Southern District of Texas

HOUSTON – A 37-year-old Galveston resident was has handed a significant sentence for distribution and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Bryan Calderon pleaded guilty March 31, 2022.

Today, U.S. District Judge Brown sentenced him to 92 months each for the distribution and possession of child pornography convictions, respectively, both to be run concurrently. At the hearing, the court heard additional information regarding the vast collection of child pornography found in Calderon’s electronic devices after law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence in February 2021.

Calderon was further ordered to pay restitution to the victims, but the specific amount will be determined at a later date. He must also serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Calderon will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

Calderon came to the attention of law enforcement based on a cybertip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. An IP address appeared to be distributing child pornography to messenger groups using links to cloud storage files. The investigation led to Calderon and his residence in Galveston.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant and seized several electronic devices to include laptop computers and cell phones. Further analysis ultimately revealed Calderon possessed a total of 771 images depicting child pornography. His collection included prepubescent minors, bondage and bestiality involving minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

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

Homeland Security Investigations – Galveston and members of the Houston Metro Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherin Daniel and Kimberly A. Leo 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.

GALVESTON, Texas – A 38-year-old Brazoria resident has been ordered to federal prison following his multiple convictions, to include sexual exploitation of a child, distribution and possession of child pornography as well as destruction of property, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Jake Delahney Taylor pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and destruction of property Jan. 20, 2022. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown later found Taylor guilty of the sexual exploitation of a child and distribution of child pornography following a one-day bench trial.

Today, Judge Brown ordered him to serve 324, 240 and 120 months for the production, distribution and possession convictions, respectively. They will run concurrently for a total 324-month-term of imprisonment He also received a sentence of 60 months for the destruction of evidence which will run concurrently. At the hearing, the court also heard additional information including the impact that Taylor’s conduct had on the minor victim’s family.  Taylor was further ordered to 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. Taylor will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

“It is despicable that someone would secretly record a child’s normal bathroom activity and then crop and edit it into a sexual striptease,” said Hamdani. “Loathsome individuals like Taylor who produce child pornography and share it with perverted like-minded individuals need to be stopped and pay the price for the harm they cause. We hope today’s sentence will send that message and do just that.” 

The investigation revealed Taylor had surreptitiously recorded a 13-year-old minor female relative while she was in the bathroom on five different occasions. Taylor then edited the videos in order to create still images of the minor victim which depicted her private areas. He then sent some of these images to other individuals on Kik with whom he had also discussed his sexual interest in children.  

The mother of the child found some of the images and contacted law enforcement. 

A search led to the discovery of electronic devices which later yielded 118 images and 134 videos of the minor victim. Taylor also had 84 videos and 24 images of child pornography in his collection.  

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

Pearland Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations-Galveston and Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Leo and Sherin Daniel 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.

HOUSTON – A 38-year-old Houstonian has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of conspiracy to distribute meth during a drug transaction that occurred in an IKEA parking lot, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Josue Daniel Casco pleaded guilty July 6, 2021.

Today, US District Judge Andrew Hanen sentenced Casco to a total of 360 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. The sentence represents enhancements to include attempting to evade arrest and putting authorities at risk. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the three and ammunition law enforcement had seized upon his arrest.  

"This drug dealer showed no regard for human life when he brought 15 kilos of meth and three loaded guns to a local IKEA parking lot while local residents shopped,” said Hamdani. “He and his AR-15 holding partner in crime exposed our community to an extremely potent drug and could have caused more harm in a flagrant attempt to flee. Thanks to the quick and brave action of law enforcement and the subsequent prosecution, two dangerous criminals, along with their guns and meth, are off the streets.”   

The undercover investigation began in September 2020, when authorities learned of a potential narcotics transaction via a Mexican phone number. Continued communication led to Casco, in Houston, agreeing to sell 15 kilograms of crystal meth for more than $100,000.

On Oct. 8, 2020, Casco drove a while Chevy Malibu to the IKEA on Katy Freeway in Houston. Co-defendant – Dante Nava, 39, Houston – was holding a loaded AR-15 style weapon in one hand as he leaned against a brown cardboard box which housed the drugs.

Authorities quickly moved to arrest both men. However, instead of complying with commands, Casco immediately accelerated and rammed into undercover law enforcement vehicles.

No one was injured.

At the time of the arrests, authorities found a loaded Glock 30 SF in the Nava’s waistband and another Glock 30 SF with fully loaded magazine on the front passenger seat. In total, they seized three weapons a total of 62 rounds of ammunition.  

Nava also pleaded guilty and was previously sentenced.

Both men have been and will remain in custody.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, police departments in Pasadena and Houston and Harris County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Shelley J. Sullivan and former AUSA Ed Gallagher Sullivan prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON - A 46-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.

Priscella Yvette Cervantes is the estranged wife of a former Harris County Precinct 1 deputy constable. A federal jury convicted her Oct. 25, 2022, following a four day-trial and approximately two hours of deliberations.

Today, U.S. District Judge David Hittner sentenced her to a total of 121 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional argument about the sufficiency of the evidence that detailed the criminal investigation. 

On or about Dec. 5, 2020, Cervantes escorted a tractor-trailer in a “ghost” police vehicle – which is a vehicle that has lights and sirens and a police decal. Her co-defendant and now estranged husband, Alexsandar S. Reyes, met her off Interstate 10 in his marked constable vehicle and then continued to escort the tractor trailer through the Houston area on I-10.

After the drug escort, Reyes received a total of $6000 in cash which Cervantes believed would be split with her.  

At trial, the defense attempted to convince the jury that Cervantes did not know anything about the drug proceed monies or the cocaine.  The jury did not believe those claims and found her guilty as charged.

Reyes, 49, also of  Huffman, had previously pleaded guilty and is pending sentencing.

Cervantes has been in custody since the return of the verdicts where she 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 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.

VICTORIA, Texas – A 32-year-old non-U.S. citizen illegally residing in Houston has been sent to prison for conspiracy commit hostage taking, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Urbino Garcia-Bahena pleaded guilty Aug. 22, 2022.   

Today, Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey ordered Garcia-Bahena to serve 151 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence of how he and his co-conspirators operated the stash house in Houston using threats, intimidation and starvation to hold people there.

The investigation began when authorities found a young woman discarded and deceased on the side of the road in Victoria County. In a search for those responsible for her death, law enforcement learned of Garcia-Bahena and his co-conspirators. They were holding and mistreating another undocumented person who they had illegally transported into the country.

The man’s family had already paid $10,000. However, Garcia-Bahena and others were demanding and additional $3,500 for the victim’s release.

The investigation revealed the group had discarded the young woman after she died in their care. Law enforcement had rescued the second victim after he had been held for five days without food and been mistreated.

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

Victoria Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation along with the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patti Hubert Booth prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A local tax preparer has admitted to preparing false and fraudulent tax returns on behalf of Texas taxpayers, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Berlinda Luikens was the owner and operator of a tax preparation business known as the Tax Company in Corpus Christi.

Luikens admitted that between 2016 and 2020, she filed false and fraudulent tax returns for taxpayers. In those fraudulent returns, Luikens knowingly reported false business and farming losses and false charitable deductions in amounts she knew the taxpayers were not entitled to claim.

The fraudulent tax returns resulted in a loss of at least $446,301 to the United States.

“Tax season ends on April 15, but there is no end to our efforts to bring tax criminals to justice,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Ramsey E. Covington of IRS Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) Houston Field Office. “Our special agents are the best in the business when it comes to solving financial crimes, which is why more than 90 percent of our cases result in convictions.”

U.S. District Judge Ramos will impose sentencing June 28. At that time, Luikens faces up to three years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

IRS – CI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Marck is prosecuting the case.

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HOUSTON – The 11th member of a 12-person robbery crew has been ordered to prison for his role in a string of armed robberies including one in which shots were fired, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Denzell Devoe Lucious, 31, Houston, pleaded guilty in March 2022.

Today, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen imposed a total of 168 months in federal prison - 84 months for the robberies and a consecutive 84 months for aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during a crime of violence. The sentence will be to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

Others previously convicted and sentenced include Lontay Lavelle Young, 39, Deshaun Devon Waldrup, 27, Edward Ray Lavergne Jr., 39, Jesse Markise McQueen, 32, Kevin Craig Gray, 38, Louis Jerome Hines, 44, Terry Dwight Washington, 37, Tony Dontrel Young, 32, Barry Lloyd Jones, 30, Ross White-Leonard, 33, and Kenneth Dewayne Cooper, 34. All are from Houston.

Lontay Young, Tony Young, Waldrup, Lavergne, McQueen, White-Leonard and Jones received respective sentences of 209, 132, 125, 114, 180, 102 and 156 months, respectively. Gray and Washington both received 147-month-terms of imprisonment, while Hines was ordered to serve 171 months. Cooper is still pending sentencing.

This group conducted at least six robberies over the course of six months at various commercial establishments.

On Oct. 22, 2015, Lontay Young and Hines robbed the Family Dollar store on Wayside in Houston while wearing masks and carrying handguns.

Then, on Jan. 11, 2016, Jones, Cooper, Lucious and McQueen traveled outside of Houston to rob the Ben Bridge Jewelers at Barton Springs Mall in Austin. There, they stole a significant amount of Rolex watches and jewelry.

