Southern District of Texas

A 24-year-old Venezuelan national is set to make his initial appearance in Houston federal court for providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization and significant drug trafficking offenses.

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

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

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

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

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

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

If convicted, Flores faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HOUSTON – A 42-year-old man who resides in Porter has entered a guilty plea to shooting and causing the death of a protected species, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Santos Guerrero admitted he shot a bald eagle at his residence Oct. 11, 2024.

Authorities responded to reports of the incident and saw video footage of the eagle being shot and falling from a tree. They proceeded to Guerrero’s residence and matched the tree to the one seen in the video. They located the eagle alive and transported it to an animal hospital, but it had to be euthanized due to its injuries.

A necropsy determined the bullet caused significant damage to the eagle’s wing. The impact from the fall also caused liver fractures, internal bleeding and a fractured leg.

Bald eagles are no longer listed as endangered but remain protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The law prohibits killing, possessing, selling, transporting, exporting or importing any bald or golden eagle, alive or dead, including any part, nest or egg, unless permitted.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray accepted the plea and set sentencing for July 30. At that time, Guerrero faces up to a year in federal prison and $100,000 maximum fine.

Fish and Wildlife Service conducted the investigation with the assistance of Texas Parks and Wildlife. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Liesel Roscher and Adam Goldman are prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A 53-year-old man who illegally resided in Houston has been sentenced for illegally reentering the country without authorization, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Jose Alcantar Esquivel Moreno pleaded guilty Feb. 20.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. has now ordered Moreno to serve 54 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he will be removed following his imprisonment. In imposing the sentence, the court noted Moreno had been told what would happen if he came back, and he chose to do so anyway.

Moreno has a prior felony conviction for aggravated assault-family violence. Authorities first removed him from the United States in February 2012.

Law Enforcement discovered Moreno again Oct. 23, 2022, following his arrest for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

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

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

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 27-year-old Laredo man has been found guilty of transportation, receipt and possession of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

The jury deliberated for approximately two hours before convicting Fernando Xavier Ortiz on all counts as charged following a two-day trial that concluded May 12. 

The investigation began after law enforcement learned child sexual abuse material had been uploaded to a social media application which originated from an apartment in Laredo. Ortiz resided at the location with his family.  

Authorities executed a search warrant in June 2024 and seized several electronic devices. Further examination of one of the cellular phones revealed 220 videos and 144 images containing CSAM. The files were all hidden in a “secure” folder Ortiz had loaded on the phone which was password protected.

Testimony revealed he had been actively using that same secure folder for other purposes, such as sending emails to purchase a car. 

The jury heard from four witnesses, some of whom described how Ortiz obtained the material from another application and stored it in the secure folder of the Samsung phone.  

The defense attempted to convince the jury someone else must have placed the material on his phone, and there was insufficient proof that he did it. They did not believe those claims and found Ortiz guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen presided over trial and will set sentencing at a later date. At that time, Ortiz faces up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Previously released on bond, he was ordered into custody following the verdict where he will remain pending that hearing. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance of Laredo Police Department and other members of the Laredo Child Exploitation Task Force. 

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 36-year-old Pasadena man has been ordered to federal prison after exchanging child pornography over the internet, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Pedro Lopez pleaded guilty May 6, 2025.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Lopez to serve 87 months in federal prison. He was further ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution and will serve 10 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 children and the internet. Lopez will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

The investigation into Lopez began Aug. 9, 2024, after authorities discovered he had been uploading child sexual abuse material over the internet. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on his home where they located his cell phone. A forensic examination revealed conversations Lopez had with others involving CSAM.

Lopez also sent and received child pornography to others online through various communication applications.

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance of Nueces County Sheriff’s Office.

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

HOUSTON – A 34-year-old foreign national who resided in Houston has pleaded guilty to illegal money transmission, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

From 2020 to 2022, Edikan Adiakpan owned an unlicensed money transmitting business through a company he controlled called Akama Lifestyle. As part of his plea, he admitted he used the business to transfer funds and kept a percentage as a fee.

The funds Adiakpan received and then transmitted originated from fraudsters who carried out a business email compromise scheme. It targeted more than 10 victims who received “spoofed” emails that appeared to come from known suppliers and creditors. The victims were tricked into sending payments to bank accounts the fraudsters controlled instead of the actual suppliers.

One victim wired $927,080 to the fraudsters who then sent portions of those proceeds to Adiakpan. He redeemed a cashier’s check payable to himself that contained $60,000 of the victim’s money.  

He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

Another Nigerian citizen, Ayobami Omoniyi, 26, was sentenced March 24 to 32 months in federal prison for his role in the scheme.

U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen accepted the plea and has sent sentencing for Sept. 15. At that time, Adiakpan faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

FBI – Houston and its Bryan Resident Agency and IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A 34-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for his convictions of using a firearm during the robberies of two area grocery stores, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Raul Castro pleaded guilty Jan. 15 to two counts of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Senior U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered him to serve 84 months on each count to run consecutively. The total 168-month sentence will be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. The court also ordered that Castro make restitution to the two victim businesses.

On Oct. 6, 2023, Castro robbed El Ahorro grocery store on Capitol Street and La Michoacana supermarket on Gulf Freeway eight days later. In both instances, he placed items on the conveyor belt, waited for the cashier to open the drawer and demanded money at gunpoint. 

During the El Ahorro robbery, he placed his gun to side of the cashier who then provided cash in fear for her safety and of being shot. 

Authorities located Castro after he was found driving a stolen car. Upon searching the vehicle, law enforcement discovered clothing that matched those of the man who had committed the grocery store robberies. Castro also identified himself in surveillance footage of the Oct. 14 incident during an interview with federal investigators.

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

The Houston Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ganz prosecuted the case. 

HOUSTON – A 38-year-old illegal alien from Mexico has been sentenced for illegally reentering the United States after removal, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Esequiel Rueda-Ramirez pleaded guilty to this offense on Nov. 13, 2025.

U.S. District Judge Hanen has now ordered Rueda-Ramirez to serve 48 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to again face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard evidence regarding Rueda-Ramirez’s criminal history while unlawfully present in the United States.

Rueda-Ramirez has prior convictions for evading arrest, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and illegal reentry.

Authorities first removed Rueda-Ramirez from the United States in February 2010, and he repeatedly returned illegally. On June 2, 2022, law enforcement again discovered him in the country without authorization.

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

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

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 25-year-old Laredo resident has been ordered to federal prison for transporting illegal aliens following a failed smuggling attempt near the La Bota Ranch area, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Duilio Ivan Selgado pleaded guilty Feb. 3.

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana has now ordered Selgado to serve 41 months in federal prison as well as a consecutive 14 months for violating his supervised release. The total 55-month term of imprisonment will be immediately followed by two years of supervised release.

During the hearing, the court heard additional evidence detailing Selgado’s extensive criminal history involving violence and other conduct that placed the public at risk, including assaults, arson and high-speed flights from law enforcement. In imposing the sentence, Judge Saldana commented on the distressing criminal history and noted that this marked Selgado’s sixth arrest for alien smuggling and the second time he violated a term of supervised release by committing the very same offense for which he was already under supervision. 

On Nov. 10, 2025, authorities were conducting surveillance in the La Bota Ranch area of Laredo. They observed approximately 20 illegal aliens cross the Rio Grande and walk towards a nearby boat ramp. Shortly after, a Ford Expedition and Ford F-150 picked up the aliens.

Law enforcement-initiated pursuit of the Expedition and observed Selgado exit the vehicle from the front passenger side. As they approached, several aliens fled on foot. 

One illegal alien stated he paid to be smuggled into the United States. After crossing the river, the group was directed to walk up a boat ramp to be picked up. He also said Selgado was on the phone receiving directions.

Selgado admitted to being a member of the Paisas prison gang.

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

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

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

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

To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 455 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 400 U.S. convictions; more than 350 significant jail sentences imposed and forfeitures of substantial assets.

HOUSTON – A total of 256 cases have been filed for immigration and border security-related crimes from May 1-7, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

The charges include 40 people allegedly involved in human smuggling. A total of 46 criminal complaints were filed for illegal entry, while another 180 people face charges of felony reentry after prior removal. The remaining case includes another immigration violation. Most of those charged this week have prior felonies such as narcotics, violent crime, immigration offenses and more.

Three of the filed cases allegedly involve illegal aliens found in the McAllen area. One individual is Armando Montoya-Cardozo from Bolivia, according to the charges. The criminal complaint alleges he has a prior conviction for carnal knowledge of a minor before he was removed from the United States, and that law enforcement discovered him near Roma with no authorization to be in the United States.

