Southern District of Texas

McALLEN, Texas –A 47-year-old Edinburg resident has pleaded guilty to his role in a “pay-to-play” bribery scheme involving the Edinburg City Council, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Jorge “Coach” Salinas admitted that between June 2019 and March 2020, he participated in a scheme involving businesses seeking contracts with the city of Edinburg. Salinas, then a councilman, attended meetings where a business owner sought to reinstate a long-term contract that had expired and converted to month-to-month terms.

The business operated in Edinburg and the surrounding area. The owner had sought both to secure new work agreements and maintain existing ones with the city.

The owner spoke with Miguel Garza who outlined what would be needed to persuade the council to approve the deal. Garza claimed to know several council members, to include Salinas. He said that for a payment, he could deliver Salinas’ vote in favor of the contract and ensure a majority of council members supported it. Part of the money would go to certain members of the council who made up the majority.

On July 23, 2019, Salinas met with Garza and the business owner to discuss the pending contract. The business owner gave Garza $3,000 at that time, because Garza had represented they had an agreement to secure the Edinburg City Council vote on behalf of the business owner’s company. 

By attending this meeting, Salinas aided and abetted Garza’s criminal scheme to have council members take official acts in exchange for monetary payment.

“The public has a right to expect honesty and integrity from government officials,” said Ganjei. “If you participate in a pay-to-play scheme in the Southern District of Texas, you will definitely pay—the cost will be a federal indictment and prison term.”

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton will impose sentencing Nov. 5. At that time, Salinas faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Garza, 54, Edinburg, pleaded guilty May 2, 2023, and is also set for sentencing in November.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Arthur R. Jones and Robert L. Guerra are prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 37-year-old Mexican national is set to appear in federal court for a large-scale international marijuana and cocaine trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Juan Carlos Sanchez Gaytan has now landed on American soil and made his initial appearance in Arizona. He is expected to be transferred to the Southern District of Texas where he will appear in the near future. He is one of 26 people transferred to U.S authorities Aug. 12, pursuant to Mexico’s National Security Law, who were fugitives from Mexico facing a range of federal and state criminal charges from around the country.

“The Southern District of Texas has been waiting 15 long years for Mr. Sanchez Gaytan to accept our invitation to come pay us a visit in Laredo. That day, at long last, has finally arrived,” said Ganjei. “We look forward to laying out the evidence of Mr. Sanchez Gaytan’s alleged criminal activities to 12 men and women of South Texas, who will decide whether or not to extend his stay.”

A federal grand jury returned the 47-count superseding indictment in February 2010, charging Sanchez Gaytan and others with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances including marijuana and cocaine.

Sanchez Gaytan is one of 34 individuals named in the indictment spanning from 2001 through 2008. At that time, Miguel Angel Trevino Morales aka Z40 was a leader in the Gulf Cartel and its enforcement arm, the Zetas, according to the charges. The Gulf Cartel was allegedly in conflict and competition with the Sinaloa Cartel for control of the United States-Mexico border in and around Laredo known as the “Nuevo Laredo Plaza.”

The charges allege members and associates of the Zetas would transport firearms for use in this conflict with the Sinaloa Cartel, among other acts.

On Feb. 27, Mexican authorities transferred Trevino Morales, 52, and others to the United States. He is in U.S. custody on related charges of allegedly engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise that involved multiple murder conspiracies, conspiring to manufacture and distribute large quantities of cocaine and marijuana destined for the United States, using firearms - including a machinegun - during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes and conspiring to launder monetary instruments.

If convicted, Sanchez Gaytan and Trevino Morales both face up to life in federal prison.

Several others have already been convicted in the case and have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms, including Wenslaco Tovar aka Wency, Ivan Caballero-Velasquez aka Talivan, Jaime Miguel Diaz DeLeon aka Michael and Eduardo Carreon Ibarra aka Negro who received 340 months and 30, 40 and 45 years, respectively. Gabriel Cardona Ramirez aka Pelon was ordered to serve the rest of his life in federal prison in March 2009.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Laredo Police Department conducted the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation dubbed Operation Prophecy with assistance from Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Marshals Service, Webb County District Attorney's Office and Webb County Sheriff’s Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs has also provided assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Jensen is prosecuting the case.

The effort 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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s OCDETFand Project Safe Neighborhood.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

McALLEN, Texas – A South Texas man and woman have been ordered to federal prison for production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Luis Alberto Huerta, 44, Weslaco, and Jessica Gutierrez, 47, Donna, pleaded guilty Nov. 6, 2024.

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Huerta and Gutierrez to serve 360 and 336 months in prison, respectively. At the hearing, the court heard additional information detailing how Huerta and Gutierrez created a living hell for the victim and forced her to participate in a “game” that resulted in the continuous sexual abuse and production of child pornography of an innocent child. Huerta and Gutierrez will also serve the rest of their lives on supervised release following completion of their prison terms. During that time, they will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict their access to children and the internet. They will also be ordered to register as sex offenders.

The investigation began in 2023. It revealed Huerta and Gutierrez had perpetuated the sexual abuse of a child beginning when she only seven years old. It continued for three years.

Huerta and Gutierrez admitted to participating in the sexual assault of the minor victim and to recording it. A search of their electronic devices revealed photos and videos of the assaults.

“Huerta and Gutierrez committed an unspeakable offense and thus have earned every day of the multi-decade sentences,” said Ganjei. “No sentence can undo the damage done to the victim in this case, but hopefully the defendants’ prosecution and sentences will deter others from engaging in the same vile conduct.”

"For years, these two defendants inflicted unimaginable harm on one of the most vulnerable members of our community," said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI San Antonio Field Office. "We commend the Edinburg Police Department (EPD) for their outstanding work and critical partnership in this joint investigation. Together, we ensured these child predators were stopped and held accountable for their heinous crimes."

Huerta and Gutierrez have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The FBI San Antonio Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, to include EPD, conducted the joint investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Alexis Garcia prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.

VICTORIA, Texas – A 32-year-old Guatemalan man who illegally resided in College Station has been convicted of felony reentry after removal, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

The federal jury sitting in Victoria returned the guilty verdict against Miguel Angel Puac-Ramirez following a one-day trial and approximately 23 minutes of deliberation.

The jury heard that Osvaldo Vasquez-Vasquez was driving a 2015 Jeep near Yoakum May 9 when he disregarded traffic signals. Puac-Ramirez was the passenger. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop and requested Vasquez-Vasquez’s driver’s license as well as identification from Puac-Ramirez. Both men provided Guatemalan identification cards which indicated an address in College Station.

Authorities determined both men were Guatemalan citizens with no legal documentation to be in the United States.

Testimony revealed Puac-Ramirez told Vasquez-Vasquez he had been deported. He replied by saying he should not have said he had identification or shown it to authorities and that doing so caused their “problem.”

The defense attempted to convince the jury the case against Puac-Ramirez lacked the foundation for a conviction by literally piling bricks at the jury box. The illustration was ineffective. They did not believe those claims and found Puac-Ramirez guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge David S. Morales presided over the trial and has set sentencing for Nov. 21. At that time, Puac-Ramirez faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

Vasquez-Vasquez is considered a fugitive, and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest.

Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation with the assistance of Lavaca County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patti Hubert Booth is prosecuting the case.

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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

McALLEN, Texas – A 23-year-old Donna resident has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Miguel Angel Del Valle pleaded guilty Feb. 28.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now imposed a 108-month term of imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that this type of offense is one of the most serious federal crimes that can be committed. Judge Crane told Del Valle that if people like him didn’t download child pornography, then there wouldn’t be production of it and the victimization of children. Del Valle was ordered to serve five years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Del Valle will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

The investigation began in July 2022 when Del Valle uploaded child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from his Google account. The images included minors between the ages of eight and 12 engaging in sexual activity with adults and/or other minors.

He admitted to downloading and distributing hundreds of files of CSAM using his Google account as well as WhatsApp and Telegram over an 18-month period beginning during COVID.

A forensic examination of Del Valle’s cellphone and laptop revealed 124 videos and 31 images of CSAM. One of the videos depicted an adult male sexually abusing a toddler.

“There is no place in our community for people like Mr. Del Valle,” said Ganjei. “This conviction and sentence is the latest example of how the Southern District of Texas will do whatever it takes to protect children and hold offenders accountable.”

Del Valle will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

U.S. Secret Service conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Alexis Garcia prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page. 

McALLEN, Texas – A 61-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute 14 kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Walter Lee Houze pleaded guilty March 31.

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Houze to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the seriousness of Houze possessing a firearm in connection with a narcotics offense.

On May 9, 2023, Houze drove his Volkswagen Tiguan to the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint in Sarita. Jose Taurus Burks was in the passenger seat. Authorities referred them to secondary inspection where a K-9 alerted to the rear cargo area of the vehicle. There, law enforcement discovered 14.26 kilograms of cocaine concealed in a black suitcase intermingled with clothing and laundry detergent beads belonging to Houze.

Burks admitted he was to be paid for traveling from Michigan to assist Houze in the purchase and transportation of cocaine from Hidalgo County.

Previously released on bond, Houze was taken into custody following the sentencing where he will remain pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Burks, 52, Harrison Township, Michigan, pleaded guilty March 31. He also remains in custody pending his sentencing Sept. 9.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of BP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell prosecuted the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 36-year-old Mexican man who resided in McAllen has been sent to prison for receipt of child pornography involving infants and toddlers, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Jose Julian Garcia Garza pleaded guilty April 2.

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Garza to serve a 120-month prison term. At the hearing, the court heard additional information detailing Garza’s use of a virtual private network to hide his illegal activity and the likelihood that he used child sex dolls to recreate videos he was downloading. Garza was further ordered to pay a total of $104,500 in restitution to 14 victims and will be on supervised release for 10 years following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Not a U.S. citizen, Garza is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.

In July 2024, law enforcement discovered Garza was using a peer-to-peer file sharing program to download and upload files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The files included videos of infants and toddlers engaged in sexual conduct.

Authorities conducted a search of Garza’s bedroom and discovered the bottom portion of an infant-sized doll as well as two child-sized, lifelike sex dolls and various sex toys. A forensic examination of his custom hard drive revealed a total of 997 images and videos of CSAM.

“The facts underlying this investigation are as telling as they are disturbing,” said Ganjei. “By all accounts, Garza appears to be the kind of person who would not be satisfied by only passively viewing CSAM. Fortunately, law enforcement was able to locate and arrest Garza before he could start physically preying on children.”

Garza has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

FBI conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Alexis Garcia prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page. 

