Southern District of Texas

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 29-year-old illegal alien from Cuba living in Houston has been ordered to federal prison in a crime that involved transporting numerous illegal aliens, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Juan Manuel Sifontes-Sinales pleaded guilty Feb. 12.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Sifontes-Sinales to serve 18 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the conduct Sifontes-Sinales demonstrated showed a reckless disregard for human life. Judge Ramos also expressed concern about the number of the aliens who were transported. 

On Oct. 17, 2025, Sifontes-Sinales approached the Javier Vega Jr. Border Patrol checkpoint near Sarita driving a box truck. At that time, law enforcement determined he did not have legal authorization to be in the country. A scan of the vehicle also revealed anomalies in the cargo area. Authorities conducted a search and uncovered a false wall concealing a compartment containing 19 illegal aliens without food, water or the ability to sit. 

The investigation revealed communications Sifontes-Sinales had with smugglers, including the stash house caretaker. His phone also showed the phone number used to send instructions to the hidden aliens in the box truck. Records showed his truck had crossed the checkpoint six times, each accompanied by the same scout vehicle. Further investigation also revealed that the smuggling operation as a whole that he was involved with had transported more than 25 illegal aliens. 

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Young Min Burkett prosecuted the case.

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

HOUSTON – Federal criminal complaints have been filed against four Houston area residents since the beginning of the World Cup for flying drones into sensitive national defense airspace without authorization, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. 

John Alexander Meza, 26, La Porte; Jordan Lee Zale, 38, Richmond; and Huu An Nguyen Dinh, 30, Pearland, are all expected to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard W. Bennett at 2 p.m. July 7. Patrick Phillip Heer, 34, Katy, is scheduled for July 8 at 10 a.m.

According to one complaint, on or about June 13, law enforcement observed Heer operating a drone in restricted airspace in the vicinity of Polk and Chartres Streets in Houston. The charges allege it was specifically within the boundaries of the Temporary Flight Restriction zone established near the FIFA World Cup Fan Zone just east of downtown Houston. Heer was operating the drone, according to the complaint.

In a separate, but similar case, on or about June 11, law enforcement allegedly observed a small drone flying in the TFR zone near 612 Live Oak Street in Houston. The charges allege Meza was the pilot of that drone.

On that same date, another complaint indicates that a small drone was flying near 633 Middle Street in Houston, also within the TFR zone. Law enforcement determined Zale was operating the drone, according to the allegations. 

In the 4th matter, Dinh was charged with also violating national defense airspace by flying a small drone June 18 in the vicinity of 3305 Jefferson Street in Houston. This area is also within the TFR zone, according to the charges.  

To ensure a safe environment for all players, attendees and staff, Federal Aviation Administration and law enforcement have officially designated all FIFA World Cup stadiums and surrounding event spaces, to include Houston’s Fan Zone, as strict "No Drone Zones." This means that unauthorized drone flights are strictly prohibited in the designated airspace and surrounding grounds. During such major sporting events FAA implements temporary flight restrictions to limit air travel and secure the airspace. Taking off, landing or flying a drone within these restricted areas is a serious violation of federal and local regulations.

FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, Federal Air Marshal Service, Houston Police Department, Harris County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety are conducting the joint investigations. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Ferko and Roldolfo Ramirez are prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

See a drone breaking the rules?  Blow the whistle!  Report it to 911, on-site law enforcement, or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

HOUSTON – A 61-year-old Houston man has been ordered to federal prison for possession of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Jerry James Svatek Jr. pleaded guilty Dec. 5, 2025. 

U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. has now sentenced Svatek to 480 months for the production and possession of child pornography convictions, respectively. They will run concurrently for a total 480-month-term of imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard Svatek previously served as president of the Boling Independent School District Board of Trustees and had joined an underground online community where he continued distributing images of a close family relative. 

The court also considered information from the impact statements from the parents of the minor which detailed the harm Svatek caused to the family.

In handing down the prison terms, the court noted the particularly egregious nature of the offense by exploited his position within the family. Svatek was further ordered to pay $78,500 in restitution to the victims and will serve the rest of his life on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. 

Authorities identified Svatek in 2025 when conducting undercover investigations into an online forum known as FetLife – a social networking platform designed for people interested in alternative sexual lifestyles. It revealed Svatek was sharing child sexual abuse material online. 

During undercover conversations with Svatek, he exchanged multiple images taken from videos of himself with the victim. In some messages, he discussed the desire to have sex with prepubescent minors and admitted to sexual contact with at least one three-year-old victim and sought others that engaged in similar conduct.

On June 17, 2025, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle where they seized a cellular phone. 

Forensic examination of the device revealed more than approximately 150 videos depicting child sexual abuse material. The images depicted prepubescent victims as young as six months of age engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Svatek admitted to creating videos and distributing still images over the messaging platform. 

Svatek admitted to creating videos of the minor relative in the bathtub and distributing the still images over the messaging platform. 

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations; Boone County, North Carolina, Police Department; Texas Rangers; Texas Department of Criminal Justice; and Wharton County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. 

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

HOUSTON – The Southern District of Texas has filed another 263 cases involving immigration and border security-related crimes from June 19-25, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. 

A total of 223 illegal aliens are charged with unlawfully being in the United States - 56 and 167 for illegal entry and reentry, respectively. Most have previous convictions related to narcotics, immigration offenses, violent crimes and more. The cases also include 29 people allegedly involved in human smuggling, while the remaining matters involve other immigration crimes. 

One illegal alien facing charges this week is Mexican national Rosendo Castelan-Reyes. Court documents allege he has a prior conviction for aggravated assault and was previously removed Oct. 30, 2018. However, law enforcement allegedly discovered him near La Grulla with no authorization to be in the country.  

Similarly, authorities found another illegal alien near Cuevitas, according to the criminal complaint. Cuban national Angel Javier Cabrera-Rivero allegedly had a prior conviction for drug trafficking before his removal in December 2025. 

If convicted of felony reentry after removal, both men face up to 20 years in federal prison.

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

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

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

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 46-year-old Mexican national is set to appear in U.S. federal court for significant drug trafficking offenses, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Roberto Bazan-Salinas aka Beto is set for an arraignment and detention hearing at 10 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mitchel Neurock in Corpus Christi. 

A federal grand jury returned the indictment against the alleged associate of Cartel del Golfo March 27, 2024. 

Between 2021 and 2022, Bazan-Salinas allegedly conspired with others to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 500 grams of a mixture containing meth. 

Mexican authorities arrested him in Guanajuato, Mexico, March 5 at the request of the United States. He was extradited June 18. 

If convicted, Bazan-Salinas faces up to life in prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Watt is prosecuting the case, which is now part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF South Texas comprises agents and officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations; FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Interpol/Department of State; and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas leading the prosecution.

The Department of State, Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and Government of Mexico provided invaluable assistance securing the arrest and extradition from Mexico.

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

GALVESTON, Texas - A 45-year-old man has been found guilty of possession of child pornography and access with intent to view it, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. 

The jury deliberated for less than one hour before convicting Michael Harkless following a two-day trial. 

The investigation revealed Harkless had been accessing child pornography since 2009.

Authorities executed a search warrant and seized several electronic devices. Forensic examination revealed approximately 14 videos and nearly 2,000 images containing child sexual abuse material. The videos depicted young children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Law enforcement found both laptop computers containing child sexual abuse material in his bedroom closet along with his passport and other items.

The jury heard that Harkless accessed CSAM images on one of the computers before deleting them.

The defense attempted to convince the jury the computers did not belong to Harkless. However, they observed emails, credit card records, letters, chat history and tax records belonging to him on the device.

The jury did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged.  

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown presided over the trial and afterwards stated he will issue a sentencing date in the near future. Harkless faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine on each of the two counts of conviction. 

Previously released on bond, Judge Brown ordered him into custody following the verdict where he will remain pending sentencing. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, police departments in Galveston, Clear Lake Shores and Pearland as well as Jones Creek Marshals Office and Houston Metro Internet Crimes against Children Task Force conducted the investigation. 

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

HOUSTON – Several people in and around the Houston area as well as a Nevada woman have been indicted in various schemes including illegal drug diversion and attempts to defraud Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE which involve a total of over $1 billion in alleged fraud, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. 

The charges include alleged pill mill clinics, fraud involving mental health care as well as allegations of improper wound care treatment on elderly patients and are part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. 

One case charges Tonya Crowder, 49, Missouri City; Marlene Durham, 55, Humble; and Demetrius Onuaguluchi, 34, Houston; with distribution of a controlled substance and conspiracy to do so in connection with the operation of two pill mill clinics in Houston and a pill mill pharmacy in Conroe. The three allegedly participated in a scheme to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances in exchange for cash to the clinics and the pharmacy. The charges allege Crowder and Durham were the managers of two pill mill clinics that issued prescriptions for over 3.4 million pills to include oxycodone, hydrocodone and carisoprodol. Onuaguluchi was a pharmacist that worked closely with these two clinics and dispensed over 136,000 pills based on prescriptions that Durham and Crowder’s clinics issued, according to the charges. The indictment includes a notice of forfeiture of over $80,000 in cash seized from one clinic and one residence and a property connected to the alleged drug diversion. 

In a separate matter, Katy residents Princepaul Agbonlahor and Nekewon Konah, both 51; Ginger Ruffin, 46, Conroe; Stephanie Harris, 37, Pearland; and Takiya Caradine, 33, Houston, are charged with health care fraud and conspiracy to do so as well as false statements relating to a health care matter in connection with a $16 million Medicaid fraud scheme. Agbonlahor was the owner of Lahor Behavioral Services LLC and billed Medicaid for mental health services for minors that did not occur, according to the charges. The indictment alleges Lahor counselors, including Ruffin, Konah, Harris and Caradine, created fake visit notes and falsified their timesheets to cover up Agbonlahor’s fraudulent Medicaid billing. 

