Eastern District of Texas

MARSHALL, Texas – A Daingerfield man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Reco Tyrone Hayes, 51, was convicted by a jury for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap on September 28, 2026.

According to information presented in court, Hayes supplied more than a kilogram of methamphetamine to a street-level drug dealer for further distribution.  Hayes operated his drug business from a drug location in Daingerfield known as The Compound. 

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigations Division, and Daingerfield Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucas Machicek and Dustin Farahnak.

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MARSHALL, Texas - A Leesburg man has been sentenced to 29 years in federal prison for child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Wesley Jacob Hearon, 36, pleaded guilty to production of child pornography and was sentenced to 348 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap on September 28, 2026.

According to information presented in court, Hearon used various online personas on social media chat platforms to coerce minor victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct, produce visual depictions of such conduct, and transmit them over the internet. 

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, Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigations Division, and Palo Alto (California) Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Austin Wells and Lucas Machicek.

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SHERMAN, Texas – An Irving couple has been convicted in federal court of charges related to a multi-million-dollar fraud conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Marina Brooks, 70, and Charles Brooks, 74, were both found guilty by a jury of conspiring to commit wire fraud.  The verdicts were reached on September 28, 2026, following a week-long trial before U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant. 

According to information presented in court, the defendants engaged in a multi-year, multi-million-dollar investment fraud scheme targeting Hispanic victims, including American citizens and immigrants.  The defendants fraudulently solicited investments, including investments in entertainment and cryptocurrency ventures, including through radio advertisements.  Evidence at trial showed that the defendants’ lies included promises and representations that the investments they sold would earn 100%, that shares in a private company would go up and never down, and that one of the cryptocurrencies they sold carried no risk.  The defendants used much of the investor funds for their own purposes, including paying themselves and soliciting investments from additional victims.  In all, the defendants fraudulently took at least $9.5 million from over 700 victim investors.

“For years, Marina and Charles Brooks repeatedly victimized hardworking members of the community in the Eastern District of Texas and elsewhere,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.  “Through their lies, the family stole life savings and retirement earnings from people who had worked for decades to realize the American dream.  Working with our law enforcement partners like the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation, our office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who lie for money and to vigorously seek justice for their victims.”

“Today’s guilty verdict provides justice to the victims whose lives were financially impacted by this investment scheme. Through fraudulent representations and fake business ventures, these defendants solicited funds from vulnerable investors and diverted them for their own personal gain,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “The FBI remains committed to working closely with our partners to ensure that individuals who engage in fraudulent conduct are held accountable.”

“The evidence against Charles and Marina Brooks was overwhelming, and it begins with the bravery of their victims to come forward and help us put an end to this fraud. This conspiracy deceived the victims for years, targeting many in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and beyond. It is why IRS Criminal Investigation, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office pool our resources to stop these criminals,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr., of IRS Criminal Investigation's Texas Field Office. “Investor fraud is often a story of misplaced trust and grand promises. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is and you should walk away.”

The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is up to 20 years in federal prison, a potential fine, and restitution at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence 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.  Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was investigated by the FBI and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter T. Thomas and Ashlyn Scott.

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PLANO, Texas – Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs and Criminal Chief Matt Quinn were part of a delegation including five U.S. Attorneys and lead prosecutors from nine federal districts in an unprecedented visit to Guatemala this week.     

Chargé d’Affaires Jorgan Andrews welcomed a delegation of senior officials from the U.S. Department of Justice in a visit to Guatemala to advance the Trump Administration’s policy of eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations, securing borders, and protecting American citizens from transnational threats. Their presence in the country reflects the seriousness with which the U.S. government addresses transnational crime and our commitment to confronting it together with Guatemala, by pursuing drug traffickers and human smugglers, their enablers, and those who provide them protection, including narco-linked politicians. 

“The Eastern District of Texas, in coordination with the DEA and the government of Guatemala, has made great strides in stripping corrupt mayors of their immunity under Guatemalan law so they may be prosecuted for their crimes in the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.  “We have successfully brought four corrupt Guatemalan mayors and one corrupt member of congress in Guatemala to justice.”

The delegation met with President Bernardo Arévalo, Attorney General Gabriel García Luna, and Minister of the Interior Marco Antonio Villeda to strengthen coordination and reaffirm the U.S commitment to supporting Guatemala’s investigative capacity and judicial processes to build criminal cases for prosecution in U.S. courts. Curbing the flow of narcotics, money laundering, and human trafficking and smuggling into the United States makes our countries and the Western Hemisphere safer.  

At the conclusion of the meeting, U.S. Attorney Combs boarded a plane and accompanied four indicted individuals from Guatemala to the United States, including Juan Carlos Cruz Ovalle.  Ovalle was indicted in 2018 and is alleged to have trafficked multi-ton quantities of cocaine from Guatemala for distribution to the United States.  The defendants appeared in federal court in Plano on September 25, 2026.  It is important to note that a federal indictment is not evidence of guilt and all defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty. 

The Justice Department extends its gratitude to the Government of Guatemala and its prosecutorial and law enforcement authorities for making the extraditions possible. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala with assistance from the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) secured the defendants’ arrests and extraditions from Guatemala.

These cases are in support of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.  HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CD); United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas. 

The Guatemala delegation meeting included federal prosecutors from the Eastern District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, Southern District of California, District of Arizona, District of New Mexico, Southern District of Florida, and Northern District of New York, along with senior leaders of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, represented by Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Skaret, Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) and Vulcan (JTFV), and officials from the DEA, FBI, and HSI. The Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT), represented by Director Erik Peterson, coordinated the visit.

   
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SHERMAN, Texas – An Arizona woman and a Dallas man have been sentenced to federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation into a deadly fentanyl overdose in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Pamela Esquivias, also known as Azalea, 25, of Maricopa, Arizona, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on September 17, 2026.

Aaron Jay Perez, 29, of Dallas, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by Judge Mazzant on September 17, 2026.

