Southern District of Texas

HOUSTON – A 61-year-old man has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Michael Wayne Galvan, operating as a high-end contractor under MWG Ventures LLC dba MGB Builders, fraudulently obtained over $2.8 million from at least six private investors. In some cases, Galvan found future victims when he worked as a vice president of the Houston Livestock and Rodeo Organization.

From February 2016 to March 2018, Galvan used his position with the rodeo to find victims, many of whom were in leadership positions. He solicited short-term loans by offering opportunities to earn 10 to 12 percent interest through his contracting business. Galvan falsely represented he would use the money to purchase exotic tiles and granite from China and other overseas countries for his construction business.

As part of his plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rick Bennett, Galvan admitted he did not use the money for its intended purpose. The scheme unraveled when he ran out of victims and money. In total, he defrauded multiple victims of approximately $2.8 million.  

U. S. District Judge Charles Eskridge will impose sentencing Dec. 5. At that time, Galvan faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine as well as full restitution to his victims.

He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

The FBI conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christian Latham and Thomas Carter are prosecuting the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 58-year-old man has been sentenced for importing 25 kilograms of cocaine into the United States from Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Fidel Aguirre-Montalvo pleaded guilty June 6, 2023.

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Aguirre to serve 46 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

On April 25, Aguirre arrived in a vehicle at the Pharr Port of Entry from Mexico. Authorities then referred him for secondary inspection where they discovered 24 bundles of cocaine hidden in the floor area of the vehicle. Aguirre admitted to attempting to bring narcotics into the country in return for an undisclosed amount of money.

The cocaine weighed approximately 25 kilograms.

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

Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case.

McALLEN, Texas – Three local sisters have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to aid and assist in the preparation of filing fraudulent tax returns to the IRS, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Maria Lourdes Campos and her sisters Elizabeth Romo and Gloria Romo pleaded guilty May 2.

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now imposed a 42-month term of imprisonment for Campos, while Elizabeth Romo received 36 months and Gloria Romo received a one-year term of supervised release. Campos, Elizabeth Romo and Gloria Romo were ordered to pay $151,741, $119,793 and $9,528 in restitution, respectively. Campos and Elizabeth Romo were also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following their sentences. At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony that included details about the systemic nature of the tax fraud at Campos Tax Service where employees, without explicit instruction, perpetuated inflated and fraudulent tax returns as part of the business model. Throughout the years that Maria Campos orchestrated this scheme, she enjoyed the financial spoils, including purchasing luxury vehicles and expanding her business to three locations.

“These sentencings stand as a resolute warning – the Southern District of Texas is unwavering in its commitment to eradicating financial crimes that plague the South Texas border,” said Hamdani. “To those who think they can exploit or perpetuate financial crimes in the Rio Grande Valley, it’s not a matter of if, but when you will face the full force of the Department of Justice. It is our duty and profound obligation to ensure that justice is not just an ideal, but a reality that resonates through every corner of our community.”

“The Campos and Romo sisters turned their family business into a large-scale tax fraud operation, expanding their scheme across multiple locations to drastically increase the number of fraudulent tax returns submitted to the IRS. Through their actions, they amassed millions of dollars in illegal tax refunds. This is a clear demonstration of criminal intent, driven by greed,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Lucy Tan of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Houston Field Office. “Their business model was not just about financial gains, but also undermined the public’s trust in the integrity of tax preparers, who are relied upon to submit honest and accurate tax returns.” 

Campos was the owner and operator of Campos Tax Service (CTS) located in the Rio Grande Valley for over 10 years. Employed at Campos Tax Service were Campos’s two sisters, Elizabeth Romo and Gloria Romo. 
With the sisters’ assistance, most CTS clients fraudulently applied for and claimed either residential energy credits, business expenses or childcare credits. CTS employees did this to earn larger tax refunds for its clients. Once CTS employees completed the tax returns, they did not review the completed documents with their clients and only provided them with refund amounts or incomplete documents.

From 2018 to 2020, Campos Tax Service filed approximately 6,501 federal income tax returns which included over $5 million of residential energy credits.

The false and fraudulent filings between Campos, Elizabeth Romo and Gloria Romo resulted in a total sustained tax harm of $3,672,472.

All were permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.

IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric D. Flores and Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case. 

McALLEN, Texas – A 43-year-old McAllen resident has been sent back to prison for possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Rene Javier Sarmienta pleaded guilty March 20, 2023.

U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Sarmienta to serve 120 months in federal prison. In handing down the prison term, the court noted it was unfortunate Sarmienta relapsed and needs therapy. Sarmienta was further ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to each of 12 victims 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. The court also noted his previous conviction of possessing child pornography in 2002 and that he would be spending another significant amount of his life in prison.

The investigation began when law enforcement discovered Sarmienta had been purchasing child pornography using a PayPal account. He also failed to report having several social media accounts to local authorities as required due to status as a sex offender.

A forensic examination of Sarmienta’s cell phone revealed 6,300 images of child pornography. Several of the images included prepubescent minors and sadomasochistic conduct.

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

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

Assistant U.S. Attorneys M. Alexis Garcia and Tyler Foster 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 link on that page.

McALLEN, Texas - A 45-year-old man has been sentenced for his role in a conspiracy to import cocaine from Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Jesus Andres Tijerina pleaded guilty June 4.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Tijerina to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence regarding Tijerina’s supervisory role in the drug trafficking organization.

On Jan. 21, 2020, Tijerina’s co-conspirator, Simon Salazar, arrived in a vehicle at the Anzalduas Port of Entry from Mexico. Law enforcement referred the vehicle for secondary inspection where they discovered 13 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside the vehicle and wrapped in bundles.

Upon further investigation, authorities discovered Tijerina was providing instructions for where Salazar should go in Mexico and how to deliver the narcotics once in the United States.

Salazar, 36, previously pleaded guilty and received 25 months in federal prison for his role in the conspiracy.

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

Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 31-year-old Mission man has been ordered to federal prison following his convictions of two counts of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Esteban Almentor-Lopez faced two separate narcotics charges and pleaded guilty March 1, 2021, and Dec. 20, 2022.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Almentor-Lopez to serve 70 months in federal prison for the initial drug trafficking as well as a consecutive 50 months for his subsequent conviction. His total 120-month sentence will be immediately followed by four years of supervised release.

In November 2020, law enforcement conducted an operation involving communication with a Mexican drug source of supply. The organization was to deliver kilogram quantities of meth in the Rio Grande Valley for transport to Chicago, Illinois.

On two occasions in November 2020, Almentor-Lopez transported and delivered a total of 40 kilograms of meth in Mission. He was arrested but granted bond pending further proceedings.

On March 1, 2021, Almentor-Lopez pleaded guilty to those charges.

However, the next day, authorities again apprehended him transporting and delivering an additional 20 kilograms of meth on behalf of the same drug organization.

The approximately 60 kilograms of meth Almentor-Lopez trafficked showed a purity level of 100%.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 30-year-old Laredo man has pleaded guilty to production of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

On April 5, law enforcement encountered Luis Andres Serna after he picked up an undocumented non-citizen from downtown Laredo and transported him to an apartment building. At that time, a 16-year-old pregnant minor was also his passenger. 

Later that day, authorities discovered 37 undocumented people and approximately 1,032 kilograms of marijuana within several apartments linked to Serna and others. This eventually led to his arrest for drug trafficking and conspiracy to transport and harbor undocumented individuals.  

While in federal custody for the pending charges, he gained access to a tablet video system and contacted the same pregnant girl. The investigation revealed Serna provided the minor’s name and a phone number to initiate video calls but did not disclose she was a minor. 

The facility’s communication system automatically records the displays of both parties during every video call. Law enforcement reviewed several hundred telephone calls and tablet video visits Serna initiated while detained. 

The investigation revealed he was in regular video communication with the minor victim.  

On June 24, 2022, he had her perform sexual acts while he watched. The minor victim used her personal cellphone to record herself performing the acts and played the video for Serna over the course of several days.

“Protecting our children from sexual predators is one of my office’s most sacred responsibilities,” said Hamdani. “Serna is an especially reprehensible predator--a human smuggler and drug trafficker who exploited a pregnant child for his own sexual gratification adding the label “child pornographer” to his resume of crimes. This prosecution and conviction will help insure that Serna can no longer victimize Laredo’s citizens, especially its children.”

Serna also later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport over 1000 kilograms of marijuana and the human transportation conspiracy. 

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña accepted the plea and will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Serna faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine for the sexual exploitation conviction as well as a maximum of 10 years and up to life, respectively, for the alien smuggling and drug trafficking charges.

Serna has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Border Patrol and other private companies.  

Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSA) Homero Ramirez and Michael Makens are prosecuting the case along with the assistance from Special AUSA Terence A. Check Jr. and former AUSA April Ayers-Perez, 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 link on that page.

HOUSTON – A former federal agent has admitted to theft of personal property and providing false statements, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

From March 2022 to July 2023, Nicholas Anthony Williams, 37, Houston, stole money and property from multiple residences while executing search warrants in his official capacity. 

Specifically, the plea agreement lists several instances in which Williams stole cash totaling nearly $10,000 as well as several silver bars which he had attempted to sell to another individual. 

Williams proceeded to retain the money or property for his personal use. He used some of the money to purchase guns and related items. 

In addition, Williams admitted to providing false statements with regard to several fraudulent charges on his government-issued credit card, making it appear they were case-related expenses, when they were not. He also took some legitimate FBI-purchased property and pawned for cash. 

“Founded on a legacy of steadfast duty since 1908, FBI agents uphold society's trust by relentlessly pursuing justice and protecting citizens with unwavering integrity,” said Hamdani. “Nicholas Williams betrayed that legacy and the community’s trust when he decided to pad his own pockets at the expense of a citizen’s rights. Because no one is above the law, the system of justice that he once swore to protect will now seek to hold him to account for breaking that oath.”

Since 2019, Williams worked as an FBI special agent in the Houston field office. He served on both the criminal violent gang and counterterrorism squads.

