Southern District of Texas

HOUSTON – A 32-year-old man has been sent to prison following his conviction for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. 

Martin Alejandro Carreno pleaded guilty Nov. 8, 2022.

Today, U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein ordered Carreno to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony about the impact meth has had on individuals, families and communities and noted that deadly drugs lead to disaster.

In March 2022, authorities learned Carreno was selling meth by the kilogram in the Houston area and had recently received a large quanity. Law enforcement conducted a search of his residence and discovered more than nine kilograms of meth concealed inside a speaker box.   

The total weight was approximately 9.15 kilograms meth with a 99% purity level. It had an estimated street value of $500,000.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of Precinct 3 Harris County Constables Office. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart A. Burns prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – Three women have received their sentences following their convictions of conspiracy to aid and assist in the preparation of false tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Tamara Turner aka Tamara Owens, Brittany Richardson and Terra White pleaded guilty March 22, Feb. 1 and Feb. 25, respectively. All admitted to their roles in the tax fraud scheme.

Today, U.S. District Judge Sim Lake imposed a 41-month term of imprisonment for Turner to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. Owens and White must serve two years on probation. All three were also ordered to pay $308,537 in restitution for the losses they colectiovely caused to the tax-paying public.

At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that scheme ran for roughly four years. In handing down the sentences, Judge Lake commented on the magnitude of the charges, the difficulty in detecting such schemes and importance of protecting the public from these schemes.  

“Fraudsters like Turner learn that the real cost of stealing from taxpayers is paid by losing freedom. Return preparers that promise higher returns by committing fraud also shirk their responsibilities by placing the burden on all the other taxpayers,” said Special Agent in Charge Ramsey E. Covington of IRS Criminal Investigation’s (CI) Houston Field Office. “Our special agents and investigators are experts at following the money back to the criminals that took it.”

From 2014 to 2018, Turner admitted she owned and operated AJW Taxes and More Tax Preparation Service, located on Westpark Drive in Houston. White and Richardson were employed as tax preparers at various times during the tax season. Turner admitted to submitting fraudulent Schedule C forms and W-2 tax records to the IRS. She inflated her clients personal and business losses to generate larger tax refunds.

Additionally, Turner admitted she routinely submitted altered or fake W-2 forms certifying employment for her clients and qualifying them for Earned Income Tax Credit. She also charged tax preparer fees well in excess of other tax offices that provide the same services.

White and Richardson claimed Turner trained them to submit fraudulent forms to create larger tax refunds for clients. They also admitted to utilizing a unique IRS filing number assigned to other individuals.

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

IRS-CI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Carter prosecuted the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 54-year-old Mexican man has been ordered to prison for illegally re-entering the country…again, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Eleuterio Covarrubias-Martinez pleaded guilty Jan. 20.

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered Covarrubias-Martinez to serve 151 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 Covarrubias-Martinez was facing a large sentence for an unlawful entry, but it was warranted given his significant criminal history in order to promote respect for the law and deter future criminal conduct.

Covarrubias-Martinez is a citizen of Mexico who was found illegally present within the United States. He was previously convicted twice of the same crime with a criminal history including prior convictions for drug trafficking, aggravated assault and aggravated robbery.

On Nov. 14, 2022, law enforcement encountered Covarrubias-Martinez near Hidalgo. At that time, he admitted he was a citizen from Mexico and entered the country by rafting across the river.

Covarrubias-Martinez was deported for the first time on July 25, 2001. He has since been convicted twice for re-entry by deported alien. Documents showed that Covarrubias-Martinez returned just four days after his last removal.

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

Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Phelps prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON - A superseding indictment has been unsealed charging an operator and two managers at a local dental clinic for their roles in a $6 million Medicaid fraud and kickback scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Authorities took Christian Agno Aquino, 42, Humble, into custody today. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo at 2 p.m.

Also charged is Rene Gaviola, 67, and Ifeanyi Ndubisi Ozoh, 51, both of Houston. They were previously arrested on similar charges in August 2022. Ozoh and Gaviola are expected to make their appearances on the superseding indictment in Houston tomorrow.

According to the charges, Gaviola was the operator, while Ozoh and Aquino were managers of Floss Family Dental Care clinic located in Houston. The superseding indictment alleges Gaviola and other employees submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid for pediatric dental services, including numerous cavity fillings, that Floss did not provide or that licensed individuals did not conduct. At Gaviola’s direction and with Aquino’s assistance, Floss allegedly employed one individual to practice dentistry without a license. Floss billed Medicaid for these dental services as if they were provided by a licensed dentist, according to the indictment.   

Gaviola, Ozoh and Aquino also allegedly paid kickbacks to marketers and caregivers of Medicaid-insured children to bring them to Floss for dental services.

The indictment further alleges Gaviola laundered Medicaid monies from the Floss business bank account to his personal bank account in several transactions exceeding $100,000.

From 2019 to 2021, the dental clinic allegedly billed Medicaid for nearly $6.9 million for which Medicaid paid approximately $4.9 million.

If convicted, all three face up to five years in prison for conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks and 10 years for each count of payment of health care kickbacks. Gaviola and Aquino also face up to 10 years for each count of health care fraud and conspiracy to do so. Finally, Gaviola faces up to 10 years in prison for each count of money laundering. All charges also carry a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

The FBI, Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Olson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Grace Murphy are prosecuting the case.

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

HOUSTON – A 38-year-old local man is now in custody on charges of maliciously using explosive materials resulting in physical injury and conspiracy to do so, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Authorities arrested Jason Vernon Rogers today. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo at 2 p.m. 

Truong Quoc Duong, 52, remains in custody on the same charges following his arrest in March.

A federal grand jury returned the two-count indictment March 1.

On Nov. 21, 2022, Duong and Rogers allegedly set fire to a three-story medical center under construction on I-45 North in Spring. The charges allege the fire resulted in burn injuries to a firefighter and damages to the building and fire truck which exceeded $1 million. 

According to the charges, Duong was driving a Jeep Gladiator on the date of the fire with Rogers as his passenger. Duong allegedly let Rogers out near the building. The charges allege Rogers then entered the building with a full backpack but left after several minutes without it. They allegedly later contacted each other and met up at a local restaurant.  

The fire had allegedly erupted after they had both left the area of the Spring building. It took firefighters several hours to extinguish it, but it was completely destroyed as was a wall to the adjoining car wash, according to the charges. 

According to testimony at his detention hearing, Duong owned a pet store in the strip mall next to the location of the fire. He allegedly rented the location from the same landlord who owned the now-destroyed building. The judge heard that Duong had stopped paying rent and abandoned his store before the lease expired, and the landlords sued him. Several days after, the fire occurred, according to information presented in court.  

Upon his arrest, authorities allegedly discovered several 2 liter bottles filled with gasoline as well as numerous unregistered firearm suppressors in Duong's vehicle.  

If convicted, Duong and Rogers each face up to 40 years in prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation along with the Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office and Texas Ranger. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam L. Goldman is prosecuting the case.

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

HOUSTON – A 57-year-old Nigerian national has been extradited from France to face charges in the United States for his alleged leadership role in a conspiracy perpetrated against victims in more than 20 countries, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Uche Victor Diuno is set to appear today at 2 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena H. Palermo in Houston.

He arrived in the United States Friday, June 9.

The charges allege Diuno helped to orchestrate a scam involving false promises of investment funding by individuals who impersonated U.S. bank officials in person and over the internet to victims around the world. Those victims were allegedly told they had to make certain payments before they could supposedly receive their funding. Proceeds of the scheme were laundered through U.S. bank accounts and diverted back to the scheme’s perpetrators in Nigeria, according to the charges.

Diuno allegedly lead a criminal network of “catchers,” who sent phishing emails to potential victims falsely offering investment funding on behalf of BB&T Corporation and other U.S. banks. Victims in various countries were deceived into believing they would receive millions of dollars of investment funding as part of joint ventures with U.S. banks, usually BB&T or Chase,

according to the indictment. The perpetrators allegedly utilized false domain names to make it appear that senders of emails were actually affiliated with BB&T or Chase. The charges further allege that to convince victims the opportunities were authentic, the perpetrators recruited U.S. citizens to pose as bank “representatives” at in-person meetings with victims around the world. Further, if occurring abroad, they utilized sham visits to the local U.S. embassy or consulate and fabricated documents to make the victims believe the U.S. government was sponsoring the investment agreements, according to the indictment. The victims were then allegedly induced to pay tens of thousands, and often hundreds of thousands, of dollars to U.S.-based bank accounts on the belief that such payments were necessary to effectuate their investment agreements. 

Diuno was originally charged in a second superseding indictment filed Oct. 3, 2018, with one count of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of concealment money laundering. 

As alleged in that indictment, Diuno was a “chairman” or leader in the scheme who operated his own network of catchers and money movers alongside other fraudsters, which he used in furtherance of the same BB&T investment scam. 

Five other individuals have been charged as part of the same indictment.

The scheme allegedly resulted in losses of more than $7 million.

The FBI and Department of State – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Christian Latham of the Southern District of Texas and Trial Attorney Philip Trout of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

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

A federal jury in the Southern District of Texas convicted a Texas pharmacist today for conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense opioids and maintaining a drug-involved premises.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from May 2018 to August 2019, Sokari “Momma” Bobmanuel, 63, of Houston, was the owner and pharmacist-in-charge of Cornerstone Rx Pharmacy, which illegally distributed nearly 160,000 opioid pills, including oxycodone and hydrocodone. Bobmanuel, through Cornerstone, distributed controlled substances outside the scope of professional practice, and without a legitimate medical purpose, to individuals who bought prescriptions in the names of other people. These individuals then sold the pills they bought from Cornerstone on the black market. Bobmanuel charged exorbitant prices for her pills – often over $1,000 for a single oxycodone prescription – generating over $1 million from the scheme.