As part of the enforcement action, the Texas Strike Force also filed charges in the Southern District of Texas against Marizel Yukee, a 49-year-old nurse practitioner from Las Vegas, Nevada, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and offering, paying, soliciting and receiving illegal health care kickbacks. She is also charged with transactional money laundering, all in connection with an alleged $906 million scheme to defraud Medicare and TRICARE by billing for medically unnecessary amniotic wound allografts that were procured through illegal kickbacks and bribes. The indictment alleges Yukee, through four mobile wound clinics she owned in four different states, targeted elderly Medicare patients, many of whom were terminally ill in hospice care. The scheme allegedly caused unnecessary and expensive allografts to be applied to these vulnerable patients’ wounds without attempting, completing or confirming conservative wound care treatment. Yukee caused allografts to be applied to infected wounds, to wounds that had already healed and to wounds that were not responding to the allografts, according to the charges. Yukee also allegedly falsified patient medical records to make it appear as though applications of allografts were medically reasonable and necessary and met Medicare requirements. The charges further allege Yukee caused kickbacks to be paid to induce patient referrals and solicited kickbacks in exchange for purchasing allografts. In total, Yukee allegedly caused approximately $906 million in false and fraudulent claims to be billed to Medicare and TRICARE, of which approximately $297 million was paid. Assets valued at approximately $35.2 million were seized as part of this investigation, including $467,000, a $594,000 Ferrari 296 GTS and seven other vehicles, and jewelry including a Bulgari necklace purchased for $865,000. 

The SDTX worked with the Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit of the Fraud Division and FBI, Texas Attorney General’s Office - Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General to investigate and prosecute the cases.  

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Olson and Alexander Alum are prosecuting the SDTX matters, while Trial attorney Adam Tisdall is handling the Yukee prosecution. SDTX AUSAs Tyler Foster, Kristine Rollinson and Elizabeth Wyman are handling asset forfeiture in the various cases.

The overall charges are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. The takedown represents a new era in federal, state and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: cases in 56 federal districts and 45 U.S. states and territories with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating, the most in Department history. In addition, unprecedented international cooperation over the two-week takedown resulted in the apprehension and return to the United States of the following health care fraudsters: one defendant in Kyrenia in connection with an over $3.7 billion scheme; two defendants in Estonia in connection with a previously charged $10.6 billion scheme; and, in the Philippines, one of FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters in connection with a previously-charged $1.2 billion telemedicine fraud scheme. The takedown involves the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; the seizure of over $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry and other assets; and full-spectrum accountability for all criminal actors from doctor’s offices to corporate boardrooms.   

This coordinated enforcement action involves a whole-of-government approach, including:  

• Actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to suspend 1,079 providers and revoke billing privileges for 1,403 providers. 
• 48 civil monetary payment settlements amounting to over $73 million, over 1,400 provider exclusions and 25 DHHS-OIG actions under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law seeking more than $10 billion in payments to the Medicare Trust Fund from payments that CMS caught and suspended before the funds were paid to the fraudulent providers. 
• Civil charges against 13 defendants for $14.8 million in health care fraud schemes as well as civil settlements with 31 defendants totaling $23 million. 
• 928 administrative cases by the Drug Enforcement Administration seeking the revocation of authority to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances since Oct. 1, 2025. 

Descriptions of each case involved in the nationwide enforcement action are available on the Department’s website.

The cases are being prosecuted by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England, Northeast, Texas, and West Coast Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Connecticut, District of Delaware, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, District of Hawaii, District of Idaho, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of Nebraska, District of New Hampshire, District of New Jersey, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, Northern District of Ohio, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, District of Puerto Rico, District of Rhode Island, District of South Carolina, District of South Dakota, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, SDTX, Western District of Texas, District of Vermont, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin; and State Attorneys General’s Offices, through their MFCUs, in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia. The MFCUs for Alabama, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas and Virigina also participated in the investigation of the various federal cases. 

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

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

HOUSTON - A 47-year-old man who was a fugitive for two decades has entered a guilty plea to sexual abuse of a 15-year-old female, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

In 2003, Elias Luis Herrera worked on a cruise ship that had departed Galveston along with fellow crewman – Edgerton Phillip Medford. In the early morning hours of July 17, the victim was walking near a pool when both men grabbed her arms, forced her down and held her on a deck chair so she could not escape.  

The men removed their uniforms and took turns sexually assaulting her while the minor victim screamed throughout the attack.  

A federal grand jury returned the indictment in 2004. 

While on a subsequent cruise, Herrera fled from arrest in Cozumel, Mexico, and later traveled to Costa Rica. He remained a fugitive for over 20 years before his arrest in Costa Rica and subsequent extradition to the United States in October 2025. 

U.S. District Judge Sim Lake accepted the plea and set sentencing for Sept. 18. At that time, Herrera faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing. 

Medford was extradited in 2007 and later pleaded guilty. He was removed to St. Vincent and the Grenadines following his sentence. 

FBI - Texas City Resident Agency conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Laurence Goldman and Kimberly Ann Bulger Leo prosecuted the case.

U.S. Department of State and U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica provided significant assistance in securing the extradition from Costa Rica with support of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. The United States extends its gratitude to the Government of Costa Rica, Office of the Attorney General of the Republic of Costa Rica’s Office of Technical Assistance and International Relations and its prosecutorial and law enforcement authorities for making the extradition possible. 

HOUSTON – A 51-year-old Houston man has been sentenced for his role in an ongoing cocaine distribution scheme that spanned nearly a decade, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Leonel Mata Luna pleaded guilty Sept. 6, 2023.

U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen has now ordered Luna to serve 240 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release. At the hearing, Luna admitted he violated the terms of his supervised release stemming from a prior federal drug trafficking conviction. The court imposed a concurrent 30-month sentence for the supervised release violation. 

During the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Luna served as a leader in a drug trafficking organization responsible for trafficking more than 100 kilos of cocaine during the course of the conspiracy. Luna admitted he was a member of the drug trafficking organization while residing in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. His role was to oversee the receipt and packaging of cocaine in Mexico and coordinate its transportation to the U.S. border. The drugs were then smuggled by vehicle into the United States on a monthly basis. 

The cocaine was initially transported to Houston where it was further distributed throughout the United States.

In December 2015, law enforcement agents seized 176 kilograms of cocaine, two kilograms of meth and $3.5 million in drug proceeds after executing search warrants at three stash houses controlled by the organization in Houston.

Luna was a fugitive for seven years until his arrest in Monterrey, Mexico, in Sept. 2022as part of a joint Mexican and American law enforcement operation. He was subsequently removed from Mexico and transported to Houston for prosecution. 

To date, 15 defendants have been convicted in relation to the conspiracy. 

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation.

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

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 28-year-old Mexican national who illegally resided in Cleveland has been ordered to federal prison for his role in a conspiracy involving large quantities of cocaine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Elmer Vargas-Serrato pleaded guilty Oct. 28, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Vargas-Serrato to serve 201 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. 

Vargas-Serrato was the head of a drug trafficking organization responsible for moving cocaine from cartels in Mexico to Houston and Dallas. The cocaine was then distributed to other U.S. cities in the states of Illinois, New York, Georgia and North Carolina. The organization also transported firearms to Mexico to arm the cartels. 

Vargas-Serrato was responsible for sourcing cocaine from the Mexican cartels and directing the organization’s U.S. operations. He was tied to approximately 41 kilograms of cocaine seized across three states.

A search warrant of a residence tied to Vargas-Serrato resulted in the discovery and seizure of cocaine, a stolen firearm and multiple drug ledgers discussing the movement of narcotics and firearms. Authorities also located titles to numerous vehicles used during the transportation of narcotics.

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

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Foster, Liesel Roscher and Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.

This investigation and prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes these organizations commit, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF South Texas comprises agents and officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations; FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Interpol/Department of State and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas leading the prosecution.

McALLEN, Texas – A 27-year-old repeat felon from Mexico who unlawfully resided in Rio Grande City has been ordered to federal prison for possession with intent to distribute three kilograms of meth, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Victor Manuel Gaytan pleaded guilty April 2.  

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. has now ordered Gaytan to serve 235 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. 

At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Gaytan is already a three-time felon with prior convictions for possession of a controlled substance and alien smuggling and has served sentences in both state and federal prison. In handing down the sentence, Judge Rodriguez noted the significant amount of narcotics involved in the crime and Gaytan’s dangerousness to the community. 

On Nov. 4, 2025, law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Impala that Gaytan was driving. He slowed down, appearing to pull over, but then immediately accelerated which resulted in a vehicle pursuit. 

Authorities observed a bag thrown from the passenger window and continued the pursuit until Gaytan eventually stopped and surrendered. 

The bag was found to contain three kilograms of meth.

At the plea, Gaytan later admitted possession of the bag of meth and that he tried to get rid of it before being apprehended. 

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

Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Palmview Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 36-year-old Mexican national has been sentenced for violating the terms of his supervised released after his removal from the country, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Marco Antonio Zuniga pleaded guilty March 26, 2026. 

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks has now ordered Zuniga to serve 27 months in federal prison for the illegal reentry. He also received an additional eight months for violating his term of supervised release following a conviction for meth trafficking. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. 

Zuniga was convicted of the drug offense, placed on supervised release following his release and removed from the United States. However, authorities encountered him again Aug. 18, 2025, in Houston with no authorization to be in the country. 

According to the terms of his supervised release, he was not to commit any new offenses. He did so, however, by illegally reentering the United States. 

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ekua Assabill prosecuted the case. 

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

HOUSTON – A total of 161 individuals have been charged in immigration and border-security related matters from June 12-17, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Of those, 33 people face illegal entry charges, while another 104 allegedly reentered the United States after prior removal. Many have prior felony convictions related to narcotics trafficking, immigration offenses, violent crimes and more. An additional 21 people allegedly engaged in human smuggling, while the remaining three cases involve other immigration crimes. 

Among the newly filed complaints, Guatemalan national Rodolfo Belisario Mendez-Mencho was allegedly removed from the United States March 29. However, authorities discovered him again illegally in the country near Sullivan City, according to the charges. The criminal complaint alleges he has a prior conviction for abuse/abandonment/cruelty. 

Three others - Jose Robledo Cruz, Jose De Jesus Garcia-Andrade and Eduardo Lopez-Figueroa, all Mexican nationals - were also allegedly found in the McAllen area despite having been previously removed. According to the charges, they have various convictions of felony assault by strangulation, DWI (3 or more) and/or trafficking of a controlled substance. 

All four men lacked legal authorization to be in the United States and face up to 20 years in federal prison upon conviction.

In addition to the new cases, two men were sentenced to federal prison for separate alien smuggling offenses that involved assaults on Border Patrol agents. Mexican national Adrian Isaac Pimentel-Garcia assaulted an agent while attempting to evade arrest after guiding illegal aliens through a residential area. Juan Carlos Lopez Jr. led agents on a vehicle pursuit before driving toward an agent and striking a patrol vehicle. Both received 36-month prison sentences. 

In Houston, Marco Antonio Zuniga, an illegal alien from Mexico, received a 27-month federal prison sentence for unlawfully reentering the country. He had previously been convicted of meth trafficking and was serving a term of supervised release when authorities encountered him in Houston without authorization to be in the United States.  