McALLEN, Texas – A 34-year-old man has been taken into federal custody following a crash into a law enforcement vehicle during an alleged smuggling attempt through the Rio Grande Valley, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Previously in custody on related charges, Cesar Rafael Leon, Pharr, is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott Hacker at 9:45.  

According to the charges, Leon picked up five illegal aliens who had just crossed the Rio Grande River by raft in Mercedes. He allegedly failed to yield to law enforcement when they attempted to stop his vehicle, prompting them to successfully deploy a vehicle immobilization device. However, he continued to flee and eventually struck a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) unit and drove the wrong way down the highway, according to the complaint.

The complaint further alleges the pursuit lasted approximately 15 minutes and ended in a shopping plaza in Weslaco. Law enforcement allegedly apprehended Leon after a short foot pursuit and also took the five illegal aliens into custody, according to the charges.

“As this office has stated on numerous prior occasions, human smugglers do not care about the lives or safety of those they transport. The people being smuggled are nothing more than cargo to these predators,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas urges all those who would consider placing themselves or their loved ones into the hands of these criminals to think twice. Stay home, stay safe.”

The smuggling charges include an enhancement for placing the lives of the aliens in jeopardy. If convicted, Leon faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Border Patrol conducted the investigation with the assistance of Texas DPS, Hidalgo County Constables Office and Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devin V. Walker is prosecuting the case.

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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

McALLEN, Texas – A 29-year-old Rio Grande Valley resident has been sentenced for distributing videos of sexual activity to a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Rogelio Pruneda III pleaded guilty June 2.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Pruneda to serve 108 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard testimony from the victim’s parent asking for Pruneda to be held accountable and receive the appropriate treatment. The court also heard about Pruneda engaging in similar conduct with a minor relative and that he used that relationship to locate and recruit the victim into exchanging goods for sex. In handing down the prison term, the court found Pruneda attempted to obstruct justice by attempting to contact witnesses in the investigation. The court noted the age gap between Pruneda and the victim.

Pruneda was further ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to the victim and will serve five years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Pruneda will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

The investigation revealed Pruneda used a minor relative to find the female victim. The family member told the victim he would treat her like a “sugar daddy.”

From approximately July through October 2022, Pruneda utilized Facebook Messenger to contact the minor female victim. He offered her money and THC vape cartridges in exchange for sexual acts which he subsequently recorded. Pruneda later sent two of the videos to her.  

The victim’s parent discovered the relationship and reported it to authorities.

The minor female confirmed the videos depicted sex acts between herself and Pruneda in his vehicle.

“Here, Pruneda sought out a victim online and plied her with offers of money and other goods. This methodical plan demonstrates just how dangerous and calculating he is,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas will do whatever it takes to protect the innocence of the children of our community and punish—to the maximum extent the law allows—those who take that innocence away.”

Pruneda has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Hidalgo Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page. 

McALLEN, Texas – A 19-year-old woman from China caught illegally entering the United States has been sentenced for possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Jinyi Zheng pleaded guilty June 2.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Zheng to serve 24 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, she is expected to face removal proceedings following her prison term. If not immediately removed from the United States after her imprisonment, she must also serve an additional 24 months on home confinement. Zheng will also be on supervised release for five years following the completion of her imprisonment, during which time she will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict her access to children and the internet. Zheng will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

On Feb. 12, authorities encountered Zheng near Hidalgo after she illegally enter the United States from Mexico. At that time, they located an Apple iPhone 14 belonging to her. A forensic examination of the phone revealed six videos of prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

“This case shows why border security is so imperative,” said Ganjei. “Zheng is not the kind of person who we want walking around free in American communities, with the ability to prey on children. Fortunately, swift action by our law enforcement partners prevented this would-be predator from ever gaining access to our nation’s interior.”

Zheng has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexa D. Parcell is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page. 

HOUSTON – A 63-year-old Houston man has agreed to pay $2,053,515 to resolve allegations he submitted false claims to federally funded health care programs for the surgical implantation of neurostimulator electrodes, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Dr. Ajay Aggarwal is an anesthesiologist and pain medicine doctor who practices in Bellaire and Lake Jackson as well as Van Vleck. Ajay Aggarwal, a sole proprietorship, and PRWCSWTX LLC are entities Aggarwal used to conduct his medical practice known as The Pain Relief & Wellness Center. 

From Nov. 16, 2021, to March 28, 2023, Aggarwal billed federally funded health care programs, such as Medicare and the Department of Labor’s Workers’ Compensation Programs, for the surgical implantation of neurostimulator electrodes. These are invasive procedures usually requiring use of an operating room. As a result, Medicare and other federally funded health care programs pay thousands of dollars per procedure.

However, neither Aggarwal nor his staff performed these surgical procedures, according to the allegations.

Instead, patients allegedly received devices used for electro-acupuncture, which only involved inserting monofilament wire a few millimeters into patients’ ears and taping the neurostimulator behind the ear with an adhesive. All device placements took place in Aggarwal’s clinic, not a hospital or surgical center, and no incision was made on a patient, according to the allegations.

“A doctor who uses simple medical devices on his patients, yet bills Medicare for a sophisticated spinal surgery, is bilking the American taxpayer, plain and simple,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas will ensure that losses to federally funded healthcare programs from fraudulent billing, like what happened here, are recouped and that wrongdoers are held accountable.”

“The civil penalties imposed today strongly serve as a clear deterrent to those engaging in fraud against federal benefit programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Ulrich of the U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG). “USPS-OIG, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively pursue these investigations and exhaust all efforts to protect the Postal Service from fraud, waste and abuse.”

“Investigating alleged false claims involving the programs administered by the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) is an important part of our mission. That is particularly true when a medical provider is involved,” said Special Agent in Charge Casey Howard, DOL-OIG, Central Region. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and OWCP to protect the integrity of DOL’s worker compensation programs.”

“This settlement underscores our agency’s steadfast commitment to enforcing the False Claims Act,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)-OIG. “Working with our law enforcement partners, DHHS-OIG remains dedicated to safeguarding the integrity of federal health care programs and protecting the individuals who depend on them by investigating schemes that compromise the proper use of medical devices.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation with significant assistance from OIG offices of USPS, DOL and DHHS. OIG offices of Office of Personnel Management and Department of Veterans Affairs also contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura E. Collins handled the matter.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

HOUSTON – A total of 287 new cases have been filed in the last week related to immigration, border security and related offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

The filed cases include 14 involving human smuggling. A total of 142 people are charged with illegally entering the country, while another 127 face charges of felony reentry after prior removal. Most of those individuals have prior felony convictions for offenses involving narcotics, domestic violence and other violent crime, immigration violations and more. Other relevant cases charged this week relate to fraud and other immigration crimes.

Criminal complaints allege four individuals attempted to unlawfully reenter the country within six months of their most recent removals. Mexican nationals Adolfo Omar Maldonado-Ortiz and Aureliano Baeza-Martinez were previously removed July 9 and July 12, respectively, according to court records. Authorities removed Colombian national Luis Fernando Diaz-Caicedo March 12, while Honduran national Yermin Bardales-Castro was removed April 6. Each allegedly has prior felony convictions, including burglary of habitation, robbery with a deadly weapon, criminal sexual conduct with a minor or possession of a controlled substance. All four were allegedly found in the United States without legal authorization and now face up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted.

Charges also allege Carlos Guadalupe Salazar-Gonzalez and Walfre Patricio Hernandez-Mazariegos committed illegal reentry after having been previously removed in 2020 and 2024, respectively. Law enforcement allegedly encountered both in Edinburg.

In addition to the new cases, a notable sentencing occurred in Laredo when 25-year-old Laredo resident Salma Galilea Veliz was ordered to serve 36 months for attempting to smuggle a three-year-old Mexican child into the United States using her own son’s birth certificate. Authorities encountered Veliz at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge with the child, whom she falsely claimed was her son. She later admitted to picking up the boy in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, and planning to pass him off as her biological son in exchange for $2,500. Evidence presented at trial confirmed the child was a Mexican citizen with no legal claim to enter the United States. A federal jury found Veliz guilty following a two-day trial earlier this year.

“We may never know who or what awaited that three-year-old boy had he been successfully smuggled across the border. What is certain, however, is that no child’s safety or well-being has a price tag. The Southern District of Texas will not hesitate to prosecute those who illegally bring children into the United States by falsely claiming family ties,” said Ganjei. “Also, a word of warning - if you put a child, even if it’s your own, into the hands of smugglers, you will be prosecuted. Return home to them; don’t endanger your children by placing their lives in the hands of people you don’t know.”

Also of note were the sentencings of three known felons who had illegally reentered the country. Ivan Lopez-Sonora and Gregorio Mendoza-Martinez received their respective 57- and 30-month sentences in Brownsville. Lopez-Sonora has a criminal history including convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, deadly conduct discharging a firearm and numerous convictions for immigration violations, while Mendoza-Martinez has a burglary conviction in addition to a previous illegal reentry charge. In Houston, Jose Maldonado-Vasquez was ordered to serve an 84-month sentence. He has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 2008 with convictions for possession of a controlled substance, burglary, assault and evading arrest in addition to other immigration violations and three previous removals.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

The cases are 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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.

An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

LAREDO, Texas - A 25-year-old Laredo woman has been sentenced for conspiracy to transport, attempting to transport and bringing in and attempting to bring a minor alien to the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

The jury deliberated for approximately 45 minutes before finding Salma Galilea Veliz guilty April 15 after a two-day trial.

U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen has now ordered Veliz to serve 36 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release.

“We may never know who or what awaited that three-year-old boy had he been successfully smuggled across the border. What is certain, however, is that no child’s safety or well-being has a price tag. The Southern District of Texas will not hesitate to prosecute those who illegally bring children into the United States by falsely claiming family ties,” said Ganjei. “Also, a word of warning - if you put a child, even if it’s your own, into the hands of smugglers, you will be prosecuted. Return home to them; don’t endanger your children by placing their lives in the hands of people you don’t know.”

Law enforcement first encountered Veliz at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo Nov. 14, 2024, with a three-year-old male. She presented a Texas birth certificate and claimed the minor was her son, later admitting he was not and that she had picked him up in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

Veliz claimed she did not know the boy’s name or where she was taking him, just that a person known as “Malandro” was bringing him to her. Veliz planned to have the boy assume her biological son’s identity to smuggle him into the United States in exchange for $2,500.