According to information presented in court, in August 2023, a 16-year-old girl overdosed and died in Flower Mound after ingesting counterfeit oxycodone laced with fentanyl.  A law enforcement investigation into the death identified Esquivias as a fentanyl source of supply, distributing hundreds of thousands of blue M-30 fentanyl tablets from Arizona to multiple states, including Texas. The investigation also revealed Perez as a local distributor in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, responsible for trafficking not only fentanyl, but large quantities of marijuana and cocaine.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.  HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.

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SHERMAN, Texas – A Mozambican has been sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation for a money laundering conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Norolamin Gulam, 53, a national of Mozambique living in Portugal, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on September 15, 2026.  Gulam was also ordered to pay a money judgement of $7.5 million.

According to information presented in court, since 2021, Gulam was identified as the leader of a transnational money laundering organization with connections and ties throughout Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia, the United States, and Central and South America.  Gulam used multiple businesses and real estate ventures to launder multi-million dollar amounts of drug proceeds.  It is believed Gulam was responsible for laundering a minimum of $500 million in U.S. currency.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.  HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas; and the DEA Bilateral Investigations Unit - Special Operations Division, Virginia, with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.

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PLANO, Texas –The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas today announced results as part of a nationwide enforcement action led by the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Small Business Administration, and the SBA Office of Inspector General targeting fraud in the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).  The Eastern District of Texas was a key participant in this surge effort.   

From June 12 to September 1, federal prosecutors across the country facilitated fraud enforcement actions involving over 160 defendants and approximately $245 million in intended loss to American taxpayers.  

“In the Eastern District of Texas, we will spare no effort to recover ill-gotten gains,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.  “These funds were intended to keep small businesses alive, not fund the lifestyles of individuals taking advantage of the programs.”  

“Pandemic loan relief was meant to keep American small businesses alive during government lockdowns—not line the pockets of fraudsters,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The defendants charged during our summer surge allegedly fabricated businesses, submitted false payroll and revenue claims, stole identities, and concealed foreign ties on their applications— but they will now be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

“This summer surge shows what is possible when dedicated public servants across the country work together with a single purpose,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Our mission is clear: protect taxpayer funds, safeguard the integrity of federal relief programs, and deliver justice to those who exploited them. We will remain steadfast every day—standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners—to identify fraud, pursue those responsible, and restore confidence in the programs meant to help American small businesses thrive.”

“Today’s announcement represents the largest-ever action against perpetrators of SBA fraud, with 870,000 suspended borrowers tied to $39 billion in suspected fraudulent PPP and COVID EIDL activity. In partnership with Vice President Vance and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, we’re putting fraudsters on notice: the federal government will no longer turn a blind eye to those who stole from taxpayers and exploited programs designed to sustain small businesses during the pandemic,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “With demand letters going out to suspected fraudsters, we’re also sending a clear message that they must repay their debts or face Treasury collections and possible federal law enforcement. Under this Administration, the free ride is over. We are restoring accountability, recovering taxpayer dollars, and protecting SBA programs for the legitimate small businesses they were created to serve.”

“Operation No Doze brings a focused and coordinated approach to pursuing fraud in SBA’s pandemic relief programs,” said SBA Inspector General William Kirk. “By concentrating our investigative resources and working closely with SBA and our law enforcement partners, we are strengthening our ability to identify fraud, recover taxpayer funds, and hold accountable those who exploited programs created to help small businesses in a time of extraordinary need. This initiative makes clear that the passage of time does not diminish our commitment to accountability.”
In the Eastern District of Texas, U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs announced that three defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.  Two other defendants have been set for trial.

On August 12, 2026, Weldon Greer, Jr., 61, of Houston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces up to 30 years in federal prison.  According to information presented in court, from 2020 through 2021, Greer conspired to fraudulently obtain dozens of PPP and EIDL loans by submitting falsified supporting documentation to the SBA.  The total loss to the SBA was at least $8,394,561. Greer’s co-conspirator, Jarrod Durant Wilburn, 58, of Houston, has also been charged and is set for trial on October 13, 2026, in Beaumont.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Carter. 

On August 13, 2026, Thomas Flanagan, 66, of Beaumont, was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with four counts of wire fraud.  According to the indictment, Flanagan is alleged to have submitted falsified applications for forgiveness of PPP loans for two businesses, James Flanagan Shipping Corporation and P.C. Pfeiffer Co. Inc., resulting in a loss to the SBA of $1,514,917.  If convicted, Flanagan faces up to 20 years in federal prison.  Flanagan is set for trial in January of 2027 in Beaumont.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.   

Craig Bennett, 51, and his wife, Chemika Bennett, 53, of Celina, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  The Bennetts applied online for PPP loans under their own names, as well as business names using fraudulent statements and information claiming the loans would be used for business expenses and employee payroll.  However, the Bennetts did not have employees or business expenses, and the loans were sued for their personal expenses.  The loss to the SBA is $697,000.   The couple faces up to 20 years in federal prison and will be sentenced on November 10, 2026, in Sherman. 

These cases were investigated by the SBA – Office of Inspector General and the FBI.  

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.   
   
An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.   

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TYLER, Texas – A Longview man has been charged with federal violations related to falsified tax returns in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. 

Jason Elias Briley, 42, was named in a 19-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in August 2026, charging him with aiding or assisting in tax fraud.  Briley appeared in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge K. Nicole Mitchell on September 9, 2026.

According to information presented in court, Briley owned a tax preparation business in Longview and is alleged to have prepared federal tax returns on behalf of his clients that included false information in an attempt to increase the refund amounts.  The documented tax loss is alleged to be approximately $370,000.   

If convicted, Briley faces up to three years in federal prison.  It is important to note that an indictment or arrest should not be considered as evidence of guilt and that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson.

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PLANO, Texas – Two Chinese nationals have been indicted and charged with federal drug trafficking violations as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Lisa Xing, 36, and Zhanwen Song, 38, Chinese citizens, were charged in a six-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas, charging them with drug trafficking and money laundering violations. 