The jury convicted Bobmanuel on one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises. Her sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 20 and she faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

To date, 11 other defendants, including a physician and two nurse practitioners, have pleaded guilty to the conspiracy.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the DEA Houston Division, and Special Agent in Charge James Smith of the FBI Houston Field Office made the announcement.

The DEA Houston Division and FBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Emily Petro, Monica Cooper, Ariel Glasner, and Courtney Chester of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Bauman for the Southern District of Texas is handling forfeiture.

LAREDO, Texas – Four U.S. citizens and one Mexican national have been sent to prison following their convictions for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute meth associated with the Michoacan drug cartel, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Gerardo Martinez, 65, pleaded guilty March 9. Maria Valdez, 30, Rodrigo Sandoval, 31, both of Laredo, pleaded guilty Sept. 13, 2022, as did Jose Alfredo Cruz-Salas, 37, of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Karina Garcia, 27, Laredo, pleaded guilty Oct. 4, 2022. All admitted to conspiracy to transport a total of approximately 75 kilograms of meth into the United States from Mexico.

Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo handed Martinez a 240-month term of imprisonment, while Sandoval, Garcia, and Cruz-Salas received 60, 36, and 72 months, respectively. Valdez received 188 months yesterday.

At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described how defendant Valdez was transporting meth in a vehicle while her five-month-old son was in an improperly-fastened infant car seat. The court admonished Valdez for putting her son at risk in such a way and costing herself the opportunity to watch him grow up.

In handing down the sentence, Judge Marmolejo noted that high-purity Mexican meth was a dangerous and disfiguring drug wreaking havoc on the community. Not a U.S. citizen, Cruz-Salas is expected to face removal proceedings upon the completion of his sentence.

“Martinez was hiding in plain sight, maintaining a front as a taxi driver while secretly doing the bidding of the Michoacan cartel on the streets of Laredo,” said Hamdani. “My late father was a taxi driver and the actions of Martinez simply offend me. He trafficked in pure meth and recruited multiple drivers. The seized drugs could have ruined countless lives. Today’s sentencings underscore the scope of the threat transnational drug cartels pose and our efforts to combat them.”

The investigation revealed a complex conspiracy which began Feb. 1, 2017, and continued through Sept. 29, 2018. Martinez assisted drug traffickers in Mexico by finding and recruiting drivers willing to transport large quantities of high-purity meth through Laredo and further into the United States.

Martinez maintained a front as an independent taxi driver while working on behalf of the Michoacan cartel. He admitted to coordinating the distribution of meth through Laredo on five separate occasions.

Sandoval, Cruz-Salas, Valdez, and Garcia each previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to deliver and transport meth through Laredo while working for Martinez.

All but Karina Garcia will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Karina Garcia was permitted to self-surrender at a later date.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Operation Codigo Siete with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Laredo Police Department and Webb County Sheriff’s Office. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, mutlti-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A total of 11 people in multiple states are now in custody on charges filed in two separate business email compromise prosecutions in the Southern Districts of Texas and New York, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

The two-count Texas indictment charges five - Bolaji Okunnu, 29, and Philip Ogbeide Jr., 33, both of Houston; Ayodegi Okunnu, 24, Austin; and Victor Rubio Jr., 26, and Bougar Robert Linares Soto, 41, both of Los Angeles, California. Okunnu and Ogbeide made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray in Houston this afternoon.

Six others – all of whom reside in the Houston area – are charged in the New York indictment and also expected to appear today. More information will be available later on this case.

All are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

The charges unsealed today pertain to alleged schemes that caused millions in losses to victims who were deceived into sending money to those charged in the scheme.

The charges stem primarily from business email compromise schemes. Conspirators allegedly posed as legitimate businesses and fraudulently diverted money from victim bank accounts into accounts they controlled. According to the charges, they gained access to business email accounts and spoofed email addresses to deceive victims into believing they were making legitimate payments.  

The Texas charges include an alleged scheme that fraudulently diverted payments intended for a vendor that had provided electrical and mechanical services to a township in New Jersey. The charges allege conspirators obtained access to the email account of one of the vendor’s employees. They then used that email account to request payment for services to be sent to a new bank account that did not belong to the vendor, according to the charges.

The New Jersey township was allegedly deceived into wiring $287,236 to a fraudulent bank account Rubio had opened instead of actually paying the vendor. The charges further allege conspirators laundered the funds in a manner designed to conceal the source, ownership and control of the funds by quickly transferring the money from Rubio’s account to other bank accounts they controlled. They then withdrew the fraud proceeds incrementally in cash.  

If convicted, those charged in Texas each face up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

The FBI conducted the investigation with valuable assistance from the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office and the Edison Police Department in New Jersey. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek and Thomas Carter are prosecuting the case.

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

HOUSTON – A 30-year-old woman who resided in Houston has been ordered to federal prison for conspiracy to traffic an adult female for sex by force, fraud or coercion., announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Samaria Kearney pleaded guilty Feb. 15.

Today, U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal sentenced Kearney to a total of 72 months of imprisonment. In handing down the prison term, the court noted the sentence reflected the delicate balance between Kearney being under the influence of another person, engaging in prostitution and causing others to become a victim of sex trafficking. Judge Rosenthal further noted the sentence was commensurate with the brief time Kearney was controlling this victim. Kearney will serve five years on supervised release following 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. Kearney will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

The day before her plea, her boyfriend and co-defendant Aryion Dupree Jackson received a 324-month-prison term for his participation in this case and an additional sex trafficking case involving minor females.

Between June and July 2020, while Jackson was in custody in Harris County, Kearney controlled a victim for him. He had directed her to do so in recorded calls from the jail. The plan was to put this victim on “the blade,” an area known for prostitution, and cause her to engage in commercial sex. However, the victim escaped and called police.

Kearney was responsible for driving the victim to a hotel, taking her phone and documents, threatening the victim and her family and chasing her down when she tried to escape. During that chase, Kearney was on the phone with Jackson. 

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

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

The FBI conducted the investigation as part of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA).

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

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

HOUSTON – A 34-year old resident of Houston has pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Authorities identified Nathan Steward Oct. 4, 2019, as the subject of a suspicious persons call. Law enforcement took him into custody and discovered a stolen firearm in his bag.

Steward admitted he possessed the Sig Sauer .380 caliber pistol.

Previously convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, federal law prohibits him from possessing a firearm or ammunition.  

“At the core of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' (ATF) mission to reduce violent crime is investigating and brining to justice prohibited individuals that chose to possess firearms, in violation of federal law,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Fred Milanowski. “These guns are disproportionately used to commit additional crimes and often threaten the public safety of our communities.”

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. will impose sentencing Sept. 11. At that time, Steward faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Steward was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shirin Hakimzadeh and Tyler White are prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – Four Laredo residents have entered guilty pleas for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and launder money, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Cesar Mendiola, 57, Jose Angel Rodriguez, Jr., 60, Rafael Rodriguez, 63, and Jose Angel Rodriguez III, 34, all admitted to the felony charges as related to  cocaine distribution and money laundering in Laredo. 

Throughout the course of this investigation, authorities seized nearly 10 kilograms of cocaine and over $147,000 in drug proceeds.

The investigation revealed brothers Rodriguez Jr. and Rafael Rodriguez would receive kilograms of cocaine from a source in Mexico and provide that cocaine to Mendiola for further distribution in and around Laredo. Rodriguez III kept records of transactions and drug proceeds for his father, Rodriguez Jr.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing Sept. 7. At that time, Mendiola and Rodriguez Jr. face up to life in federal prison. Rafael Rodriguez and Rodriguez III could receive up to 40 and 20 years, respectively.

Mendiola, Rodriguez Jr. and Rafael Rodriguez remain in custody while Rodriguez III was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

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

司法部今日宣布，针对休斯顿市在黑人和拉丁裔社区非法倾倒问题上的环境正义调查，已达成一项和解协议。该协议基于休斯顿市最近宣布的 One Clean Houston（休斯顿整洁行动）倡议。这是一个全面计划，旨在解决广泛存在的非法倾倒垃圾问题，改善对休斯顿居民健康、安全和生活质量的不良影响。今日达成的协议正式记录了休斯顿市与司法部的合作，它将推动实施一系列新措施来打击非法倾倒，并为全体休斯顿市居民开发改进的废物管理服务。

司法部民权司 (Civil Rights Division, CRT) 助理检察长 Kristen Clarke 说：“休斯顿非法垃圾场的存在导致了水土污染、害虫滋生，对全市资源匮乏的社区造成了严重影响。我非常钦佩 Turner 市长在解决这些问题上展现的领导才能和对推动 One Clean Houston 倡议的坚定决心。该协议将确保休斯顿全面解决长期以来存在的非法垃圾倾倒问题，提供充分的废物管理服务，并改善有色人种社区居民的生活质量。司法部将持续推进环境正义，确保全国范围内的有色人种社区拥有安全、清洁和健康的居住环境。”

德克萨斯州南区的美国检察官 Alamdar S. Hamdani 说：“任何人都不应被迫生活在充斥着废弃轮胎、成袋的垃圾、腐烂的动物尸体且土壤和地下水受到污染的地方，而这些问题都是由非法倾倒造成的。长久以来，休斯顿的弱势和低收入社区一直承担着因他人无所作为和不当行为而带来的健康负担。我希望这项决议能成为纠正这些错误的重要一步。”

2022 年 7 月，司法部在收到一份代表休斯顿居民的民权投诉后启动了调查，投诉声称休斯顿市违反了 Civil Rights Act of 1964 （1964 年的《民权法案》）Title VI（第六章）的规定，对位于休斯顿东北部的 Trinity/Houston Gardens 社区的黑人和拉丁裔居民进行了歧视。Title VI 禁止接受联邦资助的机构在联邦资助的项目和活动中，以种族、肤色或国籍为由进行歧视。  