Less than two weeks later, this group, along with Tony Young, also robbed the Kay Jewelers located at the Houston Premium Outlet Mall. While Jones, Cooper and Young accosted the employees at gunpoint, Lucious sat outside acting as a lookout. McQueen distracted the security guard while the robbery occurred. They again stole numerous watches and jewelry.  

On March 3, 2016, Lontay Young, Washington, Gray and Lavergne also held up the ANF Auto Finance on North Shepherd Drive. They entered the business acting as customers until Gray pulled out a gun. They then stole cash and property of the business, employees and customers.

Lontay Young later proceeded to commit two more robberies. Those included the March 9, 2016, robbery of Cash America Pawn on Jensen Drive with Waldrup and the Affordable Furniture store on the North Freeway on March 17, 2016, along with Jones and White-Leonard.

At the time of the furniture store robbery, authorities arrived on scene and shots were fired.

All have been and will remain in custody.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms conducted the investigation in conjunction with police departments in Houston and Austin and Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Hanes and Heather Winter are prosecuting the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 47-year-old Donna man has received a significant sentence following his conviction of conspiracy to traffic meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Cesar Rocha pleaded guilty March 30, 2022.

Today, U.S. District Judge David S. Morales ordered Rocha to serve 228 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that the meth had been smuggled in from Mexico before Rocha took possession and moved it further north. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Rocha’s prior convictions for similar offenses, possession with intent to distribute and delivery of controlled substances in Tennessee and Alabama, respectively.

On Nov. 28, 2021, a K-9 alerted law enforcement to specific luggage on a Greyhound bus that was traveling from Harlingen to Corpus Christi. Upon opening the bag, they found a wrapped bundle containing nearly one kilogram of meth.

Surveillance footage revealed Rocha had carried the bag in from the bus station in Harlingen. He also purchased a ticket for another individual and put that person on the bus with the bag containing the drugs. Authorities discovered 12 other bus trips matching the same pattern that occurred from December 2020 to November of 2021.

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

Border Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 35-year-old from Mexico has been ordered to federal prison for illegal re-entry after deportation, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

A federal jury found Laureano Mar-Peres guilty Nov. 29, 2022. 

Today, U.S. District Judge David S. Morales ordered him to serve 33 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, Mar-Peres is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, Judge Morales noted that how Mar-Peres had been removed from the United States five times.

At trial, testimony revealed that on Jan. 11, 2022, authorities had encountered Mar-Peres attempting to circumvent the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint in Kenedy County. A fingerprint expert was able to identify Mar-Peres as the same individual previously ordered removed from the United States, the most recent being Oct. 22, 2021.

The defense attempted to convince the jury that because so many people are removed from the United States, there was no way to keep track of all of them. They did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged.

Mar-Peres has been and 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 Patrick Overman and Tyler Foster prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 39-year-old Spring resident has been sent to prison…again, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Colt Jacoby Barnett pleaded guilty Oct. 17,2022, to multiple child pornography charges.

Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered Barnett to prison for a total of 210 months for distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography as well as destruction of evidence. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted that the troubling fact that he was a repeat offender. Barnett was further ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to a known victim and will 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. Barnett will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

“Offenders who exploit children by repeatedly traumatizing them via collecting and making their images available through the internet are a plague on our society,” said Hamdani. “This defendant was previously prosecuted and punished for similar behavior, and thankfully, the enhanced penalties for repeat offenders ensure he will spend even longer in prison this time, thus protecting our children further from his deviant criminal behavior.”

In January 2019, law enforcement conducted an investigation into the sharing of child pornography through the BitTorrent peer-to-peer network. They soon downloaded a video from a particular internet protocol (IP) address that was over two minutes in length. It showed a female under the age of 12 engaged in oral sex with an adult male.

The IP address was traced back to Barnett’s residence in Spring. The investigation revealed he was a registered sex offender from a previous conviction in 2004 for receipt of child pornography. 

Authorities conducted a search warrant at his residence, at which time Barnett attempted to destroy a laptop computer in his possession. A forensic examination of the hard drive from the damaged laptop revealed 55 videos containing child pornography. 

Barnett was found to have received and distributed child pornography via peer-to-peer programs. Of the 55 videos he possessed, at least two depicted bondage of a child, another two were over five minutes in length and one depicted the penetration of a minor under the age of five. 

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

FBI Houston conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney 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 tab on that page.

HOUSTON – A 63-year-old Sugar Land resident has been ordered to prison for conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Joyce Agu pleaded guilty Oct. 17, 2022.   

Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered her to prison for a total of 60 months to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional regarding Agu’s family and her charitable contributions. However, Judge Crane considered how extensive the fraudulent scheme was and the millions that were siphoned from the Medicare program. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the amount of fraud.

At the time of her plea, Agu admitted she paid others to certify her clients for home health services in order to bill Medicare. These beneficiaries did not qualify for the services and, in some cases, did not receive them. 

Medicare paid Agu’s companies over $3 million based on the fraudulent claims.

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

The Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General, FBI and Texas Attorney General’s - Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted the joint investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rodolfo Ramirez and Grace Murphy prosecuted the case. 

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 43-year-old Corpus Christi man has been ordered to federal prison for robbing American Bank in Corpus Christi and brandishing a firearm during the robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Anthony Dwayne Carrington pleaded guilty Jan. 4.

Today, U.S. District Judge David S. Morales handed Carrington a 51-month term of imprisonment for the robbery. He also received 84 months for the firearms charge which must be served consecutively to the other sentence imposed. The total 135-month prison term will be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the extremely serious and dangerous series of events that led up to apprehension.

On Aug. 8, 2022, Carrington entered the American Bank – Corpus Christi South branch on South Padre Island Drive in Corpus Christi. He approached the teller station while holding a silver pistol in his hand, pointed it directly at a bank employee and demanded he give Carrington all the money from the drawer. Carrington further warned the employee not to press the alarm or make a scene. Fearing for his life, the teller complied with Carrington’s demands.

Further investigation revealed two shootings that occurred a short distance from the bank within 45 minutes of the robbery - an attempted murder in a private residence and a homicide at P.F. Chang’s restaurant.

Authorities apprehended him after conducting a traffic stop later the same day. Carrington discarded the firearm used during the robbery and both shootings. The firearm was recovered by authorities in an empty grass lot.  

Carrington 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 Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Marck prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 29-year-old Laredo resident has pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Authorities identified Kristopher Santos in 2019 when conducting a peer-to-peer (p2p) undercover investigation. Santos was sharing child pornography online.

On April 12, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home and discovered and seized several electronic devices. Law enforcement also discovered a trunk full of sex toys and children’s underwear.

Santos acknowledged he was sexually attracted to children, viewing the child pornography and that the trunk belonged to him. He also admitted to touching two minor relatives inappropriately and taking naked pictures of the boys exposing themselves.

Law enforcement ultimately identified a total of 27,729 images and 7,667 videos containing child pornography on the seized electronic devices.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Santos faces a mandatory minimum of 15 and up to 30 years in federal prison.

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

Webb County Sherriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.

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

McALLEN, Texas – Two men from Donna have been ordered to federal prison following their convictions of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Alejandro Martinez, 44, was a former police officer with the Donna Police Department. He and Victor Vallejo, 48, pleaded guilty March 22, 2022.

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered Vallejo to serve 108 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by a three years of supervised release for his part in the drug trafficking conspiracy. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the serious harm drug trafficking can have against the community.

Judge previously sentenced Martinez to serve a 175-month sentence followed by a five-year-term of supervised release. In imposing the sentence, the court noted that people come to the United States to escape nations with corrupt law enforcement officers. By accepting bribes, Martinez damaged public trust in the justice system.

While serving as a police officer, Martinez assisted co-conspirators as they transported illegal drugs through Donna by escorting load vehicles in his official capacity as a police officer. He also diverted other officers away from the area.

Vallejo assisted co-conspirators in the coordination and transportation of the narcotics.

Previously released on bond, Vallejo 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. Martinez is currently serving his 175-month sentence.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Matthew Phelps and former AUSA Robert Wells prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – Two Houston area residents have been ordered to federal prison today after admitting to paying kickbacks to marketers and a physician, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Joseph Nwankwo, 59, Houston, and Stacey Ajaja, 51, Richmond, pleaded guilty Nov. 2, 2022, and March 11, 2022, respectively, to conspiracy to defraud the United States and paying and receiving illegal health care kickbacks.

Today, U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks ordered Nwankwo to serve 36 months in federal prison, while Ajaja received a 14-month-term of imprisonment. Both must also serve three years of supervised release following completion of the prison terms. Nwankwo must pay $1,218,615.13 in restitution to Medicare, while Ajaja was ordered to pay $238,164.69.

Nwankwo and Ajaja co-owned Hefty Healthcare Services Inc.

At the time of their pleas, they admitted that from 2014 through 2016, both obtained patient referrals by paying marketers and patients. Nwankwo further admitted to bribing a physician to authorize medically unnecessary home health services for Hefty patients.

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

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

The Justice Department announced today the final resolution of two civil cases seeking the forfeiture of various luxury assets that were the proceeds of foreign corruption offenses and were laundered in and through the United States.

With the conclusion of the cases, the department has recovered roughly $53.1 million in cash – constituting the net liquidated value of the defendant’s assets – plus a promissory note with a principal value of $16 million.