In May, Adell Willis, 43, of Lewisville, and Judy Ly, 30, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, were indicted in the same conspiracy.  All four defendants have been charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; conspiracy to possess contraband in prison; conspiracy to manufacture and distribute controlled substances knowing it would be unlawfully imported into the United States; and conspiracy to commit money laundering.  Willis was also charged with possession of synthetic drugs with intent to distribute.   

“The indictment alleges that a China‑based supplier and a domestic distributor worked together to bring deadly synthetic drugs into the United States for distribution across the country,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “We will continue working with our Homeland Security Task Force partners to pursue and hold accountable those who traffic dangerous drugs into our country.”

“The Homeland Security Task Force was established by President Trump’s executive order to protect Americans from illegal drug activity infesting our communities,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This FBI and our partners will stop at nothing to identify, find, and arrest these criminals who bring drugs to our streets. These two Chinese nationals allegedly trafficked dangerous, synthetic drugs from China into the United States and smuggled them into our prison systems for illicit gain. This HSTF investigation is yet another example, among thousands, of our task forces working throughout the country, every day, to make it safer for everyone. Thank you to FBI Dallas and our great law enforcement partners across the interagency who worked this investigation with us.”

“Today’s announcement underscores DEA’s commitment to attack the entire synthetic drug supply chain and trace these deadly substances back to their source. This investigation led us to China, and thanks to the cooperation of Chinese law enforcement, two Chinese nationals are now in custody and will face justice for their role in supplying dangerous drugs destined for Americans,” said DEA Administrator Terry Cole. “DEA’s global reach and chemical precursor expertise are unmatched. We are proud to bring those capabilities to the Homeland Security Task Force as we work together to identify these networks, dismantle their supply chains, and build landmark cases.”

The indictment alleges that beginning in March 2023, the defendants conspired to possess synthetic opioids, synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic stimulants, and other controlled analogues, in correctional institutions.  It is alleged in the indictment that Willis purchased synthetic drugs from Xing and Song in China and had them shipped to his residence in the Eastern District of Texas and Ly’s residence in Michigan.  It is also alleged that once Willis and Ly received the synthetic drugs, they would convert the drugs to a liquid before soaking sheets of paper in the drug mixture.  Once the sheets of paper were saturated, they were then delivered to inmates at various federal and state correctional institutions across the country. 

China’s Ministry of Public Security arrested Xing, Song, and 19 co-conspirators, seized 475 kilograms of synthetic cannabinoids, and shutdown four illicit manufacturing sites in China. The FBI-MPS counternarcotics working group, established in January 2026, facilitated the collaborative efforts to dismantle this transnational criminal network. These results represent a major milestone in U.S.–China counternarcotics cooperation and underscore the effectiveness of sustained, structured coordination between both countries in addressing the international illicit chemical supply chain.

If convicted, the defendants each face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.  HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucas Machicek and Dustin Farahnak.

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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SHERMAN, Texas –A Bonham man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Raymundo Duran Baza, 21, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael Truncale on September 4, 2026.

According to information presented in court, from September 2024 through October 2024, Baza and at least one other person conspired to engage in the business of dealing in firearms, while not being a licensed firearms dealer.  During this time, Baza was responsible for buying and re-selling firearms and Machine Gun Conversion Devices for profit. 

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to making our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Smith.

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SHERMAN, Texas – A Hewitt man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for a drug trafficking violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Thomas James Hurtt, 33, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael Truncale on September 4, 2026.

According to information presented in court, on February 21, 2024, law enforcement officers with the Cross Roads Police Department responded to a report of an overdose victim in Denton County.  The victim was treated with Naloxone and transported to the hospital where they eventually recovered.  Further investigation revealed Hurtt as the supplier of the counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl.     

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Cross Roads Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for a drug trafficking violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Joskin Love, 50, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on September 3, 2026.

According to information presented in court, on March 19, 2025, Love was stopped for a traffic violation.  Officers smelled marijuana during the stop.  A search was conducted resulting in the discovery of methamphetamine and fentanyl-laced pills.       

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Texas Department of Public Safety – Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reynaldo P. Morin.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been sentenced to federal prison for a bank fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. 

Byron Demetrius Franklin, 61, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on September 3, 2026. 

According to information presented in court, in January of 2025, Franklin attempted to deposit a U.S. Treasury check in the amount of $1,197,149.98 at a Walmart ATM in Houston to a U.S. Automobile Association federal banking account (USAA). Franklin called USAA and spoke with a bank financial investigator to complain that the check amount was read incorrectly by the ATM and only deposited $119,714.99.  USAA credited Franklin’s account a difference of $1,077,434.99 for the reported error, but gave Franklin access to the $119,714.99, while they verified the check’s authenticity.  Between January 18, 2025, to January 20, 2025, Franklin withdrew a total of $5,507.90 from the account via JP Morgan Chase and 5Point Credit Union ATMs in Beaumont before USAA closed Franklin’s account because the check was found to have been altered.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Automobile Association and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove.

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TYLER, Texas – A Tyler man has been charged with federal child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. 

Dennis Smith, 66, was named in a four-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on August 19, 2026, charging him with coercion and enticement, attempted production of child pornography with intent to transport to the United States, transportation of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.  Smith was arrested in Tyler on September 2, 2026, and will make an initial appearance in federal court on September 3, 2026.   

According to the indictment, on various dates in 2019 and 2022, Smith is alleged to have committed numerous offenses involving minor victims. 

If convicted, Smith faces life in federal prison.

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 is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigations Division, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, and the Smith County District Attorney’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Richards and Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld are prosecuting the case.

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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PLANO, Texas – The Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative was established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.  

In the Eastern District of Texas, three defendants were sentenced to a total of 386 months in federal prison during the month of August as part of the Homeland Security Task Force, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.  Additionally, another defendant was convicted by a jury of drug trafficking violations and faces life in federal prison at sentencing.

On August 6, 2026, Jose Romero-Sanchez, 25, a Mexican national illegally living in Dallas, was sentenced to 156 months in federal prison for receiving multi-kilo quantities of methamphetamine from Mexico and storing them at his residence for further distribution. 