Also found near Roma was Juan Jose German-Carrillo despite having been removed Jan. 8, according to the complaint against him. The Mexican national was previously convicted of injuring a child or the elderly and possession of a controlled substance. Another Mexican national with prior drug convictions is Rene Villarreal-Carmona, according to his charges. Authorities discovered him near Escobares despite having been previously removed from the country.

If convicted, all three men face up to 20 years in federal prison.

In addition to the new cases, a three-time DUI offender illegally in the United States was ordered to federal prison in Houston federal court. Mexican national Jose Alejandro Luna-Rangel was previously removed from the United States in July 2016 following his conviction for driving under the influence with a child in the vehicle. However, he illegally returned and was convicted for assault-family violence and felony driving while intoxicated (third offense). He was ordered to serve 40 months for the federal illegal reentry after prior removal conviction.

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

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

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

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

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

HOUSTON – A 33-year-old illegal alien living in Houston has been ordered to federal prison for illegally reentering the country without authorization again, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Luis Miguel Sanchez-Martinez pleaded guilty Feb. 19. 

U.S. District Judge Sim Lake has now ordered Sanchez-Martinez to serve 42 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court considered his dangerous behavior, lack of respect for the law and need for further deterrence.    

Sanchez-Martinez has multiple convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol. 

Authorities first removed him from the United States in November 2020 following his third DUI conviction. He was subsequently removed after a fourth DUI, but law enforcement found him in Houston Aug. 9, 2024, with no authorization to be in the country.   

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

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

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

HOUSTON – A 40-year-old suburban Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison for his role in a scheme to defraud dozens of victims of over $17 million, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. 

Christopher Knight Lopez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud Feb. 19.

After today’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison ordered Lopez to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard statements from 13 victims, each of whom described the impact Lopez’s crime had on their lives. In handing down the sentence, Judge Ellison noted he had never seen a white-collar crime more offensive during his time on the bench.  

From May 2015 to January 2025, Lopez and his brother, Jayson Lopez, ran an investment business and conspired with others to defraud their clients by providing false information about the companies in which the clients invested. They used forged bank letters and fabricated account statements to mislead investors about the companies’ financial strength.

The bothers operated under several LLCs, to include Knight Nguyen Investments, Knight Advisory and Planning, Aevum Holdings Inc., Exempt Management LLC and Ping An Financial Services Pte.

The Lopez brothers misappropriated client funds for personal use and used additional investor money to pay purported returns to other victims to falsely portray the investments were profitable.

Christopher and Jayson Lopez also admitted they falsely claimed access to $2 billion in U.S. Treasury bonds. They told their clients they could use these funds to finance their clients’ businesses if the clients paid large advance fees. The brothers collected the fees from their clients but never issued the loans.

The scheme resulted in an approximately $17 million in losses to more than 40 victims, including senior citizens and others seeking to invest retirement savings and college funds, as well as local and international businesses.

Jayson Lopez, 43, Orlando, Florida, previously pleaded guilty to the same charge and will be sentenced May 8.

Nadir Abdel Torres 46, Mandan, North Dakota, was also charged and previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, admitting he assisted the brothers by helping them obtain the forged letters and bank statements. He will be sentenced May 22.

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin R. Martin prosecuted the case. 

HOUSTON – A 32-year-old illegal alien from Mexico with a felony criminal history has been sentenced for illegally reentering the country without authorization, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Jose Alejandro Luna-Rangel pleaded guilty Feb. 25.

U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal ordered Luna-Rangel to serve 40 months in federal prison, and he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court cited the need to deter further criminal conduct and considered Luna-Rangel’s pattern of dangerous behavior and repeated disregard of the law.

Authorities previously removed Luna-Rangel from the United States in July 2016 following his conviction for driving under the influence with a child in the vehicle.

He later illegally returned to the United States. Law Enforcement discovered Luna-Rangel again Nov. 5, 2022, in Harris County following convictions for assault-family violence and felony driving while intoxicated (third offense).

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

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

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 52-year-old illegal alien from Mexico living in Laredo has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than $1 million in cocaine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Luis Manuel Castillo Garcia pleaded guilty Nov. 3, 2025, to conspiring with others to organize and transport cocaine from Laredo to other locations across the United States and to being found illegally residing in the United States following his removal.

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana ordered Garcia to serve 135 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess cocaine and 120 months for illegally reentering the country after removal. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected again to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.

At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence regarding Garcia’s criminal history, including prior convictions for drug possession and illegal reentry following removal. The court also heard evidence Garcia coordinated cocaine shipments from Mexico and participated in transporting large quantities of cocaine over an extended period.

In March 2025, Garcia recruited tractor-trailer drivers, including Luis Alonzo Pena Jr., to haul several loads of cocaine stored at a local yard.

Garcia arranged for two trailers containing hidden compartments of cocaine to be transported from Laredo. He paid $9,000 per trailer. Authorities seized the vehicles March 4 and 5, 2025, and discovered a total of 50 kilograms of cocaine.

Approximately two months later, law enforcement observed Garcia meet Pena at a location in Laredo. Pena arrived in a red Chevrolet Silverado and accepted a duffle bag of cocaine for transport.

A subsequent traffic stop led to the discovery of the bag, which contained 15 bundles of cocaine weighing approximately 18.5 kilograms.

The more than 65 kilograms of cocaine had an estimated street value of over $1 million.

Pena, 31, Laredo, was previously sentenced to 56 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Laredo Police Department, Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Lou Castillo prosecuted the case.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A home acquired with drug proceeds and used to launder money has been civilly fortified to the United States, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. 

Authorities identified a major cocaine supplier allegedly linked to multiple cartels. The forfeiture action indicated thousands of kilograms of cocaine had been imported from Mexico into the United States for distribution in several states, including California, Nevada, North Carolina, Indiana and Florida.

According to the court filings, the mansion was purchased with proceeds from the drug trafficking activities which were also used to make substantial improvements, including construction of a pool, pool house and a full renovation of the residence. 

The mansion includes six bedrooms, four bathrooms and more than 6,900 square feet and has been appraised at approximately $1.7 million. The property will be sold at government auction. 

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. approved the final order of forfeiture after concluding the property was acquired with drug proceeds and involved money laundering activities. No unaddressed claims to the property had been filed.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the civil and criminal investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Foster and Zachary Blackmon handled the civil forfeiture. AUSA Lance Watt is prosecuting the related criminal case.   

HOUSTON – A Houston area man has been taken into custody for allegedly acting as a loan officer on millions of dollars in fraudulent loans as part of a large-scale bank fraud scheme, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Siupo Ernest Mo has now made his initial appearance in Houston federal court.    

According to the indictment returned April 29, from at least 2018 through 2022, Mo conspired with others in a scheme to obtain money from federally insured financial institutions through fraudulent loan applications.

The charges allege he worked as a loan officer and assisted in preparing and submitting loan applications containing false and fraudulent information.

The scheme allegedly included fake equipment invoices, fraudulent income tax returns and falsified financial and bank statements.

Mo recruited others to prepare false tax returns and used those documents to support loan applications, according to the allegations.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency - Office of Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigation, FBI and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation - OIG conducted the investigation along with valuable assistance from the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek is prosecuting the case.

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

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 total of 239 cases have been filed in immigration and border security-related matters from April 24-30, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. 

The Southern District of Texas filed a total of 163 criminal complaints for illegal entry, while another 53 people face charges of felony reentry after prior removal. The cases also include charges against 28 people allegedly involved in human smuggling. Most have prior felonies such as narcotics, violent crime, immigration crimes and more.

As part of the new cases, Mexican national Jose Luis Anguiana-Ruiz was allegedly removed from the United States just a few weeks ago – April 6. However, authorities discovered him again in the country near Mercedes, according to the charges. The criminal complaint alleges he has a conviction for aggravated sexual assault of a child.

Law enforcement also allegedly discovered Honduran national Degny Oshmarlin Molina-Villatoro near Roma, despite having been previously removed June 2, 2025. According to the complaint, he has previous convictions for aggravated assault, carrying a concealed weapon and two illegal reentries.

Four more felons were also allegedly found in the McAllen area despite having been removed previously - Maria Asucena Martinez-Hernandez, Guadalupe Gutierrez-Moreno, Homero Rodriguez-Martinez and Servando Morales-Diaz, all of Mexico. The charges allege all had been previously removed following their various convictions of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, felony possession of marijuana, importation of meth, illegal reentry, burglary of a habitation and/or assault on a public servant.

All six did not have legal authorization to be in the country, according to the allegations, and face up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted.

In addition to the new cases, a federal jury in Houston found 36-year-old Mexican national Luis Alberto Banda Acosta guilty of unlawfully reentering the country without authorization. The defense attempted to convince the jury he was involuntarily present under duress and had been kidnapped and forced to swim across the border. However, the jury heard evidence he was freely residing in the United States, including traveling to multiple locations, receiving pay stubs and making purchases at a lingerie store.