U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen will impose sentencing Jan. 13, 2025. At that time, Williams faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Williams was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.

The Department of Justice - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Garcia and Sarina DiPiazza are prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 23-year-old Laredo woman has pleaded guilty to smuggling a young child into the United States for financial gain, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

From August to September 2023, Vanessa Valadez and other family members operated a child smuggling ring working to bring young non-citizen children 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.

On Sept. 21, 2023, members of the smuggling 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. 

According to one of the conspirators, 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, members of the smuggling ring used melatonin gummies to sedate at least one child to ensure a successful smuggling attempt. 

The investigation revealed one of the co-conspirators sent a text message and 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.”

“This smuggling case ranks among the most chilling we’ve ever seen - involving the systematic trade of transporting young children to unknown final destinations,” said Hamdani. “Let this prosecution serve as a stark warning to all those parents who might consider entrusting a precious child to the care of a criminal organization bent on making money by smuggling vulnerable children - your child could be sedated or drugged . . . or worse.”

Co-conspirators Ana Laura Bryand, 47, Dallas; her niece Kayla Marie Bryand, 20, Laredo, Jose Eduardo Bryand, 43, Laredo; Nancy Guadalupe Bryand, 44, all of Laredo; and Lizeth Esmeralda Bryand Arredondo, 32, Mexico, previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy. 

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentence Jan. 8, 2025. At that time, Valadez faces up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Border Patrol, Laredo Police Department, Department of Health and Human Services - Office of the Inspector General and FBI. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Terence A. Check Jr. is prosecuting the case with the assistance of AUSA Michael Makens.

LAREDO, Texas – Multiple people have been sentenced for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, heroin, fentanyl and meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Hector Flores, 53, Aaron Elezar Pachuca, 30, Lauro Alberto Garcia, 31, Matthew Aaron Arce, 31, Javier Hernandez-Barajas, 71, Vincent Castro, 35, Jose Moises Cruz, 39, all of Laredo; and Ernesto Diaz-Velazquez, 41, Forney, had all previously pleaded guilty.

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana has now ordered Flores to serve a total of 171 months in federal prison. Castro and Pachuca both received 120-month terms of imprisonment, while Hernandez-Barajas, Cruz, Diaz-Velazquez, Garcia and Arce received 135, 130, 63, 70 and 70 months, respectively. Arce must serve three years of supervised release while the other seven were ordered to serve five-year terms.

At the hearings held Sept. 19 and 20, the court heard additional evidence including information about the organization’s drug importation and smuggling operation.

The investigation revealed Flores and other organization leaders sourced drugs from a Mexican supplier. They brought the drugs to a stash house in Laredo that Flores owned, then separated and re-packaged the drugs and distributed them to various couriers in order to move the drugs into the interior of the United States.

Authorities seized over 14 kilograms of meth, 12 kilograms of heroin, 10 kilograms of cocaine, seven kilograms of fentanyl and $8,000 in drug proceeds throughout the investigation.

Additionally, the United States ordered the forfeiture of the stash house used to traffic the narcotics.

Arce and Garcia were allowed to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future, while the remaining six have been and will remain in custody.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of Border Patrol; Customs and Border Protection Air & Marine Operations; Homeland Security Investigations; Texas Department of Public Safety; Webb County District Attorney’s Office; sheriff’s offices in Webb and Zapata Counties; police departments in Laredo, Texas A&M International University and United Independent School District; Webb County Precinct 4 Constables Office and Ohio State Highway Patrol.

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 Anthony J. Evans prosecuted the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 26-year-old man has entered a guilty plea for possessing destructive devices and utilizing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

On Aug. 1, Jamez Aaron Sandoval bought two grenade-style destructive devices which led to his arrest. Authorities conducted a search of his residence and discovered cocaine, marijuana, drug dealing paraphernalia as well as a firearm.

Further investigation revealed Sandoval used the firearm for protection during the commission of drug trafficking activities.

Chief U.S District Judge Randy Crane accepted the plea and set sentencing for Dec. 3. At that time, Sandoval faces up to 10 years in federal prison to be immediately followed by a minimum of five additional years and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Sandoval has been and will remain in custody pending his sentencing.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Texas Department of Public Safety and Alamo Police Department conducted the joint investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan is prosecuting the case as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old, evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions. 

McALLEN, Texas – A 35-year-old local man has been ordered to prison for trafficking $33 million in marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Adan Ontiveros Jr. pleaded guilty April 24 to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute nearly 2,500 kilograms of marijuana.

U.S. District Chief Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Ontiveros to serve 180 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by 10 years of supervised release.

On July 16, 2020, law enforcement was conducting surveillance at a suspected drug house in Roma. There, they saw a man - Ontiveros - attempting to discretely exit the residence. He was trying to escape via an attic vent. However, authorities quickly took him into custody.  

They obtained a search warrant and ultimately discovered several hundred bundles of marijuana. The total weight was 2,477 kilograms with an approximate value of more than $33 million.

He admitted he was aware there was marijuana inside the stash house.

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

The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Phelps and Roberto Lopez Jr. are prosecuting the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 27-year-old local man has been sentenced for receiving images and video files containing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Gabriel Alejandro Morales pleaded guilty March 22, 2023.

Chief U.S. District Judge Crane has now ordered Morales to serve 120 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard additional information that Morales not only received child pornography but also engaged in the distribution of child pornography. In handing down the prison term, the court noted that engaging in the consumption of child pornography increases the demand, often leading to the production of new child pornography. Morales was further ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to a known 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. Morales will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

In January 2022, law enforcement learned of a group chat on a third-party messaging application that was identified as sharing child pornography. Morales had engaged in the receipt and distribution of approximately nine videos of child pornography on that site.

Morales admitted to the use of the third-party messaging application on his cellular phone to engage in the receipt and distribution of child pornography. He further acknowledged possessing additional child pornography on other electronic devices.

The images included sadistic/masochistic content and the depiction of prepubescent children engaged in sexual acts. Authorities ultimately found a total of 77 video files of child sex abuse materials, an additional 52 video files and 11 images attributable to Morales.

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

The FBI conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan and Alexa D. Parcell 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 link on that page.

HOUSTON – A 29-year-old man residing in the Houston and Austin areas has been sentenced for sex trafficking three minors and an adult, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

A federal jury deliberated for less than two hours before returning the guilty verdict April 19 against Jacorey Nathaniel Anderson aka Slando Kareem following a five-day trial.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner has now sentenced Anderson to life imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard from one of the minor victims detailing how Anderson’s actions took away her childhood and the negative impact it has had on all of her relationships. In handing down the prison term, the court noted that Anderson knowingly trafficked the teenage girls. Two of those teenage girls were only 15 years of age.

“This case exemplifies how art sometimes imitates life. Anderson, a rap musician, performed vile songs glorifying the pimp/prostitute relationship,” said Hamdani. “Unfortunately, for several young girls, he breathed life into his poorly crafted lyrics – providing drugs, starving and trafficking them for his own financial gain. Despite the trauma they suffered, the victims in this case bravely testified against him at trial which secured his convictions…and thanks to their bravery, Anderson’s glorification of commercial sex, his human trafficking and his misogyny ends, both in art and in real life.”

“Through the efforts of our special agents and law enforcement partners, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has taken another violent sex trafficker off our city streets,” said acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Dallas Travis Pickard. “The victims’ this defendant abused can now began their process of healing with this criminal behind bars for the remainder of his life.”

At the trial, the jury saw two of Anderson’s rap videos. In one of the videos, a female victim’s hands and feet are bound while duct tape covers her mouth. Anderson then physically assaults the victim, slapping and choking her multiple times and warning her to close her mouth.

Anderson lured three minors and an adult to the Austin area from Houston via social media and text messages. Co-conspirator Lelonnie Stephon Jackson provided his Mercedes SUV, while another co-conspirator, Thomas Jarrett Barraza, drove the victims to an Austin-area hotel.

There, the victims received instruction to walk the “track,” an area known for prostitution, and posted sexually explicit advertisements for commercial sex online. Within another 24 hours, the adult victim escaped.

Over the course of three days, the co-conspirators transported the minor female victims to a hotel in Stafford. At that time, Jackson and Barraza left Anderson and the three minor victims at the hotel and returned to the Austin area. Anderson caused the minors to post ads and engage in commercial sex at the hotel. 

Within 24 hours of arrival at the hotel in Stafford, two of the minor females were able to escape. The last minor remained with Anderson for a few more weeks while he caused her to continue to engage in commercial sex.

Throughout the process, Anderson starved the victims, provided them with drugs and took all the proceeds from the commercial sex. 

At the time of the trial, evidence revealed Anderson was arrested in Dallas for attempting to traffic whom he believed was a minor. However, the individual was actually an undercover officer. 

The arrest led to the examination of Anderson’s phone which allowed law enforcement to the identify the minor victims.

Additionally, Jackson, 33, Big Spring, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the criminal enterprise and received 60 months in prison. Barraza, 37, Austin, also pleaded guilty to his role and will remain on bond pending sentencing Nov. 12.

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

HSI - Dallas and the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA) including FBI Houston and Houston Police Department (HPD) conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherri L. Zack and Kimberly A. Leo prosecuted the case.

HTRA law enforcement includes members of the HPD, FBI, HSI, Texas Attorney General’s Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, Department of Labor (DOL), DOL – Wage and Hour Division, Department of State, Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission, Texas Department of Public Safety,  Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General (OIG), Social Security Administration – OIG and Sheriff’s Offices in Harris and Montgomery counties in coordination with District Attorney’s offices in Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend Counties.

Established in 2004, the United States Attorney’s office in Houston formed HTRA to combine resources with federal, state and local enforcement agencies and prosecutors, as well as non-governmental service organizations to target human traffickers while providing necessary services to those that the traffickers victimized. Since its inception, HTRA has been recognized as both a national and international model in identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking and prosecuting those engaged in trafficking offenses.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 56-year-old Mexican citizen residing in the Brownsville area has been sentenced following his conviction for conspiracy with intent to deliver cocaine, heroin and fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

A federal jury convicted Gilberto Almaraz-Muniz April 26 on one count of conspiracy and three counts of possession with intent to distribute various controlled substances following a five-day trial.