司法部展开了长达十个月的调查，重点审查了休斯顿市在解决非法倾倒问题方面的工作。非法倾倒是休斯顿市长期存在且普遍发生的问题，尤其在该市的黑人和拉丁裔社区中更为频繁。2023 年 3 月，休斯顿市推出了 One Clean Houston 倡议。One Clean Houston 的重点是迅速清理、强化执法、预防和教育工作。除了确认休斯顿市对 One Clean Houston 的承诺之外，该协议还设立了为期三年的联邦监测期，数据报告义务，加强与受影响社区的沟通，包括与英语能力有限的居民互动，考虑采取额外行动打击商业非法倾倒行为，减少居民使用废物处理设施的限制，并为特定市政府员工提供联邦民权培训计划。

民权司的 Federal Coordination and Compliance Section（联邦协调与合规科）在德克萨斯州南部地区美国检察官办公室的协助下开展了这项调查。

通过执行国家民权法律消除歧视性的环境与健康影响，是民权司的一项首要任务。今天宣布达成的协议是根据联邦民权法规达成的第二项环境正义和解协议。上个月，民权司宣布对阿拉巴马州卫生局和阿拉巴马州朗兹县卫生局的环境正义调查已得到解决。2022 年 4月，司法部设立了环境正义办公室，并制定了全面的环境正义执法战略。

任何人如果认为自身的民权遭到侵犯或担心环境公正问题，可在 www.civilrights.justice.gov/report/ 向民权司提出投诉。

司法部今日宣佈，針對休斯頓市在黑人和拉丁裔社區非法傾倒問題上的環境正義調查，已達成一項和解協議。該協議基於休斯頓市最近宣佈的 One Clean Houston（休斯頓整潔行動）倡議。這是一個全面計畫，旨在解決廣泛存在的非法傾倒垃圾問題，改善對休斯頓居民健康、安全和生活品質的不良影響。今日達成的協議正式記錄了休斯頓市與司法部的合作，它將推動實施一系列新措施來打擊非法傾倒，並為全體休斯頓市居民開發改進的廢物管理服務。

司法部民權司 (Civil Rights Division, CRT) 助理檢察長 Kristen Clarke 說：「休斯頓非法垃圾場的存在導致了水土污染、害蟲滋生，對全市資源匱乏的社區造成了嚴重影響。我非常欽佩 Turner 市長在解決這些問題上展現的領導才能和對推動 One Clean Houston 倡議的堅定決心。該協議將確保休斯頓全面解決長期以來存在的非法垃圾傾倒問題，提供充分的廢物管理服務，並改善有色人種社區居民的生活品質。司法部將持續推進環境正義，確保全國範圍內的有色人種社區擁有安全、清潔和健康的居住環境。」

德克薩斯州南區的美國檢察官 Alamdar S. Hamdani 說：「任何人都不應被迫生活在充斥著廢棄輪胎、成袋的垃圾、腐爛的動物屍體且土壤和地下水受到污染的地方，而這些問題都是由非法傾倒造成的。長久以來，休斯頓的弱勢和低收入社區一直承擔著因他人無所作為和不當行為而帶來的健康負擔。我希望這項決議能成為糾正這些錯誤的重要一步。」

2022 年 7 月，司法部在收到一份代表休斯頓居民的民權投訴後啟動了調查，投訴聲稱休斯頓市違反了 Civil Rights Act of 1964 （1964 年的《民權法案》）Title VI（第六章）的規定，對位於休斯頓東北部的 Trinity/Houston Gardens 社區的黑人和拉丁裔居民進行了歧視。Title VI 禁止接受聯邦資助的機構在聯邦資助的專案和活動中，以種族、膚色或國籍為由進行歧視。  

司法部展開了長達十個月的調查，重點審查了休斯頓市在解決非法傾倒問題方面的工作。非法傾倒是休斯頓市長期存在且普遍發生的問題，尤其在該市的黑人和拉丁裔社區中更為頻繁。2023 年 3 月，休斯頓市推出了 One Clean Houston 倡議。One Clean Houston 的重點是迅速清理、強化執法、預防和教育工作。除了確認休斯頓市對 One Clean Houston 的承諾之外，該協議還設立了為期三年的聯邦監測期，資料包告義務，加強與受影響社區的溝通，包括與英語能力有限的居民互動，考慮採取額外行動打擊商業非法傾倒行為，減少居民使用廢物處理設施的限制，並為特定市政府員工提供聯邦民權培訓計畫。

民權司的 Federal Coordination and Compliance Section（聯邦協調與合規科）在德克薩斯州南部地區美國檢察官辦公室的協助下開展了這項調查。

通過執行國家民權法律消除歧視性的環境與健康影響，是民權司的一項首要任務。今天宣佈達成的協議是根據聯邦民權法規達成的第二項環境正義和解協定。上個月，民權司宣佈對阿拉巴馬州衛生局和阿拉巴馬州朗茲縣衛生局的環境正義調查已解決了。2022 年 4月，司法部設立了環境正義辦公室，並制定了全面的環境正義執法戰略。

任何人如果認為自身的民權遭到侵犯或擔心環境公正問題，可在 www.civilrights.justice.gov/report/ 向民權司提出投訴。

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 36-year-old San Benito man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of smuggling eight non-U.S. citizens, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Rogelio Garcia pleaded guilty March 15.  

Today, U.S. District Judge David S. Morales ordered Ruiz to serve 37 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Garcia led officers on a high-speed chase through the town of Sinton, putting the smuggled individuals and surrounding motorists in danger. In discussing the factors impacting the sentence, the court remarked on the danger to which Garcia exposed both the aliens and other motorists and noted the serious nature of his conduct.

On Jan. 23, law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Garcia was driving and did not yield to them. He then led officers on a 10-mile chase, reaching speeds up to 90 miles per hour. The chase led into the town of Sinton, where Garcia ran stop signs and forced other vehicles to pull to the side of the road to avoid his vehicle.

Ultimately, Garcia lost control and veered off the roadway onto railroad tracks. At that time, approximately eight people fled into the nearby brush, three of whom authorities located and placed in custody.

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

Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Foster prosecuted the case.  

LAREDO, Texas – An area man has admitted he filed false tax returns for three years, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Oscar Dominic Garcia admitted that between 2016 to 2018, he filed false tax returns in which he under-reported his income.

As part of his plea agreement, Garcia agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $108,113 to the IRS, representing the tax loss for the three years of false tax returns.

“Whether they are self-employed or own a large business, everyone pays taxes to keep services running. When they don’t pay, they violate the trust placed in them by their communities and the American public,” said Special Agent in Charge Ramsey E. Covington of IRS - Criminal Investigation’s (CI) Houston Field Office. “There is no ‘up-side’ to stealing from our nation. All you gain is a felony record and the ire of honest taxpayers.”

A sentencing date has not yet been set. At the time of sentencing, Garcia faces up to three years in federal prison and possible $100,000 maximum fine.

Garcia was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.

IRS – CI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Swartz prosecuted the case.

The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement agreement in its environmental justice investigation into the City of Houston’s response to illegal dumping in Black and Latino neighborhoods. The agreement builds upon the city’s recently announced One Clean Houston initiative, a comprehensive plan to address pervasive illegal dumping and its negative impacts on the health, safety and quality of life of Houston residents. Today’s agreement memorializes the city’s cooperation with the Justice Department as it implements these new steps to combat illegal dumping and develops improved waste management services for residents across Houston.

“Houston’s illegal dumpsites have contaminated water and soil, attracted vermin and created blight in historically under-resourced neighborhoods across the city,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “I appreciate Mayor Turner’s leadership in addressing these concerns and his resolve in developing One Clean Houston. This agreement will ensure that Houston fully addresses chronic illegal dumpsites, provides access to adequate waste management services and improves quality of life in communities of color. The Justice Department will continue advancing environmental justice and ensuring that people of color across our nation live in safe, clean and healthy communities.”

“No one should have to live next to discarded tires, bags of trash, rotting carcasses, infected soils and contaminated groundwater, all caused by illegal dumping,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas. “For too long now, Houston’s underserved and low-income communities have had to bear the health burdens of the inaction and misdeeds of others. My hope is that this resolution is an important step in remedying those wrongs.”

In July 2022, the Justice Department launched its investigation after it received a civil rights complaint filed on behalf of Houston residents alleging that the city discriminated against Black and Latino residents of the Trinity/Houston Gardens neighborhood in northeast Houston in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VI prohibits recipients of federal funds from discriminating on the basis of race, color or national origin in their federally funded programs and activities.  

The department’s ten-month investigation focused on Houston’s efforts to address illegal dumping, a persistent and pervasive problem that occurs more frequently in the city’s Black and Latino neighborhoods. In March 2023, the city announced its One Clean Houston initiative. One Clean Houston focuses on rapid cleanup, better enforcement and prevention and education. In addition to confirming the city’s commitment to One Clean Houston, the agreement establishes a three-year period of federal monitoring; data reporting obligations; enhanced community outreach with impacted neighborhoods, including engagement with residents with limited English proficiency; consideration of additional actions to combat commercial sources of illegal dumping and reduce restrictions for residents seeking to use waste depositories; and a federal civil rights training program for specified city employees.

The Civil Rights Division’s Federal Coordination and Compliance Section conducted this investigation in collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.

Addressing discriminatory environmental and health impacts through enforcement of the nation’s civil rights laws is a top priority of the Civil Rights Division. Today’s announcement marks the second environmental justice settlement under federal civil rights statutes. Last month, the division announced the resolution of its environmental justice investigation into the Alabama Department of Health and Lowndes County Health Department in Lowndes County, Alabama. In April 2022, the Justice Department launched its Office on Environmental Justice and its Comprehensive Environmental Justice Enforcement Strategy.

Individuals who believe their civil rights have been violated or have environmental justice concerns can file a complaint with the Civil Rights Division at www.civilrights.justice.gov/report/.

LAREDO, Texas – A 37-year-old Laredo resident has pleaded guilty to possession of a machine gun, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and conspiracy to possess intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Jaime Jesus Esquivel produced and illegally exporting fully automatic firearms to Mexico for the use of drug cartels.