In another trial victory, a Laredo jury convicted a 21-year-old Laredo man of transporting an alien and conspiring to do so following a three-day trial. On Dec. 15, 2025, Erik Rafael Salas drove a white pickup truck, traveling in tandem with another suspected smuggling vehicle. He soon led authorities on a high-speed chase near Laredo while transporting several illegal aliens. Salas crashed into a private gate after spike strips punctured his tire. He then bailed out of the vehicle along with the aliens. One of them testified how she feared for her life as Salas drove recklessly to evade authorities and even asked him to stop. Salas now faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

In Corpus Christi, Jesus Grimaldo aka Chuy received a 121-month sentence for leading a human smuggling organization that resulted in death. The court found a death occurred during the scheme and would not have happened but for his leadership role. The investigation began after authorities discovered a deceased man in Brooks County who died from heat exposure. Analysis of the victim’s phone revealed multiple payments to Grimaldo through CashApp and Zelle. Authorities determined he arranged transportation from the Rio Grande Valley and profited from smuggling individuals in extreme heat, including in vehicle trunks.

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

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

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

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

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 21-year-old Penitas resident has been ordered to federal prison for his role in bringing in and harboring illegal aliens, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Jesus Grimaldo aka Chuy pleaded guilty Oct. 22, 2025.

U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Grimaldo to serve the maximum of 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

The court enhanced the sentence, finding Grimaldo responsible for smuggling more than 100 illegal aliens during the conspiracy, using or brandishing a firearm during the smuggling operations, recklessly placing smuggled aliens in danger of injury or death, kidnapping and leading the conspiracy by recruiting drivers and coordinating smuggling trips. Grimaldo was also held responsible for being a leader of the alien smuggling organization and conspiracy.

In handing down the sentence, the court noted a death that occurred during the scheme, further commenting that it would not have happened but for Grimaldo’s role as the leader in the conspiracy.

The investigation began May 8, 2024, when authorities responded to a report of a deceased man on the side of the road in Brooks County. Authorities later identified him as an illegal alien from Mexico who died from heat exposure.

An analysis of the deceased man’s phone revealed multiple payments through CashApp and Zelle to Grimaldo.

Further investigation revealed Grimaldo coordinated multiple smuggling events between June 2022 and April 2025 with drivers he recruited. He received illegal aliens after they crossed the U.S.-Mexico border and arranged trips from the Rio Grande Valley past Border Patrol checkpoints.

Law enforcement discovered Grimaldo received substantial payments for leading the organization and arranging dangerous smuggling trips, including transporting the aliens in trunks of vehicles during extreme heat.

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

BP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Gould and Joseph Griffith prosecuted the case.

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

HOUSTON – Two men have been sentenced to life for their roles related to a conspiracy that resulted in the shooting of a Katy man on his way to work, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

The federal jury deliberated for approximately two days before convicting Michael Seery, 43, Katy, and Ricardo Obando Jr., 52, Houston, following an eight-day trial Feb. 5.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner has now imposed life sentences for both men.

At trial, the jury heard the men plotted the murder over the course of months and executed their plan in the early morning of Feb. 4, 2025. Obando shot the victim several times as the man was traveling on his way to work. The victim sustained gunshots wounds to his neck, torso and hand, but ultimately survived.

Seery hired Obando to kill a man he believed had an affair with Seery’s wife while Seery was in prison. Cell phone evidence demonstrated how Obando conducted extensive surveillance and a failed attempt on the victim before finally executing the plot. 

Obando shot the victim using a firearm equipped with a silencer while the man was driving to work on Highway 99. Jurors heard testimony from the victim and watched the actual footage of the shooting captured on his in-car camera system, which showed the moment of the shooting and the subsequent 911 call. 

In reality, Seery targeted the wrong person. The actual intended target had moved out of the residence where Seery believed he lived.

The intended target testified as did Seery’s wife. The jury heard about the affair that had occurred 12 years prior and that Seery could not get over it. Testimony revealed that even in January 2025, a few weeks before the murder attempt, Seery was angry about the affair.

Evidence included multiple photos of various firearms and firearm parts found at Seery’s home and storage unit. The jury also saw the 3D printer Seery used to manufacture the weapon and silencer that Obando is believed to have used.

Seery had paid Obando through his business to carry out the crime.  

The defense attempted to convince the jury there was no evidence about the real intended target or that there was any relationship between the two men and the actual victim, or the intended target. Obando’s defense disputed cellular phone evidence, while Seery claimed he was not involved at in the conspiracy. The jury did not believe any of those claims and found the two men guilty as charged. 

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

The FBI and Harris County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation along with Texas Department of Public Safety and Katy Police Department with assistance of Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hunter Brown and Jill Stotts prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON - A former certified public accountant has been ordered to prison for failing to pay taxes withheld from employee wages, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Harry Lamar Curtis III pleaded guilty Nov. 6, 2025.

U.S. District Judge Sim Lake has now ordered Curtis to serve 18 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. 

Curtis was the owner of Information Advisory Group LLC, a cybersecurity and IT company based in Houston. As such, he was required to withhold and pay over all employment taxes withheld from employee paychecks. These included federal income taxes, FICA taxes and employer matching amounts. 

As part of his plea, Curtis admitted that despite being trained as a CPA, he failed to file any business tax returns for IAG since 2016. He improperly withheld $1,647,142 over this time period that was due to the IRS.

Curtis also admitted he had not filed any individual tax returns for himself since 2008. 

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

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

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

HOUSTON - A 34-year-old citizen of the People’s Republic of China is set to appear in Houston federal court on a nine-count indictment related to his involvement in computer intrusions between February 2020 and June 2021.

Xu Zewei (徐泽伟) was extradited April 25 and has now made his initial appearance in Houston federal court. He remains in custody pending a detention hearing set for April 30 at 10:30 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard W. Bennett.

Certain of those computer intrusions allegedly are part of the HAFNIUM computer intrusion campaign that compromised thousands of computers worldwide, including in the United States. Other intrusions targeted U.S. COVID-19 research during the height of the pandemic. Xu is charged along with Zhang Yu (张宇), 44, who is also a PRC national.

According to court documents, officers of the PRC’s Ministry of State Security’s Shanghai State Security Bureau directed Xu to conduct this hacking. The MSS and SSSB are PRC intelligence services responsible for PRC’s domestic counterintelligence, non-military foreign intelligence and aspects of the PRC’s political and domestic security, according to the charges. When Xu conducted the computer intrusions, he allegedly worked for a company named Shanghai Powerock Network Co. Ltd. Powerock was one of many “enabling” companies in the PRC that conducted hacking for the PRC government, according to the allegations.  

“Today, Xu Zewei will stand in a federal courtroom to answer for crimes that struck at the heart of American science and security — allegedly stealing COVID-19 research from our universities when the world needed it most,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck for the Southern District of Texas. “We have pursued this moment across years and continents, and the message this office sends today is the same one we sent when we first unsealed this indictment: we will work to protect the American people.”

“The United States is committed to pursuing hackers who steal information from U.S. businesses and universities and threaten our cybersecurity,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “I commend the prosecutors and investigators who have worked hard and sought justice for years in this investigation, and we look forward to proving our case in court.”

“The extradition of Xu Zewei demonstrates the FBI's reach extends well beyond U.S. borders,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI's Cyber Division. “Xu will now answer for his alleged role in HAFNIUM, a group responsible for a vast intrusion campaign directed by China's Ministry of State Security that compromised more than 12,700 U.S. organizations. He is one of many contractors the Chinese government uses to obscure its hand in cyber operations, and others who do the same face the same risk. The FBI thanks our Italian law enforcement colleagues, especially the Polizia Postale, whose partnership led to Xu's arrest in Milan and his extradition to the United States.”

According to court documents, in early 2020, Xu and his co-conspirators hacked and otherwise targeted U.S.-based universities, immunologists and virologists conducting research into COVID‑19 vaccines, treatment and testing. Xu and others allegedly reported their activities to officers in the SSSB who were supervising and directing the hacking activities. For example, the charges alleges that on or about Feb. 19, 2020, Xu provided an SSSB officer with confirmation that he had compromised the network of a research university located in the Southern District of Texas. On or about Feb. 22, 2020, the SSSB officer directed Xu to target and access specific email accounts (mailboxes) belonging to virologists and immunologists engaged in COVID-19 research for the university, according to the indictment. Xu allegedly later confirmed for the SSSB officer that he acquired the contents of the researchers’ mailboxes.