According to court documents, from 2011 to 2015, Nigerian businessmen Kolawole Akanni Aluko and Olajide Omokore conspired with others to pay bribes to Nigeria’s former Minister for Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who oversaw Nigeria’s state-owned oil company. In return, Alison-Madueke used her influence to steer lucrative oil contracts to companies owned by Aluko and Omokore. The proceeds of those illicitly awarded contracts totaling more than $100 million were then laundered in and through the United States and used to purchase various assets through shell companies, including luxury real estate in California and New York as well as the Galactica Star, a 65-meter superyacht. The real estate was also used as collateral for loans to Aluko and shell companies he controlled. As part of the forfeiture process, those lien holders were paid.  

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office, and Chief Jim Lee of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement.

The FBI’s International Corruption Squad in the Washington Field Office and the IRS-CI investigated the cases, with assistance from the FBI Los Angeles Field Office.

Trial Attorneys Michael W. Khoo and Joshua L. Sohn of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section prosecuted the cases. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas provided substantial assistance. 

These cases were brought under the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative. This initiative is led by a team of dedicated prosecutors in the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, in partnership with federal law enforcement agencies, and often with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, to forfeit the proceeds of foreign official corruption and, where appropriate, to use those recovered assets to benefit the people harmed by these acts of corruption and abuse of office.

In 2015, the FBI formed International Corruption Squads across the country to address national and international implications of foreign corruption. Individuals with information about possible proceeds of foreign corruption located in or laundered through the United States should contact federal law enforcement at tips.fbi.gov/ or send an email to kleptocracy@usdoj.gov.

HOUSTON – A 29-year-old College Station resident has been arrested for distribution and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Daniel Byrd is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew M. Edison at 2 p.m. today. Authorities took him into custody yesterday.

Byrd is employed as a teacher at Navasota High School.

The criminal complaint, filed today, alleges Byrd came to the attention of law enforcement upon discovery of a folder containing child pornography shared in a Kik chat group. Byrd was allegedly in control of that folder.

According to the complaint, Byrd used Kik and Telegram to view and download child pornography. He allegedly joined groups dedicated to sharing child pornography and would download content to his MEGA account. Byrd then posted links from his MEGA account into Kik groups, thereby allowing others to access folders containing child pornography, according to the charges.

If convicted, Byrd faces up to 20 years for distribution of child pornography as well a maximum of 10 years for possessing it.   

The FBI - Bryan resident agency conducted the investigation with the assistance of College Station Police Department. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Ann Leo 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.

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 45-year-old resident of Zapata is now in custody for defrauding financial institutions as well as state and federal welfare programs, lying to federal authorities and using someone else’s identity, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Authorities arrested Mirza Lydia Rodriguez today. She is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga March 27 at 9:30 a.m.

A federal grand jury returned 13-count indictment March 21, which was unsealed upon her arrest.

According to the charges, Rodriguez submitted fraudulent applications to the Laredo Housing Authority’s (LHA) Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP).

The HCVP is the federal government’s major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly and disabled to afford decent, safe and sanitary housing in the private market. Public housing agencies administer the housing choice vouchers who receive the finds from Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The LHA is the local agency responsible for the administration of the HCVP.

When submitting applications to the LHA, Rodriguez allegedly omitted material information relevant to considering whether she qualified for housing assistance. The charges allege she submitted paperwork to LHA under the guise that someone else was the property owner and landlord of where she was living, when this was not true. She then submitted a direct deposit authorization using this same falsified information for the property’s landlord, but included banking information allegedly belonging to herself, according to the indictment.

Falcon International Bank was responsible for maintaining LHA’s funds, according to the indictment. The bank would allegedly disburse housing and utility assistance payments, which are, under the HCVP, meant for the property’s landlord. However, the charges allege the funds were directly deposited into Rodriguez’s account.

According to the indictment, Rodriguez allegedly received more than $30,000 over the course of five years.

Rodriguez is also charged with three counts of wire fraud in connection with applications to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The TWC is the state agency tasked with administering Texas’ unemployment insurance program.

Rodriguez allegedly represented herself as a tax preparer and would collect the personal identifying information for her clients when preparing returns. She would then tell people she could assist in obtaining unemployment benefits, according to the indictment. As part of the application process, Rodriguez allegedly used the personal information of others, but included a bank account associated with her. As a result of the scheme and in addition to the funds fraudulent acquired from HUD, Rodriguez allegedly obtained over $30,000 in unemployment benefits.

Rodriguez is further charged with one count of aggravated identity theft in connection with one of the fraudulent applications to the TWC, three counts of defrauding HUD and five counts of lying to a federal agency.

If convicted, Rodriguez faces up to 30 years for the bank fraud, 20 years for each count of wire fraud, up to two years for each count of HUD fraud and up to five years for each count of lying to authorities. She will also receive a mandatory two years for the identity theft, upon conviction, which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed.

The FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety-Texas Rangers, Zapata County Sheriff’s Office and Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Texas Workforce Commission and the LHA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Bajew 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 – Two Houston residents are set to appear on allegations in an $8.7 million fraud scheme connected to a home health company they jointly owned and operated, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Caroline Zamora, 63, and Rommel Zamora, 59, are set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew M. Edison at 2 p.m.

The indictment, returned March 1, alleges the Zamoras owned and operated 24/7 Stat Care Home Health Services Inc. aka Parkway Healthcare Services. From approximately February 7, 2014 through November 9, 2018, the couple allegedly conspired to pay illegal cash kickbacks to Medicare patients to sign up for home health services with Parkway. The Zamoras are also alleged to have conspired to pay kickbacks to doctors to certify and refer patients for home health who did not qualify.

The indictment further alleges the Zamoras fraudulently billed Medicare for home health services that were not provided or for patients who did not qualify for such services. Parkway billed Medicare $8.7M and was paid $6.7M, according to the indictment.  

If convicted, both face up to 10 years in prison on each count of health care fraud in addition to another five years for the conspiracy. All counts also carry as possible punishment a maximum $250,000 fine.

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

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

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Osiel Cardenas-Salinas Jr. has been sent to federal prison following his conviction of smuggling goods from the United States into Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Cardenas aka Osiel Cardenas Jr., 31, Brownsville, pleaded guilty Aug. 2, 2022, to attempting to purchase 10 assault rifles to export into Mexico. Cardenas is the son of former head of the Gulf Cartel Osiel Cardenas-Guillen who was convicted and previously sentenced to 25 years in federal prison.

Today, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. ordered Cardenas-Salinas to serve 109 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release and to pay a $20,000 fine. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described Cardenas-Salinas’s role as a supervisor/manager. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Cardenas-Salinas had two firearms related cases in his criminal history and continued to engage in additional criminal activity with the smuggling of weapons, repeatedly engaging in violations involving firearms. At the hearing, Cardenas-Salinas apologized to the court and asked for mercy.

On April 22, 2021, Cardenas and others attempted to purchase five AK-47 type rifles and five AR-15 type rifles.

The undercover operation took place in a Brownsville store parking lot. Cardenas had instructed another individual to cross into Mexico to pick up the $15,000 for the weapons and to inform him when the weapons transaction had been completed.

At the time of his plea, Cardenas admitted he committed the crime while on supervised release for a previous felony.

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

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elena Salinas prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON - A 25-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison after his convictions of production and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Austin Gray Roberson pleaded guilty Jan. 27, 2022, to three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of possession of child pornography.

Today, U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt sentenced him to 180 months on each of the sexual exploitation of a minor counts and 120 months for possessing child pornography. They will run concurrently for a total 180-month-term of imprisonment. The court heard additional evidence as to how Roberson had reached out to 18 different minor males requesting them to send naked photos and videos of themselves to him. In imposing the sentence, Judge Hoyt also considered how Roberson’s conduct affected one of those minors through his victim impact statement.

Roberson was furthered ordered to pay restitution to the victims and will serve 15 years on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to the internet. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

“As a parent myself, it scares me to know how easy it is for sexual predators to misrepresent themselves and target children,” said Hamdani. “In today’s online world, we must remember to remain vigilant to help protect our kids. I hope this sentence makes these criminals think twice before trying to solicit our most vulnerable for their sick desires.”

In June 2018, authorities in California had executed a search warrant at a residence as a result of a child pornography investigation, at which time they seized several electronic devices. Forensic analysis revealed that individual had been communicating with others on the social media application Kik for the purpose of obtaining and trading child pornography. The investigation revealed Roberson was one of those individuals.

Roberson ultimately admitted he would portray himself on Kik as a minor female named “Kayla” that he would use to target minor males between 12 and 17 years of age. Roberson sent nude selfies and videos of a suspected minor female masturbating in an attempt to get those minor males to reciprocate.

Authorities ultimately discovered 18 minor victims from whom Roberson solicited child pornography.

Law enforcement also conducted a forensic exam on Roberson’s cellphone and found 3,765 images and 746 videos of young children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images and videos include children under the age of 12, bondage, bestiality and acts of violence such as the penetration of the victims. 

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

FBI conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Ann Leo 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.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 21-year-old Corpus Christi man has been charged with delivery of fentanyl resulting in death and possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Authorities arrested Ricardo Julyan Kross Rios aka Kross, 21, Corpus Christi, this morning. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mitchel Neurock tomorrow at 9:45 a.m.