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

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

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

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.

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

HOUSTON – A 44-year-old Port Arthur man has been ordered to federal prison for smuggling goods from the United States, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. 

Ismael Bernardez-Lacayo pleaded guilty Dec. 4, 2025. 

U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now ordered Bernardez-Lacayo to serve 30 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by one year of supervised release.

The investigation revealed Bernardez-Lacayo attempted to unlawfully ship dozens of firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition to Honduras in violation of United States law. 

On April 5, 2024, he drove to a shipping company located in Humble and dropped off two water heater boxes in a shipping container which was transported to the Port of Houston. Law enforcement ultimately discovered a total of 37 firearms, 6,654 rounds of ammunition, 54 magazines and one rifle scope were hidden inside the water heaters. 

Bernardez-Lacayo did not have a license to export firearms, ammunition, magazines or scopes from the Unites States nor did he have authorization for the shipment of firearms and ammunition to Honduras as required. 

The pistols, rifles and scope in the shipment were classified as a controlled commodity on the Commerce Control List and are barred from being shipped to Honduras without an appropriate license. 

The investigation further revealed Bernardez-Lopez had previously attempted to ship ammunition and a firearm to Honduras in 2010 and was aware that it was illegal to do so without the appropriate license as required by federal law.  

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance of Seaport Border Enforcement Security Task force and Customs and Border Protection.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Keri Fuller is prosecuting the case. 

LAREDO, Texas – Two men have been ordered to federal prison for smuggling illegal aliens and for assaulting federal agents in the course of their duties, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Adrian Isaac Pimentel-Garcia, a 20-year-old illegal alien from Mexico, and Juan Carlos Lopez Jr., 24, Laredo, both pleaded guilty March 3 in separate, but similar cases to bringing an alien to the United States and assault on federal officers.  

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana has now ordered both Pimentel-Garcia and Lopez to serve a total of 36 months in federal prison. At the hearings, the court heard from the victims who described how their experiences would affect them for the rest of their careers but still expressed forgiveness. Lopez must serve a three-year-term of supervised release. Not a U.S. citizen, Pimentel-Garcia is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. 

In handing down the sentence in the Lopez case, Judge Saldana emphasized that but for the Grace of God, no one died. She noted that his careless behavior could have led to the death of an agent, an alien or even himself but also complimented the agent’s professionalism.

On Dec. 5, 2025, Border Patrol agents discovered a group of aliens who had just crossed into the United States from the Rio Grande in south Laredo. Law enforcement found them in a nearby residential area where they were climbing fences around homes. Pimentel-Garcia had been leading the aliens and climbed a rooftop to escape. When the agent attempted to stop the attempt, Pimental-Garcia jumped off a fence and dropkicked a Border Patrol agent in the face, knocking him to the ground. Pimental-Garcia then tried to flee by foot. 

Assisting agents then detained Pimental-Garcia and the three aliens he was illegally guiding into the United States. 

The day prior, Border Patrol agents discovered Lopez was driving a vehicle picking up aliens as they exited the Rio Grande near southwest Laredo. Authorities attempted a traffic stop, but Lopez sped off and led law enforcement on a vehicle pursuit. Lopez drove his vehicle from paved roads onto dirt ones that ended at a cliff. When law enforcement stopped the patrol vehicle behind him, he exited to detain Lopez. However, Lopez soon revved his engine and sped back into the agent’s path. He was able to narrowly avoid being hit and severely injured. However, Lopez did strike the patrol vehicle of another agent and caused injury to that law enforcement officer. 

Lopez attempted to flee on foot, but authorities soon took him and seven smuggled aliens into custody. 

FBI and Border Patrol conducted both investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Manuel A. Cardenas Jr. prosecuted the cases.

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

HOUSTON – The Southern District of Texas has filed 296 cases in immigration and related matters from June 5-11, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. 

The charges include 186 illegal aliens for unlawfully reentering the United States and another 65 for illegal entry. Many have previous convictions related to narcotics trafficking, immigration offenses, violent crimes and more. An additional 41 people allegedly engaged in human smuggling, while the remaining nine people face immigration-related charges.

Among the new allegations are several convicted illegal alien felons who attempted to illegally reenter the United States. 

One of those was allegedly Pedro Martinez-Arias from Mexico. According to the charges, law enforcement discovered him near Linn, despite having been previously removed Oct. 19, 2024. The criminal complaint alleges he has a prior conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and had been ordered to serve 168 months in prison before his removal from the United States. 

He and others charged with felony reentry after prior removal face up to 20 years in federal prison, upon conviction. 

In addition to the new cases, two Guatemalan human smugglers admitted to their roles in the 2021 mass casualty event in Chiapas, Mexico. Josefa Quino Canil De Zavala and Alberto Marcario Chitic acknowledged they conspired with other smugglers to transport illegal aliens from Guatemala through Mexico to the United States. They recruited aliens, collected payment, arranged for travel and even provided scripted language to unaccompanied minors if U.S. immigration authorities apprehended them. On Dec. 9, 2021, they and others arranged for aliens to be loaded into a tractor trailer that ultimately crashed north of the Guatemala/Mexico border, resulting in the deaths of more than 50 and injuries of over 100 more.

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

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

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

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.

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

HOUSTON – A 35-year-old man from a small town in Grimes County has been charged for allegedly transmitting interstate threats via social media, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Authorities took Peter James Bloomfield into custody June 10 where he remains on related charges. He is expected to make his initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge in Houston in the near future.  

The criminal complaint alleges authorities discovered a Texas-based X account with multiple threatening messages directed at federal law enforcement and others. The account allegedly made several posts about where the closest FBI building was, killing federal agents and others, spending money to blow up the White House and negative comments about America. Bloomfield is linked to that account, according to the allegations. 

Law enforcement also allegedly identified a Facebook account in Bloomfield’s name that used the same profile image as the X account which posted additional threats against federal agents and notable figures. The charges further allege the Facebook account included comments about making a hit list and who would be on it during a Fox News broadcast of a recent Senate floor hearing. 

According to the complaint, Bloomfeld was angry and had researched explosives and their effect on demolishing a building.

A federal search warrant allegedly resulted in the discovery of over 20 firearms and a significant amount of ammunition. 

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

The FBI - Bryan Resident Agency conducted the investigation with the assistance of Texas Department of Public Safety; Houston County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office; Secret Service; and Grimes County Constable’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ganz is prosecuting the case.

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 24-year-old Mexican national has been ordered to federal prison for producing child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Erasmo Alexandro Rodriguez-Estrada pleaded guilty Dec. 2, 2025.

U.S. District Judge John Kazen has now sentenced Rodriguez-Estrada to 188 months. At the hearing, the court considered additional information including letters detailing the psychological harm the victim has suffered. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted the seriousness of the crime and its consequences. Rodriguez-Estrada will also be ordered to register as a sex offender and will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Restitution will be determined at a later date. Not a U.S. citizen, he is also expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. 

The investigation began May 19, 2025, when authorities discovered the whereabouts of a minor previously reported as a runaway. Upon discussion with the young female, law enforcement observed multiple hematomas, commonly known as a hickey, on her neck and learned she had spent the previous night with Rodriguez-Estrada. 

Rodriguez-Estrada indicated he sent the minor a friend request on social media before their sexual involvement. Authorities seized his electronic device and uncovered five videos of the two engaging in sexual acts. The investigation revealed Rodriguez-Estrada knew the victim’s age at the time of the encounters.  

Rodriguez-Estrada is a citizen and national of Mexico who had been previously removed from the United States in December 2024 and illegally resided in Laredo.

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa A. Lopez prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice 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.  

LAREDO, Texas - Two foreign nationals have pleaded guilty to human smuggling charges related to the crash of a tractor-trailer packed with at least 160 illegal aliens which resulted in the deaths of more than 50 people, including unaccompanied children, and injured over 100 more. 

Josefa Quino Canil De Zavala, 43, and Alberto Marcario Chitic, 32, both of Guatemala, acknowledged that they conspired with other smugglers to transport illegal aliens, both adults and unaccompanied minors, from Guatemala through Mexico to the United States. Canil De Zavala, Chitic and others recruited Guatemalan aliens, collected payment, and arranged for the aliens to travel by foot, inside microbuses, cattle trucks, and tractor-trailers. 

Aliens paid Canil De Zavala and Chitic and their co-conspirators to be smuggled to the United States. In some cases, Canil De Zavala, Chitic and their co-conspirators provided scripted language to unaccompanied minors for their use if U.S. immigration authorities apprehended them. 

During the conspiracy, on Dec. 9, 2021, Canil De Zavala, Chitic and others arranged for the aliens they were smuggling to the United States to be loaded into a tractor trailer that was to transport them through Mexico. The vehicle ultimately crashed north of the Guatemala/Mexico border near Tuxtla Guiterrez, Chiapas, Mexico, resulting in deaths and serious bodily injury.

“The defendants ran a calculated alien smuggling operation that moved people across borders like a supply chain—recruiting them in Guatemala, collecting their money, and packing them into cattle trucks and tractor-trailers for a dangerous journey through Mexico,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck for the Southern District of Texas. “This was an organized, profit-driven network that even handed scripts to children so they could lie to law enforcement if caught entering the United States. That operation ended with the loss of more than 50 lives on a Mexican roadside, and today’s convictions make clear that the Southern District of Texas will work to shut down these networks at every level.”

“This tragic event shows that human smugglers do not care about the illegal aliens they come in contact with and transport despite the numerous risks, including extreme heat and dangerous travel conditions,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duvan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This defendant and her co-conspirators maximized their profits by packing more than 100 men, women, and children into a tractor trailer, which ultimately ended in an accident that claimed the lives of 56 people.”

“This case highlights Homeland Security Investigations’ unwavering commitment to dismantling transnational criminal organizations that exploit vulnerable individuals for profit. This horrific tragedy, which claimed dozens of lives, underscores the urgent need to combat human smuggling,” said HSI Acting Executive Associate Director John Condon. “The successful prosecution of these smugglers reflects the dedication of our agents and the coordinated efforts of our domestic and international partners to safeguard our borders and uphold the rule of law.”

Canil De Zavala and Chitic pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring and attempt to bring an illegal alien into the United States, placing life in jeopardy, causing serious bodily injury and resulting in death. U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has set sentencing for Sept. 9. At that time, Ramos faces up to life in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. 