During trial, the jury heard testimony and evidence regarding his true identity, which included the minor child’s original birth certificate indicating Mexico as his place of birth. Testimony also revealed there was no record in existence pertaining to the minor child that would indicate he had ever been authorized to enter the United States.

The defense attempted to convince the jury the boy had claims to citizenship through an unidentified father. However, evidence revealed the minor is a Mexican citizen and had no claim to enter the county. The jury ultimately found Veliz guilty as charged.

She was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation with the assistance of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of State and Department of Health and Humans Services - Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa A. Lopez and Tory Sailer prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 36-year-old Irish national has been charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and four counts of coercion and enticement of a child, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

The charges allege in September 2022, Matthew Liam Johnstone coerced a minor into filming and photographing herself engaging in sexually explicit conduct including acts of sadism.

If convicted, Johnstone faces up to life in prison. All charges also carry a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit - Criminal Investigative Division conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Overman and Trial Attorney Adam Braskich of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's CEOS leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.

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

A grand jury in the Southern District of Texas returned an indictment today charging Matthew Liam Johnstone, 36, of Ireland, with numerous offenses stemming from his sadistic online exploitation of a child.

According to court documents, in September 2022, Johnstone sexually exploited a minor in the Southern District of Texas by coercing her into filming and photographing herself engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including acts of sadism. Johnstone is charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of a child and four counts of coercion and enticement of a minor. If convicted, Johnstone faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. All charges also carry a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas, and Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of FBI Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement.

The FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit, Criminal Investigative Division, is investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Adam Braskich of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Overman for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

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 www.justice.gov/psc.

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 30-year-old Laredo resident has been charged with enticing a 14-year-old minor to engage in sexual activity and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Originally charged by criminal complaint July 16, Emanuel Valdez remains in custody pending further criminal proceedings.   

A federal grand jury has now returned the four-count indictment.

The charges allege that Valdez had been communicating with a 14-year-old minor female for approximately two years after “meeting” her while playing video games online. In January, the conversations became sexual in nature, according to the allegations. Valdez allegedly started sending sexually explicit texts to the minor and asking her to send pictures of herself. The charges allege the conduct escalated with Valdez attempting several times to make plans to meet with the minor at a hotel and pay her to have sex with him. Valdez also allegedly provided her with digital gift cards in exchange for pictures of herself posing in a sexual manner.

The investigation linked him to a second victim he tried to arrange meetings with for sex, according to the indictment. He had allegedly talked with another 14-year-old girl about taking her virginity. The charges allege Valdez acknowledged that meeting her for sex would be illegal and suggested she lie to her parents and come up with an excuse to leave the house.

He also talked with another person he believed was also only 14, according to the indictment. In those conversations, he allegedly expressed a sexual interest in the girl and attempted to make plans to meet up and have sex with her, suggesting they do so when her parents were not home. Valdez also sent a chart of the various sexual positions he wanted to engage in with her, according to the allegations.  

Authorities executed a search warrant July 17 which resulted in the discovery of thousands of photos and videos of child sexual abuse material. 

“Protecting minors from the depraved schemes of online sexual predators is a top priority for the Southern District of Texas,” said Ganjei. “If somebody takes to the internet to prey on children, they are going to find their world turned upside down by this office. SDTX will pursue these online predators to the ends of the internet and to all four corners of the globe.”

“This indictment represents a critical step toward holding accountable those who target our most vulnerable population-our children,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI's San Antonio Field Office. “We will continue to pursue these child predators tirelessly through the work of our FBI San Antonio Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.”

If convicted, Valdez faces up to life in prison. All charges also carry a possible $250,000 maximum fine.  

The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina, Police Department. If you have any information about other possible victims or believe you have been victimized, please contact the FBI at 210-225-6741. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Makens is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law. 

HOUSTON – A Friendswood businessman has admitted he only reported a small amount of income in order to keep other federal benefits, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. 

William Christopher Womack was the sole owner of Intents Services LLC, a company that leased industrial and special event tents, trailers and specialty vehicles to customers in the Houston area. 

He concealed income by cashing business receipts at check-cashing businesses and writing fraudulent checks to fictitious employees and vendors. Womack spent the money on personal expenses, including boats, luxury vehicles, RVs and tickets to sporting events. 

Womack admitted he reported only a small portion of his income on tax returns. Specifically, in 2019, 2020 and 2021, he reported wages of $12,000 annually while collecting Social Security (SS) benefits ranging from $15,672 to $16,121. This was far less than he actually earned. For example, Womack admitted that his 2020 tax return failed to include $260,895 in income he earned from Intents Services. 

As part of his plea, he admitted he kept his reported wages low to avoid earning more than $1,000 per month in order to maintain his SS benefits. He must also pay restitution to the IRS of $219,599 in tax loss resulting from the returns he filed for the 2019 through 2021 tax years.   

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown will impose sentence Oct. 14. At that time, Womack faces up to three years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 possible fine. 

He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Gray is prosecuting the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 23-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been ordered to federal prison for armed robbery followed by a high-speed chase, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Jose Rodriguez pleaded guilty April 22.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now imposed a 12-month term of imprisonment for aggravated robbery. He also received an additional 84 months for brandishing a firearm which must be served consecutively. The total 96-month sentence will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered the dangerousness of Rodriguez’s conduct, noting that he not only robbed store employees at gunpoint but also led officers on a reckless high-speed chase through residential neighborhoods.

On July 9, 2024, Rodriguez and Alex Espinosa entered a Vape City store on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi and demanded money from the registers. Rodriguez also pointed a firearm at employees while demanding cash and their cell phones before departing.

Later that night, both men then visited a second Vape City location in Calallen. They entered the store in the same manner and robbed the employees.

Law enforcement identified Rodriguez’s vehicle leaving the scene of the second robbery and attempted to stop him, but he quickly fled. He continued driving recklessly through the city at speeds over 100 mph, even turning off his headlights to avoid detection. The pursuit lasted approximately 25 minutes and covered 20 miles. Rodriguez eventually drove to his residence, where both Rodriguez and Espinosa exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, but authorities soon took them into custody.  

Espinosa, 25, Corpus Christi, pleaded guilty to his role in the robberies and was previously sentenced to 36 months to be followed by two years of supervised release.

Rodriguez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with assistance from the Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 45-year-old Houston man has admitted to running a fraudulent investment scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. 

From July through November 2017, Samuel Ayala-Ibarra operated JASTBITME, a Houston-based company that falsely promised high returns through cryptocurrency investments. Ayala-Ibarra told clients their money would be invested in cryptocurrency, but he instead used the funds for personal gain and to repay earlier investors. He also paid others to recruit new clients.  

Once clients invested, JASTBITME created fake documents to show fabricated growth and returns. Ayala-Ibarra used these false reports to persuade clients to reinvest. 

The scheme resulted in numerous victims who never received their original investments or promised returns. 

Senior U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt will impose sentencing Nov. 3. At that time, Ayala-Ibarra faces up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine for each of three counts of wire fraud.  

He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

The Secret Service conducted the investigation. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Rodolfo Ramirez is prosecuting the case. AUSA Kristine Rollinson is handling seizure and forfeiture matters.  

HOUSTON – In support of Operation Take Back America, the Southern District of Texas has filed another 245 cases in immigration and border security-related matters from July 25-31, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. 

Among those cases are 21 defendants charged with human smuggling, 119 charged with illegally entering the country, and another 107 charged with felony reentry to the United States after prior removal. Most of those individuals have prior felony convictions, including offenses related to narcotics, violent crime, immigration violations, and more. Additional cases filed this week involve other immigration-related crimes.

Of the new illegal reentry cases, four involve Mexican nationals who were removed after prior felony convictions, according to court documents. Juan Carlos De Alejandro-Rosales was previously convicted of possessing more than 50 pounds but less than 2,000 pounds of marijuana before he was removed from the United States on Oct. 22, 2018.

Mario Alberto Almazan-Mata, Bertoldo Lopez-Varillas and Luciano Martinez-Rios, also charged with illegal reentry, are alleged to have prior felony convictions before being removed, to include possession of a controlled substance and evading arrest, as well as multiple convictions for driving while intoxicated. Despite their prior removals from the United States between 2005 and 2025, in the last week, authorities allegedly found all four men in the McAllen area without legal authorization to be in the United States. If convicted, each illegal alien faces up to 20 years in federal prison.  

Another person charged with illegal reentry after removal this week is Jose Santos Diaz-Valenzuela, a Honduran national.  According to the charges, he has a prior conviction for assault on a federal officer and was previously removed from the United States on Dec. 4, 2018. Authorities allegedly encountered him again near La Grulla. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

Criminal complaints further allege Hugo Armando Esquivel-Castro and Jose Armando Wong-Lopez with illegally reentering the United States after they were previously removed from the United States in 2022 and 2025, respectively, after each was convicted for harboring illegal aliens. Authorities allegedly encountered and arrested the men near Mission this week.      

In addition to the new cases, Jonathan Ray Balderas, of San Antonio, Texas, was sentenced this week in Laredo to 41 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for attempting to smuggle 10 illegal aliens. Authorities stopped his truck near the 29-mile marker checkpoint on Interstate 35 and found eight individuals hidden under a tarp in the bed and two more inside. The court cited the risk of serious harm, a loaded pistol on Balderas’s waistband, and his alleged involvement in other smuggling events as factors in the sentence.

Also this week, a repeat felon and illegal alien was sentenced to serve over three years in federal prison for unlawfully reentering the United States for the fourth time. Rafael Cortez-Gonzalez, of San Luis Potosí, Mexico, had two previous felony convictions for illegal reentry, as well as a conviction for transporting an illegal alien within the United States. He was first removed from the United States in November 2000 and subsequently illegally returned three times. Authorities encountered him again on Feb. 12, 2025, in Kenedy County. In handing down the 39-month sentence, the court noted the punishment was intended to serve to deter him from continuing to commit these crimes.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, United States Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from numerous state and local law enforcement partners.

The cases are 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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.  

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. 

An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

HOUSTON - Two alleged members of a violent Houston-based street gang have been charged for their alleged roles in the murder of one individual and attempted murder of another during a gang-related ambush.

According to court documents, members and associates of the gang known as Free Money engage in robbery, home invasions, drug distribution and murder. Terry Ardoin, 24, and Travonte Ardoin, 27, both of Houston, allegedly committed the murder in connection with an ongoing gang war with a rival group.

On June 24, 2022, in broad daylight, the Ardoins allegedly following a Chevrolet Equinox into a shopping center parking lot in a Black Nissan Altima. As alleged in court documents, the driver of the Equinox entered a nearby store while the passenger remained in the vehicle. When the driver returned, the Ardoins allegedly exited the Altima wearing masks and opened fired on both individuals.