The charges further allege that beginning in late 2020, Xu and his co-conspirators exploited certain vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server, a widely used Microsoft product for sending, receiving and storing email messages. Their alleged exploitation of Microsoft Exchange Server was at the forefront of a massive campaign targeting thousands of computers worldwide and known publicly as “HAFNIUM.” In March 2021, Microsoft publicly disclosed the intrusion campaign by state-sponsored hackers operating out of China. Throughout March 2021, Microsoft and other industry partners released detection tools, patches and other information to assist victim entities in identifying and mitigating this cyber incident. Additionally, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released a Joint Advisory on Compromise of Microsoft Exchange Server on March 10, 2021. However, by the end of March 2021, hundreds of web shells remained on certain U.S.-based computers running Microsoft Exchange Server software.

In April 2021, the Justice Department announced a court-authorized operation to remediate hundreds of computers in the United States made vulnerable by HAFNIUM actors. In July 2021, the United States and foreign partners attributed the HAFNIUM campaign to the PRC’s MSS.

Among the victims of Xu’s alleged exploitation of Microsoft Exchange Server were another university located in the Southern District of Texas and a law firm with offices worldwide, including in Washington, D.C. After exploiting computers running Microsoft Exchange Server, Xu and his co-conspirators installed web shells on them to enable their remote administration. The indictment alleges that these web shells were specific to HAFNIUM actors at the time. As with the earlier COVID-19 research intrusions, Xu and Zhang allegedly worked together on the HAFNIUM intrusions under the supervision and direction of SSSB officers. For example, the indictment alleges that on or about Jan. 30, 2021, Xu confirmed to Zhang that he had compromised the other university’s network. Later, on or about Feb. 28, 2021, Xu allegedly updated a SSSB officer on his successful intrusions. This SSSB officer then directed Xu to obtain a list of other, successful intrusions from a second SSSB officer, according to the charges.

The indictment alleges that unauthorized access to the law firm’s network allowed Xu and his co-conspirators to steal information from mailboxes and search them for information regarding specific U.S. policy makers and government agencies. Their search terms allegedly included “Chinese sources,” “MSS” and “HongKong.” 

As described in the July 2025 announcement of charges against Xu, the PRC uses an extensive network of private companies and contractors in China to hack and steal information in a manner that obscured the PRC government’s involvement. Operating from their safe haven and motivated by profit, this network of private companies and contractors in China cast a wide net to identify vulnerable computers, exploit those computers, and then identify information that it could sell directly or indirectly to the PRC government. This largely indiscriminate approach results in more victims in the United States and elsewhere, more systems worldwide left vulnerable to future exploitation by third parties, and more stolen information, often of no interest to the PRC government and, therefore, sold to other third parties.

Xu is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count; conspiracy to cause damage to and obtain information by unauthorized access to protected computers, to commit wire fraud and to commit identity theft, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison; two counts of obtaining information by unauthorized access to protected computers, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison; two counts of intentional damage to a protected computer, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; and aggravated identity theft, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed.

Zhang Yu remains at large. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).

The FBI’s Houston Field Office is conducting the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney S. Mark McIntyre for the Southern District of Texas and Deputy Chief Matthew Anzaldi of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs secured the arrest and extradition from Italy of Xu. The United States thanks the Government of Italy for its assistance extraditing Xu to the United States, including the Cyber Division of the Italian National Police for its valuable assistance.

Note: View the indictment in U.S. v. Xu Zewei et al. here.

Note: View the indictment in U.S. v. Xu Zewei et al. here.

Xu Zewei (徐泽伟), 34, of the People’s Republic of China was extradited to the United States this weekend and appeared today in U.S. District Court in Houston on a nine-count indictment related to his involvement in computer intrusions between February 2020 and June 2021. Certain of those computer intrusions allegedly are part of the HAFNIUM computer intrusion campaign that compromised thousands of computers worldwide, including in the United States. Other intrusions targeted U.S. COVID-19 research during the height of the pandemic. Xu is charged along with Zhang Yu (张宇), 44, who is also a PRC national.

According to court documents, officers of the PRC’s Ministry of State Security’s (MSS) Shanghai State Security Bureau (SSSB) directed Xu to conduct this hacking. The MSS and SSSB are PRC intelligence services responsible for PRC’s domestic counterintelligence, non-military foreign intelligence, and aspects of the PRC’s political and domestic security. When Xu conducted the computer intrusions, he allegedly worked for a company named Shanghai Powerock Network Co. Ltd. (Powerock). Powerock was one of many “enabling” companies in the PRC that conducted hacking for the PRC government.

“The United States is committed to pursuing hackers who steal information from U.S. businesses and universities and threaten our cybersecurity,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “I commend the prosecutors and investigators who have worked hard and sought justice for years in this investigation, and we look forward to proving our case in court.”

“Today, Xu Zewei will stand in a federal courtroom to answer for crimes that struck at the heart of American science and security — allegedly stealing COVID-19 research from our universities when the world needed it most,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck for the Southern District of Texas. “We have pursued this moment across years and continents, and the message this office sends today is the same one we sent when we first unsealed this indictment: we will work to protect the American people.”

“The extradition of Xu Zewei demonstrates the FBI's reach extends well beyond U.S. borders,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI's Cyber Division. “Xu will now answer for his alleged role in HAFNIUM, a group responsible for a vast intrusion campaign directed by China's Ministry of State Security that compromised more than 12,700 U.S. organizations. He is one of many contractors the Chinese government uses to obscure its hand in cyber operations, and others who do the same face the same risk. The FBI thanks our Italian law enforcement colleagues, especially the Polizia Postale, whose partnership led to Xu's arrest in Milan and his extradition to the United States.”

According to court documents, in early 2020, Xu and his co-conspirators hacked and otherwise targeted U.S.-based universities, immunologists, and virologists conducting research into COVID‑19 vaccines, treatment, and testing. Xu and others reported their activities to officers in the SSSB who were supervising and directing the hacking activities. For example, on or about Feb. 19, 2020, Xu provided an SSSB officer with confirmation that he had compromised the network of a research university located in the Southern District of Texas. On or about Feb. 22, 2020, the SSSB officer directed Xu to target and access specific email accounts (mailboxes) belonging to virologists and immunologists engaged in COVID-19 research for the university. Xu later confirmed for the SSSB officer that he acquired the contents of the researchers’ mailboxes.

The charges further allege that beginning in late 2020, Xu and his co-conspirators exploited certain vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server, a widely-used Microsoft product for sending, receiving, and storing email messages. Their exploitation of Microsoft Exchange Server was at the forefront of a massive campaign targeting thousands of computers worldwide and known publicly as “HAFNIUM.” In March 2021, Microsoft publicly disclosed the intrusion campaign by state-sponsored hackers operating out of China. Throughout March 2021, Microsoft and other industry partners released detection tools, patches, and other information to assist victim entities in identifying and mitigating this cyber incident. Additionally, the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released a Joint Advisory on Compromise of Microsoft Exchange Server on March 10, 2021. However, by the end of March 2021, hundreds of web shells remained on certain U.S.-based computers running Microsoft Exchange Server software. In April 2021, the Justice Department announced a court-authorized operation to remediate hundreds of computers in the United States made vulnerable by HAFNIUM actors. In July 2021, the United States and foreign partners attributed the HAFNIUM campaign to the PRC’s MSS.

Among the victims of Xu’s alleged exploitation of Microsoft Exchange Server were another university located in the Southern District of Texas and a law firm with offices worldwide, including in Washington, D.C. After exploiting computers running Microsoft Exchange Server, Xu and his co-conspirators installed web shells on them to enable their remote administration. The indictment alleges that these web shells were specific to HAFNIUM actors at the time. As with the earlier COVID-19 research intrusions, Xu and Zhang worked together on the HAFNIUM intrusions, under the supervision and direction of SSSB officers. For example, on or about Jan. 30, 2021, Xu confirmed to Zhang that he had compromised the other university’s network. Later, on or about Feb. 28, 2021, Xu updated a SSSB officer on his successful intrusions. This SSSB officer then directed Xu to obtain a list of other, successful intrusions from a second SSSB officer. Unauthorized access to the law firm’s network allowed Xu and his co-conspirators to steal information from mailboxes and search them for information regarding specific U.S. policy makers and government agencies. Their search terms included “Chinese sources,” “MSS,” and “HongKong.”

As described in the July 2025 announcement of charges against Xu, the PRC uses an extensive network of private companies and contractors in China to hack and steal information in a manner that obscured the PRC government’s involvement. Operating from their safe haven and motivated by profit, this network of private companies and contractors in China cast a wide net to identify vulnerable computers, exploit those computers, and then identify information that it could sell directly or indirectly to the PRC government. This largely indiscriminate approach results in more victims in the United States and elsewhere, more systems worldwide left vulnerable to future exploitation by third parties, and more stolen information, often of no interest to the PRC government and, therefore, sold to other third parties.