U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered him to serve 250 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional information detailing the extensive elements of the conspiracy Almaraz-Muniz lead. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Almaraz-Muniz specifically made use of younger individuals to carry out the transportation of the drugs.

Law enforcement conducted a narcotics seizure in Klegberg County March 10, 2022. At that time, authorities arrested co-conspirator Pedro Venegas Jr., 24, in Brownsville.

Once law enforcement noticed tampering within the engine, they took his truck to a secure location to remove the engine’s manifold and other components. The exposed internal workings of the engine revealed 23 bundles of heroin, cocaine and fentanyl. The truck’s 6-cylinder engine had modifications to appear as an 8-cylinder to keep the drugs hidden within those areas.

Further evidence showed co-conspirator Jetzrael Saldana, 26, Brownsville, recruited Venegas as driver on behalf of Almaraz-Muniz who was a law enforcement official in Mexico and operated as the drug supplier.

During the trial, witnesses testified that Almaraz-Muniz would ask Saldana to recruit drivers to take drug loads past the immigration checkpoint for distribution in Houston and other areas. Almaraz-Muniz would then arrange for the vehicles to be titled in the drivers’ names and have them do “dry runs,” crossing the port of entry several times before hiding drugs within the vehicle.

At the time of the trial, the jury heard additional evidence about two other drug seizures during which Almaraz-Muniz hired drivers to deliver narcotics. The seizures included 83 kilograms of liquid meth at the Gateway International bridge in Brownsville on July 17, 2022, and a 24-kilogram seizure of black tar heroin in Robstown Sept. 26, 2022.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the South Texas Narcotics Task Force in Kingsville and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Oscar Ponce and Victoria Aranda prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 34-year-old former Houston resident has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

From March 2020 until March 2021, Cora Chantail Custard conspired with others to submit false and fraudulent loan applications for financial assistance both personally and on behalf of others.

The co-conspirators submitted false applications to the Small Business Administration (SBA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and multiple state unemployment insurance agencies.

Over the course of the conspiracy, Custard resided in both Houston and San Antonio.

As part of her plea, Custard admitted to using her Facebook account to advertise her services to file fraudulent disaster relief applications. Custard’s posts repeatedly described the scheme to her social media followers as “doing apps,” with the ability to obtain between $6,000 and $8,000 for an application within four to seven days of filing.

Custard submitted or caused the submission of over 100 fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications, at least 36 of which resulted in advance payments totaling $345,000.

Further investigation revealed Custard filed at least 30 fraudulent FEMA Disaster Benefit applications related to Hurricane Laura in August 2020 and Hurricane Sally in September 2020. At least 16 of those fraudulent applications resulted payouts totaling approximately $75,000.

Additionally, Custard committed several other fraudulent acts like filing over 100 false unemployment insurance applications in Michigan, Illinois and several other states for her own and others’ benefits. At least 20 of those fraudulent applications resulted in payments totaling approximately $200,000.

Due to her actions, multiple agencies lost a total of $620,000.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner will impose sentencing in January 2025. At that time, Custard faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

The Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General (OIG), IRS-Criminal Investigation, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Social Security Administration-OIG, SBA-OIG and Department of Labor-OIG conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen M. Lansden is prosecuting the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 23-year-old man has been sentenced for drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Jesse James Gonzalez pleaded guilty Sept. 27, 2023.

U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez has now ordered Gonzalez to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional information about how Gonzalez’s criminal history was repetitive and warranted a lengthy sentence. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the societal harms of trafficking in narcotics and the destruction in communities that it occurs.

On Nov. 29, 2022, Gonzalez attempted to make entry into the United States through the Donna Port of Entry. Gonzalez was carrying a shoebox containing two packages of white crystal meth.

Authorities discovered the meth during the inspection process and Gonzalez subsequently admitted he had “ice” in the shoebox.

Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Devin V. Walker prosecuted the case. AUSA Ted Parran handled the sentencing hearing.

LAREDO, TEXAS – Two Texas men are charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and conspiracy to do so, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

A federal grand jury has returned a two-count indictment against Hernan Cortez, 40, Houston, and Daniel Elizondo, 37, Laredo. Previously in custody upon the filing of a criminal complaint Aug. 30, they are expected to make an appearance on the indictment before a U.S. magistrate judge in the near future.

According to the charges, Cortez transported approximately a half of a kilogram of fentanyl from Houston to Laredo Aug. 28. He allegedly intended to sell the drugs in Laredo with Elizondo’s assistance.

On Aug. 29, Cortez brought the fentanyl to a stash house where Elizondo was located, according to the complaint. Elizondo allegedly exited the stash house wearing a black satchel bag and walked into an alleyway connected to an adjoining property. Soon thereafter, he no longer had the bag, according to the charges.

The complaint alleges authorities executed a search warrant and found 508 grams of fentanyl hidden in a tire wheel in the alleyway where Elizondo had been.

If convicted, Cortez and Elizondo face up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations, Webb County Precinct 1 Constables Office, Webb County Sheriff’s Office and the Laredo Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch is prosecuting the case.

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 26-year-old McAllen man has been sentenced on multiple counts of hostage taking, smuggling and weapons charges, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

A federal jury deliberated for less than an hour before returning the guilty verdict Nov. 8, 2023, on all counts against Heriberto Mendez-Lozano following a three-day trial.

U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez has now ordered Mendez-Lozano to serve 360 months in federal prison for committing hostage taking and human smuggling. He also received 160 months for being a felon in possession of a firearm which must be served in part consecutively to the other sentence imposed. The total 460-month prison term will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that detailed how the violent threats and coercion of the vulnerable migrant victims has had a lasting impact on their lives. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that Mendez-Lozano’s violent criminal history, coupled with his violent threats and actions in this case, warranted a significant sentence.

“After illegally navigating vulnerable migrants across the Southern border, human smugglers, like Mendez-Lozano, tend to graduate to hostage-taking,” said Hamdani. “He and others asserted control over the migrants and held them at gunpoint, subjecting them to trauma and terror over the course of several days. They used fear to force the migrants’ families to pay money for their release. Today, some small measure of justice has been secured for these heinous acts as Mendez-Lozano goes from former hostage-taker to current federal prisoner.”

“Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) vehemently condemns human smugglers who exploit the vulnerabilities of migrants with threats and acts of violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee, HSI San Antonio. “HSI is at the forefront of investigating these human smugglers who attempt to plague the southwest border. We remain committed to bringing to justice the criminal organizations who prey on the vulnerable with no regard for the well-being of the people they smuggle.”

During the trial, the jury heard evidence that on Sept. 29, 2022, Mendez-Lozano and others to include Lorenzo Campbell and Heriberto Aguirre were engaged in smuggling migrants from near the Rio Grande River further into the United States.

On that date, the group was harboring five undocumented aliens. Instead of transporting the aliens further into the United States, Mendez-Lozano and his co-conspirators held the aliens against their will at a location in Donna.

There, Mendez-Lozano and Aguirre brandished firearms, held guns to the heads and ribs of hostages, threatened the hostages and forced them to call family members to demand money for their release.

The investigation led law enforcement to the location in Donna where they arrested Mendez-Lozano, who had a pending warrant for aggravated robbery, along with Campbell. Authorities also rescued the hostages from the scene. Aguirre was arrested at a nearby motel.

Judge Alvarez previously sentenced Campbell, 23, Pharr, to 18 months in federal prison, while Aguirre, 25, Mission, received a 240-month-term of imprisonment. Both will be required to serve two years of supervised release following their respective prison terms.

Mendez-Lozano will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

HSI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol (BP), U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hidalgo County Sherriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colton Turner and Theodore Parran prosecuted the case as part of the Human Smuggling Prevention Program (HSPP). The primary goal of HSPP is to disrupt and dismantle human smuggling organizations on our Southwest Border through close cooperation with HSI, BP, Customs and Border Protection – Office of Field Operations and local law enforcement partners.

GALVESTON, Texas – A 44-year-old La Marque resident has been sentenced for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Smith Henry Jones pleaded guilty Feb. 17, 2022.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown has now ordered Jones to serve 144 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. The court also issued a final order of forfeiture for $60,000 in cash and a residential house with lot valued at approximately $250,000.

Between February 2017 and February 2019, Jones managed a group of persons who distributed cocaine base or “crack” in the La Marque and Texas City areas.

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

The FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Force and the La Marque Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth A. Cusick and Mary Ellen Smyth prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) will immediately begin implementation of a pilot program to encourage early voluntary disclosure of previously unknown criminal conduct and to help identify and prosecute individuals most culpable for that misconduct, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

In exchange for self-disclosure and cooperation against others involved in the criminal conduct, SDTX will enter into a non-prosecution agreement where certain specified conditions are met.

“Rooting out fraud and corruption in the government and private sectors has always been a priority of the SDTX whether that corruption exists in the Rio Grande Valley’s smallest towns or in and around Houston, the nation’s fourth largest city,” said Hamdani. “Those cases often rely on whistleblowers, individuals who witness wrongdoing and want to do the right thing by coming forward to law enforcement. This office’s new policy is my way of encouraging those whistleblowers to come forward to assist our mission to expose and eliminate corruption throughout the district.”

The hope is to incentivize individuals and their counsel to provide actionable and timely information by providing clarity on the requirements and benefits of self-disclosure. This could potentially help the office bring more misconduct to light and better protect the communities within the SDTX.

Reporting parties can be an individual or business, but must disclose criminal conduct of public or private companies, exchanges, financial institutions, investment advisers or investment finds. The disclosed criminal conduct may involve fraud, corporate control failures, affects on market integrity, criminal conduct involving state or local bribery and fraud relating to federal, state or local funds.  