Multiple rounds struck the vehicle’s passenger compartment. Law enforcement responded within minutes and found one victim deceased.

Terry and Travonte Ardoin are charged with murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and causing death through the use of a firearm. If convicted, they face up to life in prison or the possibility of a death sentence.

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Brown is prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Ralph Paradiso of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.

This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Houston. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas have partnered, along with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes gang members and associates have committed through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute violent offenders and prevent further violence.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

Two alleged members of Free Money, a violent Houston-based street gang, were indicted yesterday in the Southern District of Texas for their alleged roles in the murder of one individual and attempted murder of another during a gang-related ambush.

According to court documents, Free Money members and associates engage in robbery, home invasions, drug distribution, and murder. The defendants, Terry Ardoin, 24, and Travonte Ardoin, 27, both of Houston, allegedly committed the murder in connection with an ongoing gang war with a rival group.

On June 24, 2022, in broad daylight, surveillance footage captured the Ardoins following a Chevrolet Equinox into a shopping center parking lot in a Black Nissan Altima. As alleged in court documents, the driver of the Equinox entered a nearby store while the passenger remained in the vehicle. When the driver returned, the Ardoins allegedly exited the Altima wearing masks and opened fire on both individuals.

Witnesses reported hearing numerous gunshots and described the distinct sound of a fully automatic weapon, believed to have been modified with a machine gun conversion device commonly referred to as a “switch.” 

Multiple rounds struck the vehicle’s passenger compartment. Houston Police Department officers responded within minutes and found one victim deceased.

Terry and Travonte Ardoin are charged with murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and causing death through the use of a firearm. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of life in prison or a death sentence. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Houston Police Department.

Trial Attorney Ralph Paradiso of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Brown for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Houston. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence.

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 37-year-old San Antonio resident has been ordered to federal prison for transporting 10 illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Jonathan Ray Balderas pleaded guilty Feb. 6. 

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now ordered Balderas to serve 41 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered images showing the substantial risk of death or bodily injury Balderas created by transporting eight of the 10 aliens in the open bed of his truck, covered only by a thin tarp. The court also considered the loaded pistol found on Balderas’s waistband and communications indicating his involvement in other smuggling events.

“Placing human beings in the back of a truck under a tarp while carrying a loaded firearm shows a blatant disregard for life and the law. All it would have taken is a single driver error to cause multiple people to lose their lives,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas will bring to justice anybody who seeks to make a quick buck through unlawful and dangerous and smuggling operations.”

“Human smuggling is a serious federal crime that endangers lives and threatens the security of our communities,” said Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig S. Larrabee. “HSI in close coordination with our partners at U.S. Border Patrol, is committed to dismantling smuggling networks and holding individuals accountable for their actions. The arrest of Jonathan Balderas and the recovery of 10 smuggled aliens underscores the importance of our continued efforts to combat this dangerous criminal activity and bring offenders to justice.”

On Nov. 18, 2024, law enforcement observed Balderas’s truck attempting to circumvent the U.S. Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint at the 29-mile marker of Interstate Highway 35. Authorities noticed the outline of people inside the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. As they approached, they observed shoes protruding out from under the tarp.

Authorities discovered eight illegal aliens in the truck’s open bed and two more hiding inside. The aliens were citizens of Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. 

Balderas will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

ICE-HSI and BP conducted the investigation with the assistance of Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Game Wardens. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tae W. Chon prosecuted the case.

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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 53-year-old man from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, has been ordered to federal prison for unlawfully reentering the country for the 4th time, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Rafael Cortez-Gonzalez pleaded guilty May 1.

U.S. District Judge David Morales has now ordered him to serve 39 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard about Cortez-Gonzalez’s prior criminal record, including three prior felony convictions. In handing down the sentence, the court noted this sentence will hopefully serve as a deterrence.

Cortez-Gonzalez had two previous felony convictions for illegal reentry as well as for transporting an illegal alien within the United States.

He was first removed in November 2000 and illegally returned three times. Authorities discovered him again Feb. 12 in Kenedy County with no authorization to be there.

Cortez-Gonzalez will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine K. Tucker prosecuted the case.

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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

HOUSTON – A total of 201 new cases have been filed related to immigration and border security from July 18-24, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Among those are 87 people who face charges of illegally reentering the country. The majority have prior felony convictions for narcotics, violent crime, prior immigration crimes and more. A total of 98 people are charged with illegally entering the country, while 11 cases allege various instances of human smuggling with the remainder involving other immigration crimes and assault of officers.

Some of those facing new criminal charges are five Mexican nationals, all of whom have previous felony convictions, according to their charges. One is Cristian Jesus Rodriguez-Cuarenta who allegedly has a prior conviction for conspiracy to transport an illegal alien and had just been removed in January. Four others – Juan Manuel Perez-Tamez, Ramiro Rodriguez-Esquivel, Jose Martinez-Lemus and Hector Esael Gonzalez-Garcia – are also alleged to be convicted felons of crimes including drug trafficking, multiple driving while intoxicated instances or illegal reentry. Despite their previous removals on varying dates between 2019 - 2022, authorities allegedly discovered all five men in the Edinburg area without any authorization to be in the United States. They face up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted.

Also in the McAllen area this week, a suspicious vehicle led to the arrest of three, two of whom are Mexican nationals, and the discovery of nearly three dozen illegal aliens. They are now charged with human smuggling after authorities discovered 24 illegal aliens hidden in a tractor trailer at a Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint, which included defendant Elbis Lisandro Moreno Uruqia. Joe Michael Cruz and Uruqia allegedly transported the aliens from Mission to Hebbronville. According to the charges, Uruqia and Cruz smuggled 18 aliens two weeks earlier. A related search at a Mission residence led to the arrest of Jesus Felipe Hernandez Rangel and the discovery of 10 additional illegal aliens, according to the complaint. If convicted, each faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

In addition to the new cases, Laredo resident Juan Francisco Reyna was ordered to federal prison. He led a multi-year human smuggling operation that used social media, inclement weather and the Covid-19 pandemic to transport over 100 illegal aliens, including minors, across the United States. Reyna coordinated the scheme through Facebook, paid drivers to monitor checkpoints and scheduled crossings during storms to avoid detection. Authorities linked him to stash houses in Laredo and San Antonio where they seized over $56,000 in U.S. currency and ammunition. He received a sentence of 63 months.

“Over the past six months, the Department of Justice has made securing our national border the number one priority, and the Southern District is putting that promise into action,” said Ganjei. “Human smugglers may have had an easy time over the past few years, but those days are over. If you engage in these crimes, if you break our nation’s immigration laws, you will be caught and you will be punished. Simple as that.”

An armed cartel carjacker was also sentenced this week. Mexican national Johnathan Mata-Espinoza received 108 months for two counts of armed carjacking. On July 27, 2023, he threatened two adults and a child, stealing their vehicle after they refused to give him a ride to the bus station, saying, “You better take me because if not, I will kill you all.” Authorities later linked him to a second armed encounter that same night, during which he threatened another victim and displayed a concealed firearm.

In Corpus Christi, a 40-year-old Mexican national illegally living in Houston pleaded guilty to leading a human smuggling organization and unlawfully reentering the United States. Edgar-Ruiz-Briones coordinated transportation of illegal aliens crossing the southern border, recruited drivers from as far as Kansas and managing over 100 smuggling trips into the United States over an 18-month period. He handled payments from aliens and paid drivers to move them from stash houses to destinations across the country. Ruiz-Briones, who had previously been removed multiple times, now faces up to 30 years in federal prison.

Jose Pascual Soliz received a sentence of 240 months in federal prison after admitting to recruiting Clara Miranda Aleman and others as well as coordinating the transportation of methamphetamine hidden in a vehicle’s gas tank. Aleman helped smuggle the drugs into the United States as part of a Laredo-based trafficking operation tied to Cartel De Noreste. Authorities seized more than 11.85 kilograms of methamphetamine from the pair, noting it was part of a larger shipment. The court also found Soliz had multiple felony convictions, including one for narcotics trafficking. Aleman previously received a 41-month sentence.

A Corpus Christi jury also convicted a former Texas National Guard soldier of smuggling illegal aliens. Mario Sandoval coordinated smuggling trips in the Rio Grande Valley and sent text messages to a co-conspirator about law enforcement activity. The defense attempted to convince the jury no conspiracy existed, and his text messages were out of context. The jury did not believe those claims and found him guilty. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

In Houston, a 32-year-old Mexican national was ordered to serve 42 months after again illegally reentering the country. Juan Medina-Garcia has felony convictions for possession, aggravated assault and illegal reentry. He also has two prior removals from the United States. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the sentence should serve as a significant deterrence to prevent any future illegal reentries.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, BP, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

The cases are 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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.  

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. 

An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

LAREDO, Texas – A 38-year-old Laredo resident has been sentenced for smuggling methamphetamine into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.  

Jose Pascual Soliz pleaded guilty May 16. 

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Soliz to serve 240 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered how Soliz worked for Cartel De Noreste to smuggle methamphetamine into the country and recruited others such as Carla Miranda Aleman to carry out the crime. He admitted doing so on at least six to eight occasions. This was his third felony conviction and second for narcotics trafficking.

The court also heard Soliz was known to recruit young woman such as Aleman to transport drugs and had used his minor daughter to recruit Aleman in this case. 

Aleman, 20, was previously sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for role to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. 

On April 19, 2023, authorities seized more than 11.85 kilograms of methamphetamine from Soliz and Aleman. The drugs represented what remained of a larger amount Soliz had removed from a vehicle’s gas tank after the drugs had already been smuggled into the United States. The rest had already been distributed. 

Authorities located the methamphetamine after the vehicle was undergoing repairs due to damage concealing the drugs had caused. The investigation revealed Aleman and Soliz used this vehicle to smuggle the methamphetamine into the United States.

Soliz will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. 

FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling prosecuted the case.

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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The former mayor of Progreso has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Gerardo Alanis pleaded guilty Feb. 25.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. has now ordered Alanis to serve 46 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. Alanis was also ordered to pay a $15,000 fine. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described the use of a school building to store and re-package cocaine. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that dangerous drugs destroy lives on both sides of the border and that the use of school district property was an aggravating factor when determining the appropriate sentence.

“It is unthinkable that a public official would allow a school of all places to be used as a storehouse for cocaine. The facts of this case demonstrate how the drug trade affects all facets of a community, not just law enforcement,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas is committed to ensuring safe schools and safe streets, and part of that goal is the total elimination of drug trafficking organizations operating within our area of operations.”