On August 25, 2026, a Dallas man was sentenced to 200 months in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas. Joshua Isaiah Castillo, 31, is responsible for trafficking large amounts of fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills and fentanyl powder in bulk form for redistribution. 

On August 27, 2026, Jose Guadalupe Lopez-Arana, 41, a Mexican national illegally living in Irving, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for laundering between $150,000 and $250,000 in drug proceeds. 

On August 27, 2026, 45-year-old Colombian, Nelson Javier Christancho Parada, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of federal drug trafficking violations.  Christancho Parada used his skills as a machinist to manufacture water bag rolls with a false compartment in them. He and others filled the false void with kilograms of cocaine that were intended to be sent to the United States. The Colombia National Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and DEA were able to seize 1,207 kilograms of cocaine on November 22, 2019, on the island of San Andres, Colombia, that were sent in a cargo shipment. The cocaine was found in hidden voids in the containers that Christancho Parada manufactured.  He faces life in federal prison at sentencing.  

“Christancho Parada’s verdict marks another significant step in our ongoing efforts to dismantle the transnational criminal networks that threaten the safety and security of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.  “This defendant exploited his technical skills to hide more than a metric ton of cocaine destined for the United States, but through the dedication of our Colombian partners and the unwavering commitment of Homeland Security Task Force agencies, his scheme was uncovered and justice has been served.  The Homeland Security Task Force represents a historic level of coordination among federal law enforcement, and this case demonstrates exactly why that partnership matters. We will continue to use every lawful tool at our disposal to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who traffic drugs, exploit vulnerable people, and endanger Americans. I am grateful for the outstanding work of our agents, officers, and prosecutors whose efforts made this outcome possible.”

HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas.

For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx.

PLANO, Texas –A Denton convicted felon has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Jamarez D Anthony McIntosh, 36, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on September 2, 2026.

According to information presented in court, on November 13, 2023, McIntosh was stopped for a traffic violation.  During the stop, the vehicle was searched and a bag containing a loaded 9mm handgun was located.  Further investigation revealed McIntosh is a convicted felon and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms. 

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to making our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

This case was investigated by the Denton Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Smith.

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PLANO, Texas – A Dallas man has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking cocaine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Jose Luis Gonzalez, Jr., 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on September 2, 2026.

According to information presented in court, from 2021 through 2023, Gonzalez was part of a drug trafficking conspiracy responsible for distributing multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine from Mexico throughout the United States, including the Eastern District of Texas.  Gonzalez is personally responsible for trafficking at least 50 kilograms of cocaine.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.  HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Darrell Joshua Bendy, 42, was convicted at trial of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 480 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on September 2, 2026.

According to information presented in court, from December 2022 through November 2024, Bendy supplied kilogram quantities of methamphetamine to a drug trafficker in Beaumont.  During the conspiracy, Bendy lived in, and conducted his drug trafficking activities from Houston.  During the investigation, law enforcement authorities seized more than 5 kilograms of methamphetamine and over $100,000 in cash.  It is believed that between 20-30 kilograms of methamphetamine have been distributed as part of this drug trafficking conspiracy.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.  HSTF Houston comprises agents and officers from the FBI; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Houston (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI); and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas; Texas Department of Public Safety; Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office; Beaumont Police Department; Port Neches Police Department; Harris County Sheriff’s Office; Vidor Police Department; and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan C. Lee and John B. Ross.

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SHERMAN, Texas – An illegal alien has been sentenced to federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Jose Guadalupe Lopez-Arana, 41, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and aiding and abetting and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on August 27, 2026.

According to information presented in court, in 2023, Lopez-Arana, a Mexican national illegally living in Irving, was identified during an investigation into activities associated with a drug trafficking conspiracy responsible for distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl.  Lopez-Arana was specifically responsible for receiving and delivering proceeds from the drug trafficking organization to conceal the illegal activity.  Lopez-Arana laundered between $150,000 and $250,000 in U.S. currency. 

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.  HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Wes Wynne.

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SHERMAN, Texas – A Colombian man has been found guilty of federal drug trafficking violations as part of the Homeland Security Task Force in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Nelson Javier Christancho Parada, 45, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of federal drug trafficking violations related to a cocaine distribution conspiracy.  The verdict was reached on August 27, 2026, following a two-day trial before U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan. 

According to information presented in court, Cristancho Parada used his skills as a machinist to manufacture water bag rolls with a false compartment in them. He and others filled the false void with kilograms of cocaine that were intended to be sent to the United States. The Colombia National Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and DEA were able to seize 1,207 kilograms of cocaine on November 22, 2019, on the island of San Andres, Colombia, that were sent in a cargo shipment. The cocaine was found in hidden voids in the containers that Cristancho Parada manufactured.

“Today’s verdict marks another significant step in our ongoing efforts to dismantle the transnational criminal networks that threaten the safety and security of our communities," said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.  "This defendant exploited his technical skills to hide more than a metric ton of cocaine destined for the United States, but through the dedication of our Colombian partners and the unwavering commitment of Homeland Security Task Force agencies, his scheme was uncovered and justice has been served.  The Homeland Security Task Force represents a historic level of coordination among federal law enforcement, and this case demonstrates exactly why that partnership matters. We will continue to use every lawful tool at our disposal to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who traffic drugs, exploit vulnerable people, and endanger Americans. I am grateful for the outstanding work of our agents, officers, and prosecutors whose efforts made today’s outcome possible.”

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.  HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Rapp and David Rehfuss.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont convicted felon has been found guilty of a federal firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

David Michael Gilliam, 45, was found guilty by a jury of being a felon in possession of a firearm following a trial before U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on August 27, 2026. 

According to information presented in court, on November 15, 2024, local law enforcement responded to a burglary alarm at an apartment complex on Magnolia Road in Beaumont.  As the officer arrived, he observed an apartment with broken windows and a door that appeared to have been forced open.  Upon entering the apartment, the officer encountered Gilliam, who stated he had been evicted from the apartment the previous day.  Gilliam gave consent to be searched, which resulted in the discovery of a firearm in a cross-body bag he was wearing.  Further investigation revealed Gilliam was a convicted felon and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. 