To be considered, reporting parties and their related information must meet certain key sets of conditions:

• The misconduct is not already public and known to the office, any Department of Justice component or federal law enforcement agency.

• The individual or organization discloses the criminal conduct voluntarily (e.g., not in response to a government inquiry, reporting obligation, existing agreement to report or prior to imminent threat of disclosure.)

• The individual or organization can provide substantial assistance and is prepared to fully cooperate in the investigation and prosecution of the disclosed conduct and recovery of any related criminal proceeds.

• The individual or organization truthfully and completely discloses all criminal conduct they know of or in which they have participated.

• The individual must not be a federal, state or local elected or appointed official; an official or agent of a federal investigative or law enforcement agency; expected to become of major public interest; the highest-ranking person within the organization or the person who exercises primary control over the organization’s operations where the misconduct occurred.

• The individual did not lead or originate the alleged misconduct or illegal activity.

• The individual has not engaged in any criminal conduct involving the use of force or violence; any sex offense involving fraud, force or coercion of a minor; any offense involving terrorism or national security and does not have a conviction of any kind for conduct involving fraud or dishonesty.

• The individual must agree to forfeit any proceeds from the disclosed criminal wrongdoing and pay restitution to victims consistent with their role in the offense.

This policy does not apply to individuals or organizations providing information regarding violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, violations of federal or state campaign financing laws, federal patronage crimes, corruption of the electoral process, bribery of federal officials, federal tax offenses or federal environmental crimes.

The SDTX has sole discretion to determine whether an individual has satisfied each of the conditions necessary to consider a non-prosecution agreement.

Individuals or businesses who do not meet the above requirements may still be considered for a non-prosecution agreement on a discretionary basis in exchange for their cooperation after consideration of multiple factors.  

Those who qualify for the Whistleblower Pilot Program are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to come clean, cooperate throughout the legal process and get on the right side of the law. 

Individuals (including through counsel) seeking to be considered for the SDTX Whistleblower Pilot Program may use this WBP intake form to begin the process of disclosing criminal misconduct. Send completed document to the office at USATXS.WBP@usdoj.gov.

This policy does not apply to any other U.S. Attorney’s Office or any other litigating component of the Justice Department. It also does not supersede any provision of the Justice Manual.

McALLEN, Texas – A 43-year-old Mission resident has been sentenced for coercion and enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Juan Carlos Munoz pleaded guilty March 29.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now sentenced Munoz to serve 168 months in prison immediately followed by five years of supervised release. 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. At the hearing, the court heard how Munoz would not only solicit photos and videos from minor children but would share and exchange those sexually explicit photos with another adult male child predator. In handing down the prison term, the court noted its concern for the safety of our school children.

“Munoz is a predator who hid within the walls of a local school and behind fake personas,” said Hamdani. “This sentence should show this family and all families that justice will bring child predators out of the shadows and placed behind bars where they belong.”

“Mr. Munoz abused his position of public trust as a special education teacher to prey on those he was entrusted to protect,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “The sexual exploitation of children is among the most egregious crimes HSI investigates, and today’s sentencing serves as a reminder that our agency will work tirelessly to protect children from coercion and enticement of minors.”

In November 2022, law enforcement in South Carolina met with a family who discovered their 14-year-old girl was communicating with an individual who was soliciting nude photos and videos. The girl met the individual who claimed to be a 19-year-old teenage boy on a social media/video chat site. Law enforcement uncovered numerous conversations and successfully traced the perpetrator’s phone number to the Rio Grande Valley. They determined his true identity was 41-year-old Munoz, a high school special education teacher.

In December 2022, Texas authorities located Munoz at the school where he was employed. He admitted to communicating with approximately 50 minor children and requesting sexually explicit photos and videos.

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

HSI-Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Task Force conducted the investigation with the assistance of York County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura 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 46-year-old resident of Mission has been taken into custody on charges of health care fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to defraud the Texas Medicaid Program, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Juan Martin Flores, 46, is set to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker at 9 a.m.

The indictment, returned Aug. 7 and unsealed upon his arrest Sept. 12, alleges he submitted or caused the submission of over 15,000 fraudulent claims to Medicaid for services that were never provided. Between 2018 and 2022, the claims resulted in approximately $2 million in Medicaid payments, according to the charges. The indictment further alleges Flores used the personal information of Medicaid beneficiaries without their consent to facilitate the fraudulent billing scheme.

According to the charges, Flores submitted claims under his national provider identifier number, representing that he provided counseling services at his office in Brownsville. However, he allegedly never actually rendered those services. The indictment details multiple instances in which he unlawfully used Medicaid beneficiaries' identities in the fraudulent claims.

Flores is charged with 10 counts of health care fraud, each carrying a possible 10-year-maximum sentence and up to a $250,000 fine. He is also facing three counts of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he faces a mandatory two years in federal prison which must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed.

The FBI, Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General and Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew R. Swartz and Eric D. Flores are prosecuting the case.

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 21-year-old man has been sentenced for transporting undocumented individuals, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Isaac Jake Gonzalez pleaded guilty March 30, 2023.

U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Gonzalez to serve 60 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard evidence that while on bond, Gonzalez continued to smuggle undocumented individuals and allegedly trafficked a 15-year-old girl for sex which resulted in a revocation of his bond. The court also heard Gonzalez was responsible for smuggling unaccompanied minors and that, in some cases, the undocumented people were locked in trailers where the refrigeration was not working.

Beginning in summer 2021, authorities initiated an investigation into an organization responsible for smuggling thousands of undocumented aliens in tractor-trailers. Law enforcement ultimately identified Gonzalez and his brother-in-law, Anthony Williams, as coordinators responsible for recruiting drivers. 

On Dec. 6, 2022, authorities arrested Gonzalez and three other co-conspirators. Law enforcement discovered that members had delivered six undocumented migrants to a warehouse where a tractor-trailer was waiting to smuggle them north.

Through the investigation, Gonzalez was found responsible for smuggling approximately 115 undocumented individuals.

Williams, 27, Pharr, was previously sentenced to 96 months in federal prison.

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

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara J. De Peña prosecuted the case.

McALLEN, Texas – The mayor pro-tem and city manager of Edcouch have both been taken into custody on public corruption charges, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.  

Victor Hugo De La Cruz, 40, and Rene Flores, 60, both of Edcouch, are set to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker at 9 a.m. Sept. 13.   

A federal grand jury returned the four-count indictment under seal Sept. 2 which was unsealed upon their arrests.  

The indictment alleges that from June to September 2019, De La Cruz, city manager, and Flores, mayor pro-tem, solicited bribe payments from the owner of a Brownsville business that provides marketing services throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The business owner allegedly received two separate $3000 payments for marketing work he was allegedly performing for the city of Edcouch. In return, he made two $1000 kickback payments to Flores, according to the charges. 

De la Cruz and Flores are charged with conspiracy, bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds and use of a facility in interstate commerce in furtherance of bribery.   

If convicted, they both face up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine on the bribery charge and five years for the conspiracy and use of a facility in interstate commerce.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert S. Johnson and K. Alejandra Andrade are prosecuting the case.   

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A federal jury has convicted a 49-year-old Cuban national for conspiring to unlawfully transport non-U.S. citizens, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

The jury deliberated for less than one hour before finding Deivis Reinaldo Rodriguez-Ramirez guilty following a two-day trial.

The jury heard evidence that Rodriguez-Ramirez was part of a group of three men conspiring to conceal undocumented individuals inside a tractor-trailer.

On Aug. 21, 2023, Daikiel Perdomo-Castro drove the tractor-trailer into the Border Patrol checkpoint near Falfurrias with no visible occupants. There, authorities asked Perdomo-Castro to drive the vehicle through an X-ray inspection.   

Law enforcement discovered Rodriguez-Ramirez, who had moved into the passenger seat, and eight individuals illegally present and attempting to hide in the sleeper compartment of the tractor. A third co-conspirator, Macdiel Labrada-Martin, was also found in the sleeper compartment.  

During the trial, the defense attempted to convince the jury that even though Rodriguez-Ramirez was in the tractor with the other two-conspirators and the eight undocumented aliens, he had no part in the offense. They did not believe those claims and found Rodriguez-Ramirez guilty as charged.

Perdomo-Castro, 40, and Labrada-Martin, 32, both of Louisville, Kentucky, previously pleaded guilty and received sentences of nine and 15 months in federal prison, respectively.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales-Ramos presided over the trial and set sentencing for Dec. 4. At that time, Rodriguez-Ramirez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.  

He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Young Burkett and Ashley Martin are prosecuting the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 45-year-old Pharr resident has been convicted of unlawfully transporting an undocumented alien, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

The jury deliberated for approximately one hour before finding Benjamin Ramirez guilty following a one-day trial.

The jury heard that Ramirez drove to the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint with a passenger in the front seat. Law enforcement conducted a routine immigration inspection and determined the passenger was illegally present in the United States. 

At trial, Ramirez claimed that he had no idea the passenger was illegally in the country and that they were traveling to perform mechanical work in San Antonio. The jury did not believe defense claims and found Ramirez guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge David S. Morales presided over the trial and set sentencing for Dec. 4, at which time Ramirez faces up to five years in federal prison.

He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Lamont and Liesel Roscher prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A federal jury has returned a guilty verdict against a woman with ties to the Houston area on one count of conspiracy and seven counts of making false statements to licensed firearms dealers, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

The jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Karina Deluna, 37, guilty after a four-day trial.

From approximately Sept. 29, 2018, through at least Aug. 11, 2022, Deluna conspired with others to knowingly make false written statements to licensed firearms dealers aka straw purchasing.

Deluna and her co-conspirators conducted straw purchases of at least 13 firearms, including multiple AR-15 style rifles, 9 mm handguns and a .50-caliber rifle. Testimony revealed Deluna’s co-conspirators intended to export the illegally obtained firearms to Mexico.

