron al Título II de la Ley para Estadounidenses con Discapacidades de 1990 (ADA, por sus siglas en inglés), al mantener sitios web electorales que discriminan contra individuos con discapacidades manuales o visuales.

“La votación en el siglo XXI requiere que los oficiales hagan sus sitios web accesibles para las personas con discapacidades,” comentó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. “Las barreras discriminatorias en los sitios web electorales pueden prevenir que las personas con discapacidades ejerzan su derecho al voto. Estos acuerdos conciliatorios deben enviar un mensaje a los oficiales estatales y locales de todo el país sobre la importancia de asegurar que sus sitios web electorales son accesibles para los votantes con discapacidades para que puedan participar de manera igualitaria en nuestro proceso democrático.”

Los sitios web electorales de estos cuatro condados tejanos brindan información importante sobre cómo votar, por ejemplo, cuáles son los requisitos para el registro y la identificación del votante, así como, cuál es la información que necesitan las personas con discapacidades para votar. Los sitios web también contienen enlaces a información crítica, incluidos detalles sobre votación temprana y la votación el día de las elecciones.

Bajo los acuerdos conciliatorios, los condados accedieron hacer accesible a las personas con discapacidades todo contenido de web existente y futuro. Los condados también accedieron contratar a un auditor independiente para evaluar la accesibilidad del contenido electoral de los sitios web, adoptar nuevas políticas y entrenamiento para los empleados relevantes, advertir noticia a los visitantes y usuarios de los sitios web para solicitar comentarios y solicitudes sobre cualquier barrera de accesibilidad, y designar a un empleado para coordinar sus esfuerzos.

Estas cuatro investigaciones son parte de la Iniciativa de Votación ADA, la cual se enfoca en proteger los derechos de voto de los individuos con discapacidades. Para conocer más sobre el ADA y cómo esta se aplica a la votación usted puede visitar el sitio web a www.ada.gov/topics/voting/. Estos acuerdos conciliatorios también son parte de la Iniciativa de Equidad Tecnología de la División de Derechos Civiles para combatir discriminación de discapacidad que ocurre a través de la tecnología, tal como los sitios de web y aplicaciones móviles.

BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been charged with federal violations related to a carjacking in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today. 

Jody Lee Bass, 34, was named in a complaint on June 10, 2024, charging him with carjacking and assault on a federal officer.  Bass appeared in federal court on June 12, 2024. 

According to information presented in court, on June 8, 2024, Bass approached a mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service on Avenue F in Beaumont.  Bass is alleged to have used a knife to rob the mail carrier of the USPS mail delivery truck while the victim was delivering mail on his route. Bass grabbed the mail carrier and attempted to stab him.  The mail carrier escaped, and Bass drove off with the mail truck.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the Eastern District of Texas’ Carjacking Task Force.   

If convicted of both charges, Bass faces up to 35 years in federal prison.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Beaumont Police Department.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross. 

A complaint or indictment is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – Today, U.S. Attorneys for the Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas announced “Operation Texas Kill Switch,” a statewide initiative targeting illegal machinegun conversion devices, commonly known as “switches.”

At simultaneous press conferences throughout the state, U.S. Attorneys Damien M. Diggs, Leigha Simonton, Alamdar Hamdani, and Jaime Esparza, joined by Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Special Agents in Charge Jeffrey Boshek and Michael Weddel, lambasted switches, which transform commercially available firearms into fully automatic weapons capable of firing faster than military-grade M4s.

“Machinegun conversion devices are incredibly dangerous and pose an unacceptable risk to the public and law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.  “They’re also illegal and simply possessing a machinegun conversion device—let alone firing one—comes along with a hefty prison sentence.  As U.S. Attorney, I am committed to keeping them off the streets of the Eastern District of Texas.”

“Today’s important initiative is aimed at raising awareness of illegal machinegun conversation devices also known as ‘switches,’ said ATF Houston SAC Michael Weddel.  “Today’s threat comes from machinegun conversion devices that easily convert a firearm into a machinegun.  These ‘switches’ as they are often called on the streets, not only pose a serious threat to those living in our communities but a unique and deadly threat to law enforcement. Simply possessing one of these devices is a federal crime and we will work endlessly in conjunction with our United States Attorney’s Office in addition to our local, state, and federal partners to identify and prosecute these crimes.”  

About an inch long, switches may be made of metal or plastic and can be printed on commercially available 3D printers. They generally slot into the butt of a gun and allow the shooter to fire “full auto,” unloading dozens of rounds with a single pull of the trigger. (In contrast, regular semi-automatic firearms require a separate trigger pull for each round fired.)  To date, switches have been used in numerous fatal shootings, including at least one juvenile mass shooting and multiple police killings.