Xu is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count; conspiracy to cause damage to and obtain information by unauthorized access to protected computers, to commit wire fraud, and to commit identity theft, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison; two counts of obtaining information by unauthorized access to protected computers, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison; two counts of intentional damage to a protected computer, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; and aggravated identity theft, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison. Zhang Yu, remains at large. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).

The FBI’s Houston Field Office is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark McIntyre for the Southern District of Texas and Deputy Chief Matthew Anzaldi of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs secured the arrest and extradition from Italy of Xu. The United States thanks the Government of Italy for its assistance extraditing Xu to the United States, including the Cyber Division of the Italian National Police for its valuable assistance.

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

HOUSTON – A 27-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison for coercion and enticement of a minor and receipt of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Victor Zuniga pleaded guilty Jan. 15.

U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen has now sentenced Zuniga to 324 and 240 months for the coercion/enticement and receipt convictions, respectively. They will run concurrently for a total 324-month-term of imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Zuniga spent more than a year attempting to arrange an in-person meeting to facilitate the sexual abuse of a toddler.

Zuniga will serve the rest of his life on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to the internet. 

A total of four videos from the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation prompted the investigation in December 2023.

Between Jan. 28, 2022, and Nov. 2, 2023, Zuniga exchanged multiple messages discussing having sex with minors. He ultimately received numerous videos and images of child sexual abuse material.

Forensic examination of Zuniga’s cell phone revealed a 42-minute screen recording of a live video feed of minor children ranging from two to 10 years of age being sexually abused.

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

FBI - Houston conducted the investigation.

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

HOUSTON – Since the implementation of Operation Take Back America, the Southern District of Texas has filed a total of 20,069 cases against 20,374 individuals in immigration and related matters, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Among those, are 484 people charged between April 17-23: 175 for illegal entry, 275 for felony reentry after removal, 33 in human smuggling cases and another one for an immigration-related crime. Many have prior convictions for narcotics, violent crime, sexual offenses, other immigration violations and more.

One illegal alien charged this week has a prior conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the charges. Authorities allegedly found Mexican national Fernando Flores-Bautista near Roma, despite having been removed March 29.

Another illegal alien facing charges this week is Mexican national Carlos Guadalupe Aquino-Pacheco. According to the complaint, authorities encountered him while conducting a traffic stop near McAllen. Court documents allege he has a prior conviction for interference with commerce by threats or violence. Aquino-Pacheco was previously removed Oct. 4, 2023, according to the charges.

Two others also charged with felony reentry after prior removal include Mexican nationals Dionicio Rodriguez-Hernandez and Francisco Javier Velasquez-Vela, found near Hidalgo and Roma, respectively. The complaints allege they have previous convictions such as transporting/harboring aliens, illegal reentry and/or aggravated burglary.

All four face up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted.

In addition to the new cases, eight members of Mara Salvatrucha aka MS-13 have now received federal prison sentences ranging from 35-50 years for their respective roles in a racketeering conspiracy involving witness tampering and multiple murders, including victims as young as 14. They admitted involvement in killings ordered by MS-13 leadership in El Salvador. Members targeted rival gang members, perceived cooperators and others to maintain or elevate their rank within the organization. Following the killings, they provided photographic proof to leadership, sometimes further mutilating victims to demonstrate compliance.

Also of note this week, Roma resident Lizandro Monroy was ordered to serve 37 months in federal prison for using a minor in a human smuggling scheme. The court noted similarities to his prior convictions, including involvement in pursuits. Authorities observed a raft crossing near a known human smuggling pickup location in June 2025. Monroy had directed a 15-year-old to pick up three aliens before fleeing from a traffic stop, leading to a pursuit and crash that injured one individual. Monroy recruited and paid the minor, provided the route and supplied a phone to receive instructions.

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

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

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

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

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

LAREDO, Texas – An illegal alien who resided in Austin has been charged for her role in a failed attempt to smuggle an 8-year-old child into the United States by a stranger, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Mexican national Nanzy Rodriguez-Sanchez has made her initial appearance in Laredo federal court and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing May 7.

Co-conspirators Jesus Luciano, 34, Austin, and Mexican national Maribel Jaimes-Hernandez, 27, were previously charged for their roles in the scheme.

The charges allege all three participated in a scheme to smuggle Rodriguez-Sanchez’s minor child into the United States.

On Oct. 2, 2025, Luciano allegedly attempted to bring the minor into the country by bus in exchange for $5,000. Luciano was a stranger to the child, according to the allegations.

The complaint alleges he provided a birth certificate and claimed the child as his own, but authorities later determined the document belonged to another child.

Jaimes-Hernandez had allegedly provided the birth certificate in exchange for $1,000 to facilitate the smuggling attempt.

If convicted, Rodriguez-Sanchez and Jaimes-Hernandez face up to 10 years in federal prison for their respective roles as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Luciano previously pleaded guilty and could also receive up to 10 years. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Manuel A. Cardenas Jr. is prosecuting the case.

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

HOUSTON – A 36-year-old Mexican national illegally residing in Bryan has been found guilty of unlawfully reentering the country without authorization, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G. E. Marck.

A federal jury deliberated less than three hours before finding Luis Alberto Banda Acosta guilty following a three-day trial.

The jury heard that on Feb. 4, 2024, authorities conducted a traffic stop on a pickup truck Banda was driving.

Evidence showed Banda has multiple felony convictions, including failure to identify, possession of a controlled substance and driving while intoxicated. The jury also heard that he had been previously removed from the United States on two occasions.

The defense attempted to convince the jury Banda was involuntarily present in the country under duress, was kidnapped and forced to swim across the border. However, the jury heard evidence that he was freely and voluntarily residing in the United States to include his travel to many places, receiving pay stubs and making purchases at a lingerie store.

The jury did not believe Banda’s claims and found him guilty as charged. They also rejected testimony from a defense expert, disregarding his statements about kidnappings and forced entries into the United States.  

U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen presided over trial and set sentencing for June 30. At that time, Banda faces up to two years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Alum and Lauren Valenti prosecuted the case with research assistance from Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carrie Law and Robin Whitney. 

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

LAREDO, Texas – More sentences have been imposed in a human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in the death of a Guatemalan man and several other dangerous events, including a rollover crash, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Dagoberto Mizzael Flores, 25, Laredo, and Mexican nationals David Alejandro Gomez-Flores, 30, and Martha Angelica Limon Parra, 30, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport an illegal alien causing serious bodily injury and resulting in death.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now imposed a 240-month-term of imprisonment for Gomez-Flores, while Parra and Flores received sentences of 135 months and 60 months, respectively. Not U.S. citizens, Gomez-Flores and Parra are expected to face removal proceedings, while Flores must also serve three years of supervised release following his imprisonment.

At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence describing numerous instances in which aliens transported by the organization had to be “rescued” or were otherwise injured during their journeys. The court also heard evidence regarding Gomez-Flores’ involvement with Los Fantasmas, a Laredo-based gang working with Cartel del Noreste to smuggle aliens once they reached the United States. In imposing sentence, Judge Marmolejo emphasized the extensive and lucrative nature of the operation—which involved the movement of thousands of aliens—and each defendant’s reckless disregard for human life.

Mexican national Cynthia Gabriela Muniz-Carreon, 31, and Guatemalan national Edy Lima-Flores, 38, also pleaded guilty and were previously sentenced to 135 and 240 months, respectively. Lima Flores was also ordered to pay a $150,000 fine.

All five were part of a transnational human smuggling organization responsible for moving illegal aliens across the southern border of Texas. In one week alone, the organization generated approximately $79,000 in smuggling proceeds.

Authorities identified Muniz-Carreon and Parra as Mexico-based coordinators for the organization. Evidence showed that both participated in a WhatsApp group chat titled “La Oficina,” which the organization used to coordinate human smuggling activity. The group maintained detailed ledgers and color-coded spreadsheets.

Although many of the aliens were from Guatemala, the smuggling group instructed them to falsely claim Mexican nationality. This tactic exploited U.S. immigration procedure by ensuring the aliens would be removed to Mexico instead of their home country which made it faster and easier for the organization to smuggle them back into the United States.

Lima-Flores was the organization’s Laredo-based transportation coordinator who hired Flores, while Gomez-Flores served as stash house coordinator responsible for receiving aliens from Mexico and illegally harboring them in Laredo. Gomez-Flores had been involved with the organization since at least 2022 and received more than $330,000 for helping conceal and transport aliens illegally.

On July 2, 2024, Flores was driving a Ford F-150 transporting aliens. He fled when authorities attempted a traffic stop. The aliens scattered into the brush, including a Guatemalan national who became separated from the group. The investigation revealed he had repeatedly contacted Lima-Flores and Muniz-Carreon asking for help and sharing his location. Muniz-Carreon told him to stay well hidden and be patient. Authorities later found him deceased. His cause of death was determined to be from heat exhaustion, with temperatures reaching 100 degrees that day.