The jury also heard that on Aug. 11, 2022, law enforcement discovered that conspirators were picking up a straw purchased Barrett, .50-caliber rifle from a federal firearms licensee in Houston. Authorities quickly responded and seized the $9,000 firearm from Deluna and others. The investigation revealed it had been destined for Mexico.

During trial, the jury also heard from experts regarding the regulations and various licensing requirements necessary for exporting firearms to Mexico.  

The jury also saw the straw purchased .50-caliber rifle.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks presided over the trial and set sentencing for Nov. 19. At that time, Deluna faces up to 40 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Previously released on bond, Deluna was taken into custody following the guilty verdicts where she will remain pending sentencing.

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

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation with the support of Homeland Security Investigations and the departments of Commerce and State. ATF Mexico provided substantial assistance in recovering some of the straw purchased weapons. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Smith and Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron Black are prosecuting the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against a 57-year-old resident of Mission for engaging in a sophisticated scheme to defraud her employer, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Elizabeth Batten has turned herself into authorities and is expected to make her initial appearance at 9 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker.

According to the indictment returned Sept. 4, Batten was the director of financing at McCreery Aviation in the Rio Grande Valley from 2019 to 2023. While serving in that role, she allegedly diverted company funds to pay for her personal expenses. She used signed blank company checks, intended for legitimate business purposes, to settle her personal credit card accounts, according to the charges. She allegedly concealed her actions by sending the fraudulent payments through the U.S. Postal Service.

In late 2023, a McCreery Aviation employee noticed irregularities in the handling of company checks. A subsequent investigation allegedly uncovered the full extent of the financial damage Batten’s actions caused.

The indictment charges Batten with 10 counts of mail fraud. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric D. Flores is prosecuting the case.

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

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 47-year-old resident of Matamoros, Mexico, has been sentenced for possession with intent to deliver cocaine and illegal re-entry after removal, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Ricardo Rios-Alanis pleaded guilty June 13.

U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered Rios-Alanis to serve a total of 66 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, Rios-Alanis is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence detailing his lengthy criminal history, with many convictions dating back to 1997. The convictions include assaultive conduct, two for felony drug offenses and three for illegal reentry after removal. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that in 2021 he granted Rios-Alanis a “sentencing variance,” lowering his sentence to 30 months after Rios-Alanis promised not to return and not continuing to violate the law.

On Feb. 21, law enforcement on routine surveillance of the Rio Grande River in Brownsville observed a vehicle speeding away from the area. Rios-Alani was driving. As authorities attempted to stop the vehicle, Rios-Alanis continued at a high rate of speed, eventually losing a tire.  

Law enforcement approached and removed him, at which time they noticed bundles within the vehicle. They conducted a further search of the vehicle and discovered 10 bundles containing marijuana with a total weight of 203.9 kilograms (448.5 pounds).

Rios-Alanis told law enforcement in return for transporting the narcotics within the United States, he expected to not have to pay for his illegal entry into the country.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Oscar Ponce prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 40-year-old associate of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar H. Hamdani.

Mexican national Victor Miguel Curiel Valadez admitted to conspiring to launder monetary instruments, possession with intent to distribute meth and that he was an associate of the CJNG.

Members and associates of the CJNG hired Valadez to retrieve drug proceeds in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia and move them back to Mexico.

From 2016 to 2019, Valadez recruited others in Chicago, Illinois; Atlanta, Georgia; Detroit, Michigan; Kansas City, Missouri, and other cities across the United States to pick up drug proceeds in the United States. Those individuals were in possession of drug proceeds that needed to be moved to Mexico. Valadez then coordinated the transfer of proceeds back to Mexico through financial institutions.

Valadez and co-conspirators laundered more than $1.5 million in drug proceeds during the course of the conspiracy.

He also admitted in February 2018 that he negotiated and coordinated the distribution of three kilograms of meth. He proceeded to direct a co-conspirator to deliver the meth to an individual in Houston.

“The CJNG is one of the most powerful and dangerous criminal organizations in Mexico, characterized by a business model of extreme violence and trafficking in the most deadly of substances - cocaine, heroin, meth and fentanyl - relying on money launderers and drug distributors, like Valadez, to wash its ill-gotten gains and infect local communities with drugs,” said Hamdani. “This prosecution should serve as a warning to the Mexican cartels of my office’s focus on dismantling and disrupting their operations, while holding to account anyone who seeks to help launder monies and deliver dangerous drugs that destroy our neighborhoods and communities.”  

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has set sentencing for Nov. 20. At that time, Valadez faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $1o million maximum fine for the drug conviction. He also faces up to 20 years and a $500,000 maximum fine or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater, for the money laundering conspiracy.  

Homeland Security Investigations conducted investigation as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS Criminal Investigation. These such cooperative matters provide for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the Houston Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle the drug trafficking organizations that are designated as Consolidated Priority Organization or Regional Priority Organization Targets and that impact Houston and south Texas. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anibal J. Alaniz and Casey N. MacDonald are prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON - A 76-year-old man has been taken into custody on charges of smuggling parts and components used in the production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as other manned aircraft, from the United States to Iran.

Gholam Reza Goodarzi aka Ron Goodarzi is a dual U.S. and Iranian citizen who resides in Porter. Authorities arrested him Aug. 30 at George Bush Intercontinental Airport upon the filing of a federal criminal complaint. He has now made his initial appearance, at which time the complaint was unsealed, and he was ordered into custody pending a detention hearing set for Sept. 5 at 10 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Yvonne Ho.

“Smuggling aircraft parts into Iran endangers U.S. national security by potentially enhancing Iran's military capabilities, enabling them to advance their aerial combat potential, increase regional power and threaten U.S. allies and interests in the Middle East,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. “This prosecution represents my office’s core commitment - in partnership with the DOJ’s National Security Division, FBI and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) - to disrupt and hold accountable Goodarzi’s alleged efforts to evade sanctions against Iran, a hostile nation.”

“For years, the defendant allegedly used proxy destinations to try to smuggle UAV components and other controlled technology to Iran, even concealing controlled items in his own luggage,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department and our law enforcement partners are committed to vigorously enforcing export controls to protect U.S. national security.”

“Illegally smuggling sensitive U.S. technology to a foreign nation jeopardizes our national security and undermines the integrity of our trade laws,” said Robert Wells, FBI Executive Assistant Director of the National Security Branch. “The U.S. does not tolerate illegal smuggling of our advanced tech to our adversaries, and the FBI will work with our partners to vigorously pursue and hold accountable those who violate our laws and put our country at risk.”

According to court documents, from Dec. 1, 2020, through July 5, 2024, Goodarzi illegally exported aircraft-related parts, in addition to oil and drilling components, to Iran. Goodarzi allegedly purchased U.S.-origin aircraft components from U.S.-based suppliers and then exported them to Iran – typically through Dubai, UAE. He also traveled to and from Iran multiple times per year and concealed aircraft parts and other items in his checked luggage, according to the charges.

Goodarzi also allegedly exchanged multiple emails with suppliers and customers, acknowledging that parts could not be shipped to Iran because of sanctions.

The complaint alleges that on several occasions, authorities searched Goodarzi’s luggage and found numerous aircraft parts and components hidden within articles of clothing. Some of the items allegedly had characteristics consistent with parts for the production of UAVs as well as parts with electrical motor and/or generator applications.

Goodarzi does not have the required licenses to export such items to sanctioned countries, including Iran, according to the complaint.

If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from CBP as part of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force.

The task force is an interagency law enforcement strike force the departments of Justice and Commerce co-lead, designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains and prevent authoritarian regimes and hostile nation states to acquire critical technology. Under the leadership of the Assistant Attorney General for National Security and the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement, the strike force leverages tools and authorities across the U.S. government to enhance the criminal and administrative enforcement of export control laws. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Winter is prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Christopher Cook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.

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

Gholam Reza Goodarzi, also known as Ron Goodarzi, 76, a dual U.S. and Iranian citizen who resides in Porter, Texas, made his initial appearance today in the Southern District of Texas following his arrest at the George Bush International Airport on Aug. 30. Goodarzi is charged by criminal complaint with smuggling parts and components used in the production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as other manned aircraft, from the United States to Iran.

“For years, the defendant allegedly used proxy destinations to try to smuggle UAV components and other controlled technology to Iran, even concealing controlled items in his own luggage,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department and our law enforcement partners are committed to vigorously enforcing export controls to protect U.S. national security.”

“Smuggling aircraft parts into Iran endangers U.S. national security by potentially enhancing Iran's military capabilities, enabling them to advance their aerial combat potential, increase regional power and threaten U.S. allies and interests in the Middle East,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas. “This prosecution represents my office’s core commitment – in partnership with the Justice Department’s National Security Division, FBI and Customs and Border Protection – to disrupt and hold accountable Goodarzi’s alleged efforts to evade sanctions against Iran, a hostile nation.”

“Illegally smuggling sensitive U.S. technology to a foreign nation jeopardizes our national security and undermines the integrity of our trade laws,” said Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI's National Security Branch. “The U.S. does not tolerate illegal smuggling of our advanced tech to our adversaries, and the FBI will work with our partners to vigorously pursue and hold accountable those who violate our laws and put our country at risk."

According to court documents, from December 1, 2020, through July 5, Goodarzi illegally exported aircraft-related parts, in addition to oil and drilling components, to Iran. As alleged, Goodarzi purchased U.S.-origin aircraft components from U.S.-based suppliers and then exported them to Iran – typically through Dubai, UAE.

He also traveled to and from Iran multiple times per year and concealed aircraft parts and other items in his checked luggage.

Goodarzi exchanged multiple emails with suppliers and customers, acknowledging that parts could not be shipped to Iran because of sanctions.

The complaint alleges that on several occasions, authorities searched Goodarzi’s luggage and found numerous aircraft parts and components hidden within articles of clothing. Some of the items had characteristics consistent with parts for the production of UAVs, as well as parts with electrical motor and generator applications.