Except in very limited circumstances, possession of a switch is illegal, as the National Firearms Act classifies the switch itself as a machinegun.

Yet the number of switches recovered by law enforcement has risen dramatically in the past few years. Between 2017 and 2023, Texas-based ATF agents seized 991 switches; 490 of those, 50 percent, were seized just last year. They are often sold over social media, marketed to adults and juveniles alike.

At Monday’s press conferences, the U.S. Attorneys announced that as part of Operation Texas Kill Switch, they are partnering with Crime Stopper programs statewide to combat the proliferation of these illegal devices.

From now until Aug. 31, local Crime Stopper programs will offer cash rewards for information leading to the apprehension or prosecution of those who possess switches or 3D printers being used to manufacture them. To be eligible for cash rewards, tipsters must provide information to their local Crime Stoppers program. Tipsters may also use **TIPS to be connected to a Crime Stoppers program in their area. Tips can be submitted 24 hours a day, and anonymity is guaranteed by law. Information may also be submitted directly to ATF at www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips.

U.S. Attorneys Diggs, Simonton, Hamdani, and Esparza also urged local law enforcement to partner with federal authorities on switch cases, which carry maximum sentences of up to 10 years in the federal system. They laid out their case in a joint op-ed published Monday in the Austin American Statesman, which you can read here.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A Lumberton man has been sentenced to federal prison on child exploitation charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Adam Dale Isaacks, 40, pleaded guilty to four counts of transporting a minor for purposes of sexual activity and was sentenced to 480 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on June 3, 2024.

According to information presented in court, on Dec. 13, 2021, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office responded to an Evadale home in reference to a report of several sexual assaults.  As the investigation progressed, Isaacks was identified as the assailant.  Isaacks, a youth baseball coach and president of the Evadale Little League Baseball organization and a trusted member of the community, was reported to have sexually assaulted eight minor members of his baseball team.  The boys were between 9 and 11 years old the time of the offenses.  The investigation revealed instances where several minor victims were transported by Isaacks from the Eastern District of Texas outside the state.  While outside the state of Texas, Isaacks engaged in illicit sexual conduct with the minor victims.  The trips were verified with records from airlines, credit card information, photos, and witnesses. 

“We expect our little league coaches to protect the children entrusted to their care; this defendant did not do that and will now serve a lengthy sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.  “Coaches like the defendant, Mr. Isaacks, who have sex with minors should take note of today’s sentence, which reflects the consequences of abusing one’s position of trust by taking advantage of the vulnerabilities of minors and repeatedly engaging them in unlawful sexual activities.  This case shows how local and federal agencies can work together to combat the growing epidemic of child exploitation—a crime that our office will aggressively prosecute.” 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case was investigated by the FBI, the Sabine County Sheriff’s Office, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, and the San Augustine County Sheriff’s Office.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove.

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A court-authorized international law enforcement operation led by the U.S. Justice Department disrupted a botnet used to commit cyber attacks, large-scale fraud, child exploitation, harassment, bomb threats, and export violations.

As part of this operation, YunHe Wang, 35, a People’s Republic of China national and St. Kitts and Nevis citizen-by-investment, was arrested on May 24 on criminal charges arising from his deployment of malware and the creation and operation of a residential proxy service known as “911 S5.”

According to an indictment unsealed on May 24, from 2014 through July 2022, Wang and others are alleged to have created and disseminated malware to compromise and amass a network of millions of residential Windows computers worldwide. These devices were associated with more than 19 million unique IP addresses, including 613,841 IP addresses located in the United States. Wang then generated millions of dollars by offering cybercriminals access to these infected IP addresses for a fee.

“This Justice Department-led operation brought together law enforcement partners from around the globe to disrupt 911 S5, a botnet that facilitated cyber-attacks, large-scale fraud, child exploitation, harassment, bomb threats, and export violations,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “As a result of this operation, YunHe Wang was arrested on charges that he created and operated the botnet and deployed malware. This case makes clear that the long arm of the law stretches across borders and into the deepest shadows of the dark web, and the Justice Department will never stop fighting to hold cybercriminals to account.”