Gilliam faces up to 15 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.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

This case was investigated by the Beaumont Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Russell James and Chris Jackson.

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SHERMAN, Texas – A Quinlan woman has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Michelle Hignight, 48, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on August 25, 2026.

According to information presented in court, in 2023, Hignight was identified during an on-going investigation into drug trafficking activities in the Eastern District of Texas.  Hignight was responsible for trafficking at least 50 grams of methamphetamine during the conspiracy. 

This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Hunt County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Plano Office.

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SHERMAN, Texas – An illegal alien, who is also a convicted sex offender, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for an immigration violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Walter Enoe Reyes Guzman, 51, of El Salvador, pleaded guilty to illegally re-entering the United States after being deported and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on August 25, 2026.

According to information presented in court, in February 2026, Reyes Guzman was found illegally in the United States after having been deported in 2001.  Reyes Guzman is a convicted felon, having a prior felony conviction for indecency with a child by sexual contact. 

This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter T. Thomas.

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SHERMAN, Texas – A Greenville man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Ronnie Jakeis Zamijay Baylor, 22, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute and possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on August 25, 2026.

According to information presented in court, in 2023, an on-going investigation into drug trafficking in the Eastern District of Texas identified Baylor as an active participant, responsible for distributing over 500 grams of methamphetamine during the conspiracy. 

This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Plano Office.

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SHERMAN, Texas – A Dallas man has been sentenced to over 16 years in federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking fentanyl in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Joshua Isaiah Castillo, 31, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 200 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on August 25, 2026.

According to information presented in court, in 2024, Castillo was identified as being part of a drug trafficking organization in the Eastern District of Texas and was personally responsible for distributing large amounts of fentanyl-laced tablets and fentanyl powder in bulk form to others for redistribution.    

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.  HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.

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SHERMAN, Texas –A Plano convicted felon has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Tapatrick Newton Martin, 26, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on August 25, 2026.

According to information presented in court, on November 6, 2024, law enforcement officers responded to several calls made regarding a man armed with an AR-15-style firearm at a Plano apartment complex.  Witnesses described Martin walking in circles with the firearm and threatening to kill people on scene and advising others he planned to have a shootout with police when they arrived.  However, once officers arrived, Martin fled the scene. Further investigation revealed Martin is a convicted felon and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms. 

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

This case was investigated by the Plano Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chalana A. Oliver.

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BEAUMONT, Texas –A Beaumont convicted felon has been sentenced to federal prison for firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Kendrick Deon Ewing, 37, 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 August 20, 2026. 

According to information presented in court, on December 28, 2025, law enforcement responded to a Beaumont car wash where Ewing was involved in a disturbance.  As the officer approached, Ewing fled in a vehicle.  Later that evening, Ewing was located again and as the officer was speaking to him, Ewing put his vehicle in drive and fled the scene.  Ewing evaded officers for over a mile, failing to stop at approximately 14 stop signs, and traveling more than 50 mph in a residential neighborhood, before being apprehended after reaching a dead-end street and fleeing on foot.  A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of two firearms.  Further investigation revealed Ewing is a convicted felon and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James.

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BEAUMONT, Texas –A Beaumont felon has been sentenced to federal prison following a neighborhood shootout in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Martinez Lamond Baltrip, 29, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition and was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on August 20, 2026. 

According to information presented in court, on August 5, 2025, law enforcement responded to a shooting near Avenues G and H in Beaumont.  Officers found Baltrip at the scene suffering from a gunshot wound.  An investigation revealed Baltrip and the person who shot him had been involved in an ongoing dispute when Baltrip came upon him working on his vehicle.  Baltrip approached the individual and pulled out a 9mm pistol and began firing.  The other person retrieved a shotgun and returned fire on Baltrip, striking him.  Baltrip retreated to his vehicle and called police.  Police responded and recovered 9mm shell casings from the scene, which Baltrip admitted to firing.  Further investigation revealed Baltrip is a convicted felon and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James.

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BEAUMONT, Texas –A Beaumont convicted felon has been sentenced to federal prison for firearms possession in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Christopher Eugene Stelly, 23, 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 Marcia A. Crone on August 20, 2026. 

Stelly was arrested on September 30, 2025, after leading police on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle in Beaumont.  According to reports, law enforcement officers at the intersection of North Major Drive and Dishman Road noticed a stolen vehicle stopped at a traffic light near them.  The car suddenly accelerated through the red light and officers pursued in a high-speed chase.  Stelly eventually stopped the vehicle and fled on foot into an apartment complex on French Road where he was apprehended.  Stelly had a firearm in his pocket that had been reported stolen in 2018. Further investigation revealed Stelly is a convicted felon and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms. 

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – Eight inmates have pleaded guilty to possessing contraband while incarcerated at a federal prison in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Rudolph Tatum Jr., 44; Toan Tran, 47; Terral Blackwell, 49; Roderick Stills, 49; Gene Rudolph, 49; Elijah Pennington, 31; Dawnta Mitchell, 35; and Andre Powers, 41, have all pleaded guilty to possession of contraband in prison.  Plea hearings were heard by U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn on August 13, 2026.

These convictions are the direct result of a Department of Justice task force aimed at identifying and removing contraband and investigating misconduct in the federal prison complex in Beaumont.  An initial operation began on March 3, 2026, at the Federal Correctional Complex Beaumont (FCC Beaumont). During the operation, law enforcement officers identified and confiscated numerous electronic devices, drugs and associated paraphernalia, and homemade weapons. 

These defendants were all found in possession of working cell phones, and each admitted to obtaining the phones while serving federal prison sentences at the FCC-Beaumont Camp.  They each face an additional year in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence 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.

“Inmates with access to cell phones are continuing the criminal activities that landed them in prison to begin with,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.  “We will continue to work closely with BOP to ensure felons serve their time without treating it like a summer camp vacation.” 