The investigation determined that from 2020 to 2022, conspirators would smuggle kilograms of cocaine into the United States from Mexico. The drug trafficking organization would then re-package and conceal the cocaine in hidden compartments built into 18-wheelers. Other involved in the conspiracy would transport it to other states, specifically Illinois, Tennessee and North Carolina.

Several others have already been sentenced for their roles in the scheme. Francisco Alanis, 42, Weslaco, received 150 months in federal prison. Eulalio Sierra, 51, Los Indios, was ordered to serve 120 months, while Jose Salas, 43, Weslaco, was sentenced to 47 months, and Ralph Lozano, 39, Houston, received time served. David Gomez-Ramos, 36, Mercedes, will serve a 139-month-term of imprisonment, while Juan Pablo Serrata, 50, Santa Rosa, and Gregorio Salinas, 54, Mercedes, received prison terms of 70 and 37 months, respectively. Gomez-Ramos, Serrata and Salinas are not U.S. citizens and are expected to face removal proceedings following the completion of their sentence.    

Alanis was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender in the near future.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Drug Enforcement Administration, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force, Border Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Rangers. Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Lance Watt and former AUSA Alejandra Andrade prosecuted the case.  

The investigation is part of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Forces which identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage. 

LAREDO, Texas – A 22-year-old Mexican national has been sentenced to federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Johnathan Mata-Espinoza pleaded guilty to two counts of armed carjacking July 27, 2023.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now imposed a term of 108 months. Not a U.S. citizen, Mata-Espinoza is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court considered a victim impact statement as well as additional evidence regarding Mata-Espinoza’s involvement in Cartel Del Noreste.

“People have the right to raise their families and live their lives without some criminal shoving a gun in their face and threatening their families,” said Ganjei. “Cases like this demonstrate the corrosive effects the cartels have on our border communities. SDTX is working hard not only to secure the border to prevent future criminals from sneaking over, but also finding those criminals, like Mr. Mata-Espinoza, who are already here, preying on American citizens.”

On July 27, 2023, Mata-Espinoza had approached two adults and a child entering their vehicle and requested a ride to the bus station. When they refused, he lifted his shirt and threatened them, saying, “You better take me because if not, I will kill you all.” A young child was already inside the vehicle during the encounter.

One of the victim’s gave Mata-Espinoza the keys, and all three victims were eventually able to escape safely.

Shortly afterward, authorities located the stolen vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. Mata-Espinoza briefly halted but fled after ignoring verbal commands.

Later that night, law enforcement discovered the first stolen vehicle abandoned and learned Mata-Espinoza had blocked another vehicle with his own, opened the door and ordered the victim to exit. When they refused, he said,“Bajate a la verga si no te voy a quebrar” (get down or I am going to kill you) and displayed a concealed firearm in his waistband. The victim fled and contacted authorities.

Authorities later discovered the second stolen vehicle abandoned near a home on Peach Tree Lane. Mata-Espinoza took off on foot and law enforcement was unable to apprehend him.

Authorities finally arrested him Sept. 15, 2023, when Mata-Espinoza exited the bus in Laredo.

Mata-Espinoza remains in custody until transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Polce Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch and Brandon S. Bowling prosecuted the case.

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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

HOUSTON – The final man in a large-scale conspiracy to commit wire fraud in relation to the sale of hundreds of thousands of fraudulent Texas paper license plates has been ordered to prison, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Emmanuel Padilla Reyes, 35, pleaded guilty May 13.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks has now ordered Reyes to serve 60 months in federal prison and to pay $22 million in restitution to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard testimony from the family of a victim killed by a truck bearing a fraudulent paper license plate that one of Reyes’ dealerships had issued. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that there were many more victims just like this one whose lives Reyes harmed and changed, and that this was not a victimless crime.

“The defendant’s criminal scheme was not only illegal in itself, but also facilitated scores of other crimes, such as armed robberies and drive-by shootings,” said Ganjei. “Texas motorists deserve to know vehicles on the roadways alongside them and their families are genuinely licensed, rather than the instruments of crime.”

“This case led not only to arrests and prison sentences for those behind a national multimillion-dollar scheme, but it also led to changes in the way temporary tags are issued in Texas. Changes that just went into effect July 1,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI Houston Field Office. “That’s impactful, and I’m so proud of our law enforcement partners and the FBI Houston case team who made it all happen.”

Reyes and co-conspirators sold over 550,000 tags using the internet and messaging apps, without selling any vehicles. He used aliases, including a stolen identity, to obtain car dealer licenses for the scheme. The fake tags allowed buyers to evade registration, insurance and law enforcement detection, enabling crimes such as robberies and drive-by shootings.

In Texas, used car dealers must obtain an independent General Distinguishing Number to access the state’s eTag portal and issue temporary buyer tags. At the time of the indictment, the system lacked data entry restrictions. Reyes used fake identities and documents to obtain licenses for two fictitious dealerships, “King’s Ranch Autoland” and “Texas Motor Company,” then advertised Texas buyer tags for sale on Facebook and Instagram.

Reyes will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Co-defendants Leidy Areli Hernandez Lopez, 45, Octavian Ocasio, 53, and Daniel Christine-Tani, 36, were also charged and convicted in the scheme and were sentenced to prison. Lopez, also in the United States illegally, failed to report to prison. A federal grand jury returned an indictment Feb. 20 charging her with failure to surrender. Lopez is considered a fugitive, and a warrant remains outstanding for her arrest. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 713-693-5000.

The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from Travis County Constable Office - Precinct 3, Houston Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and New York Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek and Adam Goldman are prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 34-year-old resident of Laredo has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Cynthia Elizabeth Arellano pleaded guilty Aug. 13, 2024.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now imposed a 45-month-term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Arellano used her home, where her husband and three-year old daughter also resided, as a stash house for approximately 245 kilograms of cocaine and $428,411.00 in drug proceeds.

“Drugs and violence often go together, so the idea of using your home where your three-year-old daughter lives, as a stash house, is incredibly dangerous and irresponsible,” said Ganjei. “The amount of money and drugs at her home demonstrates that the defendant was a trusted member of the conspiracy, and that kind of trust only comes from a long history of repeated transactions. She knew exactly what she was getting into, and, by extension, what she was getting her family into.”

In April 2024, Cristian Jareth Flores arranged the sale of one kilogram of cocaine for $14,000. During the undercover operation, Juan Antonio Ochoa-Saucedo then delivered the drugs at a local retail establishment.

The investigation revealed Ochoa-Saucedo picked up the brick of cocaine from Arellano at her residence and that he had done so on previous occasions.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Arellano’s home where they discovered two money counters and drug ledgers revealing extensive cocaine trafficking involving hundreds of thousands of dollars in proceeds.

At the time of her plea, she admitted she committed the crime because she needed money.

Flores and Ochoa-Saucedo also pleaded guilty for their roles and were sentenced to 36 and 57 months in prison.

Arellano was permitted to remain bond and surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility at a later date. 

Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of Laredo Police Department. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Ann Cortez is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 41-year-old resident of Lake Charles, Louisiana, has been sentenced for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Walter Wellington Somers pleaded guilty April 2, 2024.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Somers to serve 60 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Somers had travelled from Louisiana and was planning to return to sell the fentanyl pills for a greater profit and that he has had numerous prior convictions and contacts with law enforcement.

“All too often, we hear tragic stories about someone’s young son or daughter dying after taking a single pill laced with fentanyl, and it's people like this defendant who put that one lethal dose in their hand,” said Ganjei. “The seizure of Mr. Somers’ deadly wares kept these pills from hitting the streets and undoubtedly saved many lives. The Department of Justice wishes to thank the staff at the Embassy Suites for their quick thinking in recognizing the drugs and alerting authorities. This is an example of community action leading to a great result.”

“DEA’s diligent investigative efforts helped save countless lives,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell of the Houston Division. Only two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a potentially lethal dose, and Somers had thousands of fake fentanyl pills that could have devastated the Laredo community. DEA is unwavering in its commitment to eradicate these dangerous drugs from our neighborhoods and bring those responsible for dealing these deadly drugs to justice.”

On Dec. 23, 2023, law enforcement responded to a call from the Embassy Suites Hotel in Laredo. Hotel staff found what they believed to be drugs in one of the rooms while trying to clean it.

Law enforcement arrived on scene and observed Somers attempting to get back into the room. He claimed he was only there to pay for a television he had broken.

Authorities conducted a search of the hotel room and discovered a silver zipper bag containing several clear plastic bags with a large number of small blue circular pills. They were imprinted with an “M-30” logo. Law enforcement confirmed Somers had been staying in the room and checked out earlier in the day before returning to the hotel.

A laboratory analysis later determined there were a total of 2,319 blue pills which contained fentanyl. The investigation revealed the source of supply was from Sinaloa, Mexico.

The investigation revealed Somers had traveled from Louisiana to meet a friend in South Texas. In phone messages between the two, they discussed collecting money and acquiring narcotics. In one audio message, the individual told Somers if he sent $700 or $800 that evening, someone would front them 3,000 pills.

The friend also sent Somers a video of him holding three bags of blue M-30 pills that were identical in size, shape and packaging to the pills seized Dec. 23, 2023. 

Somers will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

DEA and Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Chamberlin and Brittany Jensen prosecuted the case.

This case is being prosecuted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF is the largest anti-crime task force in the country. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

More information on the dangers of fentanyl can be found on the DEA’s website. #OnePillCanKill

LAREDO, Texas – A 21-year-old Laredo resident has been sentenced to federal prison for exploiting social media, inclement weather and the Covid-19 pandemic to carry out a multi-year conspiracy to smuggle illegal aliens into the country, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Juan Francisco Reyna, 21, pleaded guilty Jan. 8 to conspiring to transport and harbor illegal aliens within the United States.

U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison has now ordered Reyna to serve 63 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by one year of supervised release. The court held him responsible for more than 100 aliens and further imposed enhancements for unaccompanied minors, reckless endangerment and being a leader/organizer in the conspiracy.

“Over the past six months, the Department of Justice has made securing our national border the number one priority, and the Southern District is putting that promise into action,” said Ganjei. “Human smugglers may have had an easy time over the past few years, but those days are over. If you engage in these crimes, if you break our nation’s immigration laws, you will be caught and you will be punished. Simple as that.”