“Working with our international partners, the FBI conducted a joint, sequenced cyber operation to dismantle the 911 S5 Botnet—likely the world’s largest botnet ever,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray.  “We arrested its administrator, Yunhe Wang, seized infrastructure and assets, and levied sanctions against Wang and his co-conspirators. The 911 S5 Botnet infected computers in nearly 200 countries and facilitated a whole host of computer-enabled crimes, including financial frauds, identity theft, and child exploitation. This operation demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to working shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners to protect American businesses and the American people, and we will work tirelessly to unmask and arrest the cybercriminals who profit from this illegal activity.”

According to court documents, Wang allegedly propagated his malware through Virtual Private Network (VPN) programs, such as MaskVPN and DewVPN (torrent distribution models that he operated) and pay-per-install services that bundled his malware with other program files, including pirated versions of licensed software or copyrighted materials. Wang then managed and controlled approximately 150 dedicated servers worldwide, approximately 76 of which he leased from U.S. based online service providers. Using the dedicated servers, Wang deployed and managed applications, commanded and controlled the infected devices, operated his 911 S5 service, and provided paying customers with access to proxied IP addresses associated with the infected devices.

“As alleged in the indictment, Wang created malware that compromised millions of residential computers around the world and then sold access to the infected computers to cybercriminals,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These criminals used the hijacked computers to conceal their identities and commit a host of crimes, from fraud to cyberstalking. Cybercriminals should take note. Today’s announcement sends a clear message that the Criminal Division and its law enforcement partners are firm in their resolve to disrupt the most technologically sophisticated criminal tools and hold wrongdoers to account.”

“YunHe Wang created and administered a residential proxy service—a botnet known as 911 S5—that affected millions of computers all over the world,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs for the Eastern District of Texas. “He will now be held accountable. Proxy services like 911 S5 are pervasive threats that shield criminals behind the compromised IP addresses of residential computers worldwide. Successfully tackling a problem of this scale is only possible with strong collaboration and exceptional investigative work between our law enforcement partners at home and abroad, and we stand ready to hold accountable anyone—no matter where they are located—who exploits our telecommunications infrastructure for their own criminal purpose.”

Cybercriminals then used proxied IP addresses purchased from 911 S5 to conceal their true originating IP addresses and locations, and anonymously commit a wide array of offenses. These offenses including financial crimes, stalking, transmitting bomb threats and threats of harm, illegal exportation of goods, and receiving and sending child exploitation materials. Since 2014, 911 S5 allegedly enabled cybercriminals to bypass financial fraud detection systems and steal billions of dollars from financial institutions, credit card issuers, and federal lending programs.

911 S5 customers allegedly targeted certain pandemic relief programs. For example, the United States estimates that 560,000 fraudulent unemployment insurance claims originated from compromised IP addresses, resulting in a confirmed fraudulent loss exceeding $5.9 billion. Additionally, in evaluating suspected fraud loss to the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, the United States estimates that more than 47,000 EIDL applications originated from IP addresses compromised by 911 S5. Millions of dollars more were similarly identified by financial institutions in the United States as loss originating from IP addresses compromised by 911 S5.

The 911 S5 client interface software, which was hosted on U.S.-based servers, enabled cybercriminals located outside of the United States to purchase goods with stolen credit cards or criminally derived proceeds, and illegally export them outside of the United States contrary to U.S. export laws, such as the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The 911 S5 client interface may also contain encryption or other features which subject it to export controls detailed in the EAR. Accordingly, downloads of the 911 S5 client interface software by certain foreign nationals without a license may constitute violations of the EAR.

“The disruption, seizure, and arrest of the perpetrator(s) responsible for the 911 S5 cybercriminal enterprise demonstrates the forward leaning posture of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Cyber Field Office,” said DCIS Director Kelly P. Mayo. “This investigation showcases the critical import of identifying and pursuing emerging threats and technologies targeting our warfighters, and the industrial base that supports them. Today’s announcement illustrates the magnitude of cooperation within federal law enforcement and our foreign partners pursuing criminals in the rapidly evolving cybercrime arena.”

The indictment further alleges that from 2018 until July 2022, Wang received approximately $99 million from his sales of the hijacked proxied IP addresses through his 911 S5 operation, either in cryptocurrency or fiat currency. Wang used the illicitly gained proceeds to purchase real property in the United States, St. Kitts and Nevis, China, Singapore, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates. The indictment identifies dozens of assets and properties subject to forfeiture, including a 2022 Ferrari F8 Spider S-A, a BMW i8, a BMW X7 M50d, a Rolls Royce, more than a dozen domestic and international bank accounts, over two dozen cryptocurrency wallets, several luxury wristwatches, 21 residential or investment properties (across Thailand, Singapore, the U.A.E., St. Kitts and Nevis, and the United States), and 20 domains.