The investigation also revealed additional smuggling incidents dating back to 2022, including one in which an alien became so weak and delirious that he could no longer walk through the brush. Authorities also linked the same organization to a smuggling event April 19, 2024, that resulted in a rollover crash near Laredo. A Guatemalan alien involved in the crash suffered serious back injuries and required hospitalization.

Gomez-Flores, Parra and Flores have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, Laredo Police Department Gang Unit, Border Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety, Encinal Police Department, Customs and Border Protection and CBP Air and Marine Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer L. Day prosecuted the case.

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

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

To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 455 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 400 U.S. convictions; more than 350 significant jail sentences imposed and forfeitures of substantial assets.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 29-year-old Brownsville resident is now in federal custody for impersonating a federal agent and wire fraud, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Mayra Collins is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Julie Hampton April 30 at 9:45 a.m.

According to the now unsealed five-count indictment, Collins fraudulently posed as a federal agent with various agencies in 2022 and again in 2025.

She had first allegedly posed as an immigration officer employed by the United States to carry out a Visa fraud scheme. The charges allege she falsely represented she could expedite the process for obtaining U.S. Visas and took money from four victims.

In 2025, Collins pretended to be a Border Patrol agent with influence in the hiring of employees, according to the indictment. She allegedly told another victim there were job positions available, but they would have to send money to her for uniforms and ballistic vests prior to beginning employment.

The charges allege Collins never worked for the United States and had no power to provide victims of her schemes with Visas or employment with BP.

If convicted, Collins faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the two wire fraud counts as well as another three years for the impersonation charges. She could also be ordered to pay a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

CBP - Office of Professional Responsibility conducted the investigation in a coordinated effort with the FBI’s McAllen Border Corruption Task Force with assistance from the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Bird and Tyler Foster 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 36-year-old Michigan man known as Allstar JR, who allegedly opened fire at a Houston restaurant, is now in custody for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Jeremy Christopher Ford made his initial appearance in Detroit, Michigan. He remains in custody pending a detention hearing set for April 27.  

Ford allegedly possessed a handgun during a shooting April 8 at a restaurant on Kirby Drive in Houston. According to the criminal complaint, authorities responded to reports of a shooting in progress and discovered two gunshot victims at the scene. Court documents allege gunfire also struck a third person.

The charges allege Ford was involved in a confrontation with several individuals inside the restaurant, during which a handgun fell to the floor. Ford picked it up and began firing as people fled, according to the allegations. He allegedly continued shooting as individuals ran towards an elevator but returned to where one victim lay motionless on the ground and fired additional rounds into that individual.  

Law enforcement located a handgun Ford allegedly hid at the scene before fleeing, according to the charges.

The complaint also alleges Ford later posted multiple videos on social media referencing and taunting individuals involved in the altercation and released a music video that referred to the shooting.

Court documents further allege Ford has a prior felony conviction. As such, federal law prohibits him from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

If convicted of these charges, Ford faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance of Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Keri L. Fuller is prosecuting the case.

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

GALVESTON, Texas - A 47-year-old League City man has been ordered to federal prison for production, receipt and possession of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Jeffrey Scott Lacy pleaded guilty Feb. 10.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Vincent Brown has now sentenced Lacy to 360 months to be immediately followed by six years of supervised release. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Lacy will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

From 2017 to 2023, Lacy used an online platform to solicit and purchase explicit livestream videos of children as young as four from individuals in the Philippines.

The investigation revealed Lacy would negotiate prices for these videos. 

A search warrant at Lacy’s residence resulted in the seizure of his cell phone and laptop. Forensic examination ultimately uncovered 20 images depicting child sexual abuse material and multiple messages with an individual in the Philippines who had access to a minor victim.

Further investigation revealed messages in which Lacy discussed providing a phone in exchange for images and videos of CSAM. He also requested sexual activity via video calls and expressed interest in traveling in order to have sex with the minor. Lacy repeatedly requested additional explicit images of the victim, including while she was bathing.

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations-Galveston, Pearland Police Department, League City Police Department and Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation.

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

GALVESTON, Texas – Eight illegal aliens and members of the violent transnational criminal organization Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13, have been sentenced for participating in a racketeering conspiracy that included witness tampering and multiple murders of individuals as young as 14.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown has now imposed a 50-year term of imprisonment for Edgardo Martinez-Rodriguez aka Largo, 35, while Wilman Rivas-Guido aka Inquieto, 30, received 45 years. At the hearing, the court heard how Martinez-Rodriguez was a high-ranking leader in the conspiracy and initiated numerous murders. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Brown noted the violent nature of the crimes committed.

Six others were previously sentenced. Miguel Angel Aguilar-Ochoa aka Darki, 40, Wilson Jose Ventura-Mejia aka Discreto, 30, and Walter Chicas-Garcia, 28, each received 50-year sentences. Marlon Miranda Moran, 26, was ordered to serve 35 years, while Luis Ernesto Carbajal-Peraza, 34, and Carlos Garcia-Gongora, 28, were ordered to serve 45 years.

All are El Salvadoran nationals illegally present in the United States. They previously pleaded guilty, admitting to being members of MS-13 and participating in a criminal enterprise responsible for murders, extortion, drug trafficking, robbery and obstruction of justice in and around the Houston area from 2017 through 2018.

“Today’s sentences send a clear message – those who carry out violence for transnational criminal organizations will be held accountable, no matter where the orders come from,” said Marck. “These defendants used brutality to advance within their criminal enterprise, and now they face the consequences. The Southern District of Texas will diligently continue working to dismantle violent criminal gangs that threaten our community.”

“These defendants, acting on behalf of a transnational criminal gang, carried out brutal murders, killing victims with machetes, baseball bats, and their bare hands, and then glorifying their violent acts by sending photos of their carnage to MS-13 leaders in El Salvador,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department commends the brave law enforcement officers and those who came forward to help law enforcement to resolve these cases. The lengthy sentences imposed send an unmistakable message that MS-13 and its accompanying violence are not welcome in the United States. The Criminal Division will relentlessly pursue MS-13 and hold those accountable who bring MS-13 violence to American communities.”

“This case centers on when MS-13 violence was at its peak in Houston. These gang members are among the most ruthless and violent criminals we’ve seen. They made of our communities their killing fields,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason Hudson of the FBI Houston Field Office. “Today’s hefty sentences should send a message to other violent terrorist organizations that the rule of law and justice will eventually catch up to you. This investigation, and today’s sentences, would not have been possible if it weren’t for our partnerships with the Houston Police Department, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, and our law enforcement partners in El Salvador.”

“All eight of these MS-13 gang members illegally entered the country – including Aguilar Ochoa who illegally entered the U.S. four times – and went on to reign terror on our local communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Burke of Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, Houston. “Working in conjunction with our partners, we were able to bring an end to the lawlessness that they’ve spread and hold them accountable for their depraved actions.”

In February 2025, the State Department designated MS-13 as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. MS-13 engages in violent criminal activity across the United States, including Texas, Virginia, Maryland, New York and California, and throughout the countries where it operates, including El Salvador and Honduras. Members use intimidation and violence, including murder and assault with deadly weapons, such as machetes, baseball bats, firearms and ligatures used for strangling, all to maintain power, reputation and territory.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Martinez-Rodriguez and Rivas-Guido admitted to involvement in murder ordered and approved by high-ranking MS-13 leaders in El Salvador, who at times monitored executions by phone.

Members carried out the murders to increase or maintain rank within the gang and targeted individuals believed to be rival gang members, law enforcement cooperators or people working against MS-13’s interests. After the murders, they sent photos of the victims’ bodies to leadership in El Salvador as proof of the executions to rise in rank, sometimes further mutilating or dismembering the bodies before sending them.

All have been and will remain in custody.  

FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from police departments in Houston, Galveston and Prince George’s County in Maryland, Sheriff’s offices in Harris and Liberty counties, Texas Department of Public Safety, University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, U.S. Marshals Service and Texas Office of the Attorney General.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Keri Fuller and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Britni Verdeja prosecuted the case along with Trial Attorneys César S. Rivera-Giraud and Ben Tonkin from the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force nationwide initiative, which is a White House directed, interagency effort to integrate federal, state and local partners in targeting transnational criminal organizations and led by the prosecutorial Joint Task Force Vulcan.

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

Eight illegal aliens and members of the violent transnational criminal organization Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13, have been sentenced for participating in a racketeering conspiracy that included witness tampering and multiple murders of individuals as young as 14.