Canil De Zavala, Chitic and three other Guatemalan nationals: Daniel Zavala Ramos, 41, Tomas Quino Canil, 37, and Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, 25, were extradited from Guatemala in 2025 to face charges. U.S. authorities arrested an additional Guatemalan national illegally present in the United States, Jorge Agapito Ventura, 33, at his residence in Cleveland in December 2024. Ramos entered a guilty plea in April. The others are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

HSI’s Counter Proliferation Investigations Group in Washington D.C. conducted the investigation in partnership with HSI Guatemala and HSI Mexico. Valuable assistance was provided by HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C.; HSI Houston; HSI Laredo; U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s International Interdiction Task Force; U.S. Border Patrol; Liberty County Constable, Precinct 6; ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas; and the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions. Guatemalan prosecutors from the Office of Public Ministry and Mexican prosecutors from the Republic of Mexico’s Federal Prosecutions Office, with the support of law enforcement officials from both countries, were also instrumental in furthering the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Lou Castillo and Jennifer Day are prosecuting the case along with Senior Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section with substantial assistance from HRSP Latin American Specialist/Historian Joanna Crandall.

The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha, the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking cartels and transnational criminal organizations commit. A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s HRSP Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section; Office of International Affairs and Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 458 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 408 U.S. convictions; more than 357 significant jail sentences imposed and forfeitures of substantial assets.

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

Two foreign nationals have pleaded guilty to human smuggling charges related to the crash of a tractor-trailer packed with at least 160 illegal aliens which resulted in the deaths of more than 50 people, including unaccompanied children, and injured over 100 more.

“This tragic event shows that human smugglers do not care about the illegal aliens they come in contact with and transport despite the numerous risks, including extreme heat and dangerous travel conditions,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This defendant and her co-conspirators maximized their profits by packing more than 100 men, women, and children into a tractor trailer, which ultimately ended in an accident that claimed the lives of 56 people.”

“The defendants ran a calculated alien smuggling operation that moved people across borders like a supply chain — recruiting them in Guatemala, collecting their money, and packing them into cattle trucks and tractor-trailers for a dangerous journey through Mexico,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck for the Southern District of Texas. “This was an organized, profit-driven network that even handed scripts to children so they could lie to law enforcement if caught entering the United States. That operation ended with the loss of more than 50 lives on a Mexican roadside, and today’s convictions make clear that the Southern District of Texas will work to shut down these networks at every level.”

“This case highlights Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) unwavering commitment to dismantling transnational criminal organizations that exploit vulnerable individuals for profit,” said Acting Executive Associate Director John Condon. “This horrific tragedy, which claimed dozens of lives, underscores the urgent need to combat human smuggling. The successful prosecution of these smugglers reflects the dedication of our agents and the coordinated efforts of our domestic and international partners to safeguard our borders and uphold the rule of law.”

Josefa Quino Canil De Zavala, 43, and Alberto Marcario Chitic, 32, both of Guatemala, acknowledged that they conspired with other smugglers to transport illegal aliens, both adults and unaccompanied minors, from Guatemala through Mexico to the United States. Canil De Zavala, Chitic and others recruited Guatemalan aliens, collected payment, and arranged for the aliens to travel by foot, inside microbuses, cattle trucks, and tractor-trailers.

Aliens paid Canil De Zavala and Chitic and their co-conspirators to be smuggled to the United States. In some cases, Canil De Zavala, Chitic and their co-conspirators provided scripted language to unaccompanied minors for their use if U.S. immigration authorities apprehended them.

During the conspiracy, on Dec. 9, 2021, Canil De Zavala, Chitic and others arranged for the aliens they were smuggling to the United States to be loaded into a tractor trailer that was to transport them through Mexico. The vehicle ultimately crashed north of the Guatemala/Mexico border near Tuxtla Guiterrez, Chiapas, Mexico, resulting in deaths and serious bodily injury.

Canil De Zavala and Chitic pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring and attempt to bring an illegal alien to the United States, placing life in jeopardy, causing serious bodily injury, and resulting in death. They will be sentenced on Sept. 9 and each will face a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Canil De Zavala, Chitic and three other Guatemalan nationals: Daniel Zavala Ramos, 41, Tomas Quino Canil, 37, and Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, 25, were extradited from Guatemala in 2025 to face charges. U.S. authorities arrested an additional Guatemalan national illegally present in the U.S., Jorge Agapito Ventura, 33, at his residence in Cleveland, Texas, in December 2024. Ramos entered a guilty plea in April. The others are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

HSI’s Counter Proliferation Investigations Group in Washington D.C. investigated the case in partnership with HSI Guatemala and HSI Mexico. Valuable assistance was provided by HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C.; HSI Houston; HSI Laredo; U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s International Interdiction Task Force; U.S. Border Patrol; Liberty County Constable, Precinct 6; ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas; and the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions of the defendants. Guatemalan prosecutors from the Office of Public Ministry and Mexican prosecutors from the Republic of Mexico’s Federal Prosecutions Office, with the support of law enforcement officials from both countries, were also instrumental in furthering the investigation.

Senior Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Lou Castillo and Jennifer Day for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from HRSP Latin American Specialist/Historian Joanna Crandall.

The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean, and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S.  Attorneys from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 458 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 408 U.S. convictions; more than 357 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.

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

HOUSTON – A Houston businessman has pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit arson of a commercial building, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. 

Lyndell Leroy Price, 42, admitted he directed others to intentionally set fire to Bar 5015, a Houston business his former partner owned on Almeda Road in Houston. Shortly before the fire, court records show that the owner had declined Price’s offer to buy into the bar and refused to sell his interest in the Turkey Leg Hut, an establishment he co-owned with Price. 

In the early morning hours of June 12, 2020, the conspirators bought gasoline and gas cans before going to an area near the business. Wearing face coverings and carrying gasoline-filled containers, they walked to Bar 5015, poured gasoline across the entrance ramp and deck, ignited it and fled. 

The fire caused significant damage to the business and endangered nearby occupied homes, commercial properties and the electrical grid.

After the arson, a member of the conspiracy reported to Price that the mission was complete. The conspirators then received payment for their roles in the crime.

U.S. District Judge Lake accepted the plea and set sentencing for Sept. 25. At that time, Price faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. 

Armani Williams and Miziah Shepherd, both 27 and of Houston, previously pleaded guilty to the same charge and are also set for sentencing the same date.

Price, Williams and Shepherd have been and will remain in custody pending their sentencing hearings.

FBI – Houston; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Houston Fire Department Arson Bureau conducted the investigation with assistance of Houston Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and Harris County Constable’s Office – Precinct 4. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sebastian A. Edwards and Keri Fuller are prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – Three Texas residents have admitted they violated the Clean Water Act, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Derek McCoy, 52, was CEO of a laboratory that sampled and tested wastewater from local treatment facilities, while Deena Higginbotham, 56, served as director of Client Services. The two Spring residents and John Montgomery, 60, Llano, all admitted to falsifying or aiding and abetting the falsification of data required under federal and state law.

For roughly three years, all three aided or abetted in changing wastewater test results to falsely ensure that treatment facilities did not exceed pollutant limits in state-issued discharge permits. These falsified results, including exceedances of ammonia, E. coli and phosphorous levels, were then submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

“By submitting falsified data, these defendants undermined the integrity of a program specifically designed to safeguard human health,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. “Today's guilty pleas show that we and our partners at EPA – Criminal Investigation Division and Office of Inspector General, as well as TCEQ, are committed to rooting out and holding accountable those who not only violate the law but also endanger the safety and erode the trust of the public we serve.”

U.S. District Judge David Hittner accepted the pleas and set sentencing for Sept. 3. At that time, each faces up to two years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. 

EPA - Criminal Investigation Division, EPA - Office of Inspector General and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality - Environmental Crimes Unit conducted the investigation through the Texas Environmental Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Liesel Roscher and Special AUSA Nathan Stopper are prosecuting the case. 

McALLEN, Texas – A 39-year-old citizen of Mexico who had been living in Dublin, Ireland, is set to appear in McAllen federal court for production of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Abelardo Sanchez is set for an arraignment and detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis at 2 p.m. 

Austrian authorities arrested Sanchez in December 2025. He was extradited June 5 and made his initial appearance June 8 in McAllen. 

According to the indictment, returned Oct. 28, 2025, Sanchez had an online account that contained child sexual abuse material, some of which appeared to be self-produced and dated back to 2014. The investigation led to the identification of the minor victim who had resided in Texas at the time Sanchez produced the images, according to the charges. 

Sanchez had allegedly been living in Dublin, Ireland, since 2024 before traveling to Austria where he was ultimately arrested on the charges. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations in The Hague and Vienna conducted the investigation with assistance of HSI in McAllen and Dublin, Ireland, as well as international law enforcement partners. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Sanchez. 

If convicted, Sanchez faces a minimum of 25 and up to 50 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine. 

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

HOUSTON – A 23-year-old local man has been sentenced for sex trafficking and enticing a minor, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. 

A federal jury deliberated for less than two days before returning guilty verdicts on two counts of sex trafficking of minors as well as coercion and enticement of a minor against Cristian Morris following a three-day trial in March 2025.

U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now sentenced Morris to a total of 384 months in federal prison. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted that sex trafficking is a horrible crime, made worse when minors are involved and that the victims were sentenced to a life of terrible memories. Morris was further ordered to serve 180 months on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

From Jan. 1 - June 23, 2023, Morris recruited teenage girls, gave them drugs and posted sexually explicit ads offering them for commercial sex. He forced them to engage in sex acts with clients at hotels near the “blade” in Houston and Dallas.

The blade or “track” in Houston is an area near I-59 Southwest Freeway and Bissonnet Street. The blade in Dallas is on Harry Hines Boulevard. Both locations are known areas where pimps and traffickers commonly place their victims to engage in commercial sex. 

At the trial, the jury heard from three victims Morris trafficked over several months. They testified he instructed them on how to walk the blade, how much to charge and gave them condoms. The jury also learned that Morris transported them between Houston and Dallas to engage in sex acts. 

Morris kept all the proceeds. 

Law enforcement ultimately arrested him June 23, 2023, after he had posted commercial sex ads for the youngest victim, a 15-year-old runaway. 

At the time of the trial, the defense attempted to convince the jury that the victims were just a group of runaways and school dropouts engaged in bad behavior. They did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged. 

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

FBI and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation as part of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance. 

HTRA law enforcement includes members of HPD, FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Attorney General’s Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, Department of Labor, 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, 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 U.S. 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.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Valenti and Kimberly Leo prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 54-year-old Iraqi national has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to violate gun export laws, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

The jury deliberated for approximately two hours before finding Hassan Al Gharawi guilty on one count of conspiracy to violate export control laws following a three-day trial, Oct. 1, 2025.