Law enforcement initially focused on 911 S5 during an investigation of a money laundering and smuggling scheme, where criminal actors in Ghana and the United States used hijacked IP addresses purchased from 911 S5 to place fraudulent orders using stolen credit cards on the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) online e-commerce platform known as ShopMyExchange. Although approximately 2,525 fraudulent orders valued at $5.5 million were submitted, credit card fraud detection systems and federal investigators were able to thwart the bulk of the attempted purchases, reducing the actual loss to approximately $254,000.

“The conduct alleged here reads like it’s ripped from a screenplay: A scheme to sell access to millions of malware-infected computers worldwide, enabling criminals over the world to steal billions of dollars, transmit bomb threats, and exchange child exploitation materials—then using the scheme’s nearly $100 million in profits to buy luxury cars, watches, and real estate,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). “What they don’t show in the movies though is the painstaking work it takes by domestic and international law enforcement, working closely with industry partners, to take down such a brazen scheme and make an arrest like this happen.” 

Wang is charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud, substantive computer fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted on all counts, Wang faces a maximum penalty of 65 years in prison.

This operation was a coordinated multiagency effort led by law enforcement in the United States, Singapore, Thailand, and Germany. Agents and officers searched residences, seized assets valued at approximately $30 million, and identified additional forfeitable property valued at approximately $30 million. The operation also seized 23 domains and over 70 servers constituting the backbone of Wang’s prior residential proxy service and the recent incarnation of the service. By seizing multiple domains tied to the historical 911 S5, as well as several new domains and services directly linked to an effort to reconstitute the service, the government has successfully terminated Wang’s efforts to further victimize individuals through his newly formed service Clourouter.io and closed the existing malicious backdoors.

On May 28, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued financial sanctions against Wang, Jingping Liu, and Yanni Zheng, for their activities associated with 911 S5, and three entities for being owned or controlled by Wang.

The FBI Dallas and Denver Field Offices, DCIS Cyber Field Office, and BIS Office of Export Enforcement’s Dallas field office are investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Candy Heath and Lydia Lichlyter of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Camelia Lopez and William Tatum for the Eastern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

The Department appreciates the significant assistance provided by the Attorney-General’s Chambers of Singapore, Singapore Police Force (SPF), Royal Thai Police, and the Office of the Attorney General and the Anti-Money Laundering Office of the Kingdom of Thailand. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section provided crucial support to this operation. The Treasury Department’s OFAC also provided support to this operation. Additionally, the Department offers its thanks to Chainalysis, the Shadowserver Foundation, and Microsoft for the assistance provided by each during the investigation and the operation.

For more information or to determine if you are a victim of 911 S5 malware, please visit www.fbi.gov/911S5.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BEAUMONT, Texas – A Port Arthur man has been sentenced to federal prison for firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Christopher Bryan Jones, 44, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone on May 24, 2024. Bernard Colbert, 40, of Baldwin, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to the same offense and was sentenced earlier this year to 40 months in federal prison by Judge Crone. 

According to information presented in court, on May 8, 2022, Port Arthur police encountered Jones and Colbert in a vehicle parked at a convenience store on Gulfway Drive. The officers were investigating a shooting and questioned Jones and Colbert. During the questioning, the officers observed a pistol-grip shotgun on the back seat behind the men.  Further investigation revealed Jones had prior felony convictions from Jefferson County including robbery and burglary of a habitation, and Colbert had felony convictions from Louisiana, including possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.  A federal grand jury indicted the men together on Nov. 2, 2022. Under federal law, felons are prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the Port Arthur Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross.

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SHERMAN, Texas – A Fort Worth man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Malando Bates, 24, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm on March 9, 2023.   U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant’s sentence of 120 months was an upward departure from the recommended guideline range.  In his ruling, Judge Mazzant noted that Bates had a history of firearm related offenses, that he possessed a Glock with a Glock switch attached, and that, by Bates’ own admission, he had possessed multiple fully automatic pistols.  Judge Mazzant further stated that a sentence of 120 months would serve to protect society.

According to information presented in court, on Oct. 24, 2021, law enforcement encountered Bates after hearing gunshots.  Initially, Bates falsely identified himself as his brother and claimed he was a U.S. Marine.  Bates subsequently admitted to law enforcement that he lied about his identity because he was a convicted felon and knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms.