“These defendants, acting on behalf of a transnational criminal gang, carried out brutal murders, killing victims with machetes, baseball bats, and their bare hands, and then glorifying their violent acts by sending photos of their carnage to MS-13 leaders in El Salvador,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Department commends the brave law enforcement officers and those who came forward to help law enforcement to resolve these cases. The lengthy sentences imposed send an unmistakable message that MS-13 and its accompanying violence are not welcome in the United States. The Criminal Division will relentlessly pursue MS-13 and hold those accountable who bring MS-13 violence to American communities.”

“Today’s sentences send a clear message – those who carry out violence for transnational criminal organizations will be held accountable, no matter where the orders come from,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck for the Southern District of Texas. “These defendants used brutality to advance within their criminal enterprise, and now they face the consequences. The Southern District of Texas will diligently continue working to dismantle violent criminal gangs that threaten our community.”

“This case centers on when MS-13 violence was at its peak in Houston. These gang members are among the most ruthless and violent criminals we’ve seen. They made our communities their killing fields,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason Hudson of the FBI Houston Field Office. “Today’s hefty sentences should send a message to other violent terrorist organizations that the rule of law and justice will eventually catch up to you. This investigation, and today’s sentences, would not have been possible if it weren’t for our partnerships with the Houston Police Department, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, and our law enforcement partners in El Salvador.”

“All eight of these MS-13 gang members illegally entered the country – including Aguilar Ochoa who illegally entered the U.S. four times – and went on to reign terror on our local communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Burke of Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston. “Working in conjunction with our partners, we were able to bring an end to the lawlessness that they’ve spread and hold them accountable for their depraved actions.”

Today, Edgardo Martinez-Rodriguez also known as Largo, 35, was sentenced to 50 years in prison and Wilman Rivas-Guido also known as Inquieto, 30, was sentenced to 45 years in prison. Six other MS-13 members have been sentenced to lengthy terms of imprisonment in connection with this case: Miguel Angel Aguilar-Ochoa also known as Darki, 40, Wilson Jose Ventura-Mejia also known as Discreto, 30, and Walter Chicas-Garcia, 28, each received 50-year sentences. Marlon Miranda Moran, 26, was ordered to serve 35 years in prison, while Luis Ernesto Carbajal-Peraza, 34, and Carlos Garcia-Gongora, 28, were ordered to serve 45 years in prison. All have been and will remain in custody.  

All are El Salvadoran nationals illegally present in the United States. They previously pleaded guilty, admitting to being members of MS-13 and participating in a criminal enterprise responsible for murders, extortion, drug trafficking, robbery and obstruction of justice in and around the Houston area from 2017 through 2018. In February 2025, the U.S. State Department designated MS-13 as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. MS-13 engages in violent criminal activity across the United States, including in Texas, Virginia, Maryland, New York and California, and throughout the countries where it operates, such as El Salvador and Honduras. MS-13 routinely uses intimidation and violence, including murder and assault with deadly weapons like machetes, baseball bats, firearms, and ligature strangulation, all to maintain power, reputation and territory.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Martinez-Rodriguez and Rivas-Guido, who were sentenced today after admitting to involvement in murder ordered and approved by high-ranking MS-13 leaders in El Salvador, who at times monitored executions by phone. Members carried out the murders to increase or maintain rank within the gang and targeted individuals believed to be rival gang members, law enforcement cooperators or people working against MS-13’s interests. After the murders, members sent photos of the victims’ bodies to leadership in El Salvador as proof of the executions and in an effort to rise in rank, sometimes further mutilating or dismembering the bodies before sending the photos. Martinez-Rodriguez was a high-ranking leader in the conspiracy and initiated numerous murders ordered and approved by MS-13 leaders in El Salvador.

FBI and HSI conducted the investigation with assistance from police departments in Houston and Galveston, Texas, and Prince George’s County in Maryland; Sheriff’s offices in Harris and Liberty Counties in Texas; Texas Department of Public Safety; University of North Texas Center for Human Identification; U.S. Marshals Service and Texas Office of the Attorney General.

Trial Attorneys César S. Rivera-Giraud and Ben Tonkin of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Keri Fuller and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Britni Verdeja for the Southern District of Texas prosecuted this case.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force nationwide initiative, which is a White House directed, interagency effort to integrate federal, state, and local partners in targeting transnational criminal organizations, and led by the prosecutorial Joint Task Force Vulcan.

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

McALLEN, Texas – A 27-year-old Roma resident has been ordered to federal prison for transporting illegal aliens, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Lizandro Monroy pleaded guilty Dec. 8, 2025.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Monroy to serve 37 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered that Monroy has two prior federal convictions for human smuggling and returned to the same criminal conduct approximately one month after his release from federal custody. In handing down the sentence, the court noted similarities in his prior convictions to include that all involved vehicle or foot pursuits. 

On June 21, 2025, authorities discovered a raft crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico near the Roma Observation Deck, a known human smuggling pickup location. 

Law enforcement saw a grey Ford Focus make multiple passes before parking near the deck. Monroy exited the vehicle, left it running and then instructed the minor passenger to move into the driver’s seat and pick up the aliens. 

Shortly thereafter, three Chinese nationals ran from the brush and entered the vehicle, prompting law enforcement to attempt a traffic stop. However, the minor driver fled, which led to a vehicle pursuit and multiple collisions. The vehicle eventually crashed into a utility pole and a law enforcement vehicle before coming to a stop. One of the aliens sustained a head laceration that required medical attention. 

Monroy admitted he recruited and paid the 15-year-old minor to transport the smuggled aliens from the pickup location. He also provided the travel route and supplied a cell phone to receive instructions from smuggling coordinators. 

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia prosecuted the case.

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

HOUSTON - A 42-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison for multiple convictions involving the victimization of children for more than 10 years, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Patrick Tran pleaded guilty Oct. 25, 2025, to four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of possession of child pornography.

U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen sentenced Tran to a total of 540 months in federal prison. 

At the hearing, the court heard Tran had enticed 23 different minor victims on a video chat site into taking off their clothes and screen recorded it. He then used the videos to extort them into sending additional material and threatened to expose or harm the victims. In imposing the sentence, the court considered the numerous victim impact statements and testimony of one of the victims. One victim explained how Tran made her feel like an object – one he abused physically and mentally without even touching her. The victim also disclosed that she had contemplated suicide, thinking that was her only way out of the nightmare.

Tran was furthered ordered to pay over $108,000 in restitution to one of the victims and will serve the rest of his life 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. Tran will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

Tran admitted he victimized minors online for more than 10 years. He created online profiles to contact victims and used knowledge of their locations and contacts to blackmail and extort them.

The investigation began in October 2020 when a relative reported suspicious communications indicating Tran had directed a minor to send him nude photos.

Forensic analysis of the victim’s device revealed chats in which Tran solicited photos and videos. He threatened to post a video unless the victim sent additional images. Tran also directed how she should position herself and what to show. Feeling threatened and scared, the victim complied.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Tran’s residence and seized multiple electronic devices. A forensic examination revealed approximately 650 videos depicting minors, some under the age of 10, engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

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

FBI – Houston conducted the investigation.

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

VICTORIA, Texas – A 51-year-old Harlingen resident has been ordered to federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and fentanyl, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

The jury deliberated for less than an hour before convicting Jimenez James Love following a two-day trial Jan 21.

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Love to serve the rest of his life in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony that included how he used at least 10 young women to distribute drugs and bragged about putting the meth inside their bodies. Evidence also revealed he had his own distribution ring and had beaten at least one witness, brutally knocking out two teeth and leaving him with a torn retina.

In handing down the life sentence, the court noted the large amount of meth and fentanyl involved and the use of young women in his criminal conduct.

The investigation began June 30, 2021, when law enforcement discovered Love was transporting meth and fentanyl concealed in the gas tank of his girlfriend’s vehicle.

At trial, the jury heard how authorities conducted a traffic stop and discovered approximately 11 kilograms of meth and 5.32 kilograms of fentanyl.

Testimony and evidence revealed Love was hired as a driver to transport drugs for the Sinaloa Cartel. Love's cargo was one of many shipments this arm of the organization had made. The number of shipments was so vast that an accurate number of shipments could not be fully determined. However, evidence showed the single load of fentanyl that Love was carrying contained over two million potential lethal doses.

The defense attempted to convince the jury Love was not involved in an ongoing drug trafficking operation. The jury did not believe the claims and found him guilty as charged.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patti Hubert Booth prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – Another 446 people have been charged in support of Operation Tack Back America from April 10-16, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

A total of 169 individuals face illegal entry charges, while 242 allegedly re-entered the United States after prior removal. An additional 33 people are accused of engaging in human smuggling, while the remaining three cases relate to firearms crimes. Many also have prior convictions for narcotics, violent crime, sexual offenses, other immigration violations and more.