“Cellphones in prison are a danger to inmates, staff, and the community at large,” said Special Agent in Charge Cloey Pierce of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General’s South Central Region. “The DOJ OIG is committed to working with its law enforcement partners to keep contraband out of federal prisons and ensure the safety and security of BOP institutions.”

“I witnessed firsthand the strength and effectiveness of this partnership at FCC Beaumont, where federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies came together with a shared commitment to identifying and removing dangerous contraband from our prisons,” said BOP Director William K. Marshall III. “Keeping contraband out of our institutions is critical to the safety and security of our facilities.”

This operation was supported by law enforcement agents and officers from the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Prisons, FBI, U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection, and local law enforcement from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.  The operation continues the longstanding cooperation between the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and other law enforcement partners to address the dangers of contraband in the federal prison system. 

These cases were investigated by the OIG, BOP, and FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Batte.

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BEAUMONT, Texas –A Nederland man has been sentenced to federal prison for firearms possession in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Christopher Wade Garbett, 40, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Truncale on August 12, 2026. 

According to information presented in court, in March 2025, law enforcement received information that Garbett was trying to sell three shotguns for $1,200. Garbett has multiple prior felony convictions and is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms.  Undercover agents met with Garbett at a motel room in Groves to buy the guns.  Garbett told the agents he had already sold one shotgun but would sell the other two firearms to them for $550.  Garbett also discussed selling them more guns in the future. 

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the Law enforcement seized firearms from the vehicle prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

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

TYLER, Texas – A former Cherokee County employee has pleaded guilty to a federal violation related to embezzling over $400,000 in funds in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. 

Gina Upshaw, 65, of Jacksonville, pleaded guilty to federal program theft before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love on August 11, 2026.

According to information presented in court, Upshaw was a bookkeeper for the Cherokee County Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office from 2008 through January 2022.  The Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office collects both property taxes and motor vehicle sales taxes, as well as registration fees, from Cherokee County residents, for both Cherokee County and the State of Texas. The office receives these payments in the form of both cash and checks.  During her employment as a bookkeeper for the office, Upshaw was responsible for making daily deposits of the cash payments at a local bank. Instead of doing so, Upshaw stole cash payments totaling $431,375.91.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

Upshaw faces up to 10 years in federal prison, a potential fine, and restitution at sentencing.  The maximum statutory sentence 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.  Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Texas Department of Public Safety Texas Rangers and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.

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BEAUMONT, Texas –A pair of illegal alien brothers have been sentenced to federal prison for firearms possession in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Isaac Valencia-Espinosa, 33, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on August 7, 2026.  Isaac’s brother, Fernando Valencia-Espinosa, 30, was also sentenced to 15 months in federal prison by Judge Crone on August 4, 2026, for the same violation.

According to information presented in court, in November 2025, while conducting enforcement actions in the Sabine National Forest, law enforcement encountered a vehicle occupied by two men later identified as Isaac Valencia-Espinosa and Fernando Valencia-Espinosa.  Both men provided Arkansas drivers licenses and claimed to be United States citizens. Homeland Security personnel determined the drivers’ licenses were fraudulent. Once Isaac and Fernando’s true names were ascertained, law enforcement determined they were both citizens of Mexico who were illegally present in the United States. Law enforcement also recovered two rifles and two handguns during the encounter.  Isaac and Fernando are prohibited from possessing firearms as they are illegally present in the United States.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the Law enforcement seized firearms from the vehicle prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Forest Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Department of Homeland Security.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Gaston.

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PLANO, Texas – An illegal alien has been sentenced to 13 years in federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Jose Romero-Sanchez, 25, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 156 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on August 6, 2026.

According to information presented in court, Romero-Sanchez, a Mexican national illegally living in Dallas, was part of a drug trafficking organization that distributed methamphetamine imported from Mexico into Dallas and the North Texas area.  Romero-Sanchez received 40-45 kilograms of methamphetamine from his source in Mexico at a time.  Romero-Sanchez stored the illegal drugs at his Dallas residence before distributing the drugs in the Eastern District of Texas and elsewhere.  A search of Romero-Sanchez’s residence resulted in the seizure of over 49 kilograms of methamphetamine, a digital scale, bulk U.S. currency, a drug ledger, and a bill counter.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.  HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.

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PLANO, Texas – A Dallas drug dealer has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison in the Eastern District of Texas in connection with an overdose death, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Dauerashawn Carr, 49, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine and was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on August 6, 2026.

According to information presented in court, on June 26, 2022, an unresponsive individual was dropped off at an Irving hospital and ultimately died from the toxic effects of a drug overdose.  An investigation revealed the victim had purchased drugs from an individual working directly for Carr.  Further investigation revealed Carr was using at least four separate rooms at a Dallas hotel as his residence and his personal stash house where he stored, packaged, and sold a multitude of illegal and counterfeit drugs.  According to drug ledgers found in the hotel rooms, the following drugs were distributed on a regular basis: Adderall, Blue M-30, Cocaine, Ketamine, LSD, MDMA, Marijuana, Mushrooms, and Xanax.

“Every drug overdose death leaves countless victims,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “The victims are the dead, taken too early, families who lose loved ones, and the community that has been torn apart.  This case embodies the devastating impact illicit drugs have on individuals, families, and communities. Our deepest sympathies are with the victim and his family, as well as with all others who have lost loved ones due to fentanyl or other controlled substances. Let this 360-month sentence send an unmistakable message: if you choose to profit from distributing these deadly substances, my office will pursue you relentlessly and hold you fully accountable. We will continue to use every tool available to identify, investigate, and prosecute those responsible for poisoning our communities.” 

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.                                                                             

This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Little Elm Police Department, and Lewisville Police Department and prosecuted by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.

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PLANO, Texas – An Anna man has been sentenced to over 20 years in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Pedro Rodriguez, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced to 248 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on August 5, 2026.