U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen has now ordered Gharawi to serve 63 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. He must also pay a $5,000 fine. 

From approximately November 2020 to June 2021, Gharawi conspired with others to knowingly stockpile, conceal and transport firearms in vehicle parts bound for Iraq.

At trial, the jury heard Gharawi received two deliveries in 2020 and 2021 totaling approximately 77 firearms, which he had stored in his home. 

On June 10, 2021, authorities observed Gharawi load firearms into his vehicle and transport them to a storage facility. 

The jury saw photos of more than 500 firearms and listened to recordings of Gharawi discussing the trafficking plan. 

The defense argued Gharawi acted under duress from the traffickers in Iraq. The jury rejected those claims after seeing the extent of his involvement and found him guilty as charged. 

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

FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Winter, John Pearson and Steven Schammel prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON - A 32-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison for possessing and transferring an illegal machine gun, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Jaleel Filer pleaded guilty March 5, 2026.

U.S. District Judge Charles R. Eskridge has now ordered Filer to serve 37 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. 

The investigation began in January 2023 when law enforcement identified Filer’s involvement in the sale of firearms and machine gun conversion devices, commonly known as “switches.” A machine gun conversion device converts a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic machine gun and is illegal to possess.    

Over the next five months, authorities conducted multiple undercover purchases from Filer, including firearms and MCDs.  

During one purchase Jan. 6, Filer sold two firearms, including one equipped with a machine gun conversion device installed for approximately $2,200. The firearm functioned as a machine gun. He claimed he could also sell MCDs in the future for $100 each. 

During the final deal, Filer arranged for the sale of more than 50 MCDs that were subsequently interdicted by law enforcement. 

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

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Smith prosecuted the case.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A 52-year-old Mexican national unlawfully residing in the United States in Brownsville has pleaded guilty to using a stolen identity to fraudulently obtain an official permit to access offshore oil platforms, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.   

Ezequiel Escamilla Martinez admitted he was born in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and not a U.S. citizen born in Brownsville.

From Sept. 23, 2022, to Feb. 12, 2025, he used the false identity to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential card granting access to offshore oil platforms in the Gulf of America as well as a Texas driver’s license and U.S. passport.

Martinez used the fraudulently obtained passport to cross the U.S.-Mexico border more than 80 times from 2024 through 2025. 

“For years, Martinez deliberately exploited a fraudulent American identity to gain access to restricted offshore oil platforms, a U.S. passport, and a driver’s license—privileges reserved for lawful residents of this country,” said Marck. “This was a calculated scheme carried out with complete disregard for the American citizens whose livelihoods were put at risk and the security of our offshore facilities, which he had no legal right to enter. Those who abuse our immigration system to fraudulently obtain federal credentials and access our sensitive infrastructure will face the full force of federal prosecution in the Southern District of Texas”

“The Coast Guard Investigative Service remains steadfast in its mission to protect the integrity of critical infrastructure and uphold federal security regulations,” said Special Agent in Charge Damon J. Youmans, CGIS. “Following a comprehensive investigation, CGIS agents apprehended the individual responsible for fraudulent activity involving access to a federally regulated facility. We are grateful for the collaboration of our partners at the Department of Justice throughout this process and look forward to the continued prosecution of these cases to ensure the security and safety of our nation’s infrastructure.”

Sentencing is set for or Aug. 26. At that time, Martinez faces up to eight years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.   

CGIS conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Laurence Goldman is prosecuting the case.

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

HOUSTON – The Southern District of Texas has filed 285 cases in immigration and border security-related matters from May 29-June 4, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. 

Of those charged, 79 people face illegal entry charges, while another 179 allegedly reentered the United States after prior removal. Many have felony convictions involving narcotics trafficking, violent crimes and immigration offenses. An additional 27 people face charges of engaging in human smuggling, while the remaining six cases are related to other immigration offenses. 

Among the new matters are three men from various countries, all charged with felony reentry into the United States after removal.

Authorities allegedly found Guatemalan national William Perez-Perez and Mexican national Edgar Guadalupe Cruz-Velasco in the McAllen area without legal authorization to be in the United States. According to the criminal complaints, both had been previously removed April 17 and April 19, respectively. Perez-Perez has a prior conviction for battery on law enforcement, while Cruz-Velasco was convicted of first degree assault and battery.

Law enforcement also allegedly discovered Honduran national Osman Adalid Soto Benites near Progreso after he was removed Oct. 31, 2025. Court records reflect he has a prior conviction for failure to register as a sex offender. 

Another illegal alien charged in a separate case is Mexican national Rafael Pineda-Ruiz. According to the complaint, authorities removed him in September 2005. The charges allege Pineda-Ruiz has a prior conviction for conspiracy to distribute narcotics and was sentenced to 70 months in prison. Law enforcement allegedly discovered him near Roma without legal authorization to be in the country. 

If convicted, all four face up to 20 years in prison. 

In addition to the new cases, Mexican national Cruz Alberto De La Garza pleaded guilty to harboring illegal aliens in a Laredo stash house under dangerous conditions that resulted in the death of an individual. The investigation began after two illegal aliens were dropped off at an emergency room, one of whom was pronounced dead. Authorities later discovered 30 additional illegal aliens in a tractor-trailer’s sleeper compartment and determined they had been housed in extreme heat with little to no air conditioning, limited food and water and inadequate ventilation. He faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

A federal jury in Corpus Christi found a mother and daughter guilty of human smuggling. Evidence showed Enedelia Garcia and Ashley Garcia drove the illegal alien through the Border Patrol checkpoint near Kingsville. The illegal alien later testified he had been smuggled into the United States and expected the pair to transport him to Houston. The jury saw evidence Ashley Garcia texted a friend during the smuggling event and said “not to ask” about her trip to Houston. Both women face up to 10 years in federal prison. 

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

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

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

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A federal jury has convicted two family members from the Rio Grande Valley of transporting an illegal alien, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

The jury deliberated for two hours before returning guilty verdicts against Enedelia Garcia, 55, Weslaco, and Ashley Garcia, 37, Brownsville, following a two-day trial. 

On the evening of July 22, 2025, Enedelia Garcia drove to the Border Patrol checkpoint near Kingsville with her daughter in the backseat and another passenger in the front seat. During an immigration inspection, law enforcement noticed nervous behavior from that passenger who was also unable to produce identification.

Authorities determined he was an illegal alien with no authorization to be in the country. 

At trial, he testified he was smuggled into the United States and was expecting the pair to take him to Houston. The jury also heard that Ashley Garcia was texting a friend at the time of the smuggling event and said “not to ask” about her trip to Houston.

The defense attempted to convince the jury that they were deceived into believing the illegal alien was a U.S citizen. They did not believe those claims and found them both guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos presided over the trial and set sentencing for Sept. 1, at which time the mother and daughter both face up to 10 years in federal prison.

Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Lamont is prosecuting the case. 

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 39-year-old Mexican national has pleaded guilty to harboring 32 illegal aliens in a stash house under dangerous conditions that resulted in one death, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Cruz Alberto de la Garza admitted he conspired with others to harbor illegal aliens at a stash house in Laredo and assisted in transporting them. 

The investigation began Oct. 15, 2025, after two illegal aliens had been dropped off at an emergency room. One was pronounced deceased upon arrival. The medical examiner’s report identified one cause of death as environment exposure with heat effects.

Later that day, law enforcement encountered a tractor-trailer at a Border Patrol checkpoint in Cotulla and discovered 30 illegal aliens crammed into the trailer’s sleeper compartment. 

The investigation revealed all had been housed in a white trailer on a ranch-style property used as a stash house. The trailer had extreme heat with little to no air conditioning, limited food and water and inadequate ventilation. There was no access to a toilet, and the aliens were forced to use a bucket. No one was permitted to leave. 

De la Garza had instructed the aliens to get into the tractor trailer and initially drove them before parking and exiting the vehicle. 

Sentencing is set for Sept. 1, before U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo. At that time, de la Garza faces up to life in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tae W. Chon is prosecuting the case. 

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

HOUSTON – Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche recently appointed Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck to serve on a select and prestigious body of U.S. Attorneys that advises Department of Justice leadership on national law enforcement priorities.

Marck’s appointment to the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys reflects both his leadership in one of the largest districts in the nation and the important role the Southern District of Texas plays in confronting emerging threats to public safety and national security.

The AGAC was created in 1973 and is designed to ensure broad geographic, operational and subject-matter representation and elevates the voices of U.S. Attorneys on matters of policy, procedure and management impacting offices throughout the nation.  

Members work through subcommittees and working groups on issues including violent crime, national security, fraud, narcoterrorism and other critical priorities. The AGAC plays a central role in ensuring that the experience of federal prosecutors in the field informs on national Department of Justice strategy.

“It is an immense honor to be appointed to the AGAC, and I am deeply grateful to Acting Attorney General Blanche for his confidence and trust in me,” said Marck. “The Southern District of Texas is home to some of the most dedicated federal, state and local law enforcement officers in the country, and I am proud to carry their work and their mission into this important forum.”

Marck and other AGAC members met with Blanche and other DOJ leadership in May and will hold the first substantive meeting later this month.

Marck will serve alongside U.S. Attorney Dan Bishop (Middle District of North Carolina), U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros (Northern District of Illinois), U.S. Attorney Scott Bradford (District of Oregon), Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine Crosby (Northern District of Alabama), U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine (District of Arizona), U.S. Attorney Michael Dunavant (Western District of Tennessee), First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison (District of New Mexico), First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bilal Essayli (Central District of California), U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon (Southern District of California), U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon (Eastern District of Michigan), U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly (District of Colorado), U.S. Attorney David Metcalf (Eastern District of Pennsylvania), U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro (District of Columbia), U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones (Southern District of Florida) and U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods (District of Nebraska).

As Acting U.S. Attorney, Marck is the chief federal law enforcement officer in the Southern District of Texas, responsible for prosecuting and defending the interests of the United States in one of the largest and busiest districts in the nation.

Before being appointed Acting U.S. Attorney, Marck served as First Assistant U.S. Attorney, overseeing the Criminal, Civil and Appellate Divisions. Prior to that, he was in the National Security and Public Corruption Section where he served as Associate Deputy Criminal Chief, supervising a team of Assistant U.S. Attorneys, intelligence officers and support staff in prosecuting complex national security, counterintelligence and cybercrime cases.

Marck began his federal career as an AUSA in the Corpus Christi and Victoria Divisions of the Southern District of Texas, where he managed a diverse criminal docket that included charges of illegal reentry, alien smuggling, drug trafficking and other cartel-related offenses.