A federal grand jury in Corpus Christi returned the tw0-count indictment March 22, 2023. It alleges that on Dec. 9, 2022, Rios possessed and delivered a substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, the use of which resulted in the death of a person. Rios was also charged with one count of possessing fentanyl for the purpose of distribution on Jan. 17.        

If convicted of distributing fentanyl causing death, Rios faces up to life in prison. He could also be fined up to $1 million. The possession of fentanyl with the intention to distribute carries a 20-year maximum sentence.

The Drug Enforcement Administration led the cooperative law enforcement effort targeting fentanyl with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations, Jim Wells County Sheriff’s Office and police departments in Corpus Christi, Aransas Pass and Mathis. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. Thorpe Jr. is prosecuting this 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 47-year-old Katy resident has admitted to defrauding Medicaid of more than $600,000, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Kay Le Farmer is the former office manager for her ex-husband - a therapist and Medicaid provider in the Houston area. Following their separation, Farmer admitted to using her ex-husband’s provider number to submit fraudulent claims to Medicaid, unbeknownst to him, for counseling services that were never provided.

In 2017, Farmer admitted to using her employment at a pediatrician’s office to obtain patient information. She then submitted more fraudulent claims to Medicaid under her ex-husband’s provider number.

In total, from 2013 until 2018, Farmer submitted, or caused the submission of, approximately $617,983.86 in claims for psychotherapy services that were not provided. Farmer admitted she was paid approximately $432,924.69 on those claims.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks accepted the plea and will impose sentencing June 20. At that hearing, Farmer faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.

Farmer was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.

The 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 is prosecuting the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 21-year-old Los Fresnos resident has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Israel Flores Jr. admitted to possessing child pornography on a flash drive he obtained while a student at University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley.

He had downloaded the child pornography via Kik and placed that material on a flash drive for easier distribution. He then gave this device to another individual. Flores acknowledged being the original owner of the flash drive and that it had been in his possession for a number of years prior to giving it to someone else.  

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo accepted the plea and set sentencing for June 21. At that time, Flores faces up to 20 years in federal prison. 

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

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

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliza Carmen Rodriguez 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.

McALLEN, Texas – A 36-year-old Pharr resident has admitted he received videos and images containing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Hugo Benjamin Tijerina admitted he had downloaded and received the child pornography videos on his laptop.  

On July 15, 2019, authorities identified an IP address associated with a home in Pharr that was using peer-to-peer software to download files depicting child pornography. The investigation led to Tijerina.

A search of the home revealed a laptop. Law enforcement discovered the device contained software used to download the child pornography as well as search terms used to find and download videos containing child pornography. 

The files contained images of children under the age of 12.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo accepted the plea and set sentencing for June 21. At that time, Tijerina faces up to 20 years in federal prison as well as A $250,000 fine.

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

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliza Carmen Rodriguez 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.

McALLEN, Texas – A 27-year-old McAllen resident has admitted to receiving child pornography approximately nine times, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Gabriel Alejandro Morales admitted he had downloaded and received the child pornography on his cell phone through the Kik application.

In November 2020, authorities learned that an individual under the username “wakatanga335” was distributing and receiving child pornography on Kik. A review of the material verified the user had distributed and received child pornography approximately nine times.

The investigation led to Morales. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at his McAllen home and discovered a cell phone containing child pornography.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo accepted the plea and set sentencing for June 21. At that time, Morales faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

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

FBI conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliza Carmen Rodriguez 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.

HOUSTON – The last of three convicted for their roles in a series of home invasions which resulted in federal kidnapping charges over the course of several months has been ordered to prison, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Chakevia Roberts, 31, Houston, pleaded guilty Aug. 12, 2022, admitting she was the look-out and getaway driver during the crimes which occurred in the Houston area.

Today, U.S. District Judge Sim Lake ordered her to serve a total of 96 months in prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In imposing the sentence, the court noted the dangerousness of the offenses and the terror of the victims while in their own homes. 

Two others - Timothy Morant, 55, and Alvin Woods, 45, both also of Houston, were sentenced previously to 327 and 240 months in federal prison, respectively. At Morant’s hearing, the court called him one of the most dangerous people he had seen before him in all of his years as a judge and noted he had been convicted of the same crime twice before this one. He had been convicted in 1989 and served only 13 years of 42-year sentence in state prison. In 2003, he was again convicted of the same crimes and sentenced to 25 years but released in 2018.

There is no parole in the federal system. 

During the course of the sentencing hearings, Judge Lake also reviewed powerful and moving victim impact statements. They described the fear and panic they felt during the kidnappings and how they believed they would be killed.

“One of the defendants pepper sprayed a child, in front of the child’s mother, in the mother and child’s own home. The victims are still traumatized, years later,” said Hamdani. “My office will not tolerate this vile conduct, and so the two men who decided to violate the sanctity of a home will now face justice’s long arm and spend decades in prison. The hope is that this might allow the victims to finally sleep a little easier knowing their perpetrators are off the streets.”

On Oct. 22, 2019, Morant and Woods entered a multi-million dollar home in Sugar Land while the homeowners were present. Morant and Woods tied up several family members with zip ties, held them at gunpoint and demanded they open safes. Morant and Woods demanded jewelry and other high end property. When the homeowners did not act quickly enough, Morant pepper sprayed them. During the kidnapping, Morant was on an open cell phone line with Roberts who was waiting outside as the look-out and get-away driver. Once Morant and Roberts received the items they wanted, they stole the homeowners vehicle and used it to meet Roberts at a pre-determined location. Morant, Woods and Roberts then split the money and property amongst themselves.

Morant and Woods entered another multi-million dollar home in Houston on Dec. 13, 2019. There, they encountered the home owner and her child. Roberts remained outside as the look-out/get-away driver again and kept an open cell phone call with Morant. Morant and Woods pushed their way into the home while pointing guns at the victims. The two then zip-tied both the home owner and her child while demanding money, jewelry and other high end property. When the mother could not open a second safe to give Morant more of what he wanted, he pepper sprayed the child.

Authorities apprehended all three after they had attacked another family in Houston June 19, 2020. They again pointed guns at the home owners and demanded money, jewelry and property. During the invasion, Morant and Woods drug the victims, zip-tied again, to areas within the home in search for cash and high-end items.

Upon their arrests, law enforcement found stolen property, gloves, masks and firearms. 

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

The FBI and police departments in Houston and Sugar Land conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Stotts prosecuted the case.

McALLEN, Texas – Three men have now been charged in connection of a hotel robbery of an AR-variant rifle, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment adding Nathan Garza aka Goofy, 27, McAllen, to the robbery charge as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is in custody on related charges and expected to make his initial appearance on the federal indictment before a U.S. magistrate judge in the near future.

Oscar Joel Frias aka OJ, 20, Edinburg, was previously indicted for the robbery and possession of a stolen firearm. Also implicated in connection to the crime was Jahiro Sarmiento Martinez, 29, Edinburg, and charged for illegally possession a firearm as a felon. Frias and Garza are also charged with brandishing firearms during a crime of violence.

On Oct. 13, 2022, Frias and Garza allegedly stole a DPMS Panther Arms AR-Variant rifle at gunpoint from a victim at a motel in Edinburg. The charges allege Frias used a 9mm pistol to commit the robbery. While conducting surveillance the following day, law enforcement observed Martinez loading the stolen AR into a vehicle, according to the allegations. Upon their arrests, law enforcement allegedly discovered multiple firearms within the vehicle.

As convicted felons, Martinez and Garza are prohibited per federal law of possessing firearms or ammunition.

If convicted, Frias and Garza face up to 20 years for the robbery, while Garza and Martinez could receive up to 15 years for the firearms charge. Upon conviction of brandishing a firearm, Frias and Garza would receive a mandatory seven-year-sentence which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. Each conviction also carries a possible fine of up to $250,000.

All three men remain in custody pending further proceedings.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of police departments in Edinburg and Palmview, Texas Department of Public Safety and the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Devin V. Walker and Lee A. Fry are prosecuting 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.

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 – Three individuals have been sent to prison for conspiracy to import heroin and fentanyl into the United States from Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Elias Herrera, 31, Liz Jomayra Diaz-Colon, 23, and Jonathan Guemez, 30, all previously pleaded guilty and admitted they admitted they had conspired together to import the drugs into the United States. All are from Nashville, Tennessee.

Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane imposed a 87-month term of imprisonment for Herrera to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard Herrera had recruited his co-defendants and smuggled heroin and fentanyl for a period of eight months prior to his arrest. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Crane noted Herrera’s extensive involvement in drug smuggling as a recruiter and organizer.

Diaz-Colon and Guemez were previously sentenced to 36 and 87 months in federal prison, respectively, and must serve four years on supervised release.

In 2021, Diaz-Colon, Herrera and Guemez began working with Mexican drug traffickers to coordinate transportation of multiple drug loads into the United States.

On Aug. 20, 2021, Diaz-Colon attempted to pass through a Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint. A K-9 alerted to her vehicle which resulted in the discovery of 4.66 kilograms of heroin concealed in the battery of her Jeep Cherokee.

The following day, Herrera attempted to enter the United States. Authorities also discovered narcotics in his vehicle - 4.76 kilograms of fentanyl in the car’s battery.

Guemez also attempted to bring drugs into the country. Law enforcement was able to seize 3.94 kilograms of heroin from his vehicle.