The investigation revealed Reyna had been involved in human smuggling for at least five years. Between 2019 and 2023, he was repeatedly caught attempting to move individuals through the I-35 Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint north of Laredo. Reyna was also linked to the operation of multiple stash houses in the Laredo area and one his family operated in San Antonio.

Reyna had recruited and paid others to harbor and transport aliens across the United States, including cities in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Georgia and Florida. He also hired co-conspirators to collect and return bulk cash proceeds after the individuals reached their final destinations.  

Evidence on his cellphone contained information on dozens of illegal aliens, including photos, names, identifying details and countries of origin. Several were minors between the ages of 14 and 17. He had been coordinating transportation with co-conspirators in Mexico, moving aliens using tractor -trailers, box trucks, trains and even horse trailers.

Reyna had also used Facebook to coordinate smuggling operations for the organization, relying on the platform to recruit, manage and communicate with co-conspirators. He routinely paid “scout” drivers to monitor the I-35 checkpoint, report on traffic and weather conditions and recommend the safest lanes to use. Messages revealed Reyna deliberately scheduled smuggling runs during fog, storms, rain and cold temperatures to reduce the likelihood of detection.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Reyna and co-conspirators advised drivers to claim they were enroute to medical appointments to expedite passage through checkpoints. He also designed walking routes through remote brush areas to bypass the checkpoints entirely. Load drivers were instructed to drop off individuals before the checkpoint, forcing them to walk four to five hours before being picked up on the other side.

The San Antonio stash house linked to Reyna had harbored more than 30 illegal aliens awaiting transport. In April 2023, law enforcement apprehended multiple illegal aliens at the location and seized over $56,000 in U.S. currency, 69,000 in Mexican pesos and ammunition.

He was ultimately arrested Nov. 7, 2024, after he had personally picked up suspected aliens at a warehouse in north Laredo. Authorities attempted to pull him over, but he soon led them on a nearly four-minute pursuit, recklessly weaving through traffic before stopping the vehicle, attempting to escape and ordering the passengers to flee on foot. Law enforcement apprehended him and five others, including an unaccompanied minor. All five were illegally present in the United States.

He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, BP, Texas Department of Public Safety, Drug Enforcement Administration, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Defense Border Mission, Webb County Precinct 2 Constable’s Office and police departments in Laredo and San Antonio conducted the joint investigation.

The case is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation and coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA).

OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

JTFA is a partnership with Department of Homeland Security. The Attorney General elevated and expanded it with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of California, Districts of Arizona and New Mexico and Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 390 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers and significant facilitators of alien smuggling, more than 350 U.S. convictions, more than 300 significant jail sentences imposed and forfeitures of substantial assets.

This case is also 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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s OCDETF and Project Safe Neighborhood.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Day prosecuted the case.  

LAREDO, Texas – A 23-year-old Laredo woman has been ordered to prison for her role in an unaccompanied minor smuggling ring, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Vanessa Valadez pleaded guilty Sept. 20, 2024, admitting she smuggled a child into the United States for financial gain.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered her to serve 18 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

“Those that choose to engage in the human trafficking business are not good people. They aren’t motivated by altruism or sympathy. They are paid to traffic in human beings, and they treat people they smuggle as nothing more than cargo,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas will not rest until all such smuggling rings—particularly those that deal in children—are completely eradicated.”

“The sentencing of this individual underscores the serious consequences for those who exploit and endanger vulnerable populations, especially children,” said Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig S. Larrabee. “Drugging children to facilitate human smuggling is not only criminal it’s inhumane. HSI is committed to identifying and dismantling the criminal networks behind these horrific acts and ensuring those responsible are brought to justice.”

From August to September 2023, Valadez and other family members operated a child smuggling ring working to bring young illegal minors from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, into the United States. All the children were under the age of five. 

On the night of Sept. 19, 2023, members of the smuggling ring retrieved a young girl from a stash house which the organization members operated. The co-conspirators smuggled the girl across the border and delivered her to Valadez in downtown Laredo. Co-conspirators then took the child further into the United States and delivered her to unknown people.

Two days later, the ring attempted to transport another young girl. However, law enforcement intercepted them following a routine border inspection at the Juarez Lincoln Bridge in Laredo. To carry out their scheme, co-conspirators had sedated the girl with melatonin gummies and used an unlawfully obtained birth certificate to deceive authorities into believing the girl was a family member. 

The investigation revealed the smuggling ring had attempted to similarly transport at least four girls into the United States, three of whom remain unidentified and their whereabouts are unknown. Members of the smuggling ring obtained birth certificates of U.S. citizen children to pose as a family unit at ports of entry to the United States. At times, organization members used melatonin gummies to sedate at least one child to ensure a successful smuggling attempt. 

One text message uncovered in the investigation showed an image depicting an unconscious child and a caption, “La noquiamos con unas gomitas,” translated in English as “we knocked her out with some gummies.”

Co-conspirators Ana Laura Bryand, 47, Dallas; her niece Kayla Marie Bryand, 20, Jose Eduardo Bryand, 43, and Nancy Guadalupe Bryand, 44, all of Laredo; and Lizeth Esmeralda Bryand Arredondo, 32, Mexico, previously pleaded guilty and have all already been sentenced to federal prison.

ICE-HSI conducted the investigation with Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations and assistance from Border Patrol, Laredo Police Department, Department of Health and Human Services - Office of the Inspector General and FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Makens and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Terence A. Check Jr. prosecuted the case. 

McALLEN, Texas – A 26-year-old U.S. citizen residing in Camargo, Mexico, has been sentenced to federal prison for importing more than 100 kilograms of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Cesar Alejandro Saavedra-Garcia pleaded guilty Feb. 28.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Saavedra to serve 135 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Saavedra-Garcia played an integral role in smuggling illegal narcotics into the United States. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the large amount of meth found in Saavedra-Garcia’s vehicle and the fact that he had admitted to transporting narcotics previously. 

On Dec. 17, 2024, Saavedra-Garcia arrived at the Sarita Border Patrol Checkpoint and claimed he had no illegal drugs in his vehicle. 

However, at secondary inspection, a K-9 alerted to the odor of narcotics. A subsequent search revealed 112 bricks of methamphetamine hidden in compartments near the vehicle’s cargo bed. 

The drugs weighed approximately 109 kilograms and had an estimated street value of nearly $7.7 million. 

At the time of his plea, Saavedra-Garcia admitted he knew he was smuggling narcotics into the United States. 

Saavedra-Garcia will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Theodore Parran and Avery Benitez prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 25-year-old Laredo resident has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Fernando Tadeo Cerda, 25, pleaded guilty July 19, 2023.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Cerda to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release for the drug trafficking conviction. At the hearing, the court considered Cerda was subject to a mandatory 10 years in prison due to being previously convicted of smuggling aliens. 

Cerda had also admitted he violated his term of supervised release and received another nine months to be served consecutively for a total 129-month-term of imprisonment.  

The investigation revealed Cerda had conspired with his uncle, Jesus Garza, to coordinate delivery of large amounts of cocaine. 

On Nov. 27, 2020, Cerda met with Garza and provided him a duffle bag containing the drugs. As Garza departed the location in Laredo, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop and discovered the bag with five bricks which contained over 5,000 grams of cocaine.

Cerda later admitted Garza had instructed him to pick up and deliver “aparatos” (kilograms of cocaine). He further stated he made a total of four deliveries and was paid $1,000.

He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Garza, 63, Laredo, had also pleaded guilty and later sentenced to 48 months in prison. 

Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – Two Laredo residents have been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Juan Jose Castaneda, 44, and Juan Enrique Villanueva, 52, pleaded guilty March 4 and Dec. 12, 2024, respectively.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now imposed a 168-month-term of imprisonment for Castaneda, while Villanueva received 63 months. Both must also serve five years of supervised release following their sentences.

At the hearing, the court heard Castaneda managed a cocaine trafficking organization for several years that included Villanueva and others. Judge Ellison considered the scope of the organization, which included trafficking tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of cocaine each month, and the substantial profits Castaneda personally earned. Castaneda also fled from law enforcement and threatened a man with a knife in an attempt to avoid arrest.

On Sept. 16 and 26, 2024, authorities observed Castaneda and Villanueva transporting cocaine that was later sold. Law enforcement seized the drugs on these occasions along with additional cocaine at his residence weighing over 11 kilograms. They also found over $40,000 in cash from cocaine trafficking that was seized and forfeited as part of the sentencing.

The investigation revealed Castaneda and Villanueva were involved in this conspiracy for multiple years. This scheme included numerous co-conspirators and showed that Castaneda was making tens of thousands of dollars a month trafficking in cocaine that he used to make purchases of property, jewelry, vehicles and other possessions. Castaneda was held accountable for 43 kilograms of cocaine he was known to have distributed as part of this conspiracy.

Both will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 31-year-old resident of Laredo has been sentenced for illegally importing over 836 kilograms of methamphetamine into the country, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Cornelio Aguilar pleaded guilty July 9, 2024.

U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison ordered him to serve the 30-year sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard about Aguilar’s violent criminal history, including prior convictions for murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. In imposing the sentence, Judge Ellison noted that this was a serious offense.

The investigation revealed Aguilar imported two loads of methamphetamine into the United States using tractor trailers between January and June 2022. Hidden inside the bags of charcoal he was hauling were bundles of methamphetamine. 

Aguilar has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility in the near future.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Chamberlin prosecuted the case.

OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

LAREDO, Texas – A 49-year-old resident of Laredo has been ordered to federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Juan Manuel Aguirre pleaded guilty Feb. 6.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Aguirre to serve 63 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered Aguirre’s history of smuggling aliens on multiple occasions and the danger he posed by transporting them in a sealed, locked, dark and unventilated trailer that required authorities to open with a bolt cutter. 

“Human smuggling is an incredibly dangerous enterprise, and it requires the trafficker to care absolutely nothing about the lives and safety of those they transport,” said Ganjei. “Fortunately, there were no deaths in this case, but the underlying facts indicate that several of those transported had difficulty breathing and feared for their life. The Southern District of Texas will make sure that all human smugglers pay a serious price for their callousness.”

On Dec. 2, 2024, law enforcement observed several individuals being loading into a white trailer in a warehouse parking lot. Aguirre was the driver of the truck hauling it. After he departed the location, authorities conducted a traffic stop which resulted in the discovery of 101 aliens locked inside the trailer, 13 of whom were children as young as 13 years old.

Multiple illegal aliens reported they had difficulty breathing and feared for their life due to the conditions in the trailer. They were from the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba and Honduras.