Goodarzi does not have the required licenses to export such items to sanctioned countries, including Iran, according to the complaint.

If convicted, he faces a penalty of up to 10 years in prison for the charge of smuggling goods and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI, with assistance from and Customs and Border Protection, is investigating the case. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Winter for the Southern District of Texas and Trial Attorney Christopher Cook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. 

This prosecution is being coordinated through the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains, and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation states. Under the leadership of the Assistant Attorney General for National Security and the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement, the Strike Force leverages tools and authorities across the U.S. Government to enhance the criminal and administrative enforcement of export control laws.  

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

HOUSTON – A 26-year-old Bryan resident has been sentenced after a conviction for assaulting and attempting to rob a postal worker, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

The jury deliberated for two hours before convicting Adon Bryce Clary March 22 of attempted robbery of a post office with a dangerous weapon, assault of a public official with a dangerous weapon and assault of public officials with intent to commit a felony following a four-day trial.

U.S. District Judge George Hanks has now ordered Clary to serve 84 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered statements from postal employees and customers, including one victim that explained the harrowing experience they underwent and the effect it continues to have on their lives. In handing down the sentence, Judge Hanks noted Clary could not be trusted to not put others in harm’s way if released.

On April 29, 2019, Clary entered the post office located at 2121 Wm. Bryan Parkway in Bryan. Clary proceeded to bang a Game of Thrones beer bottle while pointing an apparent firearm at the clerks. Clary demanded all of the mail while stating Clary had a gun. The “firearm” was actually an empty pack of green Paul Maul menthol cigarettes. 

Five postal workers, three post office customers, three Bryan police officers and two postal inspectors testified during the trial. The postal workers and civilians all explained in emotional detail the fear they had for their lives.

In addition, the jury saw body camera video from the officers and a cell phone video of the incident which one of the postal workers took.

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

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Anthony Porto and Adam Laurence Goldman prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 33-year-old man has been ordered to prison for receipt and possession of child pornography, some of which depicted sexual abuse of babies and toddlers, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

David de los Santos pleaded guilty March 3, 2022.

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana has now sentenced de los Santos to a total of 240 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court also heard that some of the images de los Santos possessed were of a two-year-old minor relative. In imposing the imprisonment, the court enhanced the sentence to the maximum possible term, noting the graphic images of the relative.

The court also noted the severity of de los Santos’ crimes. He was further ordered to pay $84,304 in restitution to known victims 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. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

“A parent’s worst nightmare is to discover someone you trusted with your family, such as a relative, was actually preying on your child’s innocence,” said Hamdani. “De los Santos made that nightmare a terrifying reality, but thankfully he is now off the streets and out of our community, allowing for the possibility that his victims can start to heal.”

The investigation began when authorities discovered an IP address associated with de los Santos had uploaded child pornography online.  

On July 1, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home. At that time, they found and seized several electronic devices which contained child pornography and took de los Santos into custody. He was ultimately found to be in possession of 1,038 images and 393 videos of child pornography, which included abuse of babies and toddlers.

The investigation also determined de los Santos was in possession of pornographic images of a minor relative sometimes in his care.

De los Santos will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department as part of the Child Exploitation Task Force which also includes FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Marshals Service and United Independent School District Police.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Makens 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 link on that page.

HOUSTON– A total of 20 people are now in custody in the newest charges brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Houston Violent Crime Initiative.

A federal grand jury returned six separate, but related indictments at varying times between July 31-Aug. 22. Of the 17 arrested this week, all have made initial appearances with detention hearings set for Sept. 3 and 4 before U.S. Magistrate Judges Christina Bryan and Yvonne Ho, respectively. The remaining three had previously been in custody on related charges and are expected to make initial appearances before a U.S. magistrate judge in the near future.

The charges allegedly encompass over 30 firearms, meth and more than 15 kilograms of cocaine, collectively. In connection with this week’s arrests, law enforcement executed search warrants that resulted in the seizure of 10 firearms, $26,000 in cash as well as cocaine and crack cocaine.

A total of 15 are charged in two of the indictments with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances as well as multiple substantive counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Some are also charged with illegal possession of firearms and/or criminal possession of a machine gun - a firearm altered with a machine gun conversion device aka switch to fire automatically with one pull of the trigger. One faces a charge of maintaining drug premises.

These indictments are the latest of 23 charging 77 people as a result of the Criminal Division’s Houston Violent Crime Initiative, first announced in September 2022.

This joint effort includes the U.S. Attorney’s Office and local, state and federal law enforcement addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members in the southwest and southeast areas of Houston. As part of the initiative, the Criminal Division has dedicated attorneys and other resources to prosecuting violent offenders and assisting intervention, prevention and reentry efforts to address the root causes of violent crime, such as narcotics trafficking. The Office of Justice Programs provides some of the funding for this effort.

If convicted in the drug conspiracies, 15 face up to life in prison as well as varying terms for the substantive counts up to life. Being a felon in possession of a firearm carries a possible 15-year-term of imprisonment, while possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime could result in a consecutive term of at least five years and up to life in prison.

The FBI, Houston Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation with assistance from Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Office of Inspector General; police departments in Sugar Land, Missouri City, Pasadena and Pearland; Texas Anti-Gang Center; Texas Highway Patrol; Virginia State Police and departments in Newport News (Virginia), Cincinnati (Ohio) and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport; Sheriff’s Offices in Brazoria, Walker, Madison, Harris, Ft. Bend and Boyd (Kentucky) Counties; District Attorney’s Offices in Harris and Ft. Bend counties; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Anh-Khoa Tran of the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) is prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorneys Amy L. Schwartz, George Meggali and Shriram Harid of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section. SDTX AUSA John Ganz and Trial Attorney Adam Tisdall of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section also provided assistance.

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

A total of 17 people were arrested this week in connection with firearms and drug crimes as part of the Justice Department’s Houston Violent Crime Initiative.

Of the 17 defendants arrested this week, all have made initial appearances, and detention hearings are set for Sept. 3 and 4 before U.S. Magistrate Judges Christina Bryan and Yvonne Ho, respectively. Three additional defendants were already in custody on related charges and are expected to make initial appearances before a U.S. magistrate judge in the near future.

According to court documents, between July 31 and Aug. 22, a federal grand jury returned six separate, but related, indictments charging 16 people with crimes related to drug distribution. Two defendants were indicted for illegal possession of a machine gun. One defendant faces a charge of maintaining drug premises.

The charges allege conduct involving over 30 firearms, over 150 grams of methamphetamine, and more than 15 kilograms of cocaine, collectively. In connection with the arrests, law enforcement executed search warrants that resulted in the seizure of 10 firearms, $26,000 in cash, as well as cocaine and crack cocaine.

Sixteen of the defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances as well as multiple substantive counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Eight of the defendants are charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and/or possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison for the felon in possession of a firearm offense and a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison for the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime offense. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas; Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI Houston Field Office; and Chief J. Noe Diaz of the Houston Police Department made the announcement.

The FBI, Houston Police Department, and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service and Pearland, Texas, Police Department. The investigation was also assisted by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Office of Inspector General and state and local law enforcement agencies in Texas, Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky.

Trial Attorney Amy L. Schwartz, George Meggali, and Shriram Harid of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anh-Khoa Tran for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ganz for the Southern District of Texas and Trial Attorney Adam Tisdall of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section also provided assistance.

These indictments represent the latest of 23 indictments charging 77 defendants as part of the Criminal Division’s Houston Violent Crime Initiative, first announced in September 2022.

This joint effort by the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, and local, state, and federal law enforcement addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and associates in the southwest and southeast areas of Houston. As part of the initiative, the Criminal Division has dedicated attorneys and other resources to prosecuting violent offenders and assisting intervention, prevention, and reentry efforts to address the root causes of violent crime, such as narcotics trafficking. The Department’s Office of Justice Programs provides some of the funding related to this effort.

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

McALLEN, Texas – A 24-year-old man has admitted to being a scout for an alien smuggling group, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Derrick Terelle Sankey, a native of Alabama, was serving under the authority of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the Rio Grande Valley in 2021.

From March to September 2021, conspirators recruited Sankey into an existing alien smuggling group in which he would provide insight into counter-smuggling activities. He also scouted for vehicles he knew contained individuals who were illegally present in the United States in order to thwart law enforcement from detecting them.

As part of his plea, Sankey also admitted to providing law enforcement information to an alien smuggling organization. He also worked as a scout when loads of aliens would move from Starr and Hidalgo Counties to near the Border Patrol Checkpoint in Jim Wells County.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane will impose sentencing Nov. 12. At that time, Sankey faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

Homeland Security Investigations and DHS – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Guerra Jr. is prosecuting the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 26-year-old Three Rivers man has entered a guilty plea to bribery of a public official, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. 

Justin Matthew Gonzalez was a former corrections officer with the federal Bureau of Prisons at the Three Rivers Correctional Institution.

As part of his plea, he admitted to receiving approximately $1,600 in what he described as “bribe” payments in return for smuggling cigarettes into the facility. When he reported to work on or about Feb. 11, 2021, authorities searched his bag and discovered 16 packets of cigarettes.

“Public service is a public trust, especially for those in positions in corrections and law enforcement,” said Hamdani. “The vast majority of these officers serve with honesty and integrity. However, we must still root out any and all forms of corruption or abuse in our federal prisons and hold accountable those who choose to break the law themselves.”  

“Gonzalez’s selfish acts compromised the safety and security of the federal prison. The Department of Justice – Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG) is committed to rooting out bribery schemes and bringing perpetrators to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Cloey C. Pierce, DOJ-OIG, South Central Region.

U.S. District Judge David S. Morales will impose sentencing Nov. 20. At that time, Gonzalez faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Gonzalez was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

The Department of Justice - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa Collins and Carolyn Ferko are prosecuting the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 22-year-old man has been sentenced for illegally purchasing firearms on behalf of a Mexican national, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Juan Hector Resendez-Meza III pleaded guilty May 31.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Resendez-Meza to serve 24 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

At the time of his plea, Resendez-Meza admitted a man residing in Reynosa, Mexico, approached and asked him to purchase firearms on his behalf.