Prior to joining the SDTX, Marck was an Assistant District Attorney in New York City, serving in both the Brooklyn and Bronx District Attorney’s offices. As an ADA, Marck prosecuted a high-volume caseload of major felonies, including murder, manslaughter, robbery and gang assault. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties, more than 10 million people, covers 44,000 square miles and comprises seven U.S. District Court divisions. Headquartered in Houston, SDTX has branch offices in Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo. 

HOUSTON – A 56-year-old local resident has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, fraud in connection with a major disaster, threatening to kill a witness and assaulting/impeding a law enforcement officer, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

From 2019 through 2024, Sharai Poteet engaged in a scheme to fraudulently obtain disaster-relief housing assistance and additional federal benefits. During the investigation, she also threatened to kill a witness and assaulted a federal officer.

Poteet submitted fraudulent loan applications claiming 11 people – including seven children and a disabled adult - were members of her household. As a result of the false claims, Poteet received assistance in the form of a custom seven-bedroom home.

The funds used to construct the home were intended to help Hurricane Harvey victims through a Department of Housing and Urban Development program. The home Poteet received was the largest the program had built at that time.

The investigation revealed Poteet submitted three fraudulent applications for disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for storms that occurred between 2021 and 2024. During the investigation, she threatened a whistleblower in an attempt to silence them. 

Poteet also assaulted a federal agent while attempting to flee during an operation intended to seize her cell phone. 

“Sharai Poteet exploited programs intended to assist vulnerable hurricane victims and used those funds for her own personal enrichment,” said Marck. “When individuals steal taxpayer-funded resources meant to help those in need, they are not just committing fraud – they are undermining the systems that keep families safe and communities stable.” 

“The taxpayer has no tolerance for those who steal from federal public aid – the sole goal of which is to help victims rebuild and move forward with their lives.” said Robert Lawler, HUD Office of Inspector General’s Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations. “We will continue to work with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to aggressively pursue fraudsters who steal disaster grant funds to enrich themselves.” 

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt accepted the plea and has set sentencing for Sept. 21. At that time, Poteet faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a possible $1 million maximum fine. 

She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

HUD-OIG conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Shalimar Addy is prosecuting the case. 

The Department of Justice has created the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within federal benefit programs.

LAREDO, Texas – A 53-year-old Laredo resident has been ordered to federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to do so, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Pio Alejandro Campos pleaded guilty Jan. 12.

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña has now ordered Campos to serve 262 months in federal prison. The court also found Campos had violated the terms of his supervised release from a previous federal drug trafficking crime by committing this offense and sentenced him to an additional term of 12 months to be served consecutively. The total 274-month term of imprisonment will be immediately followed by another eight years of supervised release. The court also assessed a $14,000 money judgement.

At the hearing, the court heard evidence that described his multiple convictions in various jurisdictions. In handing down the sentence, Judge Saldaña noted Campos had engaged in a continuing pattern of criminal activity that dated back to 2008, which included federal convictions involving cocaine or heroin in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Northern District of Illinois and Southern District of Ohio and was ordered to serve approximately 250 total months in prison. In each case, he committed a new crime while on supervised release. After his most recent federal conviction, he was granted executive clemency in December 2024 and was on supervised release for that crime when he committed this cocaine trafficking offense in the Southern District of Texas.

In August 2024, while at a halfway house completing his sentence for heroin trafficking, Campos engaged in a series of cell phone and WhatsApp communications involving the potential sale of cocaine. During the course of the undercover operation, he sought to meet in person to discuss specifics rather than communicating via phone. 

Following his release from custody upon his clemency approval, he continued to maintain communications, agreed to supply cocaine and discussed pricing based on delivery location which included San Antonio and Houston as well as New Orleans, Louisiana. On May 3, 2025, he delivered one kilogram of cocaine in San Antonio for $14,000.

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

Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Lou Castillo prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A total of 259 individuals have been charged in immigration and related crimes from May 22-28 as part of Operation Take Back America, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. 

The Southern District of Texas has filed cases against 160 illegal aliens for unlawfully reentering the United States and another 69 for illegal entry. Many have previous convictions related to narcotics trafficking, immigration offenses, violent crimes and more. An additional 28 people face charges of engaging in human smuggling, while the remaining matters relate to other immigration crimes and firearms charges.

Among those is an illegal alien from Mexico who allegedly fired an AR-style rifle at multiple individuals in New Caney over the holiday weekend. The charges allege Juan Ayala-Montero retrieved the rifle from his residence and fired multiple rounds toward a group of individuals, striking one victim in the torso and head. Authorities allegedly recovered an Olympic Arms .223 AR-Style rifle and approximately 30 spent shell casings at the scene. The charges further allege Ayala-Montero had been previously removed from the United States and was unlawfully present in the country. If convicted of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, Ayala-Montero faces up to 15 years in federal prison.

Criminal complaints also allege two illegal aliens unlawfully reentered the country without authorization. One is Marcos Ismael Escobar-Sosa, a Cuban national found near Mission, according to the charges. He allegedly has a prior conviction for felony credit card abuse and was most recently removed Feb. 6. 

Authorities also allegedly found a Mexican illegal alien near Donna this week. Gustavo Arroyo-Anaya has a conviction for burglary and was sentenced to two years in prison before his removal in 2025, according to the complaint. 

Both men could receive up to 20 years in federal prison, upon conviction.

In addition to the new cases, Leonardo Cordona-Hernandez, an illegal alien from Mexico, received a 72-month federal prison sentence for illegally reentering the country again. He was first ordered removed in 2011, but law enforcement later discovered him in Houston in February 2024 with no authorization to be in the United States. Cordona-Hernandez has prior felony convictions for robbery, drug trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. 

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

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

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

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.

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

HOUSTON – A 33-year-old illegal alien from Mexico has been sentenced for unlawfully reentering the country again, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Leonardo Cordona-Hernandez illegally resided in Houston and pleaded guilty Dec. 9, 2025. 

U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge has now ordered Cordona-Hernandez to serve 72 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence about his criminal history while illegally present in the United States.

Cordona-Hernandez has prior felony convictions for robbery or attempted robbery with dangerous weapon, conspiracy to traffic in a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm by felon and driving while intoxicated.

Authorities first removed Cordona-Hernandez from the United States in October 2011, and he repeatedly returned illegally. On Feb. 14, 2024, law enforcement discovered him again in Houston with no authorization to be in the United States. 

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Hostetter prosecuted the case.

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

HOUSTON – A 41-year-old Mont Belvieu man has been ordered to federal prison for wire fraud in connection with a Ponzi-style investment scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Carl Channing Spence pleaded guilty Jan. 30.

U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered Spence to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard from three of Spence’s 19 known victims who detailed the devastating effects Spence’s scheme had on their lives and financial futures. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the unusually predatory nature of Spence’s actions and that he seemed to specifically target friends, colleagues and community members who he knew to be particularly vulnerable to his scheme.  

From January 2022 through August 2023, Spence operated “AEI Financial” from his residence. He solicited friends, acquaintances and colleagues by promising high returns through stock trading specializing in “meme stocks.” Spence promised victims 10 to 12 percent returns by investing in popular stocks during a period of rapid stock market gains. Instead, he diverted funds for personal use and to make purported returns to earlier investors.

Once victims provided funds, Spence created fraudulent account statements that falsely showed investment growth and returns which he used to persuade victims to reinvest. In reality, he commingled investor funds into a single account and lost much of the money through unsuccessful trades.

The scheme resulted in numerous victims who received fraudulent account statements but never recovered their original investments or promised returns. Spence took in approximately $2.1 million from the known victims.

FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from Mont Belvieu Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Carter and Brad Gray prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 45-year-old Houston man has been found guilty after accepting cash as payment for firearms and machine gun conversion devices, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. 

U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt has now imposed the guilty verdicts against Jonathan Chimney following a three-day trial that concluded May 7. He was convicted of engaging in a firearms business without a license, two counts each of being a felon in possession of a firearm and failure to register a firearm.

From Feb. 10 through July 27, 2022, Chimney and James Price sold firearms to authorities during an undercover operation.

At trial, the court heard the two engaged in eight firearms transactions, selling a total of 66 firearms and 887 rounds of ammunition for approximately $41,000. During the final transaction, the pair agreed to accept cash as payment along with two kilograms of meth. The investigation revealed Chimney and Price intended to sell the drugs for a profit.

Judge Hoyt also saw recordings of each transaction during the trial. 

Testimony showed Chimney sold two pistols equipped with machine gun conversion devices, commonly known as switches which convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns. Switches are classified as machine guns and require registration with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. 

Evidence revealed Chimney did not possess the required license to deal firearms nor did he register the switches as federal law requires. 

Chimney also has a prior federal felony conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

Further information also indicated he conducted these sales in multiple apartments, at least one of which had surveillance cameras monitored via TV. Young children were also in the residence which contained multiple firearms and drugs along with several pit bulls. 

The defense attempted to convince the court that Chimney sold the firearms out of apartments that were not leased to him. However, there was no evidence regarding who was the listed leaseholder of the residences. Judge Hoyt did not believe the claims and found Chimney guilty.  

Sentencing has been set for Sept. 8. With the exception of engaging in a firearms business without a license which carries a five-year possible sentence, Chimney faces up to 10 years in federal prison on the remaining convictions and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. 

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

Price, 55, Houston, previously pleaded guilty and is pending sentencing. Four others have also been convicted for related firearms offenses as part of the investigation and sentenced to terms ranging from 24-57 months. 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Keri Fuller and Anh-Khoa Tran are prosecuting the case. 

HOUSTON – A 60-year-old illegal alien from Mexico living in New Caney who is accused of firing an AR-style rifle at multiple individuals over the holiday weekend is now facing federal charges of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Juan Ayala-Montero is currently in custody on a related charge and is expected to make his appearance in federal court in the near future.

The investigation began following an active shooter incident May 23, according to the federal criminal complaint.

Ayala-Montero had allegedly been making threats after an argument ensued with a group of individuals. The charges allege Ayala-Montero walked to his house and returned with a rifle. He initially began shooting at the ground but then directed it at a group of individuals and began firing multiple times, according to the allegations.   

One victim allegedly suffered gunshot wounds to his torso and head.

Upon their arrival, authorities heard gunshots coming from the residence and began rescuing individuals, according to the complaint. Additional law enforcement arrived on scene, and thereafter, took Ayala-Montero into custody.

Authorities allegedly recovered an Olympic Arms .223 AR-style rifle with a scope in Ayala-Montero’s bedroom as well as approximately 30 spent .223 casings at the scene. 