Bates was found to be in possession of several firearms including a Glock pistol with a Glock switch, also known as a machine gun conversion device (MCD) converting the firearm to a fully automatic weapon, a fully loaded 30 round magazine, and two AR style rifles with loaded magazines. Glock switches are devices that are attached to the slide of a Glock handgun that convert the semi-automatic pistol into a pistol capable of fully automatic fire.

“Possession of firearms by convicted felons is inherently dangerous for society,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. “But that danger increases exponentially when prohibited individuals possess firearms containing switches that convert semi-automatic weapons into machine guns, which, within a matter of a few seconds, can fire multiple rounds with a single squeeze of the trigger.  Today’s sentence should send a clear message that anyone who manufactures, sells, or possesses a machine gun conversion device will be prosecuted federally and face serious consequences.”

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the Highland Village Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey M. Batson.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A Groves convicted felon has been sentenced to federal prison for possessing a firearm, announced Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Moses Benjamin Castillo, 38, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Truncale on May 23, 2024.

According to information presented in court, on Sep. 28, 2022, Port Arthur Police received information that Castillo was in possession of methamphetamine and a gun in the Central Mall parking lot in Port Arthur.  Police encountered Castillo as he was leaving the parking lot and initiated a traffic stop after observing him commit a traffic violation.  Castillo consented to a search of the vehicle where officers located a firearm, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.  Further investigation revealed Castillo to be a convicted felon and prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Port Arthur Police Department.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove.

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TYLER, Texas – A Kilgore man has been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking drugs in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Rodney Dewayne Fagans, 39, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on May 22, 2024.

According to information presented in court, Fagans and his co-conspirators admitted to selling large quantities of methamphetamine on numerous occasions in Gregg County.  Fagans was identified as the supplier for three separate illegal drug transactions totaling 598.72 grams of methamphetamine. Fifteen others involved in the drug distribution scheme have pleaded guilty and been sentenced to federal prison.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Gregg County Sheriff's Office, and Longview Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.

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TYLER, Texas – A Chinese national has been charged with participating in a scheme to launder the proceeds of cryptocurrency investment scams and other fraudulent schemes involving millions of dollars in victim funds in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Fei Liao, 29, of San Gabriel, California, was brought into federal custody on May 3, 2024.  On May 20, 2024, Liao waived arraignment and pleaded not guilty to the charges.  The indictment charges Liao with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.  Liao and others allegedly conspired to open shell companies and bank accounts to launder victim proceeds of cryptocurrency investment scams – also known as “pig butchering” – and other fraudulent schemes. Then, they allegedly transferred the funds involved in the fraud schemes to domestic and international financial institutions. Each of the charges for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering carry a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

According to court documents, pig butchering fraud schemes (a term derived from a foreign-language phrase used to describe these crimes) consist of scammers encountering victims on dating services or social media, or through unsolicited messages or calls, often masquerading as a wrong number. Scammers initiate relationships with victims and slowly gain their trust, eventually introducing the idea of making a business investment using cryptocurrency. Victims are then directed to other members of the scheme operating fraudulent cryptocurrency investment platforms and applications, where victims are persuaded to make financial investments. Once funds are sent to scammer-controlled accounts, the investment platform often falsely shows significant gains on the purported investment, and the victims are thus induced to make additional investments. Ultimately, the victims are unable to withdraw or recover their money, often resulting in significant losses for the victims.

An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, Tyler Resident Office.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Austin Wells.

If you or someone you know is a victim, report it to the www.IC3.gov. In the report, please reference “Pig Butchering PSA” and include as much information as possible in the complaint including names of investment platforms, cryptocurrency addresses and transaction hashes, bank account information, and names and contact information of suspected scammers. Maintain copies of all communications with scammers and records of financial transactions.

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SHERMAN – A Guatemalan man has been extradited to the United States to face international drug trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. 

According to information presented in court, the Los Pochos drug trafficking organization (DTO), based in Guatemala and Mexico, supplies multi-ton quantities of cocaine to multiple high-level Guatemala- and Mexico-based heads of cocaine trafficking cells. The Los Pochos DTO supplies vast quantities of cocaine to Sinaloa Cartel leaders who have an existing transportation infrastructure to receive, consolidate, and transport the cocaine to markets in the United States.