Aguirre will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety and Border Patrol conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection, Drug Enforcement Administration and Webb County Sheriff’s Office. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is prosecuting the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 40-year-old Mexican national who illegally resided in Houston has admitted to an alien smuggling conspiracy and illegal reentry into the country, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

The investigation revealed Edgar Ruiz-Briones arranged transportation and coordinating trips for illegal aliens coming over the southern border with Mexico. Ruiz-Briones was the leader of the smuggling organization, recruiting drivers from as far away as Kansas to come to the Rio Grande Valley.

Drivers would communicate directly with Ruiz-Briones to set up the trips, give updates on progress and set meeting spots for drop-offs in Houston after successful smuggling operations. They would pick up illegal aliens from different stash houses and transport them to Houston, where they met with Ruiz-Briones before going further into the United States. 

Ruiz-Briones handled payments from the aliens to come into the United States and payments to the drivers he recruited. 

Over the course of the 18-month conspiracy, Ruiz-Briones arranged for over 100 aliens to enter, remain and be transported further into the United States.

An illegal alien himself, having been removed from the United States on multiple occasions, he also pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States from Mexico and remaining here in violation of the law.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos will impose sentencing Oct. 30. At that time. Ruiz-Briones faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the alien smuggling conspiracy and 20 years for illegally re-entering the United States.

Ruiz-Briones has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Griffith is prosecuting the case.

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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

HOUSTON – A San Fernando, California, man has been ordered to federal prison for operating an illegal money transmitting business, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Victor Rubio Jr. 28, pleaded guilty Feb. 6.

U.S. District Judge George Hanks has now ordered Rubio to serve the maximum 60 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered additional evidence about other frauds Rubio committed while on bond in imposing the sentencing, assessing extra points for obstruction of justice. In handing down the sentence, Judge Hanks noted Rubio had committed obstruction after writing his letter to the judge asking for leniency and apologizing for his first crime. 

Rubio admitted that from 2021 to 2022, he operated an unlicensed money transmitting business that received and transmitted funds from a business email compromise (BEC) scheme. Rubio ran the unlicensed money transmitting business by using shell companies that existed only on paper.

As part of the plea, Rubio acknowledged opening and maintaining bank accounts to collect money from at least two victims in a BEC scheme, including a healthcare liability insurance company headquartered in Georgia and a township in New Jersey. Then, for a fee, he transmitted the fraud proceeds to co-conspirators.

In response to fraudulent wire instructions from spoofed email accounts, victims sent interstate wire transfers for payment to Rubio instead of to the true creditors to whom the victims owed money.

More than 45 people in multiple states, including Rubio and seven others in the Southern District of Texas, have been charged in separate business email compromise schemes that affected numerous victims.

Previously released on bond, Rubio was taken into custody where he will remain pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The FBI - Bryan Resident Agency and IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A 23-year-old Houston woman has been sentenced for conspiracy to commit wire fraud after debit cards were loaded with fraudulent funds, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Jaysha Victorian pleaded guilty April 3.

U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen has now ordered Victorian to serve 18 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how she participated in a scheme to steal unemployment funds that were being supplemented during the pandemic, and how she was able to commit millions of dollars of fraud in just a few weeks.    

Victorian worked for a bank contractor from late 2020 to early 2021 and used her access to load prepaid debit cards with fraudulent funds, including unemployment benefits for California. She credited at least 187 cards with nearly $8.6 million. Recipients withdrew or spent over $7.6 million before the bank could freeze the cards.

She admitted to using some funds herself, including a $1,000 ATM withdrawal in Houston, and received about $300,000 in cash proceeds from her role in the scheme.

She was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The FBI, Houston Police Department, Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General’s Covid Fraud Unit and Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad Gray and Karen Lansden prosecuted the case.

Two Mexican nationals were sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison to 55 months each in prison for their roles in a two-year, multimillion-dollar trade-based money laundering conspiracy to move drug trafficking proceeds through Texas to Mexico.

According to court documents, Mauricio Anzures-Zarate, 53, of Mexico City, Mexico, and Beatriz Salcedo-Carreon, 63, of Guadalajara, Mexico, participated in a sophisticated, international money laundering conspiracy to transfer funds from the sale of illegal drugs in the United States to cartels in Mexico without physically transporting money across the U.S.-Mexico border. The conspirators concealed those funds through the movement of goods between the two countries.

“The defendants used an elaborate, trade-based money laundering scheme to exploit our financial system and transfer the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking from the United States to Mexico,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These financial facilitators actively promoted cartel operations in cities across the United States, which enabled the flow of deadly narcotics into our communities. The Criminal Division will continue to pursue the total elimination of cartels and the money launderers who enable their pernicious activities.”

“The lifeblood of any drug trafficking organization is the uninterrupted flow of cash,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas. “Here, defendants laundered drug proceeds through a sophisticated trade-based scheme. This criminal operation, and others like it, put money in the pockets of the cartels and endangered lives on both sides of the border. Taking this conspiracy out of commission is a great win, but it’s just the beginning.”

“Despite the sophisticated tactics used to conceal profits made from smuggling poison into our country by the Mexican cartels, our expertise enabled us to dismantle their thriving operations," said Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Houston Division. “DEA, along with its federal counterparts, has dealt a significant blow to the finances of the Mexican cartels through the incredible investigative work of our agents. If we trace your money activities back to the cartels, you will have your day in court and will face justice.”

“Anzures-Zarate and Salcedo-Carreon thought they could escape justice, but found our reach extends past the money trail they left,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Lucy Tan of IRS Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) Houston Field Office. “They conspired to use black market peso exchanges, which are one of the classic methods to launder drug dollars, and a method that leaves a traceable trail to the cartels. For businesses that get approached for a quick cash sale to transport goods into Central and South America, remember that we will find you because your greed leaves evidence.”

According to court documents, the defendants directed money couriers to collect drug proceeds in numerous U.S. cities and then transfer the funds to Laredo, Texas, to be laundered through local businesses. As part of the scheme, store owners in downtown Laredo accepted the drug proceeds as payment for merchandise to be exported to businesses in Mexico. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Salcedo-Carreon, Anzures-Zarate, and others instructed the Mexican businesses to transfer pesos to accounts or people in Mexico who were affiliated with cartels. Through this trade-based money laundering scheme, Mexican cartels disguised illicit drug proceeds as legitimate international commercial transactions and received laundered drug proceeds in Mexico without physically transporting cash across the U.S.-Mexico border. Eight other defendants were previously convicted and sentenced for their roles in the money laundering conspiracy. Anzures-Zarate was ordered to pay a money judgement of $1,176,165 and Salcedo-Carreon was ordered to pay a money judgement of $887,269.

The DEA and IRS-CI investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia provided significant assistance in this matter. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and April 2024 extradition of Salcedo-Carreon.

Trial Attorneys Keith H. Liddle and Stephanie Williamson of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lance Watt, Amanda Gould, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney José Angel Moreno for the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case. 

LAREDO, Texas – A 28-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for his role in a conspiracy to smuggle methamphetamine into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Santos Joel Garza pleaded guilty Nov. 5, 2024.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Garza to serve 240 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence regarding Garza’s lengthy and violent criminal history to include multiple convictions for robbery. He also assaulted detention guards while in custody.

“Methamphetamine destroys lives and poisons American communities,” said Ganjei. “The staggering amount of methamphetamine seized here—roughly 90 pounds—shows that Mr. Garza was trusted by his confederates, likely indicating a long history of drug smuggling and cooperation. With today’s sentence, Mr. Garza will now have two decades to think about the harm that his trafficking caused.”

The investigation revealed that on Jan. 13-14, 2023, Garza and Britain Jean Sada traveled to Laredo from Houston to attempt to smuggle methamphetamine into the United States. Sada then crossed into Mexico to pick up the drugs which were concealed in torque converters loaded into the bed of the truck. Garza remained in Laredo but lent his cell phone to Sada for use while in Mexico.

Upon arrival back in the United States, Sada claimed she was visiting family for a few hours in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Authorities noticed the converters and referred her to secondary inspection.

There, they found 41.35 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in the converters.

The investigation revealed Garza and Sada had regularly communicated about the trip and the drugs. He admitted he was hired to facilitate the drug transaction and had participated in similar events on prior occasions.

Garza has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Sada, 36, Houston, had also pleaded guilty to her role and is currently set for sentencing July 24.  

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 27-year-old Houston resident has been found guilty for conspiring to smuggle illegal aliens into the country, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. 

The jury deliberated for less than an hour before convicting Mario Sandoval following a one-day trial.

Sandoval was deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border with the Texas National Guard as part of Operation Lonestar. Following release from his orders, Sandoval remained in the Rio Grande Valley began smuggling aliens in July 2024.  

The jury saw Sandoval’s text messages discussing that drivers were needed for trips from the Rio Grande Valley to destinations north of the immigration checkpoint. Surveillance would later show him at the immigration checkpoint at the same time he was sending text messages about the presence of law enforcement and K-9 patrols.  

The defense attempted to convince the jury no conspiracy existed, and his text messages were out of context. They did not believe those claims and found Sandoval guilty as charged.

“The conduct in this case represents an unthinkable violation of public trust,” said Ganjei. “Thousands of brave men and women, military and civilian alike, work tirelessly to keep our border secure. It is truly disheartening that one bad apple chose to betray his fellow soldiers, his fellow citizens, and his country by engaging in human smuggling. I wish to thank the jury for their time and attention to this matter.”

Sandoval was discharged from the Texas National Guard in October 2024.

U.S. District Judge David S. Morales presided over the trial and set sentencing for Oct. 22, at which time Sandoval faces up to 10 years in federal prison. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Lamont and Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.

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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

McALLEN, Texas - A local resident and two Mexican nationals have been charged with human smuggling, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

The criminal complaint alleges Joe Michael Cruz, 64, Rio Grande City, and Elbis Lisandro Moreno Uruqia, 19, transported aliens from Mission to Hebbronville, while Jesus Felipe Hernandez Rangel, 21, allegedly harbored aliens at a residence in Mission.

All three are scheduled for an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nadia S. Medrano at 10 a.m.

According to the charges, Cruz arrived at the Hebbronville Border Patrol (BP) Checkpoint early July 17 driving a truck towing a box trailer. Law enforcement noticed the trailer had an uneven weight distribution and searched it, leading to the discovery of 24 illegal aliens, including Moreno, according to the charges. The complaint alleges Moreno was accompanying the aliens in the back of the trailer but was a paid smuggler. Moreno and Cruz had allegedly smuggled 18 aliens two weeks earlier.