According to information presented in court, an investigation into methamphetamine trafficking in the area led to Rodriguez.  It was determined that from at least September 2024, Rodriguez was conspiring with others to distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, and elsewhere. Rodriguez was also found to be in possession of a firearm during his drug trafficking activities. 

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Collin County Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley D. Brooks.

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BEAUMONT, Texas –A Mexican national illegally in the United States has been sentenced to federal prison for firearms possession in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Alberto Saenz-DeLaCruz, 33, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on August 4, 2026.

According to information presented in court, on December 8, 2025, Saenz-DeLaCruz was stopped for a traffic violation in Lufkin.  During the stop, Saenz-DeLaCruz provided a Mexican passport for identification, but did not provide a driver license.  A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a firearm and drug paraphernalia.  Further investigation revealed Saenz-DeLaCruz was a Mexican citizen who had previously been deported from the United States and did not have permission to return to the United States.  As a prohibited person, Saenz-DeLaCruz cannot legally possess firearms in the United States.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Department of Homeland Security.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Gaston.

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PLANO, Texas – The Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative was established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.  

In the Eastern District of Texas, two defendants were sentenced to a total of 350 months in federal prison during the month of July as part of the Homeland Security Task Force, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.  Additionally, two other defendants pleaded guilty to drug trafficking violations and face up to life in federal prison, and a fugitive was extradited from Qatar after absconding to Pakistan.  

On July 8, 2026, Nestor Molina Molina, also known as Chocolate, 37, a Mexican national illegally living in Garland, was sentenced to 140 months in federal prison for being involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  Molina Molina was part of a cartel affiliated drug trafficking organization that distributed multiple kilogram quantities of methamphetamine from Mexico into the United States.  A methamphetamine conversion laboratory, along with large amounts of methamphetamine in the conversion process, were discovered at Molina Molina’s residence during the investigation.

On July 10, 2026, a Houston man pleaded guilty to being involved in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas.  Indolfo Hernandez, 36, faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison for leading a drug trafficking organization responsible for trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine.  Law enforcement seized over 16 kilograms of the drug during the investigation. 

On July 10, 2026, Garland man, Abdullah Anwar, 28, was extradited from Qatar to the United States to face multiple charges in the Eastern District of Texas, including conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate and foreign commerce.  Anwar had fled the United States for Pakistan while on pretrial release. 

On July 20, 2026, Saginaw man, Kevin Chase McCauley, 38, was sentenced to over 17 years in federal prison for selling fentanyl-laced hydrocodone pills resulting in the death of an individual in Argyle, Texas.  McCauley was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for drug trafficking violations.

On July 22, 2026, Luis Enrique Ruiz Morales, 40, pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges on the 2nd day of his jury trial.  Morales was extradited from Guatemala to the United States after being indicted in the Eastern District of Texas for his involvement in a drug trafficking organization responsible for smuggling cocaine from Tecun Uman, a city located on Guatemala’s border with Mexico, to members of the Sinaloa Cartel for further distribution.  Morales faces up to life in federal prison at sentencing.  

HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas.

For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx.

TYLER, Texas – A national of Côte d’Ivoire has been indicted in a $14 million fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Koffi Dongo Parfait Teya, 30, of Core D’Ivoire, was indicted by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud; wire fraud; and unauthorized use of an access device. 

The three-count indictment alleges that Teya and associates utilized an email phishing scheme to target travel agencies with deceptive emails. They sent emails claiming to be from the company that handles airline reservations for the travel agencies, stating there was a security update that required their login credentials. The emails included links to fake websites that closely resembled the real reservation company’s login page. When the travel agency employees entered their information, their credentials were stolen. The group then used the stolen credentials to access the legitimate reservation system and book airline tickets, charging the costs to the travel agencies’ accounts. In total, the scheme caused about $14 million in losses to approximately 430 travel agencies.

Teya has been arrested in Cote D’Ivoire with the cooperation and assistance of law enforcement there although he will not be extradited to face charges in the Eastern District of Texas, but charges are expected to be pursued against him in Cote D’Ivoire. 

This case is a part of Operation Riptide, an FBI campaign targeting the criminal actors, infrastructure, and financial networks behind cyber-enabled crime and fraud against the American people.  Operation Riptide seeks to eliminate cyber-enabled crime, fraud, and predatory schemes that operate through organized criminal networks and the online services that support them, often reaching across borders to evade law enforcement.  These schemes are especially destructive for family-owned and small businesses, often resulting in closures and financial ruin.

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

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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BEAUMONT, Texas – A Sunset, Louisiana, man has been sentenced to over 25 years in federal prison for a violent crime spree in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. 

Bracelon Armon Charles, 23, pleaded guilty to attempted carjacking; carjacking; Hobbs Act robbery; and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and was sentenced to 308 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on July 30, 2026. 

According to information presented in court, on October 6-7, 2023, Charles and a juvenile engaged in a violent crime spree that included the attempted carjacking of a vehicle in Beaumont, the shooting of the vehicle’s owner, another carjacking in Port Arthur, and an attempted armed robbery of a convenience store in Beaumont. 

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Beaumont Police Department; the Port Arthur Police Department; and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tommy Coleman.

BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been sentenced to federal prison for burglarizing a gun store in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Leonard Joseph Flowers, 60, pleaded guilty to theft of a firearm from a licensed firearms dealer and was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on July 30, 2026.

According to information presented in court, on July 17, 2025, a federally licensed gun store on East-Tex Freeway in Beaumont was burglarized and three firearms were stolen. Soon after, an investigation began and Flowers turned himself in to law enforcement and admitted to smashing the front door of the gun store and stealing the firearms.  

Video surveillance identified the getaway car which led to James Christopher Moffett, a convicted felon.  Moffett was stopped for a traffic violation that same day and found to be in possession of two of the firearms stolen in the earlier burglary.  As a convicted felon, Moffett is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms.  Moffett, 56, of Beaumont, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison on June 4, 2026. 

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Beaumont Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James.

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SHERMAN, Texas – A Nashville, Tennessee man has been arrested and charged with federal child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.              