The investigation connected all three people. It revealed they had been communicating with each other through WhatsApp, referring to themselves as the “Suicide Squad.”

At the time of their pleas, they admitted they had conspired together to import a total of 8.6 kilograms of heroin and 4.76 kilograms of fentanyl into the United States. The drugs have an estimated street value of approximately $1,622,880.

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

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

HOUSTON – A 25-year-old Indian citizen has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Anirudha Kalkote admitted he participated in a fraud ring from 2019-2020 which operated out of various cities including Houston. The scheme targeted elderly victims throughout the United States and elsewhere.

The ring tricked and deceived victims using various ruses and instructed them to send money via wire through a money transmitter business such as Western Union or MoneyGram, by buying gift cards and providing to the fraudsters or by mailing cash to alias names via FedEx or UPS.

Part of the scheme involved fraudsters contacting victims by phone or via internet sites for computer technical support and directing victims to a particular phone number. Once victims contacted the fraudsters, they were told various stories such as they were communicating with an expert that needed remote access to their computer in order to provide technical support services. The fraudsters then gained access to victims’ personal data and bank and credit card information.

Victims typically paid a fee to conspirators for the fake technical support but were later told they were due a refund. Through paying for “technical support” or through the “refund” process, the ring gained access to the victim’s bank account(s) and credit cards and manipulated the accounts to make it appear the victim was paid too large a refund due to a typographical error. Victims were then instructed to reimburse the ring by various means.

Victims were sometimes re-victimized multiple times and threatened with bodily harm if they did not pay.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt accepted the plea and set sentencing for June 26. At that time, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Four others have already pleaded guilty in relation to the scheme and are awaiting sentencing April 20. MD Azad, 26, Sumit Kumar Singh, 25, Himanshu Kumar, 25, and MD Hasib, 27 are Indian nationals who illegally resided in Houston.

All five individuals remain in custody pending sentencing.

The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States including the Sheriff’s Office and Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office of Augusta County, Virginia. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek and Quincy Ollison are prosecuting the case. 

The case is brought as a part of the Elder Justice Initiative. Its goal is to support and coordinate the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s older adults.

In March 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice launched National Elder Fraud Hotline to help combat fraud against older Americans and provide services to victims. If you or someone you know is a victim of elder fraud, we encourage you to call the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11 (833–372–8311).

The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. eastern time. Services are available for speakers of English, Spanish and other languages.

HOUSTON –  A 39-year old South Texas man has been handed a significant sentence for his role in a cocaine distribution conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.  

A federal jury deliberated for approximately four hours following an eight-day trial before returning a guilty verdict July 22, 2019, against Lee Roy Villareal, Rio Grande City, on conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.

Today, U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen imposed a 180-month-term of imprisonment be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court found Villarreal ran a large-scale cocaine distribution network that spanned nearly five years. During that time, Villarreal and his associates distributed 150-450 kilograms of cocaine from Mexico and Panama to a large number of cocaine distributors based throughout the country to include cities in Texas, Georgia, Illinois and Indiana.

The judge found Villarreal was directly involved in the importation of cocaine.

Villarreal’s brother is Michael Villarreal aka Gringo Mike, a former Gulf Cartel plaza boss whom rival Gulf Cartel members killed in March 2013.

“Drug cartels like Gulf Cartel aka Cartel del Golfo (CDG) flood our communities with drugs that cause death and destruction, but high-ranking CDG leaders like Villarreal are not immune from stiff punishments,” said Hamdani. “This prosecution dealt a tough blow to the CDG’s operations. Villarreal brought poison to our communities, and collaborative efforts with our partners brought him to justice.”

At trial, the jury heard Villarreal was in charge of running drug trafficking operations on the U.S. side in South Texas on behalf of Gringo Mike and the Gulf Cartel.

Testimony revealed Villarreal was directly involved in the importation of cocaine from Mexico and Panama. He directed the activities of his workers who imported, stashed and transported cocaine to cities across the United States. Villarreal was also in charge of repatriating proceeds from the sale of cocaine back to Gringo Mike and Gulf Cartel members in Mexico. Villarreal used at least one stash house in Mission to store cocaine and drug proceeds.

Villarreal testified at trial and claimed he was never involved in drug trafficking, had no illegal association with his brother, Gringo Mike, and merely operated a legitimate auto mechanic business. The jury did not believe the defense claims and found him guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.

To date, 12 other individuals have been convicted in relation to the conspiracy.

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

The FBI led the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation dubbed Operation La Hermandad, along with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Border Patrol, Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, Starr County High Intensity Drug Task Force Area Task Force and the Mission Police Department. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

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

HOUSTON – The former governor of Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for accepting over $3.5 million in illegal bribe money and using it to fraudulently purchase property in the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Tomas Yarrington Ruvalcaba, 66, was also a former candidate for president of Mexico. He pleaded guilty March 25, 2021.

Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera sentenced Yarrington to 108 months imprisonment. Not a U.S. citizen, Yarrington is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that as an elected official, Yarrington violated his oath of office, weakening the country of Mexico and promoting criminal activity.  As part of his sentence, Yarrington has also forfeited a Port Isabel condominium.

“Even if you are governor of a Mexican state, we will not stand idly by when you use your position to wrongfully fill your pockets and violate the laws of the United States.” said Hamdani. “Today’s prison sentence for Yarrington concludes a multi-year, multi-agency international investigation spanning two continents concluding in bringing a corrupt politician to justice.”

“HSI relentlessly disrupts and dismantles transnational criminal organizations that pose a threat to U.S. national security, to include any corrupt public officials who use their position for criminal gain,” said Craig Larrabee, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in San Antonio. “HSI is dedicated and determined to investigate those involved in criminal activity and who launder their ill-gotten gains in the United States.”

Yarrington accepted bribes from individuals and private companies in Mexico to do business with the state of Tamaulipas while he served as governor. Yarrington was in that position from 1999 to 2005. He was also an Institutional Revolutionary Party candidate for president of Mexico in 2005.

Yarrington used the bribery money he received while governor to purchase properties in the United States. He had prestanombres - nominee buyers -purchase property in the United States to hide Yarrington’s ownership of the properties and the illegal bribery money used to purchase them. Yarrington laundered his illegally obtained bribe money in the United States by purchasing beachfront condominiums, large estates, commercial developments, airplanes and luxury vehicles. 

“IRS-Criminal Investigation (CI) special agents are experts in following the money in a financial crime, and we found plenty of money to follow that helped to unravel Yarrington’s criminal enterprise,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Rodrick J. Benton of IRS-CI’s Houston Field Office. “Working alongside other law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the other U.S. and international partners helps U.S. taxpayers know that justice is a global concept and no criminal is out of reach.”

“The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), HSI, IRS-CI and FBI, along with our state, local and international law enforcement partners, were a force multiplier in this case who collaborated to halt the threat of corrupt money into our country,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the DEA – Houston Division. “There will always be zero tolerance for those who abuse their power for self-gain at our communities' expense. This sentence highlights our continued commitment to bringing those who misuse that power to justice.”

“This individual took advantage of his position to enrich himself at the expense of those who trusted him,” said Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. of the FBI - San Antonio Division. “Today’s sentencing serves as a powerful reminder to any corrupt official that these activities will not be tolerated. The FBI remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to hold corrupt officials accountable to the communities they were sworn to serve.”

In April 2017, authorities captured Yarrington in Italy while traveling under an assumed name and false passport. He was taken into custody on a provisional arrest warrant based on the indictment returned in May 2013. Although Yarrington contested extradition, Italian authorities eventually authorized his extradition to the United States. He arrived in April 2018. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

HSI led the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation dubbed Operation Green Tide with the assistance of IRS – CI, DEA, FBI and Texas Attorney General’s Office. It included agents and officers in Brownsville, San Antonio, Houston, Corpus Christi and New York. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs handled the extradition in this matter. The U.S. government also acknowledges with gratitude the significant assistance received from the government of Mexico in the course of this investigation. Additionally, the United States acknowledges the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, HSI-Rome, HSI-Mexico City, the Italian Ministry of the Interior (particularly Interpol Rome and the Central Operations Service of the Italian National Police) and the Italian Ministry of Justice in Yarrington’s extradition.

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 Jody Young, Jon Muschenheim and Karen Betancourt are prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A 51-year-old Houston man has been convicted of two 2019 armed robberies, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

The Houston jury deliberated for approximately two hours after a three-day trial before convicting Hezron Benjamin Stuart on two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and two counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.

The jury found that Stuart robbed The Corner Food Mart located at 3502 Mangum and discharged his firearm May 18, 2019. On May 23, 2019, Stuart also robbed the Citgo Gas Station located at 3839 South Loop East. During the Citgo robbery, Stuart shot the store clerk when he refused to give up the cash. 

This kind of violent crime has to stop,” said Hamdani. “To those trigger-pullers that want to inflict harm on our community... be aware…we are coming after you. This man put lives in danger and was found guilty. I am happy that because of this jury and the dedicated work of our prosecutors and partners, he will now face the consequences of his actions.”

At trial, the jury heard from witnesses in both cases, including the surviving shooting victim, who were able to identify Stuart as the person who robbed and shot at them. The jury also heard from a firearms examiner who testified regarding firearms evidence collected from both scenes and the similarities between the evidence. A fingerprint examiner had compared a fingerprint left at the scene of the Citgo Gas Station robbery to Stuart and determined that it was the same. 