As part of the undercover investigation, law enforcement conducted four controlled purchases of cocaine or multiple AR-type fully automatic rifles. The rifles were ghost guns, a common term for privately made firearms that are absent any manufacture marks of identification.

Esquivel assembled and manufactured these weapons for distribution. He made them from various components of Colt model M4 parts and a 3D printed polymer AR-Type drop-in auto-sear or machine gun conversion device (MGCD). An MGCD is any part designed and intended solely and exclusively for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun. 

Law enforcement executed two federal search warrants on locations in Laredo and seized completed and privately manufactured AR-type lower receivers, various firearm parts, firearm manufacturing tools/jigs, 950 rounds of assorted ammunition, a 7.62mm rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and one privately manufactured short barrel fully automatic rifle that lacked any serial numbers or industry markings as well as meth and cocaine and a 3D printer.

“Selling fully automatic rifles to Mexican cartels so they can carry out their deadly and heartless goals puts the lives of families on both sides the border in serious danger,” said Hamdani. “Esquivel manufactured and assembled fully automatic AR-Type rifles for distribution to Mexico’s cartels, placing his and the cartels’ profits above the lives of his neighbors. As a result, he now faces the potential of a very lengthy term in federal prison.” 

U.S. District Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Esquivel faces up to 10 years for possession of a machine gun, a maximum of 20 years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon as well and 20 years for conspiracy to possess intent to distribute cocaine and total fines of up to $1.5 million.

Esquivel has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

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

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

El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado a un acuerdo conciliatorio en su investigación de justicia medioambiental de la respuesta de la Ciudad de Houston ante el vertido ilegal en barrios negros y latinos. El acuerdo fortalece la iniciativa municipal One Clean Houston que se anunció hace poco, el cual consiste en un plan integral para abordar el vertido ilegal generalizado y sus efectos negativos en la salud, seguridad y calidad de vida de los residentes de Houston. El acuerdo de hoy conmemora la cooperación de la Ciudad con el Departamento de Justicia en la implementación de estas nuevas medidas para combatir el vertido ilegal y el desarrollo de mejores servicios de gestión de residuos para los residentes por todo Houston.

«Los vertederos ilícitos de Houston han contaminado el agua y la tierra, han atraído parásitos y han creado una lacra en barrios con recursos insuficientes por toda la ciudad», afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «Aprecio el liderazgo del alcalde Turner en abordar estas preocupaciones y su determinación en lo que se refiere al desarrollo de One Clean Houston. Este acuerdo garantizará que Houston aborde plenamente los vertederos ilegales crónicos, que brinde acceso a servicios adecuados de gestión de residuos y que mejore la calidad de vida en las comunidades de color. El Departamento de Justicia seguirá promoviendo la justicia medioambiental, con el fin de asegurar que las personas de color por todo nuestro país vivan en comunidades seguras, limpias y sanas».

«Nadie debería verse obligado a vivir al lado de llantas botadas, bolsas de basura, cadáveres de animales medio podridos, suelos infectados y aguas freáticas contaminadas», declaró Almadar S. Hamdani, el Fiscal Federal para el Distrito Sur de Texas. «Durante demasiado tiempo, las comunidades marginadas de bajos ingresos de Houston han tenido que soportar las cargas sanitarias de la falta de acción y las fechorías de otros. Espero que esta resolución sea un verdadero paso hacia la corrección de estas injusticias».

En julio del 2022, el Departamento de Justicia lanzó su investigación después de recibir una queja de derechos civiles, presentada en nombre de residentes de Houston que alegan que la Ciudad había discriminado a residentes negros y latinos del barrio de Trinity-Houston Gardens, en el noroeste de Houston, en contra del Título VI de la ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964. El Título VI prohíbe que los beneficiarios de fondos federales discriminen por motivos de raza, color de piel o nacionalidad de origen en sus programas y actividades promovidos con fondos federales.  

La investigación del Departamento, que duró diez meses, se enfocó en los esfuerzos de Houston por abordar el vertido ilegal, un problema perenne y generalizado que ocurre con mayor frecuencia en los barrios negros y latinos de la Ciudad. En marzo del 2023, la Ciudad anunció su iniciativa One Clean Houston. One Clean Houston se enfoca en la limpieza rápida, mejor aplicación de la ley y prevención y la educación. Además de confirmar el compromiso de la Ciudad con One Clean Houston, el acuerdo establece un período de tres años de supervisión federal; obligaciones de declaración de datos; mejor proyección comunitaria con los barrios afectados, lo que incluye la interacción con residentes cuyo dominio del inglés es limitado; la consideración de medidas adicionales para combatir las fuentes comerciales del vertido ilegal y reducir las restricciones para residentes que deseen usar depósitos de residuos; y un programa de capacitación en los derechos civiles federales para ciertos empleados municipales.

La Sección Federal de Coordinación y Cumplimiento de la División de Derechos Civiles realizó esta investigación con el apoyo de la Fiscalía Federal para el Distrito Sur de Texas.

Una de las prioridades principales de la División de Derechos Civiles es abordar los impactos discriminatorios en los ámbitos del medioambiente y la salud mediante la aplicación de las leyes nacionales de derechos civiles. El anuncio de hoy representa el segundo acuerdo de justicia medioambiental bajo las leyes de derechos civiles federales. El mes pasado, la División anunció la resolución de su investigación de justicia medioambiental del Departamento de Salud de Alabama y el Departamento de Salud del Condado de Lowndes en el Condado de Lowndes, Alabama. En abril del 2022, el Departamento de Justicia lanzó su Oficina para la Justicia Medioambiental y su Estrategia Integral de Aplicación de la Justicia Medioambiental.

Aquellos individuos que creen que sus derechos civiles han sido vulnerados o que tienen alguna inquietud relacionada con la justicia medioambiental pueden presentar una demanda ante la División de Derechos Civiles en www.civilrights.justice.gov/report/.

Hôm nay, Bộ Tư pháp thông báo rằng họ đã đạt được thỏa thuận dàn xếp trong cuộc điều tra công lý môi trường đối với phản hồi của Thành phố Houston về vấn đề đổ rác bất hợp pháp ở các khu dân cư của người Da đen và người Latinh. Thỏa thuận này được xây dựng dựa trên sáng kiến One Clean Houston (Khối thống nhất Houston Xanh sạch đẹp) được công bố gần đây của thành phố, đây là một kế hoạch toàn diện nhằm giải quyết tình trạng đổ rác trái phép diễn ra rộng khắp và những tác động tiêu cực của vấn đề này đối với sức khỏe, an sinh và chất lượng cuộc sống của cư dân Houston. Thỏa thuận ngày hôm nay kỷ niệm hoạt động hợp tác của thành phố với Bộ Tư pháp trong việc triển khai các bước hành động mới này để chống lại tình trạng đổ rác bất hợp pháp và phát triển các dịch vụ quản lý chất thải được cải thiện cho cư dân trên khắp Houston.

“Các bãi rác bất hợp pháp ở Houston đã làm ô nhiễm nước và đất, thu hút các loài sâu hại và gây nên sự tàn phá trong các khu dân cư trước đây vốn sở hữu nguồn lực hạn chế trên khắp thành phố”, Trợ lý Tổng chưởng lý thuộc Ban Dân quyền (Civil Rights Division, CRT) của Bộ Tư pháp, Kristen Clarke cho biết. “Tôi trân trọng phương hướng lãnh đạo của Thị trưởng Turner trong việc giải quyết những mối quan ngại này và quyết tâm của ông ấy trong việc phát triển One Clean Houston. Thỏa thuận này sẽ đảm bảo rằng Houston giải quyết triệt để các bãi rác tồn tại lâu năm bất hợp pháp, cung cấp khả năng tiếp cận đến các dịch vụ quản lý chất thải đầy đủ và cải thiện chất lượng cuộc sống trong các cộng đồng người da màu. Bộ Tư pháp sẽ tiếp tục thúc đẩy công lý môi trường và đảm bảo rằng người da màu trên khắp đất nước chúng ta được sống trong các cộng đồng an toàn, sạch sẽ và lành mạnh”.

“Sẽ không có ai phải sống kế bên những chiếc lốp xe bỏ đi, túi rác, xác động vật thối rữa, đất nhiễm khuẩn và nước ngầm bị ô nhiễm bắt nguồn từ tình trạng đổ rác trái phép.”, Luật sư Hoa Kỳ, Alamdar S. Hamdani thuộc Quận phía Nam Texas cho biết. “Đã quá lâu rồi, các cộng đồng có thu nhập thấp và không có đủ nguồn lực của Houston đã phải chịu gánh nặng về sức khỏe do không hành vi khoanh tay đứng nhìn và các hành động sai trái của những người khác. Tôi hy vọng rằng quyết tâm này là một bước tiến quan trọng trong việc khắc phục những việc làm không đúng đắn đó.”

Vào tháng 7 năm 2022, Bộ Tư pháp đã bắt đầu cuộc điều tra sau khi nhận được đơn khiếu nại về hành vi vi phạm dân quyền được đệ trình thay mặt cho các cư dân Houston, cáo buộc rằng thành phố đã có sự phân biệt đối xử đối với cư dân là người Da đen và người Latinh đang sống tại khu dân cư Trinity/Houston Gardens ở phía bắc Houston, vi phạm Title VI (Tiêu đề VI) của Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Đạo luật Dân Quyền năm 1964). Title VI cấm những người tiếp nhận quỹ liên bang phân biệt đối xử dựa trên chủng tộc, màu da hoặc nguồn gốc quốc gia trong các chương trình và hoạt động do liên bang cấp vốn.  