Juan Jose Morales Cifuentes, 33, also known as Pancho, a leader of the Los Pochos DTO since 2019, is a Guatemala-based cocaine distributor and transportation coordinator associated with the Sinaloa Cartel and the son-in-law of deceased significant foreign narcotics trafficker Erik Salvador Suñiga Rodriguez.  Morales Cifuentes is notorious for using violence to resolve conflicts and has engaged in executions of former associates in furtherance of the Los Pochos DTO’s narcotics trafficking activities. Mexican traffickers pay taxes to Morales Cifuentes to store their narcotics in the Guatemalan border towns of Tecun Uman and San Marcos. The organization purchases approximately 4,000 kilograms of cocaine monthly, totaling approximately 48,000 kilograms yearly, and is responsible for supplying multiple high-level Guatemalan and Mexican drug traffickers, including Mexico-based cartel leaders.  Morales Cifuentes was extradited from Guatemala to the United States on May 16, 2024.

On June 15, 2023, a grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas charged Morales Cifuentes with multiple crimes, including conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine, intending, knowing, and having reasonable cause to believe it would be unlawfully imported to the United States.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case is being investigated by the North Texas Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) Strike Force Group Two; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Division; the DEA’s Guatemala City Country Office and the DEA’s San Jose (Costa Rica) Country Office; the FBI’s Dallas Field Office; the Homeland Security Investigation’s Dallas and Guatemala Field Offices; the U.S. Marshals Service’s Dallas Field Office; and Customs and Border Patrol’s San Diego Field Office. 

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition to the United States.  This individual is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Wynne.

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SHERMAN – Four Guatemalan citizens have been extradited to the United States to face international drug trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. 

Jorge Luis Rodriguez, 63; Pedro Pablo Yaser Barrios-Cruz, 49; Melvin Hilario Estrada-Flores, 35; and Magner Lopez-Mejia, 45, were extradited from Guatemala to the United States on May 16, 2024.

According to the information presented in court, the defendants are alleged to have been involved in a Guatemalan-based drug trafficking organization that uses U.S. planes to transport cocaine from Venezuela to Guatemala and then to Mexico for ultimate distribution in the United States.  The defendants’ network distributed multi-ton quantities of cocaine monthly.  On Nov. 9, 2020, the defendants crashed a plane with more than 1000 kilograms of cocaine in Guatemala resulting in a shoot-out with Guatemalan police after the crash.

On June 10, 2021, a grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas charged the defendants with multiple crimes, including conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine, intending, knowing, and having reasonable cause to believe it would be unlawfully imported to the United States and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute by person on board an aircraft.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations’ Dallas, HSI Laredo, and HSI Guatemala Field Offices; Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security; Federal Aviation Administration; and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations. 

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition to the United States.  These individuals are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Rapp.

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SHERMAN, Texas – Three men were sentenced yesterday by Judge Jeremy Kernodle to federal prison for violent crimes committed in Grayson and Tarrant Counties, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

According to information presented in court, on Oct. 3, 2020, Brian Deboris Black, 33, Jason Von Brown, 44, and Kenneth Holt, 44, robbed a Dollar General store in Tom Bean, Texas.  During the robbery, Black brandished a firearm and threatened to kill the three employees in the store if they did not comply with his demands. As Black exited the store, he pointed the firearm at individuals standing outside the door of the convenience store, threatening to shoot them as well.

On Oct. 13, 2020, Black and Brown committed a home invasion robbery in Mansfield, Texas.  They entered the home at gunpoint, kidnapped three family members and restrained them with zip ties, and demanded money while threatening to kill them if they did not comply.  Black shot the homeowners’ son in the stomach and his right arm after he was able to free himself from the zip ties.  The victim, who testified at trial, survived the shooting but sustained permanent injuries.  During the investigation, it was determined that Brandol Abram, 42, orchestrated the entire home invasion based on his belief that the family was in possession of $10 million at their residence.

Black proceeded to trial on May 16, 2023.  Co-defendant testimony, DNA, home security video, and cell phone analysis were instrumental in securing Black’s conviction for robbery, carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and kidnapping.  Black was sentenced to 489 months.

Brown pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and aiding and abetting and was sentenced to 180 months.

Abram pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and aiding and abetting and was sentenced to 200 months.

Holt pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy to rob the Dollar General and was sentenced to 96 months on October 25, 2022.

Restitution was ordered to be paid to the victims of the offenses.

“The commission of violent crimes such as these—threatening, shooting, and injuring innocent people will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Diggs. “The sentences that these defendants received demonstrates that justice for the victims was served and our communities will be safer as a result.  Black, who was the most violent member of the crew, effectively received a life sentence and ensures that he will no longer be a threat to society.”

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Sherman Resident Agency, Tom Bean Police Department, Whitewright Police Department, Sherman Police Department, Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Lab.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracey M. Batson and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Ernest Gonzalez.

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