Stuart represented himself during the trial and claimed he was not the individual who committed the robberies. The jury did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal presided over trial and set sentencing for July 27. At that time, Stuart faces up to 20 years for the robbery and up to life for the firearms charges which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed.  

Stuart has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI conducted the investigation as part of the ATF Houston Crime Gun Strike Force with the assistance of the Houston Police Department (HPD) and the Houston Forensic Science Center. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Ferko and Britni Cooper prosecuted the case. 

The ATF Houston Crime Gun Strike Force was created as a joint effort between the ATF And HPD to combat the growing trend in crimes involving firearms.

HOUSTON – A federal jury in Houston has convicted a 25-year-old citizen of Niger on firearms charges related to his status in the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

The jury deliberated for approximately one hour following a one-day trial before returning guilty verdicts on all four counts as charged against Moctar Ahmadou Gouroudja Ahmadou.

Even though Ahmadou was lawfully present in the United States on a nonimmigrant visa, he violated the terms of that status by illegally using a firearm and ammunition.

“Thousands of people enter this country each year and honor and appreciate the terms of their presence in the United States,” said Hamdani. “This individual disrespected that privilege not once or twice, but four times by illegally possessing and using firearms and ammunition. We cannot allow non-citizens to violate our gun laws, and we thank the jury for returning the verdicts as they did today.”

Ahmadou entered the United States on March 24, 2016, from Niger. At the time, he had a nonimmigrant F1 visa, or student visa, to study at the North American University in Stafford. Under that status, he was not permitted to possess or use firearms or ammunition. 

However, the jury heard that on or around May 17, 2021, Ahmadou participated in handling and firing a handgun at a Texas-based gun range. He purchased a course called “First Shot” which provided training on pistol shooting and range time. Immediately after completing the course, Ahmadou rented and later purchased a Glock 45. He was seen at the firing line at the gun range holding a pistol and shooting down range towards a target.  

On May 18, 2021, Ahmadou returned to the same gun range to participate in handling and firing a rifle. The course consisted of firearms safety, manipulation and shooting a rifle. He also possessed and shot a Smith & Wesson, model MP15, .223 caliber rifle and purchased and possessed four boxes of Fiocchi .223 caliber ammunition which he used with the rifle.

U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett presided over the trial and has set sentencing for June 22. At that time, Ahmadou faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.  

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

The FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Department of State - Diplomatic Security Service; Homeland Security Investigations; Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Customs and Immigration Service; and Texas Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Schammel and Richard Bennett prosecuted the case along with Trial Attorney Michael Dittoe of the Justice Department’s Counter Terrorism Section.

LAREDO, Texas – A 52-year-old woman who used multiple aliases has been charged with using someone else’s identity on multiple occasions and lying to authorities in connection with obtaining a passport, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Elizabeth Ann Berbel is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher Dos Santos at 9:30 a.m.

Berbel, who turned herself in to authorities yesterday, is also known as Ana Elizabeth Gomez-Garcia, Ana Elizabeth Gomez Garcia, Ana Elizabeth Gomez, Anna Elizabeth Gomez Garcia, Anna Elizabeth Gomez, Elizabeth Berbel, Elizabeth Ann Gomez, Tina Gomez-Manns and Anna Gomez.

A federal grand jury returned a nine-count indictment March 7. The charges include one count of passport fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft linked to the passport fraud as well as four counts of lying to a federal agency and three counts of misusing a Social Security number.

On March 22, 2019, Berbel applied for a U.S. passport, claiming the identity of another individual, according to the charges. As part of that process, she allegedly provided false information to include she was born in Chicago when she was not. The indictment further alleges she gave fraudulent information about her parents and provided a Social Security number that did not belong to her as part of the application process.

Along with the allegedly fraudulent passport application, the charges also allege that on two separate occasions, she had applied for a Texas driver’s license. In each instance, Berbel allegedly used the same victim’s Social Security number.

If convicted, Berbel faces up to 10 years for the passport fraud in addition to five years each for lying to authorities and for misusing a Social Security number. She will also receive a mandatory two years for the identity theft, upon conviction, which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed.

The Department of State conducted the investigation with assistance from the Social Security Administration and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Bajew 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 federal grand jury in Houston has returned an indictment charging five men and one woman with aiding and abetting the use of a firearm to commit murder in aid of racketeering.

The six defendants are alleged members of the 100% Third Ward (103) Gang, which operates in and around the Third Ward area of Houston.

This is the first indictment returned as part of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) and local, state and federal law enforcement. This joint effort, first announced in September 2022, concentrates on addressing violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal racketeering laws to prosecute gang members in the southwest and southeast areas of Houston. As part of the initiative, the Criminal Division has dedicated attorneys and other resources to prosecute violent offenders and to assist intervention, prevention and reentry efforts to address the root causes of violent crime, including through funding provided by the department’s Office of Justice Programs.

“Since we announced the Violent Crime Initiative less than six months ago, our dedicated prosecutors and agents have been working tirelessly to target the ‘worst of the worst’ violent gang members that are terrorizing Houston residents,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These efforts have led to today’s announcement of an indictment charging half a dozen 103 Gang members with murder as part of their war with a rival gang. But we recognize that the fight against violent crime requires more than just enforcement actions and we are continuing to engage directly with the community to build trust and allow for meaningful and sustained change.”

“To gang members and others infecting our streets with this type of crime – the power of the federal government is here. We will not stop. We will find you. No matter how long it takes, we will prosecute and ensure you pay the price for your actions,” said SDTX U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. “A priority of this office, every day, is for the Third Ward’s children to feel safe in their homes and on the streets from the terror of local gangs, and we will work with all partners and use all tools to make that priority a reality.”

The defendants are Shaquile O’Neal Richards, 29; Alexandra Elizabeth Nicks, 23; Deandre Watson, 24; Marcus Dewane Christopher, 26; Marquis Juwan Erskin, 29; and Mertroy Harris, 32.

The defendants, all from Houston, are charged with their involvement in a murder that occurred on London Street in the Third Ward in Houston in October 2017.

As alleged in the indictment, returned March 9, Richards was incarcerated in a state prison for aggravated robbery when he and Nicks ordered 103 Gang members to shoot members of a rival gang as part of an ongoing gang war. On Oct. 16, 2017, Watson, Christopher, Erskin and Harris allegedly saw someone they believed was a rival gang member. They allegedly opened fire at that individual, who was standing with another man. The suspected rival gang member was shot and injured, but the other victim, not part of any gang, was killed. 

After the shooting, Watson, Christopher, Erskin and Harris allegedly attempted to flee in a stolen car but drove into a ditch. The four allegedly fled that car, and Watson, Christopher and Erskin then carjacked another vehicle by forcing a woman and child from it.

According to the indictment, the 103 Gang is an enterprise that engaged in criminal acts involving murder, robbery, narcotics distribution and assault. The 103 Gang allegedly recruits new members primarily from the neighborhoods within the Third Ward area. Gang members use violence, threats of violence and intimidation to protect the power, reputation and territory of the 103 Gang, according to the indictment.

“These indictments highlight he Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) commitment to investigating and bringing to justice those who use firearms to terrorize our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Fred Milanowski. “Our streets are safer today because of the diligent work done on this case by ATF and our local, state and federal law enforcement partners that comprise the Violent Crime Initiative.”

“Gang violence impacts nearly every aspect of our communities, from the safety of our streets to the quality of life in our neighborhoods,” said Assistant Director Luis M. Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI will continue to work with our partners and use every available tool to combat the fear and violence caused by these gangs and bring them to justice.”

“The commitment to putting violent offenders in jail and getting guns off our streets is a high priority,” said Chief Troy Finner of the Houston Police Department (HPD). “I am so grateful and proud of this collaboration with our federal partners that allows us to continue to put criminals in jail and seek justice for those victimized by violent crime.”

If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison or death.

The ATF, FBI and HPD conducted the investigation the case with assistance from the Texas Anti-Gang Center.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Hanes and Heather Winter are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorneys Ralph Paradiso and Sheila Lafferty of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.

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

The Department of Justice today announced an indictment charging five men and a woman with aiding and abetting the use of a firearm to commit murder in aid of racketeering.

The six defendants are alleged members of the 100% Third Ward (103) Gang, which operates in and around the Third Ward area of Houston.

This is the first indictment returned as part of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and local, state, and federal law enforcement. This joint effort, first announced in September 2022, concentrates on addressing violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal racketeering laws to prosecute gang members in the southwest and southeast areas of Houston. As part of the initiative, the Criminal Division has dedicated attorneys and other resources to prosecute violent offenders and to assist intervention, prevention, and reentry efforts to address the root causes of violent crime, including through funding provided by the department’s Office of Justice Programs. 

“Since we announced the Violent Crime Initiative less than six months ago, our dedicated prosecutors and agents have been working tirelessly to target the ‘worst of the worst’ violent gang members that are terrorizing Houston residents,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These efforts have led to today’s announcement of an indictment charging half a dozen 103 Gang members with murder as part of their war with a rival gang. But we recognize that the fight against violent crime requires more than just enforcement actions and we are continuing to engage directly with the community to build trust and allow for meaningful and sustained change.”