Cuộc điều tra kéo dài mười tháng của bộ tập trung vào những nỗ lực giải quyết tình trạng đổ rác trái phép của Houston, một vấn đề dai dẳng và diễn ra rộng khắp, xuất hiện thường xuyên hơn ở các khu dân cư trong thành phố có người Da đen và người Latinh sinh sống. Vào tháng 3 năm 2023, thành phố đã công bố dự án One Clean Houston của mình. One Clean Houston tập trung vào việc vệ sinh nhanh chóng và hoạt động thực thi, phòng ngừa cũng như giáo dục tốt hơn. Ngoài việc xác định cam kết của thành phố đối với One Clean Houston, thỏa thuận này còn thiết lập một giai đoạn kéo dài ba năm trong đó diễn ra hoạt động giám sát của liên bang; thực hiện nghĩa vụ báo cáo dữ liệu; tăng cường khả năng tiếp cận cộng đồng với các khu dân cư bị ảnh hưởng, bao gồm cả việc tương tác với những cư dân có trình độ tiếng Anh hạn chế; cân nhắc các hành động bổ sung để chống lại các nguồn hoạt động thương mại thực hiện hành vi đổ rác trái phép và giảm bớt các hạn chế đối với những cư dân muốn sử dụng các bãi chứa chất thải và một chương trình đào tạo dân quyền cấp liên bang cho nhân viên thành phố được chỉ định.

Federal Coordination and Compliance Section (Bộ phận Tuân thủ và Điều phối Liên Bang) của Ban Dân quyền tiến hành cuộc điều tra này với sự hỗ trợ của Văn phòng Luật sư Hoa Kỳ thuộc Quận phía Nam của Texas.

Giải quyết các tác động phân biệt đối xử về môi trường và sức khỏe thông qua việc thực thi luật dân quyền của quốc gia là ưu tiên hàng đầu của Ban Dân Quyền. Thông báo ngày hôm nay đánh dấu lần giải quyết vấn đề công lý môi trường thứ hai theo các đạo luật dân quyền liên bang. Vào tháng trước, ban này đã đưa ra thông báo về nghị quyết của cuộc điều tra công lý môi trường áp dụng cho Sở Y tế Alabama và Sở Y tế Quận Lowndes ở Quận Lowndes, Alabama. Vào tháng 4 năm 2022, Bộ Tư pháp đã thiết lập Văn phòng Công lý Môi trường và Chiến lược Thực thi Công lý Môi trường Toàn diện.

Những cá nhân tin rằng các họ đã bị vi phạm dân quyền hoặc có những mối quan ngại về công lý môi trường có thể nộp đơn khiếu nại cho Ban Dân quyền tại địa chỉ www.civilrights.justice.gov/report/.

VICTORIA, Texas – With the sentencing of two Sinton residents, nearly a dozen criminals have now been brought to justice for their respective roles in narcotics trafficking on local streets, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Jonathan “John Bear” Olbera, 37, pleaded guilty to March 8, 2022, to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, while Lisza Marie Vera, 44, entered her plea Oct. 5, 2020, to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute meth.

Today, Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey sentenced Olbera to 78 months in federal prison, while Vera was ordered to serve a 60-month-term of imprisonment. The sentences will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

“In a small town like Sinton, drug trafficking and gang activity endangers every resident,” said Hamdani. “Worthless gangs, including a motorcycle gang, cared nothing about Sinton’s children and families when they distributed cocaine and meth, even near a school and park. My hope is that these sentences send a strong message to others thinking of putting their neighbors at risk.”

In 2019, local, state and federal law enforcement conducted investigations to address drug trafficking and gang activity in various small towns in San Patricio County including Sinton with a population of less than 6000.

The investigation led to the identification of the Garcia drug trafficking organization. Several individuals in that group were members and associates of various gangs including the Calaveras Outlaw motorcycle gang, Texas Syndicate, 59 Bounty Hunters and the Bloods. They operated out of a multi-family residence known as “The Compound” in the heart of Sinton located within 1000 feet of a public park and an elementary school.

Olbera and Vera were part of that group responsible for distributing cocaine and multi-kilogram amounts of meth to residents in Sinton, Odem and Aransas Pass. The organization was selling approximately one kilogram of meth every week.

The leader of the organization - Jacob Eli Garcia, 31 - previously received a sentence of 300 months in federal prison. Collectively, the total sentences imposed in this case totals approximately 1100 months in federal prison.

“The Compound” was sold at auction as a result of the criminal convictions in this case.

Olbera will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Vera was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender at a later date.

“The success demonstrated in this case is a prime example of community and public safety partnerships working hand-in-hand for the betterment of all served,” said Aransas Pass Police Department Chief Eric Blanchard. “And, this tremendous outcome would not be without our close working relationship with our federal partners.”

Task force officers from Aransas Pass Police Department working with the Drug Enforcement Administration lead the investigation with the assistance of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Texas Department of Public Safety, Sinton Police Department and San Patricio Sheriff’s Office conducted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation.

OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Jensen prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 44-year-old registered sex offender has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of distributing and possessing child pornography in two separate federal cases, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Timothy Lee Tyler, pleaded guilty Sept. 12, 2022, to distributing child pornography in 2020 and to possessing child pornography in both 2019 and 2020.

Today, U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen sentenced Tyler to 360 and 240 months for the distribution and possession convictions, respectively. A portion of the sentences will run consecutively for a total 480-month term of imprisonment. Before imposing sentence, the court heard Tyler had previously committed hands-on offenses against children he knew through friends and loved ones and that he had encouraged other users on the Kik messaging app to create child pornography for his enjoyment.

Tyler was further ordered to pay a total of $28,100 in restitution to his victims and will serve 20 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Tyler will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

“For years, this person preyed upon children,” said Hamdani. “Online, he encouraged other predators to abuse their own children for his sick gratification. In real life, he terrorized and abused children of people close to him. This sentence will help ensure he isn’t allowed access to children ever again.”

At the time of his plea, Tyler admitted he was staying with friends in Conroe in September 2020. During that time, he started distributing child pornography from his cellphone on the Kik messenger app. When Tyler was arrested, his cellphone contained hundreds of images and videos depicting bestiality, bondage and sexual abuse of children. Tyler also admitted to possessing hundreds of child pornography files on a flash drive while residing in Milwaukee in June 2019.

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

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Montgomery County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Conroe Police Department.

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

HOUSTON – Three Houston men have been ordered to federal prison for aiding and abetting bank robbery and brandishing a firearm for the 2021 robbery of a local Woodforest Bank, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. 

Alex Dwayne Thomas, 20, and Rafael Fernandez, 29, pleaded guilty Feb. 24 and Jan. 26, respectively.

Today, Judge Alfred H. Bennett sentenced Thomas and Fernandez to 24 and 18 months in prison, respectively, for the bank robbery. They each also received an additional 84 months for the firearms charges which must be served consecutively. The respective 108 and 102-month prison terms will be followed by three years of supervised release.

Accomplice Lorenzo Lewis Smith, 20, Houston, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 108 months April 20.

“These men put innocent lives at risk – first when they terrorized bank employees at gunpoint, then by engaging in a reckless escape,” said Hamdani. “Thankfully, authorities were on their heels and put them in custody in short order. This sentence shows our vigilance in combatting violent crime and how we partner with law enforcement to ensure these criminals are off the streets of Houston.”

The charges stem from a violent take-over style robbery of a Pearland area Woodforest Bank Nov. 5, 2021. During the robbery, Thomas jumped over the teller counter while brandishing a 9mm firearm with an extended magazine.  Smith then used a crowbar to pry open the cash drawers and stole U.S. currency.

Both then fled to an awaiting get-away car that Fernandez was driving. Authorities pursued the vehicle in a high-speed chase before safely apprehending all three men.

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

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Task Force officers and the Pearland Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Peneguy and John M. Lewis prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 31-year-old Houston resident is scheduled for his first appearance in federal court on charges of carjacking, discharging a machine gun during a crime of violence, possession of a machine gun and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U. S. Attorney Aldamar Hamdani.

Roland Caballero is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sam S. Sheldon at 3:15 p.m. A federal grand jury returned the indictment Feb. 16, 2022, but he has remained in state custody on related charges.

On Jan. 27, 2022, Caballero was allegedly involved in an altercation with his girlfriend which resulted in a 911 call. The criminal complaint alleges authorities allegedly responded, but he fled. They pursued until Caballero ultimately crashed his vehicle, according to the charges. At that time, he allegedly shot and wounded three Houston Police Department (HPD) officers using a pistol modified with a fully automatic switch. 

Caballero then fled the scene on foot and carjacked a nearby citizen in a vehicle, according to the criminal complaint. Law enforcement located him and a stand-off allegedly ensued. Caballero, again, allegedly discharged a firearm at authorities, after which he ultimately surrendered.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Caballero’s residence and allegedly discovered several firearms, ammunition, machine gun components and 3D printers.

If convicted, Caballero faces up to life in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, HPD and the Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Britni Cooper is prosecuting the case. 

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 69-year-old Laredo man has been ordered to federal prison for accepting bribes from Mexican cattle brokers, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Roberto Adams pleaded guilty on April 25, 2022.

Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo ordered he serve a total of 57 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. The sentenced was enhanced because he accepted more than one bribe payment while in a position of public trust for a total amount of over $40,000. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Adams did not understand the gravity of the crime he committed and the significance of the harm he did or could have caused by allowing diseased cattle into the country. He was also ordered to immediately pay $40,000 in fines.

“It is critical that we do not allow corruption to infect positions of public trust, including inspectors at the port of entry,” said Hamdani. “They are supposed to ensure the safety and integrity of the agricultural products passing into the United States. Adams put that system at risk. We hope this sentence serves as deterrent to others thinking of violating their obligations.”

At the time of his plea, Adams admitted he accepted over $40,000 in bribe payments from Mexican cattle brokers while acting in his official position as a USDA employee. In return, he allowed cattle to enter the United States without proper quarantine or inspection.

Adams was a employed at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a lead animal health technician for 10 years. In that role, he was responsible for inspecting and quarantining or excluding tick-infested or diseased cattle. He was only one of two technicians the USDA employed in Laredo and exercised high level decision-making authority.

The FBI and USDA - Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Winter is prosecuting the case.

GALVESTON, Texas – A 33-year-old Alvin resident has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Michael Crisp Jr. pleaded guilty March 31, 2022. 