Resendez-Meza received $16,000 in cash to do so between May and August 2023. At the time of each purchase, Resendez-Meza lied on federal forms, claiming he was the true buyer.

He also admitted to illegally procuring three rifles on behalf of the Mexican citizen including a .50 caliber rifle. In addition, Resendez-Meza had previously bought and sold two pistols to the man.

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

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda McColgan prosecuted the case.

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

HOUSTON – A 39-year-old Houston man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Brett Michael Detamore, operating as a custom home builder under Detamore Development LLC, fraudulently obtained at least $1.5 million for his personal use by misusing funds intended for the construction of private residences.

Detamore pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with one count of wire fraud. Detamore submitted false and fraudulent invoices to banks holding construction loans for single-family residences he had been contracted to build. The false invoices caused the banks to send funds to bank accounts Detamore controlled. Detamore then used the funds for his personal benefit.

As part of his plea agreement, Detamore agreed to forfeit at least $1.5 million he illegally obtained.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks will impose sentencing Nov. 5. At that time Detamore faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine as well as full restitution to the victim home owners.

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the West University Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Lansden and Suzanne Elmilady are prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A 50-year-old former energy trader from Houston has pleaded guilty for his role in a scheme to bribe Mexican government officials to secure contracts for his then-employer Vitol Inc., the U.S. affiliate of the largest independent energy trading firm in the world.

According to court documents, Javier Aguilar and his co-conspirators paid approximately $600,000 in bribes to two senior officials at PEMEX Procurement International Inc. (PPI), a wholly owned affiliate of the Mexican state-owned oil company Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), in exchange for assistance in winning business for Vitol. 

“The Southern District of Texas (SDTX) is ground zero in the fight against foreign bribery and corruption in Latin America,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. “My office’s prosecutors - experts on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) - will continue to bring justice against those who damage the integrity of Texas’s vital energy sector with illegal advantages fueled by greed. This guilty plea begins the process of repairing the damage caused by Aguilar as well as put on notice those who might seek to emulate him and his cohorts.”

Aguilar was a trader in Vitol’s Houston office. Between 2017 and 2020, he and his co-conspirators paid approximately $600,000 in bribes to two senior officials at PPI to obtain numerous contracts for Vitol to supply hundreds of millions of dollars of ethane to PEMEX. To conceal the scheme, Aguilar and his co-conspirators used a series of fake contracts, sham invoices and shell entities incorporated in Curaçao and Mexico. Aguilar and others also used alias email accounts to communicate about the scheme and code words including “shoes,” “medicine,” “invitations” and “coffee,” to describe the bribes.

“Javier Aguilar has now admitted that he bribed foreign officials to win business when he worked as an oil and gas trader at Vitol Inc., using shell companies, fake contracts, sham invoices and alias email accounts,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Aguilar’s guilty plea yesterday follows his conviction at trial on related charges earlier this year. His illegal conduct netted Vitol hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts, and now he will pay the price.”

“With this guilty plea, the defendant admits his role in the widespread corruption of the international commodities market and to casting aside laws and rules that apply to all to unfairly line the pockets of the few,” stated U.S. Attorney Breon Peace of the Eastern District of New York (EDNY). “The actions of the defendant and his co-conspirators and of those who act similarly, destroys people’s faith in their governments, disadvantages those who play by the rules, undermines confidence in American businesses worldwide and will not be tolerated by this office or our law enforcement partners.”

“The FCPA has been the law of the land, and enforceable worldwide, for decades. Yet unscrupulous businessmen still try to bribe their way to profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri for the FBI’s Miami Field Office. “My message to them is that the charges and penalties you will face are not worth the gain. I want to commend the U.S Attorney’s Offices for EDNY and SDTX and the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for their diligence pursuing this case, but especially the agents and analysts who leave no stone unturned in pursuit of FCPA violators.”

Aguilar pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the FCPA and to a violation of the Travel Act. The FCPA conspiracy charge, which an SDTX grand jury brought, related to conduct that was initially charged in the EDNY. As part of his guilty plea, Aguilar consented to transfer the Texas case to New York, to consolidate the cases and to forfeit $7,129,938. The plea follows Aguilar’s related conviction at trial in February for conspiracy to violate the FCPA, violating the FCPA and conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with schemes to bribe Ecuadorian and Mexican officials. At sentencing, he faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison on the money laundering conviction and five years on each of the other offenses.

In December 2020, Vitol admitted to bribing officials in Ecuador, Mexico and Brazil in violation of the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA. Vitol entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the EDNY. As a part of the resolution, Vitol agreed to pay a combined $135 million in penalties as part of a coordinated resolution with the Department of Justice, Commodity Futures Trading Commission and authorities in Brazil.

Seven of Aguilar’s co-conspirators have pleaded guilty for their role in the scheme and are awaiting sentencing. These individuals have agreed to forfeit more than $63 million in connection with this and related schemes.

FBI Miami’s International Corruption Squad conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherin Daniel and Deputy Chief Suzanne Elmilady for the SDTX are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Clayton P. Solomon and Assistant Chiefs Derek J. Ettinger and Jonathan P. Robell of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, Trial Attorney D. Hunter Smith and Deputy Chief Adam J. Schwartz of the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) and EDNY Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew R. Galeotti, Nick M. Axelrod and Jonathan P. Lax. MLARS Special Financial Investigations Unit and Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided substantial assistance.

The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.

The Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative is led by a team of dedicated prosecutors in MLARS, in partnership with federal law enforcement agencies, and often with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, to forfeit the proceeds of foreign official corruption. Individuals with information about possible proceeds of foreign corruption located in or laundered through the United States should contact federal law enforcement or send an email to kleptocracy@usdoj.gov or https://tips.fbi.gov/.

HOUSTON – A 35-year-old Dallas man who formerly resided in Houston has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of conspiring to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Daniel Rocky Christine-Tani pleaded guilty Nov. 29, 2023, to conspiring with others to buy and sell thousands of fraudulent Texas-issued temporary buyer tags for car sales when no cars were actually sold.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. has now ordered Christine-Tani to serve 93 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Christine-Tani and others engaged in a widespread fraud to use fictitious car dealerships to generate and sell Texas temporary buyer tags without actually selling cars. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that Christine-Tani committed the offense utilizing mass marketing and sophisticated means. Christine-Tani must also pay restitution to the Texas Department of Motor vehicles in the amount of $3,440,625.

“The prosecution sounded the alarm that led to changes in Texas law which will make paper vehicle tags a thing of the past by next year,” said Hamdani. “Christine-Tani’s behavior was part of an epidemic of fake Texas paper tags that threatened the safety of Texans and citizens throughout the United States.”

“Through the sale of thousands of fake Texas temporary tags, Christine-Tani and his partners permitted criminals to commit crimes without fearing the consequences,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “This paper tag scheme enabled criminals to use fake Texas buyer tags while perpetrating violent crimes like drive-by shootings and armed robberies. FBI Houston agents proudly worked alongside law enforcement partners across the nation to dismantle this conspiracy which endangered so many American lives.”  

Christine-Tani and co-conspirators used the internet to buy and sell the fraudulent state-issued buyer tags and exchange proceeds from the illegal tag sales.

At the time of his plea, Christine-Tani acknowledged he and his co-conspirators used accounts on Google Mail, Instagram and Facebook to receive and deliver fraudulent buyer tags to illegal sellers and to make purchases all over the United States.

He also admitted he and his co-conspirators received and shared fraud proceeds via electronic payment services such as Cash App and Zelle.

Christine-Tani was taken into custody following the sentencing hearing.

Emmanuel Padilla Reyes aka Christian Hernandez Bonilla or Noel Rivera is still a fugitive in this case. The FBI is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone providing information that directly leads to his arrest. Those with information about the fugitive’s location should call 1-800-call-FBI or email TIPS.FBI.GOV.

The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance of Travis County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office, Houston Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and New York City Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek and Adam Goldman prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – National Interventional Radiology Partners PLLC (NIRP) along with its founder and its CEO have agreed to pay to the United States $8,884,091 to resolve Federal False Claims Act (FCA) and Anti-Kickback Statute violation allegations, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

The settlement claims NIRP and Dr. Andrew Gomes, 48, Sugar Land, illegally paid physicians for referrals to clinics established to surgically treat patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), a circulatory disease which causes plaque build-up in the arteries. It most commonly affects the lower legs of elderly individuals.

Beginning in 2015, Gomes established a number of clinics throughout Texas under the NIRP umbrella to surgically treat PAD. Gomes raised capital for these clinics from physicians who had medical practices that would provide a strong patient base for Medicare referrals including primary care physicians, doctors of podiatric medicine and family practitioners. 

Gomes’ pitch to the investor physicians was that they could ensure high returns on their investment in each surgical center from referring significant numbers of patients for treatment. Gomes told the investing physicians that more patient referrals would lead to more revascularization surgeries and higher profits – which funnels back to the investing physicians as monthly dividends.

Gomes also told the physicians that once the surgical centers were up, running and profitable, they could be sold which would create additional value for investors. Surgeries such as arteriograms, angiograms, angioplasties and atherectomies that revascularize the lower limbs of patients with PAD are highly compensated procedures.

“Healthcare providers that pursue patient referrals through improper financial arrangements will be held accountable,” said Hamdani. “These types of improper financial arrangements corrupt medical decision making, increase costs and undermine the integrity of federally funded health programs. Patients deserve care based upon their specific medical needs and not on an individual physician’s financial interest or gain.”

“Medical providers and others who unlawfully accept kickbacks for patient referrals undermine the integrity of medical decision-making and waste taxpayer dollars,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (DHHS-OIG). "We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners and prosecutors to hold those who defraud Medicare accountable and restore the integrity of the Medicare trust fund.”