The charges allege Ayala-Montero is not lawfully present in the United States and had been removed in 2006 with no legal authority to reenter the country. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition per federal law.

If convicted, Ayala-Montero faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation with assistance of FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anh-Khoa Tran is prosecuting the case.

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

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

HOUSTON – The Southern District of Texas has filed another 271 cases involving immigration and border security-related crimes from May 15-21, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. 

A total of 249 illegal aliens are charged with unlawfully being in the United States - 67 and 182 for illegal entry and reentry, respectively. Most have previous convictions related to narcotics, immigration offenses, violent crimes and more. The cases also include 19 people allegedly involved in human smuggling, while the remaining matters relate to other immigration crimes. 

One such case involves an out of state truck driver arrested in a failed human smuggling attempt of 42 illegal aliens in a hot, locked trailer. The charges allege that on May 16, Juan Nasario-Reyes arrived at a checkpoint and claimed his vehicle was empty, but a K-9 alerted, and law enforcement ultimately discovered four illegal aliens concealed inside the cab with 38 more in the trailer. It had been latched shut from the outside with a temperature inside of approximately 92.5 degrees, according to the complaint. A total of 13 of the illegal aliens are also facing either illegal entry or reentry charges, while the remaining are expected to be immediately removed from the country.

Three more complaints involve illegal aliens from Mexico who were allegedly found unlawfully in the United States. One - Santos Rivera-Garcia - has a significant prior conviction for felony illegal reentry and was ordered to serve 63 months in federal prison in 2022 and removed April 24 of this year, according to the complaint. However, the charges allege authorities discovered him near Mission less than a month after that removal. Two other cases allege law enforcement discovered Faustino Soto and Genaro Perez-Alonso near Escobares and Mission, respectively. Both allegedly have prior narcotics convictions and had been sentenced to at least 10 years in prison prior to their removals from the country. With no authorization to be in the United States, all could face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted. 

Also announced this week were the guilty verdicts in two trials against illegal aliens unlawfully in the United States. 

A Houston federal jury deliberated for less than 30 minutes before convicting Mexican national Eduardo Aguilera-Gallardo – an illegal alien who claimed he was kidnapped and forced to return to the United States. Testimony revealed that authorities found him in Houston after a deportation officer had previously escorted him across the international boundary in Laredo following his removal order. The jury heard that neither Aguilera-Gallardo nor his family sought assistance from law enforcement in either country and never reported the alleged kidnapping to authorities once in the United States. 

In Corpus Christi, a federal jury took less than 10 minutes to convict Jose Leandro Juarez-Rivas, an illegal alien from Mexico. Authorities had identified him on a commercial bus Feb. 18 with no legal authorization to be in the country. The defense attempted to convince the jury Juarez-Rivas did not know he was ordered removed from the United States or that he was not allowed to reenter the country. The jury rejected those claims and found him guilty as charged.

In another Houston case, Jose Angel Martinez Menjivar, an illegal alien sex offender from El Salvador, was ordered to federal prison for 40 months for unlawfully reentering the country without authorization. He has previous convictions for illegal reentry and indecent assault by touching and was first removed in 2022. However, authorities discovered him again in Houston July 9, 2025, with no authorization to be in the United States.

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

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

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

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.

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

HOUSTON – A 36-year-old Ohio man has been sentenced for computer fraud after causing more than $860,000 in losses, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. 

Maxwell Schultz, Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty Nov. 18, 2025.

Senior U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered him to serve 24 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard about the damage and sophistication of the attack and how Schultz used another employee’s account to mask his intrusion which led to the investigation of that account initially. In handing down the sentence, Judge Rosenthal noted this is not the appropriate reaction to being fired. Schultz was also ordered to pay $862,516.74 in restitution.

On May 14, 2021, Schultz was terminated from his position as a contract employee in his company’s information technology department. Shortly after, he accessed the company’s network by impersonating another contractor to obtain login credentials.

He ran a PowerShell script that reset approximately 2,500 passwords, locking thousands of employees and contractors out of their computers nationwide. Schultz also searched for ways to delete logs, PowerShell window events and cleared multiple system logs.

The attack to the company’s system caused more than $862,000 in losses, including employee downtime, customer-service disruptions and labor needed to restore the network.

As part of his plea, Schultz admitted to conducting the attack because he was upset about being fired.

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

The FBI conducted the investigation. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rodolfo Ramirez and Michael Chu are prosecuting the case.   

HOUSTON – A 41-year-old man is set to make his initial appearance in Houston federal court on multiple charges for allegedly using threats, violence and other coercive means to compel four Cuban nationals to engage in commercial sex acts for his financial gain.

Michel Cedeno-Castillo was extradited from Panama May 20 and is now expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina A. Bryan in Houston at 10 a.m.

A federal grand jury returned the 14-count indictment May 13, which was unsealed upon his arrest.

According to court documents, Cedeno-Castillo used false promises of lucrative employment in the United States to entice four victims to travel from Cuba to Texas. After the victims arrived in the United States, Cedeno-Castillo allegedly transported them within the Southern District of Texas knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that they had entered the United States in violation of the law. The indictment alleges he then used threats of violence, physical abuse and other coercive means to compel the victims to engage in commercial sex acts for his monetary benefit.

“Cedeno-Castillo allegedly lured women with lies and forced them into prostitution,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck for the Southern District of Texas. “Any human trafficker who tries to flee the United States should know that we will work with our international partners, pursue every legal avenue, and wait as long as it takes to bring them to justice. The Southern District of Texas does not give up.”

“The defendant has been indicted for luring vulnerable women from Cuba to the United States with promises of financial stability only to force them to have sex with men for money for his monetary gain,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Michel Cedeno-Castillo will now face these human trafficking charges. No matter where it originates, the Criminal Division will pursue sex traffickers who target and exploit vulnerable victims.”

“The successful apprehension and extradition of this alleged sex trafficker sends a powerful message of deterrence to transnational criminal organizations across the globe that are involved in human trafficking,” said Special Agent in Charge Lucia Cabral-DeArmas of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations - Houston. “HSI and our Homeland Security Task Force partners are committed to eradicate this modern-day form of slavery from society and will bring every resource we have to bear to track you down and hold you to account for your alleged crimes.”

Cedeno-Castillo is charged with sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; importing an alien for immoral purposes; conspiracy to transport an alien in the United States for financial gain; transporting for purposes of prostitution; extortion; and cyberstalking.

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

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ekua Assabill is prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Leah Branch from the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section. 

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of Panama to secure the arrest and extradition from Panama of Cedeno-Castillo.

The investigation and charges are a result of coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha, a partnership with Department of Homeland Security which has been elevated and expanded with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of California, Districts of Arizona and New Mexico and Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and other partners.

To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 455 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 400 U.S. convictions; more than 345 significant jail sentences imposed and forfeitures of substantial assets.

This investigation is also part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Houston comprises agents and officers from ICE HSI; FBI; DEA; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Interpol/Department of State; and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas leading the prosecution.

Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

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

A 41-year-old citizen of Cuba living in the Southern District of Texas, is set to make his initial appearance in Houston on multiple charges for allegedly using threats, violence, and other coercive means to compel four Cuban nationals to engage in commercial sex acts for his financial gain.

According to court documents, Michel Cedeno-Castillo used false promises of lucrative employment in the United States to entice four victims to travel from Cuba to Texas. After the victims arrived in the United States, Cedeno-Castillo allegedly transported the victims within the Southern District of Texas knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that they had entered the United States in violation of the law. He then allegedly used threats of violence, physical abuse, and other coercive means to compel the victims to engage in commercial sex acts for his monetary benefit.

“The defendant has been indicted for luring vulnerable women from Cuba to the United States with promises of financial stability only to force them to have sex with men for money for his monetary gain,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Michel Cedeno-Castillo will now face these human trafficking charges. No matter where it originates, the Criminal Division will pursue sex traffickers who target and exploit vulnerable victims.”

“Cedeno-Castillo allegedly lured women with lies and forced them into prostitution,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck for the Southern District of Texas. “Any human trafficker who tries to flee the United States should know that we will work with our international partners, pursue every legal avenue, and wait as long as it takes to bring them to justice. The Southern District of Texas does not give up.”

“The successful apprehension and extradition of this alleged sex trafficker sends a powerful message of deterrence to transnational criminal organizations across the globe that are involved in human trafficking,” said Special Agent in Charge Lucia Cabral-DeArmas of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston Field Office. “HSI and our law enforcement partners are committed to eradicate this modern-day form of slavery from society and will bring every resource we have to bear to track you down and hold you to account for your alleged crimes.” 

Cedeno-Castillo is charged with sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, importing an alien for immoral purposes, conspiracy to transport an alien in the United States for financial gain, transporting for purposes of prostitution, extortion, and cyberstalking. If convicted, he faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and up to life in prison.

The HSI Houston Field Office is investigating the case. The U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Investigative Strike Team provided valuable assistance.

Acting Deputy Chief Leah Branch of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ekua Assabill for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of Panama to secure the arrest and extradition from Panama of Cedeno-Castillo.

The investigation and indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated prosecutors from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 455 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 400 U.S. convictions; and more than 345 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.

This investigation is also part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Houston comprises agents and officers from ICE HSI; FBI; DEA; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Interpol/Department of State; and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas leading the prosecution.

Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

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

HOUSTON – A 34-year-old man from El Salvador has been sentenced for illegally entering the country without authorization, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Jose Angel Martinez Menjivar pleaded guilty Feb. 18.

U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison has now ordered Menjivar to serve 40 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.

Menjivar has previous convictions for illegal reentry and indecent assault by touching.

He was first removed from the country in 2022. However, authorities discovered him again in Houston July 9, 2025, with no authorization to be in the United States.

Immigration Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Law prosecuted the case.

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 46-year-old woman has been ordered to federal prison after exchanging child pornography over the internet, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Melissa Sillers pleaded guilty Jan. 28.

U.S. District Judge David Morales has now sentenced Sillers to 156 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard additional information regarding multiple online conversations Sillers had with different people during which she exchanged child sexual abuse material. In handing down the prison term, the court noted the increased harm that comes from those actively distributing this kind of material and the perpetual revictimization that occurs from it. Sillers will serve 15 years on supervised release following the completion of her prison term. During that time, she will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict her access to children and the internet. She will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Restitution will be determined at a later date.

The investigation into Sillers began Oct. 4, 2022, when authorities discovered CSAM had been uploaded onto the internet. Law enforcement was able to identify Sillers as the source of the content.

Authorities obtained a search warrant for Sillers’s residence. They located and seized her cell phone.