“To gang members and others infecting our streets with this type of crime – the power of the federal government is here. We will not stop. We will find you. No matter how long it takes, we will prosecute and ensure you pay the price for your actions,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas. “A priority of this office, every day, is for the Third Ward’s children to feel safe in their homes and on the streets from the terror of local gangs, and we will work with all partners and use all tools to make that priority a reality.”

The defendants are Shaquile O’Neal Richards, 29; Alexandra Elizabeth Nicks, 23; Deandre Watson, 24; Marcus Dewane Christopher, 26; Marquis Juwan Erskin, 29; and Mertroy Harris, 32.

The defendants, all from Houston, are charged with their involvement in a murder that occurred on London Street in the Third Ward in Houston in October 2017.

As alleged in the indictment, Richards was incarcerated in a state prison for aggravated robbery when he and Nicks ordered 103 Gang members to shoot members of a rival gang as part of an ongoing gang war. On Oct. 16, 2017, Watson, Christopher, Erskin, and Harris allegedly saw someone they believed was a rival gang member. They allegedly opened fire at that individual, who was standing with another man. The suspected rival gang member was shot and injured, but the other victim, not part of any gang, was killed.  

After the shooting, Watson, Christopher, Erskin, and Harris allegedly attempted to flee in a stolen car but drove into a ditch. The four allegedly fled that car, and Watson, Christopher, and Erskin then carjacked another vehicle by forcing a woman and child from it.

“These indictments highlight the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) commitment to investigating and bringing to justice those who use firearms to terrorize our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Fred Milanowski of the ATF. “Our streets are safer today because of the diligent work done on this case by ATF and our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners that comprise the Violent Crime Initiative.”

“Gang violence impacts nearly every aspect of our communities, from the safety of our streets to the quality of life in our neighborhoods,” said Assistant Director Luis M. Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI will continue to work with our partners and use every available tool to combat the fear and violence caused by these gangs and bring them to justice.”

“The commitment to putting violent offenders in jail and getting guns off our streets is a high priority,” said Chief Troy Finner of the Houston Police Department (HPD). “I am so grateful and proud of this collaboration with our federal partners that allows us to continue to put criminals in jail and seek justice for those victimized by violent crime.”

According to the indictment, the 103 Gang is an enterprise that engaged in criminal acts involving murder, robbery, narcotics distribution, and assault. The 103 Gang allegedly recruits new members primarily from the neighborhoods within the Third Ward area. Gang members use violence, threats of violence and intimidation to protect the power, reputation, and territory of the 103 Gang, according to the indictment.

If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of life in prison or death.

The ATF, FBI, and HPD investigated the case with assistance from the Texas Anti-Gang Center.

Trial Attorneys Ralph Paradiso and Sheila Lafferty of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Hanes and Heather Winter for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 49-year-old Nicaraguan citizen illegally in the United States has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport undocumented aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

On June 6, 2022, Arling Antonio Gutierrez-Garcia drove a semi-tractor pulling a belly dump trailer with 63 citizens from Mexico and Guatemala. The metal trailer was covered with a vinyl tarp, thereby eliminating air circulation and increasing temperatures which led to the aliens’ distress.

Gutierrez-Garcia noticed them jumping out the trailer from a tear in the tarp they had made. He then stopped the semi-tractor in west Webb County on a private ranch road where law enforcement saw him standing by the cab.

Law enforcement and medical personnel provided assistance to the  individuals located in the trailer and brush. One alien was found at the bottom of the trailer’s pit and pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities apprehended Gutierrez-Garcia in the brush, at which time he claimed he was being transported with the others. However, the investigation revealed he was the driver of the vehicle.

“Transporting dozens of human beings in a vinyl-covered all metal trailer in the South Texas summer heat demonstrates the callousness and indifference of smugglers to human life,” said Hamdani. “The sweltering heat that built up in this vehicle which was designed not for people, but for hauling sand, rock and other materials maximized the potential for injury and the eventual and tragic death of one of the victims. This defendant will now face substantial consequences for his inhumane crime.” 

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña accepted the plea and will impose sentencing at a later date. At that hearing, Gutierrez-Garcia faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.

He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol, Sheriff’s Offices in Webb and Dimmit Counties, Webb County District Attorney’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Homero Ramirez is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A 43-year-old Houston woman has been charged for conspiracy to commit and committing health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Rose Davies is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena H. Palermo at 2 p.m.

A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment March 1 against Davies.

The charges allege Davies owned Pri Home Healthcare in Houston from 2012 to 2020. During that time, she allegedly paid recruiters and doctors to bill Medicare for home health care services using Medicare beneficiary information regardless of whether they needed home health care services or not.  

If convicted, Davies faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the five counts of health care fraud as well as another five years for the conspiracy. All charges also carry a potential $250,000 maximum fine.

Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General and Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grace Murphy and James Hu 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 24-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison for his role in trafficking drugs in the metro area, announced Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Alberto Serna pleaded guilty Oct. 27, 2022, to possession with the intent to distribute meth.

Today, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt sentenced Serna to serve 168 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard evidence that Serna was held accountable for 7,513 grams of meth.

“Meth kills and destroys entire communities, and my office will use all means necessary to stop the proliferation of toxic drugs that inflict harm on our citizens” said Hamdani. “You can’t sell kilograms of drugs in the Southern District of Texas without paying a hefty price, and today’s sentence represents that.”

On April 15, 2022, law enforcement learned Serna would be transporting a large amount of narcotics. They conducted surveillance and observed Serna committing suspicious activity. A joint effort led to a traffic stop, at which time authorities inspected his vehicle and discovered over eight kilograms of meth.

The drugs had an estimated street value of $130,000.

At the time of his plea, Serna admitted he possessed the meth with the intent to distribute it.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Harris County Precinct 3 Constable’s office.

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

LAREDO, Texas – Five U.S. citizens and one Mexican national have been convicted of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute a total of approximately 75 kilograms of meth associated with an independent drug cartel located in Michoacan, Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Gerardo Martinez, 63, Laredo, pleaded guilty to leading a conspiracy to bring meth into the United States from Mexico and on to San Antonio, Dallas and beyond. Maria Valdez, 30, Rodrigo Sandoval, 31, and Karina Garcia, 26, all also of Laredo, previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy as did Mexican national Jose Alfredo Cruz-Salas, 37, and Ernesto Diaz-Velazquez, 40, Dallas.

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.

As part of his plea today, Martinez admitted to coordinating five drug trafficking events involving the illegal distribution of meth through Laredo.

Sandoval, Cruz-Salas, Valdez, Diaz-Velazquez and Garcia each previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to deliver and transport meth through Laredo while working for Martinez. Martinez maintained a front as an independent taxi driver while working on behalf of the Michoacan cartel.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, each faces up to life in prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the 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.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A chief petty officer has been convicted of running a firearms sales business without a license, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Matthew Keith Staton was not a licensed dealer of firearms. However, he admitted he sold five Palmetto State Armory “Build the Wall” .308 caliber rifles to Luis Enrique Vallejo. Vallejo, 41, San Benito, was a former law enforcement officer who was federally convicted for his role in attempting to export the same firearms into Mexico with the serial numbers removed.

At the time of the incident, Staton was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard and is currently an E7 chief petty officer.

U.S. District Judge Olvera accepted the plea and has set sentencing for May 31. At that time, Staton faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Vallejo has already been sentenced to 13 months in federal prison for his crime.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Coast Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Lindenmuth is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A 52-year-old Pearland resident has pleaded guilty to making false statements in an aircraft maintenance log, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Ronald P. Franklin admitted that on or about Oct. 9, 2020, he knowingly and willfully falsified an aircraft’s annual inspection records. Franklin had fraudulently represented himself as an Inspection Authorization (IA) holder and falsely certified he performed an annual inspection on an aircraft and determined it was in airworthy condition. The aircraft subsequently experienced an in-flight power loss leading to a crash.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates domestic aircraft and air travel. They require most U.S.-registered general aviation aircraft to undergo annual inspections to ensure they are airworthy which an FAA-certified mechanic must perform.  

Following an annual inspection, FAA regulations require an IA holder to make an entry in the aircraft’s log book certifying the inspection was properly completed and the furnished information is true and correct. IA holders must certify each annual inspection they perform using their unique FAA certificate number.

Franklin was not an IA holder and did not perform the inspection as he falsely claimed.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison accepted the plea and has set sentencing for May 24. At that time, Franklin faces up to five years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Franklin was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

The Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christian Latham and Jay Hileman are prosecuting the case.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 33-year-old Houston woman has been found guilty of two counts of drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Judge Rolando Olvera deliberated for three days before convicting Brenda Banessa Leal of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute. The bench trial began Feb. 27 and concluded March 1.

During trial, the judge heard evidence that since at least 2018, Leal assisted several family members who were part of a drug trafficking organization. She helped transport narcotics, mainly cocaine, from Mexico to Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley. The drugs were  hidden in the rear differential in tractor trailers.

Several members of the organization reside in Cadereyta, Nuevo Leon, Mexico where Leal has lived the majority of her adult life. She also assisted family members in transporting bulk cash money, ammunition and weapons to Mexico.

The court evidence about text and whatsapp messages between co-conspirators, jail call recordings as well as videos detailing Leal’s criminal actions.

The investigation revealed that between February 2021 and June 2021, Leal was the logistics coordinator of the drug trafficking organization. In that role, she coordinated drivers, dealers and cover loads on this side of the border. In June 2021, while Leal and co-conspirators were preparing to unload a tractor truck that contained approximately 33 kilograms of cocaine, the organization got robbed (“ripped”) of the cocaine by another drug trafficking organization.