Today, Judge Jeffrey V. Brown ordered Crisp to serve 210 months for distributing and receiving child pornography and 120 months for possessing it. They will run concurrently for a total 210-month-term of imprisonment. Before imposing the sentence, Judge Brown emphasized that child pornography is not a victimless crime and that he received more victim impact statements in this case than in any previous case before him.

Crips was further ordered to pay a total of $136,500 in restitution to 42 identified victims and must serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Crisp will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

“Crisp hoarded and traded files of child rape, suffering and trauma as if they were some kind of collectors’ item - to the order of tens of thousands,” said Hamdani. “Today’s sentence underscores that consumers of child pornography can and will be held to account for how they fuel demand for more and more images of children suffering unspeakable sexual abuse.”

“Cases that involve the sexual exploitation of children are some of the toughest cases our agents work,” said Special Agent in Charge James Smith of the FBI Houston Field Office. “Crisp took pleasure from thousands of images and videos depicting the sadistic sexual exploitation, torture and abuse of children, including infants and toddlers. By choosing to receive and disseminate such graphic imagery, Crisp repeatedly re-victimized the victims. While today’s sentence removes one sexual predator from children’s lives, the FBI’s work continues as there are many more like Crisp still out there.”

Crisp first came to the attention of law enforcement after he imported a nine-minute video into his cloud storage account of an adult woman sexually abusing a toddler. During the investigation, authorities found over 29,000 images and 6,500 videos of child pornography on multiple devices. The images depicted young children in bondage and included children under the age of five. In addition to possessing child pornography, Crisp utilized messaging applications to trade child sexual abuse material with others.

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

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Two Houston women have been sent to prison following their convictions of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin and cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Clarissa Hernandez, 24, admitted her role in the conspiracy June 2, 2022, while her co-conspirator, Sarah Morales, 24, pleaded guilty April 28, 2022.

Today, U.S. District Judge David S. Morales ordered Hernandez to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that detailed the conspiracy, which included the women purchasing firearms in Houston and exporting them to Mexico.

Morales was also previously sentenced to a 120-month term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the complex and seriousness nature of the criminal activity.

On Feb. 11, 2022, Hernandez attempted to drive through a Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint, at which time a K-9 alerted to her vehicle. A search revealed 15 bundles of cocaine and 32,500 pills of disguised fentanyl concealed in the front and rear bumpers of her Chevrolet sedan.

Soon after, Morales also attempted to pass through the checkpoint. During a search, authorities discovered 12 bundles of cocaine, three bundles of heroin and one bundle of fentanyl concealed in the front and rear bumpers of her Ford sport utility vehicle.

At the time of their pleas, they admitted they had conspired together to smuggle a total of 25.36 kilograms of cocaine, 4.94 kilograms of fentanyl and 255 grams of heroin.

The drugs have a combined estimated street value of approximately $2.25 million.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of BP. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Marck prosecuted the case.

#OnePillCanKill

CORPUS CHRISTI – A 26-year-old Mexican citizen illegally in the United States has been ordered to federal prison for transporting illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Jose Carols Arroyo-Secundino pleaded guilty Dec. 28, 2022.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos ordered Arroyo-Secundino to serve 48 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, Arroyo-Secundino is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence regarding the reckless nature of the offense that described the hazardous nature of transporting aliens through the brush in South Texas. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Arroyo-Secundino’s lack of criminal history.

On Sept. 11, 2022, law enforcement apprehended Arroyo-Secundino after observing him guide approximately 13 illegal aliens through the brush. After his arrest, a subsequent search of his cell phone led to the discovery of videos depicting a person dying. The videos linked Arroyo-Secundino to a deceased person found in the brush on July 16, 2022. The footage confirmed Arroyo-Secundino guided the group and directed others to leave the victim in the brush.

The investigation also revealed the number associated with the cell phone was used to contact the victim’s brother to demand $2,000 in exchange for the GPS coordinates of the body. The information was turned over to law enforcement who ultimately located the deceased person.

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

Border Patrol conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda L. Gould prosecuted the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A total of four people have pleaded guilty to human smuggling, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Jose Quezada-Gamez, 29, Tamaulipas, Mexico, pleaded guilty to functioning as a guide for undocumented aliens attempting to cross the Rio Grande and enter the United States illegally. Derly Crescencio Medina, 27, McAllen, and Jessica Dinora Pena-Rodriguez, 48, Tamaulipas, admitted housing undocumented aliens at a residence near San Juan. Rogelio Gonzalez III, 29, Edinburg, entered his plea to transporting undocumented aliens further north into the United States.

Authorities arrested all four following an investigation into a extensive smuggling ring operating in the McAllen area. They apprehended Quezada-Gamez near the Rio Grande guiding a group of aliens into the United States from Mexico. Gonzalez was taken into custody near Premont as the driver of a vehicle containing multiple undocumented aliens.

At the time of the pleas, all four admitted to knowingly transporting or harboring undocumented aliens for financial gain.

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

All four have been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore Parran III is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A 47-year-old home health company owner has been ordered to prison following his conviction of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Akintunde Oyewale, Richmond, pleaded guilty Feb. 1, 2022.

Today, U.S. District Judge David Hittner ordered he serve 57 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the defense requested a reduced sentence due to Oyewale’s role as a father and caretaker of his mother. In handing down the sentence, the court noted he had family commitments at the time of the offense and that he committed the conduct over a span of several years involving kickbacks to multiple parties and Medicare patients. Oyewale agreed to pay $1,467,719.92 in restitution to Medicare.

Oyewale operated Grace Healthcare Services LLC through September 2017. At the time of his plea, he admitted to and caused Grace to bill Medicare for home health services that were not medically necessary and not provided. He also acknowledged to furthering the scheme by unlawfully paying medical clinics for fraudulent home health certifications and unlawfully paying for patient referrals.

Oyewale also failed to keep records. He admitted he failed to produce records following the receipt of a grand jury subpoena. The records were supposed to justify the billed claims. Grace was subject to recoupment for failing to maintain supporting medical records for bills.  

Oyewale admitted to using the fraudulently obtained funds for his personal financial benefit and for the benefit of his family members.

The Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General and FBI conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Abdul Farukhi and AUSA Christian Latham prosecuted the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 45-year-old man from Suqian in the Jiangsu province of China has been indicted for transporting child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

A federal grand jury returned the one-count indictment today against Tong Sun. Already in custody following charges in a criminal complaint, he is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott Hacker in the near future.

Authorities allegedly encountered Sun illegally entering the United States in early May.

They conducted a search of Sun’s phone on May 8 and allegedly found videos containing child pornography. According to the charges, one video depicted a minor female believed to be younger than five years of age and was over three minutes in length.

If convicted, Sun faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol.

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

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

McALLEN, Texas – A 50-year-old Mexican resident has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 88.5 kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

On Nov. 13, 2022, Faustino Perez Luna was driving a tractor trailer loaded with cocaine. The drugs were the priority load of a known drug trafficking organization.

Luna approached the Falfurrias checkpoint and claimed to be headed to Atlanta to drop a load of produce. However, a K-9 soon alerted to the presence of narcotics within the vehicle. Authorities referred him to secondary inspection where they discovered the cocaine concealed between produce boxes on the tractor trailer.

The drugs weighed approximately 88.5 kilograms with an estimated street value of $1.5 million.

From March 2022 to Nov. 13, 2022, law enforcement arrested several others in connection with this drug trafficking organization. It operated in the lower Rio Grande Valley transporting either narcotics, guns or money.

The investigation led to the discovery of the priority load – the 88.5 kilograms Luna had transported. It was intended for Atlanta, Georgia.

U.S. District Judge Randy Crane will impose sentencing for Luna Aug. 10. At that time, Luna faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.

Luna has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric D. Flores is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON - A 49-year-old Huffman resident has been sent to prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Alexsander S. Reyes, a former Harris County Precinct 1 deputy constable, pleaded guilty Jan. 6, 2022.

Today, U.S. District David Hittner sentenced him to a total of 210 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Reyes committed a “gross abuse of public trust” and committed these crimes while on duty further mentioning how he used his patrol vehicle while possessing his service firearm. Judge Hittner also deemed Reyes a leader/organizer because he recruited other persons to assist in the crimes.

“Reyes was a cop who wanted to help criminals by becoming one himself,” said Hamdani. “While the vast majority of police serve with courage and character, there are sadly a few that choose to dishonor their badges. Ferreting out those bad apples is something we in the Southern District of Texas take seriously so as to ensure the integrity of our criminal justice system.”

“Alexsander Reyes was a dirty cop who got caught red-handed and has now been sentenced to more than 17 years in federal prison,” said Special Agent in Charge James Smith of the FBI. “We hope his lengthy sentence sends a clear message to others who think they can mask their criminal and corrupt behavior with their uniform, gun and badge.”

On or about Dec. 5, 2020, Reyes escorted a tractor-trailer in a marked constable vehicle through Houston with the assistance of his then girlfriend, Priscilla Yvette Cervantes, 46, Huffman. They both believed it contained 10 kilograms of cocaine.

For their assistance, Reyes received a total of $6000 in cash.

However, the drug load was actually part of an undercover operation and included “dummy” or fake cocaine. Prior to the escort, Reyes and Cervantes had traveled twice to Lake Charles, Louisiana, to transport a total of $350,000, proceeds allegedly from the sales of narcotics.

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

A federal jury convicted Cervantes in October 2022. She has since been ordered to prison for 121 months.  

The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance of Harris County Precinct 1 Constable’s Office, Houston Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Ferko and Heather Winter prosecuted the case.

A Texas businessman pleaded guilty today to filing a false 2015 corporate tax return for his company.

According to court documents, Martin Skolnik owned and operated Houston-based Spartan Metals Inc. (Spartan), a company that bought and resold scrap metal, for more than 30 years. On several occasions between 2014 and 2017, Skolnik directed customers to wire payments to his personal bank account rather than to Spartan’s business bank account. Skolnik intentionally did not record these payments as income in Spartan’s QuickBooks records, which he then provided to his accountant, willfully causing the accountant to prepare false corporate tax returns. As a result, Spartan’s corporate tax returns underreported more than $2.3 million of gross income for tax years 2014 through 2017.