A forensic examination revealed conversations between Sillers and various others during which they discussed sexual fantasies involving children and exchanged CSAM. The examination showed Sillers had distributed the material a month before her arrest.

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance of Corpus Christi Police Department.

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

HOUSTON - A federal jury has returned a guilty verdict against a Houston man on charges of conspiracy and sex trafficking of children as well as forcing and coercing adults to engage in commercial sex acts, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

The jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Jonathan Smith-Byrd, 35, guilty on six counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion as well as three counts of enticing and coercing another to travel in interstate commerce for prostitution following a seven-day trial.

From January 2014 to October 2022, Smith-Byrd used force, fraud and coercion to cause five women to engage in commercial sex. Three of the victims were minors when he trafficked them.

He posted commercial sex advertisements on Backpage.com and trafficked the victims on the Bissonnet “track” in Houston - an area near I-59 Southwest Freeway and Bissonnet Street. Smith-Byrd also made them engage in sex acts across state lines such as Nevada, Louisiana, Florida, New Mexico and others using force and violence during travel to maintain control.

One or more of the victims made multiple attempts to escape, but Smith-Byrd responded with threats and severe physical assaults, causing the victims to lose consciousness and sustain serious injuries.

Testimony revealed details of the sex ads as well as Smith-Byrd’s horrible assaults, some by using a padlock put inside a sock and belt that was broken as a result of the beatings. One of the victims suffered sustained multiple fractures to her jaw, requiring reconstructive surgery and resulting in partial facial paralysis. The jury also saw evidence of the injuries to include hospital records, photographs and physical items used to brutalize the victims.

He kept 100% of the proceeds.

Smith-Byrd seemed to acknowledge in his defense that he may have assaulted some of the women, but that it was not trafficking, just domestic violence. He further attempted to convince the jury the women were acting as independent contractors in prostituting themselves and the case was simply a love triangle gone wrong. The jury did not believe his claims and found him guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks presided over the trial and set sentencing for Aug. 3. At that time, Smith-Byrd faces up to life in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

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

The FBI conducted the investigation as part of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine J. Lu and Sherin S. Daniel are prosecuting the case.

HTRA law enforcement includes members of the Houston Police Department, FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Attorney General’s Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, Department of Labor, 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, 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 U.S. 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.

HOUSTON – A 37-year-old Mexican national has been found guilty of illegally reentering the country without authorization, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

The jury deliberated for less than 30 minutes before convicting Eduardo Aguilera-Gallardo following a two-day trial.

Testimony revealed he became a lawful permanent resident in 2001. However, he later lost that status and was removed from the United States in 2025.

A deportation officer described how he escorted Aguilera-Gallardo across the international boundary in Laredo to be returned to Mexico. A fingerprint examiner also identified Aguilera-Gallardo as the same person documented in various deportation materials.

Testimony revealed that on April 21, 2025, authorities found Aguilera-Gallardo in Houston with no authorization to be in the United States. The jury heard that at that time, he had not reported any threat or kidnapping and neglected to ask for any help.

However, the defense attempted to convince the jury Aguilera-Gallardo was kidnapped at the Mexican border after returning to Mexico and held for ransom. He claimed his family paid for his release and kidnappers forced him to return to the United States.

Testimony and evidence revealed that neither Aguilera-Gallardo nor his family sought assistance from law enforcement in either country. He also never reported the alleged kidnapping to authorities once in the United States.

The jury rejected the defense and found Aguilera-Gallardo guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge Sim Lake presided over the trial and set sentencing for Aug. 7. At that time, Aguilera-Gallardo faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

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

Immigration Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ben Hostetter and Ekua Assabill are prosecuting the case.

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 43-year-old Beaver, Oklahoma, resident has been charged with smuggling numerous illegal aliens as well as possession with intent to distribute meth, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Juan Nasario-Reyes is set to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason B. Libby May 19 at 9:40 a.m.

On May 16, Nasario-Reyes allegedly drove a white Volvo tractor-trailer to the Border Patrol checkpoint in Sarita where authorities noticed his nervous behavior. According to the complaint, he claimed his vehicle was empty and he was alone, but a K-9 alerted to the sleeper portion of the tractor and the front of the trailer.

At secondary inspection, law enforcement discovered four illegal aliens concealed inside the cab area and 38 more inside the trailer, according to the complaint.

The charges further allege the trailer had been latched shut from the outside with no means for the individuals inside to open the doors or escape.

A subsequent search allegedly revealed water bottles, trash, a cushion and a bucket for urination inside the trailer. According to the complaint, the temperature inside the trailer was approximately 92.5 degrees.

The illegal aliens are from the countries of Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Ecuador, Peru, Columbia, Cuba and Brazil, according to the charges.

Authorities also allegedly located approximately 16 grams of meth, a glass pipe and glass funnel inside a headphone box in the cab area.

If convicted of the human smuggling offenses, Nasario-Reyes faces up to five years in federal prison as well as a $250,000 maximum fine, while the drug charges carry a maximum of 40 years.  

A total of 13 of the illegal aliens are facing either illegal entry or reentry charges, while the remaining are expected to be immediately removed from the country.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Izaak Bruce is prosecuting the case.

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

A criminal complaint 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 50-year-old bus passenger from El Salvador has been found guilty of illegally reentering the country without authorization, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

The jury deliberated for less than 10 minutes before finding Jose Leandro Juarez-Rivas guilty following a one-day trial.

On Feb. 18, authorities were conducting immigration inspections on a commercial bus at the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint. During that time, they discovered Juarez-Rivas did not have legal authorization to be in the country.

The jury heard that he was first ordered removed in May 2018 and illegally returned earlier this year.

The defense attempted to convince the jury that Juarez-Rivas did not know he was ordered removed from the United States or that he was not allowed to reenter the United States. The jury rejected those claims and found him guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge David S. Morales presided over trial and set sentencing for Aug. 19. At that time Juarez-Rivas faces up to two years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

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

BP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Young Min Burkett and Patrick Overman are prosecuting the case.

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

HOUSTON – A total of 211 individuals have been charged in immigration and border security-related crimes from May 8-14, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

The Southern District filed a total of 49 criminal complaints for illegal entry, while another 133 people face charges of felony reentry after prior removal. Most of those individuals have previous convictions, such as narcotics, immigration offenses, violent crimes and more. The cases also include 26 people allegedly involved in human smuggling, while the remaining matters relate to other immigration crimes and firearms charges.

As part of the newly filed complaints, two Mexican nationals have been charged with illegal reentry into the country. According to the charges, authorities previously removed German Omar Elbir-Palma in December 2025 before discovering him near Escobares this week. A separate case alleges law enforcement discovered Alejandro Perez-Miramontes near Hidalgo. According to their respective complaints, both men have prior felony convictions for illegal reentry. Perez-Miramontes also has multiple prior convictions for burglary, while Elbier-Palma was previously convicted of domestic assault. If convicted of the new illegal reentry charges, they each face up to 20 years in federal prison.

Also announced this week was the sentencing of two illegal alien felons for unlawfully reentering into the country. Mexican nationals Jose Alcantar Esquivel Moreno and Esequiel Rueda-Ramirez received 54 and 48 months, respectively. Both have been removed from the country multiple times. Moreno has a previous felony conviction for aggravated assault-family violence, while Rueda-Ramirez has prior convictions for evading arrest, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and illegal reentry.

Also of note was the sentencing of Mexican national Luis Miguel Sanchez-Martinez in Houston. The court imposed a 42-month sentence, noting his dangerous behavior and lack of respect for the law. Sanchez-Martinez has multiple convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol and was first removed in 2020.

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

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

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

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.

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

HOUSTON - A 24-year-old Venezuelan national is set to make his initial appearance in Houston federal court for providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization and significant drug trafficking offenses, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Jose Enrique Martinez Flores aka Chuqui, 24, is alleged to be a high-ranking leader of the designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua in Bogota, Colombia, and is part of the inner circle of senior TdA leadership. 

Colombian authorities arrested him in Colombia March 31, 2025, pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant the United States had requested. He has now arrived in Houston and is set for an initial appearance May 15 at 10 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina A. Bryan of the Southern District of Texas. 

According to the allegations, Flores is charged with one count of conspiring to provide material support to TdA in the form of personnel (including himself) and services and one count of providing material support to TdA. The indictment also alleges international drug distribution conspiracy based on his involvement in the distribution of five kilograms of cocaine or more in Colombia intended for distribution in the United States. The charges allege the proceeds were used to further TdA’s criminal goals.

As a TdA leader, he allegedly oversaw criminal activities in Colombia such as drug trafficking, extortion, prostitution and murder.

A federal grand jury in Houston returned a second superseding indictment Dec. 16, 2025, which also charges three other TdA leaders - Yohan Jose Romero aka Johan Petrica, 48, Juan Gabriel Rivas Nunez aka Juancho, 45, and Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano aka El Viejo, 38, for conspiring to provide and providing material support to TdA. Mosquera Serrano is also named in the conspiracy and distribution of cocaine charges along with Flores.

The Department of State designated TdA as a foreign terrorist organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist Feb. 20, 2025.

If convicted, he faces up to life in prison and a possible $10 million fine.

Mosquera Serrano is on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List. Jose Romero and Rivas Nunez are also fugitives. Anyone with information concerning either individual is asked to contact the FBI via WhatsApp or Telegram at 281-787-9939. Those with information may also contact their local FBI office, nearest American Embassy or Consulate or can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

The Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program is also offering a reward of up to $4 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Jose Romero and up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Mosquera Serrano.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey N. MacDonald and Anibal J. Alaniz of the SDTX are prosecuting the case along with Deputy Director David C. Smith and Trial Attorneys James Keller and Kelly McGann of Joint Task Force Vulcan.

This case is part of JTFV, which was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded at the direction of the Attorney General to target TdA. JTFV is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country. Those include SDTX; Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Western District of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; and Districts of Nevada and Arizona as well as the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and Department of Justice’s National Security Division. Additionally, Federal Bureau of Prisons; FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Marshals Service and Homeland Security Task Forces are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.

This case is part of the HSTF established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Houston comprises agents and officers from FBI; ICE HSI; DEA; Texas Department of Public Safety; Houston Police Department; Harris County Sheriff's Office; ATF; USMS; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation and IRS Criminal Investigation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas leading the prosecution.

Colombian National Police (Policía Nacional de Colombia) and the Colombian Attorney General’s Office (Fiscalía General de la Nación), Justice Department’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia, and Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the provisional arrest and extradition of Flores to the United States.

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