Joseph Dalton Bowman, 32, was named in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with coercion of a minor; production of child pornography; and traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.  Bowman appeared before U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on July 27, 2026, and was ordered to be detained. 

Investigators have reason to believe that there are additional victims in this case.  Bowman may have had contact with minors in the following cities and their surrounding areas:

Lakeland, Florida

Tampa, Florida 

North Chesterfield, Virginia 

Glen Allen, Virginia

Covington, Kentucky 

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 

New York City, New York

Brooklyn, New York

Mulvane, Kansas

Caldwell, Kansas

Kansas City, Missouri

Memphis, Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee

Mount Juliet, Tennessee

Orlando, Florida

Dallas, Texas

Frisco, Texas

If you suspect your child may have had contact with Joseph Dalton Bowman, either in person or through social media applications using accounts such as “snapwithdalton,” please call the HSI Tipline at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP.  Or you can submit a tip online at HSI Online Tip Form or NCMEC Tipline CyberTipline.  Law enforcement will take the necessary steps to protect all minors’ identities and confidential information. 

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

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 U.S. Attorneys' Offices and 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 Justice.gov/PSC.

This case is being investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations – Child Exploitation Group and the Frisco Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Calli Bailey.

It is important to note that an indictment or arrest should not be considered as evidence of guilt and that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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SHERMAN, Texas – Two North Texas men have been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking fentanyl in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Heath Darrian Denson, 28, of Dallas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III, on July 28, 2026.

Tyson Lamar Johnson, also known as TY, or TeeWhy, 38, of Plano, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III, on July 28, 2026.

According to information presented in court, Denson and Johnson were part of a drug trafficking conspiracy responsible for distributing was thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area including the Eastern District of Texas.  Johnson was also operating a trap, or drug distribution house on McCallum Avenue in Dallas.  During a search of the house, a firearm used in support of the illicit drug trafficking conspiracy was found. 

“The scourge of fentanyl has caused devastation and destruction across all of our communities. Trap houses filled with drugs and guns aren’t just figments of Hollywood’s imagination. They are real, tangible, and active in all of our neighborhoods. Texoma HIDTA will remain committed to assisting all of our partners in helping attack this plague on our society. Texoma HIDTA’s commitment to supporting public safety will remain unwavering,” stated Texoma HIDTA Director Keith Brown. 

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.                                                                                

This case was part of the Texoma HIDTA and investigated by the Plano Police Department, FBI, and the Texas Department of Public Safety with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen Smith.

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SHERMAN, Texas – A Venezuelan national, illegally in the United States, has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Anthony Juber Viloria Colina, 32, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on July 28, 2026.

According to information presented in court, on January 22, 2025, Colina was stopped for a traffic violation in Grayson County.  After consenting to a search of the vehicle and opening the trunk, Colina fled on foot.  Law enforcement discovered 100 individually wrapped “bricks” of methamphetamine in the trunk of the vehicle, totaling approximately 100 kilograms. 

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Erlandson.

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TYLER, Texas – A former law enforcement officer has pleaded guilty to child exploitation charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. 

Skyler Douglas Laza, 34, pleaded guilty on July 27, 2026, to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love.

According to court documents, on at least two occasions, Laza, a former licensed peace officer, persuaded a minor under the age of 12 to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of creating a visual depiction using a cell phone.  

The terms of Laza’s plea agreement contain an agreed sentencing range of between 40-60 years in federal prison as well as lifetime supervision and sex offender registration.  The actual 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 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 is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Dallas Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Palestine Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been sentenced for a violent crime in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Bradley Broussard, 39, pleaded guilty to brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence and was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on July 23, 2026. 

According to information presented in court, on July 5, 2025, Broussard entered a tobacco store on Washington Boulevard, pointed a firearm at the clerk, and demanded money.  Broussard fled the store with a bag containing money from the register.  Broussard’s getaway driver, Dustin Lee Davis, pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act robbery and was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison by Judge Crone on July 13, 2026. 

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

This case was investigated by the Beaumont Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A Mexican national, illegally living in Lufkin, has been sentenced to federal prison for an immigration violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Miguel Garza-Soluga, 45, pleaded guilty to illegally re-entering the United States after being deported and was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on July 23, 2026. 

According to information presented in court, in August 2025, Garza-Soluga was discovered illegally in the United States after having been previously deported in 2020 and 2022.  Garza-Soluga is a convicted felon having prior felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, and illegal reentry. 

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

This case was investigated by the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Gaston.

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BEAUMONT, Texas – A Kountze man has been sentenced for a federal firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Joshua Kenneth Hope, 33, 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 Marcia A. Crone on July 23, 2026. 

According to information presented in court, very early on June 21, 2025, local law enforcement responded to a call of shots fired near a Kountze residence when they encountered Hope with a shotgun.  Further investigation revealed that Hope was a convicted felon and had been previously convicted in Hardin County of aggravated assault family violence and assault on a public servant. Under federal law, convicted felons are prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. 

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

This case was investigated by the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross.

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TYLER, Texas – A Tyler man has been sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Patrick Dewayne Foreman, 61, 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 July 21, 2026.

According to information presented in court, on two separate occasions, Foreman was stopped in Smith County for traffic violations and during both stops was found in possession of drugs.  In total, officers recovered over 323 grams of methamphetamine; 3.32 grams of cocaine, marijuana, $9,524 in cash, and drug trafficking paraphernalia such as digital scales and unused syringes.  

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Smith County Sheriff’s Office and Tyler Police Department.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.

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TYLER, Texas – A Tyler drug trafficker has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

Delbert Dan Borens, Jr., 49, also known as Preacher, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on July 21, 2026.

According to information presented in court, from April to June of 2025, Borens and his co-conspirators sold a total of 564.3 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Longview.  On June 17, 2025, investigators executed a search warrant at Borens’ residence, during which they located and seized 1,115.51grams of methamphetamine, a firearm, drug distribution paraphernalia such as digital scales, a money counter, and plastic bags, and a total of $12,927 in cash.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Gregg County Sheriff’s Office; and Longview Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.

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