Skolnik is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 24 and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for filing a false tax return, as well as a period of supervised release and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas made the announcement.

IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Senior Litigation Counsel Sean Beaty and Assistant U.S. Attorney Shirin Hakimzadeh for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 33-year-old Spring resident has been ordered to prison for exporting firearms and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Brenda Belinda Barba pleaded guilty April 7, 2022.

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered Barba to serve 36 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence regarding WhatsApp messages Barba sent on the morning of her arrest negotiating the purchases and transport of the firearms. In handing down the sentence, the court noted how cartels use any and all types of firearms and all firearms pose a danger to the safety of all communities. Judge Alvarez also highlighted how Barba’s story about taking the firearms to her family’s ranch did not coincide with messages she sent describing her willingness to take as many and transport as often as needed.

At the time of her plea, Barba admitted to attempting to unlawfully exporting a Glock 9mm pistol, Glock .22 caliber pistol, four Glock pistol magazines and 550 rounds of various caliber ammunition.

On Nov. 29, 2021, Barba attempted to exit the United States at the Anzalduas Port of Entry. At that time, she told law enforcement she had nothing to declare, to include firearms and ammunition. However, upon inspection of the vehicle, authorities discovered two pistols, magazines and ammunition concealed in her handbag. She told agents that she had purchased the firearms at an Academy Sports and Outdoors store and was planning to take them to her family’s ranch in Mexico.

Barba was not a licensed gun exporter and did not have permission to export the guns to Mexico.

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

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lee Fry and Rick Blaylock prosecuted the case.

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

McALLEN, Texas – A South Carolina man and a Georgia woman have been ordered to prison following their conviction of smuggling drugs through McAllen, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Joseph Gray, Jr., 47, pleaded guilty Sept 12, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute meth, while Jasmine Cecelia Dorsey, 28, entered here plea Feb. 1, 2022, to importing meth.  

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez a 360-month term of imprisonment for Gray, while Dorsey received 64 months. Gray and Dorsey must also serve five and three years, respectively, of supervised release following the sentences. At the hearing, the court heard Gray’s trafficking organization smuggled drugs throughout parts of the eastern seaboard including Georgia, the Carolinas, New York, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

The court also heard that after Gray was released from state custody for robbing and killing a person and from federal custody for trafficking crack cocaine, he continued to engage in drug trafficking crimes that led to a series of supervised release revocations and an additional drug trafficking conviction. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Alvarez noted that Gray was given many chances to change his life but did not do so.

Two others were previously convicted and sentenced for their role in the conspiracy. Iyana De’Kyra Carter received a 78-month-term of imprisonment, while Keith Anthony Murray was ordered to serve 182 months.

On July 31, 2021, Dorsey and Carter traveled from Mexico and attempted to enter the United States through Hidalgo, Texas, port of entry with approximately 18 kilograms of pure meth concealed in the gas tank.

Further investigation revealed Gray directed Murray to hire drug mules. Dorsey and Carter drove from Atlanta, Georgia, to Monterrey, Mexico, loaded the vehicle with meth and attempted to bring the narcotics back to Georgia for further distribution. Gray coordinated extensively with Mexican and Panama narcotics traffickers to ensure the meth was received safely.

Gray will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Dorsey was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender at a later date.  

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jongwoo Chung prosecuted the case.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 42-year-old Harlingen resident has pleaded guilty to smuggling a firearm linked to the March 3 incident involving the murder and kidnapping of U.S. Citizens in Matamoras, Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Roberto Lugardo Moreno Jr. pleaded guilty today to aiding the smuggling of a firearm into Mexico knowing it was intended for members of the Gulf Cartel.

Law enforcement learned from Mexican authorities that a pistol Moreno purchased Oct. 17, 2019, was linked to the March 3 incident. The investigation revealed Moreno had obtained the firearm at a pawn shop in Brownsville. Moreno admitted to purchasing the firearm on behalf of another person he knew was going to provide it to a Gulf Cartel figure in Mexico.

“All too often, firearms are trafficked into Mexico where they end up in the hands of criminals who use them to murder, rob and extort innocent people,” said Hamdani. “Moreno helped smuggle a firearm for criminals he knew were in the Gulf Cartel who then allegedly used it to murder and kidnap American citizens. This case is a textbook example of the dangers involved when criminals transport weapons into Mexico.”

U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera will impose sentencing Aug. 9. At that time, Moreno 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.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edgardo J. Rodriguez, Karen Betancourt, Israel Cano and Alejandra Andrade are prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A 31-year-old local man has been sent to prison for carjacking and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Zachary Smith, Houston, pleaded guilty Feb. 21.  

Today, Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane handed Smith a 41-month-term of imprisonment for the carjacking and another 120 months for the firearms charge which must be served consecutively to the other sentenced imposed. The total 161-month-sentence will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described the Smith’s criminal history.

On Feb. 6, Smith discharged a firearm while carjacking the victim and stealing his vehicle in the parking lot of a washateria on Melbourne Drive. He was also involved in a shooting Feb. 7 on the 2000 block of Broadway Street. On that day, Smith led law enforcement in a pursuit that came to an end when he crashed into a patrol unit.

Smith has been and will remain in custody.

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Houston Police Department and Harris County Sherriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Britni Cooper is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A Houston man and woman have pleaded guilty to damaging property occupied by a foreign government, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Today, Darion Benjamin Woods, 28, admitted he broke into, damaged and stole several items from the private residence of the Consul General for Great Britain. Christin Danielle Brinkley, 25, entered her plea May 11.

At their respective plea hearings, both admitted to burglarizing the home on July 23, 2022. They stole multiple items including two vehicles, one of which was the property of the British Consulate. Nobody was in the residence at the time of the incident.  

Security cameras captured Brinkley and Woods pulling up to the gated residence with a U-Haul, jumping over the gate and eventually driving  through it and causing significant damage. Once inside, they stole multiple items, including the two cars, jewelry, electronics, documents and a safe. 

Authorities later located the stolen vehicles at an address in Houston and observed Brinkley inside both vehicles at different times. They took Brinkley and Woods into custody and recovered the vehicles as well as some property from the residence, most of which was damaged. 

Damages have been calculated at approximately $56,636. 

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane accepted the pleas and set sentencing for Sept. 9. At that time, both face up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. They are also expected to have to pay restitution.   

Both have been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

The Department of State – Diplomatic Security Service and FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard W. Bennett and Luis Batarse are prosecuting the case.

GALVESTON, Texas – A 55-year-old McKinney resident has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for transportation of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Darren Frank McCoy pleaded guilty Dec. 1, 2022, admitting he was previously a gymnastics and cheerleading coach in Texas and Alabama. He had recorded teens in various stages of undress without their knowledge or consent and had unlawfully transported those images and videos as well as disturbing images of child pornography.

Today U.S. District Judge Jeffery V. Brown ordered him to serve a total of 240 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by a 10 years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard from one woman whom McCoy recorded while she was a minor. She discussed how her life has been seriously impacted by McCoy’s conduct, describing how he stole her childhood experiences without her even knowing it and that she feels rage, anger and sadness and lack of empathy toward him. Another victim described how McCoy sexually abused her from the time she was 12 until the age of 18. She detailed how she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety.  McCoy was a gymnastics coach to these women.  

“Darren McCoy is the definition of a predator,” said Hamdani. “We encourage our children to engage in sports, believing that they will be safe when doing so. Instead, these athletes were betrayed. This so-called coach surreptitiously recorded teens and sexually abused a minor for several years. Hopefully, knowing the only bars he will see now are behind a federal prison cell will give his victims some long-awaited peace.”

On Nov. 30, 2019, McCoy had been on a cruise ship which docked in the Galveston Port of Entry. Authorities sent him to secondary inspection after learning of a prior child pornography investigation from 2015.

There, they found images of child pornography on his laptop which led them to seize other electronic devices including his phone which also yielded numerous pornographic images.

They also found nine videos on McCoy’s flash drive which appeared to be taken with a hidden camera. These videos, which appeared to be taken approximately a decade ago, were of teens changing their clothes or showering in a residential bathroom, a gym and at a hotel for a cheerleading competition. One of the teens was found to be a minor at the time. 

A subsequent search at McCoy’s residence in McKinney led authorities to discover two covert recording devices. Through the investigation, law enforcement learned McCoy was a gymnastics and cheerleading coach at Metroplex Gymnastics and Swim in Allen and had previously been a coach at Top Dog Cheer in Montgomery, Alabama.

In total, authorities found 10 videos and 290 images of child pornography on McCoy’s devices. His collection included children between the ages of 1 and 8 in various stages of undress in a hospital, mortuary or morgue-type setting. 

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

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Galveston conducted the investigation with the assistance of police departments in Galveston and Pearland, Customs and Border Protection and HSI – Dallas.

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

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 21-year-old San Benito resident has been indicted for assaulting federal agents with his vehicle, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

A federal grand jury returned the three-count indictment today.

According to the charges, on May 2, authorities attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Hector Eduardo Gamez. He allegedly refused to stop and fled at a high rate of speed.

Three federal agents arrived on scene, at which time Gamez nearly collided with three federal agents who arrived on scene to assist, according to the charges. Authorities allegedly apprehended him following the pursuit.

If convicted, Gamez faces up 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

The FBI conducted the investigation along with the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Texas Rangers and the San Benito Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alejandra Andrade and Edgardo J. Rodriguez are prosecuting the case.

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

McALLEN, Texas – A 22-year-old resident of Toledo, Ohio, has pleaded guilty to transporting an undocumented alien, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

On Jan. 29, Maria Aguilar arrived at the Hidalgo port of entry with three minors in her vehicle. At that time, she claimed they were her relatives and presented Ohio birth certificates.

Law enforcement noticed the children appeared nervous and ultimately discovered the birth certificates were for other people.