“Dr. Gomes and NIRP clearly prioritized greed above the health and well-being of their elderly patients,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “We applaud the qui tam whistleblower who exposed this scheme and encourage others to report illegal medical practices. FBI Houston will continue to identify and investigate those who would undermine the integrity of our healthcare system for their own financial gain.”

This civil settlement resolves claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the FCA. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery. In this instance, the whistleblower filed his complaint in late 2018, which triggered this investigation. The whistleblower will receive 19 percent of the recovery or $1,687,977.  The FCA is one of the most powerful tools that the federal government has in its arsenal combat health care fraud.

The investigation and resolution of the allegations was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, DHHS-OIG and FBI. 

Former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Bobb and Julie Redlinger handled the case.

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 39-year-old man has been charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl, being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a machine gun, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

A federal grand jury has now returned a four-count indictment against Rolando Soliz. Previously in custody upon the filing of a criminal complaint Aug. 1, he is set to appear for his arraignment on the indictment in the near future.

According to the charges, over the course of two days, law enforcement conducted surveillance on Soliz. During the surveillance, authorities witnessed him allegedly perform multiple hand-to-hand narcotics transactions. Law enforcement stopped one of his customers who they searched and arrested for possession of fentanyl, according to the charges.

The charges further allege the customer had previously purchased fentanyl from Soliz. On previous occasions, he had also allegedly seen large quantities of fentanyl in Soliz’s apartment.

On July 31, authorities executed two search warrants for properties associated with Soliz and found 10 firearms including a short-barrel rifle with no serial number with modifications to operate as a machine gun, according to the charges.

As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law.

In addition to the firearms, law enforcement allegedly discovered nearly 25 grams of fentanyl and seized $16,311 in U.S. currency.

If convicted, Soliz faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $1 million maximum fine.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Customs and Border Protection, Webb County Attorney’s Office and Webb County Constables.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A federal jury has returned a guilty verdict against a man with ties to the Humble area for the assault of federal officer resulting in bodily injury, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

The jury deliberated for approximately two hours before finding Cedric Tyrone Walker, 42, guilty after a two-day trial.

The jury heard that on Dec. 27, 2022, authorities learned that on two occasions Walker failed to return in a timely manner to the residential reentry center (RRC), also referred to as a halfway house, where he was serving a federal prison sentence.

Law enforcement told the RRC Walker should be transported back to a federal detention center. However, Walker was reluctant to comply with instructions from authorities and struck a deputy U.S. marshal (DUSM) in the mouth with a closed fist.

A struggle ensued on the ground, and authorities restrained Walker after two taser deployments. Law enforcement then took Walker to a federal detention center and refused medical attention.

The injured DUSM arrived at the emergency room where he received treatment for a laceration on his lip which required 12 stitches. As a result of the assault, he also sustained two chipped teeth.

“The U.S. Marshals Service is the oldest federal law enforcement agency, and for over 200 years they have performed some of law enforcement’s most dangerous work,” said Hamdani. “While Walker may have not known that long history, he should have known that striking a DUSM with a closed fist comes with severe consequences and would not go unnoticed. We noticed when we brought this case against Walker and so did 12 of his fellow citizens in handing down today’s guilty verdict.”

The defense attempted to convince the jury Walker did not cause the injury. They did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks presided over the trial and set sentencing for Oct. 31. At that time, Walker faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carrie Wirsing and Anna Swanson are prosecuting the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 28-year-old Houston man has been sentenced for being a felon in possession of a firearm and machine gun conversion devices (MCDs), announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Lenard Butler pleaded guilty April 22.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now handed Butler a 37-month-term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

On May 28, 2022, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a Dodge Challenger on Highway 59 near Edna. Butler was driving.

At that time, they detected an odor of marijuana and asked if there was anything illegal in the vehicle – including weapons – which Butler denied. He stated he had smoked marijuana “hours ago.”

Authorities conducted a search of the vehicle which resulted in the discovery of a small baggie of marijuana residue and a Glock pistol located under the front passenger seat. Attached to the firearm was a gold MCD with the word “Glock” inscribed on the back of the device.

MCDs alter the firing mechanism of the guns to allow them to fire multiple shots automatically. MCDs are considered machine guns under the law and are illegal to possess.

Additionally, as a convicted felon Butler is prohibited from possessing firearms per federal law.

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

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patti Booth prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 28-year-old man has been sentenced for the unlicensed sale of firearms and possession of a machine gun, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Austin Shofner pleaded guilty May 23, admitting he sold multiple privately manufactured firearms and machine gun conversion devices (MCDs).

U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. has now ordered Shofner to serve a 120-month-term of imprisonment for the possession and transfer of a machine gun charge and 60 months for unlicensed firearms sales which will be served concurrently. The total 10-year prison term will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. Shofner was further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,000. In handing down the sentence, the court noted this sentence reflects the need for deterrence due to the nature of the offense and Shofner’s criminal history.

“Austin Shofner wanted to build his illegal gun manufacturing business, supplying deadly machine guns, devices that converted handguns into machine guns, automatic rifles and silencers to anyone who would pay,” said Hamdani.  “He had big dreams until he ran into an undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Entrepreneurs are an important part of America’s fabric, but not Austin Shofner’s kind. Instead of counting his profits, Shofner will be counting down days, the thousands of days he will spend in a federal prison.”

“Engaging in the business of firearms sales without proper licensing is a violation of law that the ATF will continue to investigate aggressively,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael Weddel of the ATF. “MCDs pose a grave risk to law enforcement and the general public. We are committed to fighting against the dangers that they pose.”

Beginning in January, Shofner sold several privately manufactured firearms with no mark or serial number, commonly known as “ghost guns.” He also sold machine gun conversion devices aka switches and firearm silencers at various locations in the Houston metropolitan area to undercover authorities via Instagram.

During one transaction, Shofner described a silencer he was selling as “illegal as [expletive].”

Additionally, Shofner had stated that selling firearms and switches was his primary source of income and detailed his plans to expand his firearm manufacturing operation.

On March 7, authorities executed a search warrant at Shofner’s residence in Pasadena where they found a Glock pistol, a pistol frame, an assault-style pistol and a suppressor. As part of the overall investigation, law enforcement also seized five MCDs, two silencers and five ghost guns which included a machine gun and a short-barreled rifle.

About an inch long, switches may be made of metal or plastic and printed on commercially available 3D printers. They generally slide into the butt of a gun and allow the shooter to fully automatically fire, unloading dozens of rounds with a single pull of the trigger. In contrast, regular semi-automatic firearms require a separate trigger pull for each round fired. 

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

ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron H. Black prosecuted the case.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old, evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.

HOUSTON – A 36-year-old Mexican citizen illegally residing in Houston has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

A federal jury deliberated for less than five hours before convicting Alberto Ramos-Nogueda Feb. 7.

U.S. District Judge Sim Lake has now ordered Ramos-Nogueda to serve 210 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In imposing sentence, Judge Lake noted that credible evidence showed Ramos-Nogueda played an essential role in the conspiracy and made the choice to participate in the distribution of a large quantity of a dangerous substance that affects many people.

“Seventeen kilos of crystal meth is a lot of deadly meth for any size city, no matter how large,” said Hamdani. “Had Ramos-Nogueda been successful in bringing the drugs into Conroe, many there and in other nearby communities north of Houston, such as The Woodlands and Kingwood, could have fallen victim to meth’s deadly effects. Thanks to law enforcement’s surveillance and hard work, including chasing him down into the woods, Ramos-Nogueda’s efforts to destroy lives for his own personal profit came up short and left him in prison.”

In May 2022, law enforcement conducted surveillance at a hotel in north Houston believing a large amount of meth was going to be transported through Houston into the Conroe area. Authorities observed Ramos-Nogueda arrive at the hotel carrying a large cardboard box into one of the rooms. Shortly thereafter, he left with Hector Hernandez-Velasquez.

He then placed the box into his vehicle and began to drive north on Highway 45 toward Conroe with Hernandez-Velasquez. When authorities attempted to stop them, both fled on foot. Law enforcement quickly took Hernandez-Velasquez into custody, but Ramos-Nogueda fled into a wooded area. They were able to apprehend him as well just a few hours later.

Law enforcement seized the box and discovered over 17 kilograms of crystal meth.  

Hernandez-Velasquez, 49, illegally residing in Pharr, previously pleaded guilty and is set for sentencing Oct. 24. At that time, he faces up to life in prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.

Ramos-Nogueda will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. 

The Houston Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Conroe Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Stabe and Jimmy Leo prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – Several individuals are set to appear for detention hearings for their alleged roles in two large-scale conspiracies to distribute meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Those taken into custody include Clute residents Joseph Andre Luna, 40, Jacklyn Luna, 37, and David Allen Nunez, 37; Houston resident Eloy Tre Delarosa, 27; Juan Manuel Lara, 42, Angleton; James Wayne Andrews, 40, Bay City; Andrew Bryan Compian, 41, Wharton; and Luis Angel Rodriguez, 45, Lake Jackson. All are scheduled for a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard W. Bennett at 9 a.m.

Co-conspirator Mary Alice Galindo, 48, Oyster Creek, is set to make an initial appearance Aug. 21, while Edward Villarreal Humphrey, 43, Oyster Creek, is in custody in another county and will appear in Houston in the near future.

Also charged are Irvin Lopez, 33, Clute, and Lake Jackson residents Monissa Shayla Najera, 35, Liliana Contreras, 35, Jordan Rodriguez, 18, and Robert Blake Partlow, 30, who have already made initial appearances.

The indictment, returned Aug. 7 and unsealed Aug. 8 upon the arrests, stems from a months-long investigation into narcotics distribution organizations working within Brazoria County.

All are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance with several facing substantive counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

If convicted of any of the charges, each faces up to life prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office, Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office, police departments in Houston and Aransas Pass, Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Marshals Service and San Patricio County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian J. Hrach and Lisa M. Collins are prosecuting the case.

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