Authorities apprehended that group shortly after stealing the cocaine from Leal.

The defense attempted to convince the judge that Leal did not have knowledge of the cocaine that was hidden in the tractor trailer and was simply a victim of the “rip crew.” Judge Olvera did not believe those claims and found Leal guilty as charged.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS - Criminal Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety. 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 Alejandra Andrade and Ed Rodriguez are prosecuting the case. 

McALLEN, Texas – Two men charged in connection to multiple tractor trailers loads with meth have been ordered to prison, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Dorian Hazel Ruiz-Chavez, 36, a citizen of Mexico unlawfully in the United States, pleaded guilty Oct. 25, 2022, while Mario Alberto Ortiz, 43, Edinburg, plead guilty Oct. 3, 2022.

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered Ruiz-Chavez to serve 190 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. Ortiz was ordered to serve a 168 months in federal prison and further ordered to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Ortiz owned a tractor trailer transport company and used his legitimate tractors to help transport narcotics. In sentencing Ruiz, the court noted he had direct contact with the Mexican suppliers. Even though law enforcement had seized large narcotics loads, it did not deter him from again transporting large quantities of 100% pure meth.

Judge Alvarez previously sentenced Luis Ramos, 35, Donna, to 70 months for his involvement.

Roel Longoria, 34, Edinburg, pleaded guilty June 23, 2022, for his role and is scheduled for sentencing May 17.

In September 2020, law enforcement initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization in the Rio Grande Valley. They were believed to be involved with the importation of narcotics from Mexico utilizing commercial tractor trailers with hidden compartments.

Ruiz-Chavez would coordinate with a Mexican narcotics supplier who would send the tractor trailers across into the United States. Once there, Ruiz-Chavez worked with additional individuals to store and transport the trailers further north. Longoria and Ortiz were tasked with finding willing drivers to transport the narcotics-laden trailers after they entered the United States.

On Nov. 12, 2020, law enforcement seized a tractor trailer after it entered the United States through the Laredo Port of Entry. The trailer contained 119 kilograms of meth within a hidden compartment. On April 26, 2021, law enforcement again seized a tractor trailer after it entered the United States through the Pharr Port of Entry. The trailer contained 90 kilograms of meth within a hidden compartment. Both trailers were supposed to be transported at the direction of Ruiz-Chavez.

Following the seizures, the organization changed tactics and began to transport narcotics in smaller loads within passenger vehicles.

On May 12, 2021, Ramos received 42 kilograms of meth and was to transport it the following day in his personal vehicle. However, authorities stopped him and took him into custody. Ortiz recruited Ramos to transport the narcotics.

Ruiz-Chavez and Ortiz have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia prosecuted the case.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 30-year-old Mexican citizen has pleaded guilty to attempted alien smuggling resulting in death, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Miguel Angel Ceballos-Acuna pleaded guilty today to attempted alien smuggling resulting the death of one minor child.

On March 22, 2022, law enforcement responded to reports of suspecting alien smuggling near the border fence on the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) campus. Two individuals had crossed the border fence and got into a white SUV. Authorities then engaged in a high speed pursuit of the vehicle, which ran multiple red lights, but eventually disengaged pursuit due to safety concerns.

However, the vehicle continued traveling at a high rate of speed and crashed into a utility pole in a residential neighborhood. When law enforcement arrived on scene, they discovered the body of a 14-year-old Mexican citizen.

As part of his plea, Ceballos-Acuna admitted he and another individual had driven the white SUV that day to pick up an alien who had illegally entered the United States. When they arrived at the UTRGV campus, two aliens entered the vehicle, including the minor victim. Ceballos-Acuna admitted he knew the minor victim was unlawfully present in the United States. Nevertheless, he attempted to transport the victim which resulted in his death.

U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera accepted the plea and will impose sentencing May 31. At that time, Ceballos-Acuna faces up to life in prison and a possible $250,000 fine.

Ceballos-Acuna has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol, Brownsville Police Department and Cameron County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edgardo J. Rodriguez and Megan Eyes prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 26-year-old Laredo resident has pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

The investigation began when authorities learned an IP address associated with Aaron Negrete had uploaded child pornography online.  

On Oct. 12, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home. At that time, they found and seized several electronic devices which contained child pornography and took Negrete into custody.  

He ultimately admitted to downloading an application he used to search for child pornography such as baby and toddler abuse. He also sexually abused a minor relative. He recorded himself doing so and shared the recordings and photographs online.

The investigation revealed the minor visited Negrete and stayed at his residence in Laredo. The victim claimed that on more than 50 instances Negrete forced him to rub his genitals and took naked pictures of him, among other things. The minor was told to keep it a secret to prevent “something bad” from happening.

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Negrete faces a mandatory minimum of 15 and up to 30 years in federal prison.

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

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department.

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 46-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been sent to prison following his convictions of conducting an illegal gambling business and conspiring to steal government property, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Nathan Nichols pleaded guilty March 21, 2022.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos ordered Nichols to serve 27 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the dangers and potential damage that could be caused to the United States military. In addition, Nichols was order to pay over $1 million in restitution.

Nichols admitted that from March 2018 to August 2019, he operated illegal gambling businesses in Corpus Christi. He also pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal sensitive government property from the U.S. Army installation at Ft. Hood in June 2021.

Nichols was the co-owner of Theo's Bar and owner/operator of Lady Luck, both facilities containing illegal gaming devices. The establishments contained sweepstakes games which people play by using computers and monitors rather than casino-style equipment. The games are software-based and function as traditional slot-machine games or “8-liners.” However, the action of the slot-machine reels are simulated on a computer screen rather than on mechanical reels. Those playing the machines place bets before each spin and receive winnings in cash. 

In a separate case, Nichols also admitted he conspired with others to steal sensitive U.S. Army property valued at $2,176,000. He had been in contact with one of the persons responsible for the theft and requested pictures of the property before agreeing to buy it for resale. Once he obtained the items, Nichols subsequently listed them for sale on eBay.

Authorities executed a search warrant at Nichols’ residence in July 2021. At that time, they discovered sensitive military equipment including laser range finders, thermal scopes, night vision scopes, night vision goggles and laser aiming devices. All of the property belonged to the U.S. Army. 

As part of his guilty pleas, Nichols agreed to forfeit a total of  $2,185,218.73 as proceeds from his illegal activity.

Nichols 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 Corpus Christi Police Department on the gambling case. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the stolen property investigation with the assistance of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSA) Joel Dunn and Christopher Marin prosecuted the cases with the assistance of Asset Forfeiture AUSA Yifei Zheng. 

HOUSTON – A 56-year-old business owner has admitted to conspiring to commit mail fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Sudhakar Kalaga admitted that from 2010 to 2019, he engaged in a bribery and bid rigging fraud scheme to secure construction and maintenance work contracts from a company with a manufacturing facility in Houston.

Kalaga admitted he submitted fake bids from non-existent construction companies to the victim company’s facilities manager. This was designed to make it appear his companies’ bids were the lowest. In return, Kalaga paid the facilities manager millions of dollars in kickbacks. Kalaga failed to disclose he was submitting falsified bids and paying kickbacks from the victim company’s own funds.

The victim company would not have paid Kalaga’s companies’ invoices had it known about the falsified bids or the kickback payments.        

Sentencing has been set for June 20 before U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal. At that time, Kalaga faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek is prosecuting the case.

McALLEN, Texas - Two Mexican men and a U.S. citizen have admitted to their roles in an alien smuggling conspiracy which resulted in death, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Francisco Javier Quintanilla-Alcocer, a 38-year old Mexican citizen, pleaded guilty today. Brandon Cibriano-Gonzalez, a 21-year-old Mexican citizen, and Orlando Andres Garcia, 23, Mission, had previously admitted their guilt in relation to the scheme.  

On Oct. 22, 2021, Cibriano-Gonzalez acted as a brush guide to smuggle a group of 10 non-U.S. citizens from Mexico into the United States. He guided them to a pick-up location in Palmview. There, Quintanilla-Alcocer and Garcia arrived and were driving a Chevrolet Impala and Chevrolet Malibu, respectively. The aliens and Cibriano-Gonzalez loaded into the vehicles and left the scene. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but both vehicles failed to yield and a high-speed chase ensued.

Garcia turned his vehicle in an attempt to divert law enforcement, while Quintanilla-Alcocer continued to accelerate. Quintanilla-Alcocer eventually turned onto a dirt road in Mission where the Chevrolet Impala rolled and crashed into a homeowner’s fence. Authorities located a total of seven individuals on scene. Three had been ejected, two of whom died at the scene.

Quintanilla-Alcocer was not located at that time. However, evidence in the vehicle led law enforcement to him. Phone records also indicated that Quintanilla-Alcocer and Garcia had been consistently communicating throughout the high-speed pursuit. During these conversations, Garcia instructed Quintanilla to go faster.  

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane accepted the pleas and set Quintanilla-Alcocer’s sentencing for May 25, while Cibriano-Gonzalez and Garcia are set for April 18. At those times, all three men face up to life in federal prison. They each have been and will remain in custody pending their hearings.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from the Palmview Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lee Fry and Devin Walker are prosecuting the case.