Aguilar admitted the minors were not relatives, but undocumented aliens, and expected to be paid $4,700 to smuggle the minors into the United States.

U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa will impose sentencing Aug. 17. At that time, Aguilar faces up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore Parran III prosecuted the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A local man has admitted he paid a prison guard to smuggle contraband into the La Villa Detention Center (LVDC), announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Abel Angel Solis, 24, Pharr, admitted he paid Jose Martin Espinoza, 36, Mercedes, to smuggle cellular phones into LVDC. Espinoza entered his plea April 24.

On May 17, 2022, Espinoza attempted to enter the detention center for his normally scheduled duty. At that time, other prison officials conducted a search and found a cell phone wrapped in cellophane inside his work cap.

Espinoza subsequently admitted Solis was paying him to bring the phones to an inmate who was being detained at LVDC pending proceedings on a hostage taking case. That inmate, Sixto Gonzalez Jr., pleaded guilty in that matter today.

The investigation also revealed cash app transactions between Espinoza and Solis. The transactions totaled $1,500 for the delivery of three phones from Espinoza to Gonzalez.

U.S. District Judge Marina Marmolejo accepted the pleas. U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa will impose sentencing July 31 and Aug. 18, for Espinoza and Solis, respectively. At those times, Espinoza and Solis face up to 15 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Solis has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing. Espinoza was permitted to remain on bond.

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colton Turner is prosecuting the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 20-year-old resident of Edinburg has pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography depicting prepubescent minors, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Lazaro Segundo-Vazquez admitted to receiving over 1,800 images and video files containing child sexual abuse material.

An alert from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led authorities to a residence in Edinburg appearing to be uploading child pornography to a Google account. The investigation revealed Segundo-Vazquez received images and videos containing child sexual abuse material via a third-party messaging application on his cellular phone.

Segundo-Vazquez admitted to receiving child sexual abuse material that included videos and images of prepubescent children and toddlers. The material depicted children engaged in sexual acts with adults and other children. Segundo-Vazquez then uploaded several images of child sexual abuse material to a Google account.

U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa will impose sentencing Aug. 18. At that time, Segundo-Vazquez faces up to 20 years in prison.

He will remain in custody pending that hearing.

Homeland Security Investigations - Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Task Force conducted the investigation.

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

McALLEN, Texas – A 26-year-old Pharr man has admitted to hostage taking, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Sixto Gonzalez Jr. admitted he unlawfully detained a 19-year-old Alamo man in order to force a ransom to be paid for his safe return.

On June 23, 2021, Gonzalez lured the victim into Mexico by purporting to have a potential job opportunity to give him. Gonzalez picked the victim up after the victim crossed into Mexico on foot. When they arrived at a house located in Reynosa, Mexico, Gonzalez and several co-conspirators beat and restrained the victim. Between June 23 and June 25, 2021, Gonzalez and his co-conspirators demanded $5,000 and a firearm in exchange for his return.

When the family could not immediately obtain the funds, conspirators sent a video to the victim’s family with footage of him being beaten with a wooden board until the board fractured.

Law enforcement eventually determined the location of the house where he was being held. They conducted a search of the home and found the victim bound with zip ties, covered with a blanket and with bruises throughout his body. They also discovered Gonzalez located inside the house.

U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa will impose sentencing Aug. 18. At that time, Gonzalez faces up to life in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

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

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Reynosa State police in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colton Turner and Roberto Lopez is prosecuting the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 22-year-old resident of Tamaulipas, Mexico, has pleaded guilty to importing cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Felipe Abad Medina-Rubio admitted he attempted to smuggle approximately four kilograms of cocaine into the United States through the Hidalgo port of entry.

On Dec. 2. 2022, he arrived at the checkpoint, at which time he stated he had no illegal drugs in his vehicle. Authorities referred him to secondary inspection where a K-9 alerted to the odor of narcotics near the battery of his vehicle. An X-ray examination revealed several anomalies which resulted in the discovery of four bricks of cocaine weighing approximately four kilograms. It had an estimated street value of $16,000.

At his plea today, he admitted he expected to be paid $2,000 to smuggle the cocaine into the united states.  

U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa will impose sentencing Aug. 17. At that time, he faces up to 40 years in prison and a possible $5 million fine.

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

Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore Parran III prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON - A 28-year-old Indian citizen has entered a guilty plea in a years-long international conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Between 2017 and 2020, Zaheen Malvi, who was illegally residing in Heber Springs, Arkansas, assisted Indian call centers in a telemarketing scheme that extorted millions of dollars from hundreds of victims in the United States. Malvi first acted as a runner in the scheme, going to different Target stores in the Chicago area and depleting funds from gift cards that victims had transferred to the call centers. In later years, Malvi managed other runners as they traveled around the country, picking up packages filled with cash that call center victims had mailed.

“The Indian call centers perpetrating these scams are relentless,” said Hamdani. “They prey on the fears and insecurities of the most vulnerable among us, such as the elderly. But we are relentless too. Today, one more criminal is finally held to account for the many years he helped funnel money from victims into the pockets of overseas scammers…and tomorrow, we keep working.”

One common script used in the scheme involved coercing victims into believing federal agents were investigating them. The “agent” on the phone would convince the victim the only way to clear his or her name from investigation was to buy gift cards and transfer the redemption codes to the call center or mail cash in a package to a name and address the call center provided. Runners in the United States would then deplete the gift card funds and pick up the packages.

As part of his plea agreement, Malvi will pay restitution to the scheme’s identified victims.

U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen accepted the plea and set sentencing for Aug. 14. At that time, Malvi faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He will remain in custody pending that hearing.

The Social Security Administration – Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations in Houston and Fayetteville, Arkansas, conducted the investigation with the assistance of the FBI and Heber Springs Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Bauman and Kate Suh are prosecuting the case.

The SSA and its OIG consistently warns people of similar scams. Protect yourself!

HOUSTON – A 58-year-old U.S. citizen has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Michael Knighten aka Michael Sabatine had been living in Brazil but was extradited in June 2022.

Knighten admitted he participated in a business email compromise (BEC) scheme which defrauded a number of companies including several in Houston. Using his alias, he sent fraudulent emails requesting changes to payment information on invoices due to vendors. This included where payments should be made, one of which was to a bank in Las Vegas. However, the accounts were not the vendor’s actual bank account.

He had fraudulently used the name and passport of a relative to contact the owner of this bank account in Las Vegas by email. Knighten had him set up a company and accept deposits and make disbursements until he could come to Las Vegas and set up his own account.

Knighten also used his alias in emails to Bennu Oil and Gas Company in Houston beginning in March 2014. He fraudulently represented himself to be the financial director of Ceona Offshore and requested payments due to Ceona from Bennu. In May 2014, he sent additional emails to Bennu and caused the company to send a wire transfer in the amount of $651,125, to a bank account in Portugal.

After making this payment, Bennu uncovered the fraud and was able to freeze some of the funds, but still suffered a loss of $224,000.

As part of his plea, Knighten admitted the companies he defrauded suffered total losses of over $3 million.

“Knighton defrauded several companies, large and small, out of millions of dollars using business email compromise schemes,” said Hamdani. “BEC scams have become a serious problem, targeting not just companies but individuals, often from the comfort of an overseas hideaway. Despite that, we will not rest until we bring scammers, like Knighton, to justice, no matter where they reside. Note that criminals will continue to use phishing emails to try to obtain important information which can lead to serious financial losses. So, stay alert!”

U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal will impose sentencing Aug. 31. At that time, Knighten faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.  

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

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Braddock is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON - A 63-year-old Houston resident has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Maria Denise Southall-Shaw was the former manager of Shadow Creek Ranch in Pearland. Today, she admitted to defrauding FirstService Residential, a company which managed Shadow Creek Ranch’s homeowner associations and had employed Southall-Shaw.

As part of her plea, Southall-Shaw admitted she approved invoices from a vendor for goods and services which she knew had not been provided. In return, the vendor then provided kickbacks to her.

From November 2013 through November 2017, the vendor would pay Southall-Shaw half of payments they received from the fraudulent invoices, which were allegedly for goods such as pool equipment and supplies but not actually provided to Shadow Creek Ranch. Southall-Shaw admitted she approved the invoices. In return, the vendor made his payments to Shawdashian Group, a company Southall-Shaw owned.

U.S. District Judge Randy Crane accepted Southall-Shaw’s guilty plea and set sentencing for Sept. 19. At that time, Southall-Shaw faces up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Braddock is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A total of eight San Antonio residents are now in custody following the return of a 12-count indictment related to the theft and exportation of motor vehicles, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Law enforcement took all into custody in law enforcement actions this week - Guadalupe Alex Armendariz-Delgadillo, 46, Ivan Pacheco, 36, Julio Escamilla, 26, Derrick Ramirez, 28, Richard Joseph, 29, Michael Martinez, 20, Enrique Moreno, 23, and Leonardo Santillan, 21. They are expected to make their initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate judge in the Western District of Texas before transportation to Laredo to face further proceedings.

A federal grand jury returned the indictment under seal May 2 which was unsealed upon each of their arrests.

Between June 6, 2021, and Feb. 12, 2022, each of the eight either exported or attempted to export and aided in the export or attempted export of a motor vehicle they knew was stolen, according to the charges.

Armendariz-Delgadillo, Pacheco and Joseph are also charged in separate counts of unlawfully transporting one of those stolen vehicles from the United States to Mexico from Aug. 6 - Dec. 4, 2021.

If convicted, each faces up to 10 years imprisonment as well as a maximum $250,000 possible fine, upon conviction.  

The FBI conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation dubbed Operation Black Echo with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety, police departments in Laredo and San Antonio and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney James Sturgis and Brian Bajew are prosecuting the case.

The investigation was brought as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation dubbed Operation Black Echo. OCDETF is the largest anti-crime task force in the country. Its mission is to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States through prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency task forces that leverage the authorities and expertise of federal, state, and local law enforcement.

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