According to the complaint, two of the transported aliens provided information on the residence where they were earlier that morning. The charges allege authorities executed a search warrant at the location and found another 10 illegal aliens with Hernandez, who was identified as the caretaker of the residence.

If convicted, all face a maximum of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 maximum possible fine.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Homeland Security Task Force conducted the investigation with the assistance of the BP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devin V. Walker is prosecuting the case.

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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

HOUSTON – A 42-year-old man has pleaded guilty to a wire fraud conspiracy involving the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Shawn Nicholas Young applied for PPP and EIDL loans on behalf of his own businesses as well as businesses belonging to others. The Small Business Administration (SBA) administered the loan programs he targeted, which were intended to help existing small businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic.

To qualify for funding, Young misrepresented key information about the businesses. He supported the false statements with fake tax returns and backdated documents.

Over the conspiracy, Young submitted more than 100 fraudulent applications, requesting more than $9.5 million in funds earmarked for pandemic relief. He received kickbacks from co-conspirators who were approved for loans.

Young profited $1.65 million from the conspiracy. He used the proceeds for personal expenses, such as paying off his mortgage and buying a car. As part of his plea, Young will pay full restitution to the victims of his crimes and forfeit his house and car.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt will sentence Young Oct. 27. At that time, Young faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency-Office of Inspector General (OIG), Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-OIG, SBA-OIG and Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Fort Bend Sheriff’s Office and Harris County Constable’s Office, Precinct 1. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Bauman and Shirin Hakimzadeh prosecuted the case.

The COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force was established to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department's response to the pandemic, please visit Justice.gov/Coronavirus and Justice.gov/Coronavirus/CombatingFraud.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice's National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form.

LAREDO, Texas - Two people have been ordered to federal prison for their roles in a two-year, multimillion-dollar trade-based money laundering conspiracy to move drug trafficking proceeds through Texas to Mexico.

Mauricio Anzures-Zarate, 53, Mexico City, Mexico, and Beatriz Salcedo-Carreon, 63, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, pleaded guilty April 15, 2024, and Jan. 7, 2025, respectively.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now imposed a 55-month-term of imprisonment for both. Not U.S. citizens, they are expected to face removal proceedings following their prison terms. Anzures-Zarate and Salcedo-Carreon were further ordered to pay money judgments in the amounts of $1,176,165 and $887,269, respectively. 

“The lifeblood of any drug trafficking organization is the uninterrupted flow of cash,” said Ganjei. “Here, defendants laundered drug proceeds through a sophisticated trade-based scheme. This criminal operation, and others like it, put money in the pockets of the cartels and endangered lives on both sides of the border. Taking this conspiracy out of commission is a great win, but it’s just the beginning.”

“The defendants used an elaborate, trade-based money laundering scheme to exploit our financial system and transfer the proceeds of illegal drug trafficking from the United States to Mexico,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These financial facilitators actively promoted cartel operations in cities across the United States, which enabled the flow of deadly narcotics into our communities. The Criminal Division will continue to pursue the total elimination of cartels and the money launderers who enable their pernicious activities.”

“Despite the sophisticated tactics used to conceal profits made from smuggling poison into our country by the Mexican cartels, our expertise enabled us to dismantle their thriving operations,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Houston Division. “DEA, along with its federal counterparts, has dealt a significant blow to the finances of the Mexican cartels through the incredible investigative work of our agents. If we trace your money activities back to the cartels, you will have your day in court and will face justice.”

“Anzures-Zarate and Salcedo-Carreon thought they could escape justice, but found our reach extends past the money trail they left,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Lucy Tan of IRS Criminal Investigation’s (CI) Houston Field Office. “They conspired to use black market peso exchanges, which are one of the classic methods to launder drug dollars, and a method that leaves a traceable trail to the cartels. For businesses that get approached for a quick cash sale to transport goods into Central and South America, remember that we will find you because your greed leaves evidence.”

Anzures-Zarate and Salcedo-Carreon directed money couriers to collect drug proceeds in numerous U.S. cities and then transfer them by wire or courier to Laredo to be laundered through local businesses.

As part of the scheme, store owners in downtown Laredo accepted the drug proceeds as payment for merchandise to be exported to businesses in Mexico. Salcedo-Carreon, Anzures-Zarate and others instructed the Mexican businesses to transfer pesos to accounts or people in Mexico who were affiliated with cartels. Through this trade-based money laundering scheme, Mexican cartels disguised illicit drug proceeds as legitimate international commercial transactions and received laundered drug proceeds in Mexico without physically transporting cash across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Eight others were previously convicted and sentenced for their roles in the money laundering conspiracy. 

DEA and IRS-CI conducted the investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia provided significant assistance in this matter. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and April 2024 extradition of Salcedo-Carreon.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSA) Lance Watt, Amanda Gould and former AUSA José Angel Moreno prosecuted the case along with Trial Attorneys Keith H. Liddle and Stephanie Williamson of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section. 

LAREDO, Texas – Four gang members have been sentenced for their roles in an assault at the Rio Grande Detention Center, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Mexican national Jose Regalado-Solis, 47; and Ruben Salazar, 52, Javier Contreras, 48, and Jesus Guadalupe Ortega, 31, all of Laredo, pleaded guilty Aug. 24, 2024, to conspiracy to commit assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Regalado-Solis also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit assault with a deadly weapon.

Senior U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Regalado-Solis to serve a total of 144 months in federal prison. Salazar and Contreras each received a 60-month sentence, while Ortega was sentenced to 72 months. At the hearing, the court considered written victim statements as well as in-court testimony from one of the victims. All detailed the extensive injuries and ongoing medical issues resulting from the assault. In handing down the sentence, Judge Ellison noted that he had been on the bench for 26 years called it the “most serious case of prison gang violence I have seen.” He also added that the case justified a maximum sentence, noting the serious nature of the injuries, the unprovoked assault and the gang motivation on the part of the defendants that fueled it.

“Ensuring that criminals refrain from violent conduct while in custody is just as important as ensuring they refrain from violence outside prison walls,” said Ganjei. “Hopefully the defendants in this case are enjoying their time behind bars, because they just earned themselves many more years in the federal pen.”

On Aug. 18, 2023, authorities were processing nine new inmates at the facility.

Ortega approached the newly arrived inmates and asked their gang affiliation. Upon hearing their responses, he ordered them to line up along the back wall of the housing unit. Other inmates then ran back to their bunks and began putting on their shoes. Regalado-Solis obtained a “shank” from his bunk and walked back towards the new inmates. Salazar lined up behind Regalado-Solis, while Javier Contreras stood in a nearby row of bunk beds.

As the lights went off in the unit, Regalado-Solis and others to assault eight of the new inmates who indicated alternative gang affiliations. He kicked, stomped and made stabbing gestures. While Salazar did not join the initial assault, he was later seen striking and kicking the new inmates on the ground. Contreras immediately rushed into the assault and was observed striking and kicking several as well.

Authorities were able to quickly disperse the assault, but not before the eight victims sustained significant injuries, including puncture wounds. Two required emergency transportation to Laredo Medical Center.

One new inmate who did not claim gang membership was unharmed.

All have been and will remain in custody.

The FBI and U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation with the cooperation of The Geo Group. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Homero Ramirez and Andrew P. Hakala-Finch prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 33-year-old Laredo man has been sentenced for possession with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Raul Garcia Jr. aka Rule pleaded guilty Aug. 6. 2024.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Garcia to serve 100 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard about Garcia’s numerous prior convictions and contacts with law enforcement. In handing down the sentence, the court noted this was a serious crime.

The investigation began in January 2024 when law enforcement learned Garcia may have been selling fentanyl in the Laredo area. Over the next three months, authorities discovered Garcia was selling narcotics out of his home.

A search warrant in March of that year resulted in the discovery of heroin packaged for street sale. A month later, law enforcement obtained a second search warrant and again found heroin. Similar to previously found drugs, the heroin was also packaged for street sale.

The searches also revealed methamphetamine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana, money and stolen firearm.

At the time of his plea, Garcia admitted to possessing the drugs located and seized throughout the investigation.

He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Laredo Police Department’s Narcotics Division conducted the investigation with assistance from Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Chamberlin and Leslie Cortez prosecuted the case.

This case is being prosecuted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF is the largest anti-crime task force in the country. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

HOUSTON – A 25-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison after his multiple convictions involving child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Derrick Alexander Barnum pleaded guilty April 11 to possession, distribution and production of child pornography.

U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. has now sentenced Barnum to a total of 720 months in federal prison. He received 360 and 240 months for the production and distribution convictions, respectively, as well as another 120 months for the possession of CSAM. They will all run consecutively for a total of 60 years in federal prison.  

At the hearing, the court heard additional information regarding the victim, who was only three at the time the exploitation began. The victim’s mother prepared and read from a victim impact statement which described how the minor victim needed counseling for the trauma Barnum caused and will live with his actions for the rest of their life. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted this case presents some of the worst, most horrible facts the court has ever seen and that the scars inflicted upon the young child are scars that last for a lifetime.

The court will determine and order restitution at a later date. Barnum will serve the rest of his life on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Barnum will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

“The defendant robbed this child of their innocence, not only by committing a pattern of vicious sexual assault, but also by publicizing videos of this abuse for the world to see,” said Ganjei. “While the sentence of 60 years will likely mean Barnum spends the rest of his natural life in prison, it still falls short of healing the scars he sadistically inflicted on the minor victim. A similar sentence awaits anyone who dares commit a comparable act.” 

“Derrick Barnum didn’t just commit a crime; he broadcast the torture of a child for the gratification of other abusers,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “This case is a brutal reminder of the hidden world we are fighting, where predators treat the sexual abuse of children as entertainment. FBI Houston agents and analysts pierced the veil of online anonymity and made sure Barnum faced justice. No one who commits crimes against children should believe they are beyond our reach.”

The investigation began in July 2024 when authorities discovered Barnum’s posts in a CSAM trading room on an internet-based application. He posted multiple videos of himself with the victim and sought other users that engaged in similar conduct.

Authorities conducted a search of Barnum’s residence and seized his electronic devices. A forensic examination revealed he had nearly 1000 images and 259 videos on his phone. All depicted minor victims engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including oral, anal and vaginal penetration, masturbation, sadistic and masochistic conduct and lewd and lascivious exhibition of genitals.

Approximately 27 videos showed Barnum engaging in sexual activity with the victim. Barnum created and transmitted his videos showing the sexual exploitation of the victim to third parties on a social media platform.

He also received a video from another adult male engaging in oral sex with a minor child.

The FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Franklyn prosecuted the case which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.