Among the new cases in recent days are two men from the McAllen area who are allegedly involved in human smuggling. The charges allege Yahaniel Somoza, Houston, picked up illegal aliens on at least two occasions, transporting some to a local mechanic shop. Somoza had allegedly taken some of their cell phones and/or instructed them to eat only twice a day. Law enforcement executed a subsequent search warrant and discovered 15 illegal aliens at the mechanic shop, according to the criminal complaint. In a separate case, Edinburg resident Fidel Cantu-Mendez had allegedly picked up several illegal aliens near the Rio Grande in Escobares. The charges allege he drove recklessly and told the occupants to run once the vehicle stopped. A foot chase ensued, according to the complaint. Authorities allegedly apprehended Cantu-Mendez as well as 13 illegal aliens near the vehicle. Somoza and Cantu-Mendez face up to 10 and five years in federal prison, respectively, upon conviction.

Also charged this week are Andrei Eduardo Mayorga Oliva and Julian Flores-Molina who allegedly reentered the United States without authorization. Oliva is a Honduran male found near Alamo, according to his charges. The criminal complaint alleges he has a prior conviction for carnal knowledge of a child and had been sentenced to three years in prison before his removal in May 2025. Law enforcement encountered Mexican national Julian Flores-Molina near Donna, despite having been previously removed in June 2024, according to the allegations. The charges allege Oliva has prior convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated robbery, unauthorized use of a vehicle and illegal reentry and had served substantial time in prison. If convicted, they both could receive up to 20 years in federal prison.

In addition to the new cases, Operation Pick-Off efforts have continued with more people taken into custody in the Houston area. This SDTX initiative began as a multi-agency immigration and violent crime enforcement effort targeting criminal illegal aliens on state probation or supervision. It was originally announced in August 2025 in the Rio Grande Valley with federal charges against nearly 70 illegal aliens. Most had allegedly returned to the country after being previously removed, only to commit other crimes. The overall effort has since expanded to all divisions and resulted in numerous arrests of foreign nationals from countries including Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and more with various convictions, including murder. Operation Pick-Off operates on a continuous basis, with authorities engaging in rolling arrests and prosecutions.

Also of note this week was the sentencing of Mexican national Francisco Gerardo Garcia-Arzola. He was ordered to serve a 30-month sentence in Brownsville after illegally reentering the country for a third time. He was first removed in 2012, then again in 2024. However, authorities discovered him in the country illegally and took him into custody in June 2025. Garcia-Arzola has multiple previous convictions for possession of and manufacturing/delivering a controlled substance.

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

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

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

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

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

HOUSTON – A 34-year-old self-proclaimed Crips street gang member has been convicted of drug trafficking and firearm offenses, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

A federal jury in Houston deliberated for approximately 90 minutes before convicting Todd McCoy of three counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and three counts of using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug offense following a four-day trial. 

Over the course of a five-month investigation, McCoy sold approximately 215 grams of meth and four firearms during multiple meetings in Houston.

The jury heard that beginning in December 2024, McCoy conducted a series of transactions out of a motel on South Main Street. In one instance, McCoy said he had several pistols for sale and later sent photos of additional firearms, including a pistol with an extended magazine.  

Testimony revealed McCoy claimed he controlled the motel and used lookouts for protection and had ready access to large quantities of meth and other drugs. McCoy also claimed he was a member of the Crips street gang.

The defense attempted to convince the jury that evidence was improperly handled, and the investigation was otherwise sloppy and unreliable. The jury did not believe those claims and found McCoy guilty as charged.  

U.S. District Judge David Hittner presided over trial and set sentencing for July 9. At that time, McCoy faces up to life in prison.

The FBI and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted forensic testing of the meth McCoy sold and provided an expert witness who testified regarding the basics of drug trafficking. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Ganz and Hunter Brown are prosecuting the case. 

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 34-year-old Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, man has been ordered to prison for attempting to smuggle cocaine through the Border Patrol checkpoint near Kingsville, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Eric Barclay pleaded guilty Jan. 22 to possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzalez Ramos has now ordered Barclay to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard evidence Barclay fled on foot from law enforcement following a high-speed vehicle pursuit.

On July 25, 2024, Christopher Seabrook drove a silver Chrysler to the Javier Vega Jr. BP checkpoint near Sarita. Barclay was the passenger.

At the initial inspection, Seabrook fled and led law enforcement on a chase reaching speeds up to 125 miles per hour.

Authorities brought the vehicle to a stop by puncturing its tires, at which time Barclay tried to flee on foot. Following his apprehension and subsequent search of the vehicle, law enforcement discovered 10 bundles of cocaine weighing 9.8 kilograms hidden in the rear panels.

The narcotics have an estimated street value of $210,000.

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

Seabrook, 51, Philadelphia, was previously ordered to serve 120 months in federal prison.

BP and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Highway Patrol and the Philadelphia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Lamont and Ashley Pruitt prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 62-year-old Mexican national illegally residing in Houston has admitted to theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Beginning in 1992, Ana Silvia Garcia used a Social Security number belonging to a U.S. citizen. Using that identity, she submitted immigration petitions on behalf of family members and obtained disability and Medicare benefits.

As a result of the scheme, Garcia unlawfully received more than $278,000 in benefits from 2013 through February 2026. She was not entitled to those funds.

Garcia later admitted her true identity following her arrest in February.

U.S. District Judge Charles R. Eskridge will impose sentencing July 2. At that time, Garcia faces up to 10 years in federal prison for stealing government funds and a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years for committing aggravated identity theft.

Garcia has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General and Department of State - Diplomatic Security Service conducted the investigation with assistance of Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Bauman is prosecuting the case.

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

Bangladeshi national Saiful Islam, 39, will make his initial appearance in Laredo, Texas, today after being extradited from Brazil. An indictment in the Southern District of Texas was unsealed today charging Islam for his role in a conspiracy that smuggled numerous aliens through Central America to the United States.

According to court documents, Islam participated in a wide-ranging human smuggling operation and assisted other smugglers by facilitating the travel of aliens from São Paulo, Brazil, and other locations in South America, Central America, and Mexico so that the aliens could illegally enter the United States. The aliens were brought to the Southern border and were instructed to cross into the United States by wading across the Rio Grande River or by jumping a border fence.

Islam is charged with conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States, multiple counts of bringing an alien to the United States for financial gain, and conspiracy to encourage and induce an alien to enter the United States. If convicted of bringing an alien to the United States for financial gain, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of three or five years in prison and he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. If he is convicted of conspiracy to bring and/or conspiracy to encourage and induce and alien to enter the United States, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck of the Southern District of Texas; and Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Phoenix made the announcement.

HSI Phoenix and HSI Laredo are investigating this case with assistance from the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., U.S. Customs and Border and Protection’s International Interdiction Task Force, HSI Mexico City, HSI Houston, HSI Calexico, HSI Monterrey, U.S. Border Patrol, the U.S. Marshals Service, and INTERPOL.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Brazil. The Justice Department thanks its Brazilian law enforcement counterparts for their assistance in this matter.

Trial Attorney Spencer M. Perry of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Cortez for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

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

To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 450 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 395 U.S. convictions; more than 345 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.

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 39-year-old man from Bangladesh is set to make his initial appearance in U.S. federal court for his role in a conspiracy that smuggled numerous illegal aliens through Central America to the United States, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Saiful Islam was extradited from Brazil April 10 and is scheduled to be in Laredo federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos at 9:30 a.m.

The indictment alleges Islam assisted other smugglers by facilitating the travel of illegal aliens from San Paolo, Brazil, and other locations through South America, Central America and Mexico to reach the United States.

According to the charges, they were taken to the southern border and instructed to enter the country by wading across the Rio Grande or jumping a border fence. Islam allegedly carried out the scheme for payment.

If convicted, Islam faces up to 15 years in federal prison for human smuggling and up to 10 years for conspiracy to bring and/or conspiracy to encourage and induce and alien to enter the United States as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Cortez is prosecuting the case along with Joint Task Force Alpha detailee/Trial Attorney Spencer M. Perry of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations in Phoenix, Arizona, conducted the investigation along with HSI Laredo and assistance from the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., Customs and Border Protection’s Counter Network Division, HSI Mexico City, HSI Brasilia, HSI Calexico, HSI Monterrey, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Marshals Service and Interpol.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing Islam’s arrest and extradition from Brazil. The Justice Department thanks its Brazilian law enforcement counterparts for making the extradition possible.

The investigation and charges are a result of the coordinated efforts of JTFA, a partnership with Department of Homeland Security which has been elevated and expanded with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of California, Districts of Arizona and New Mexico and Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 450 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 395 U.S. convictions; more than 345 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.

To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 450 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 395 U.S. convictions; more than 345 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.

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

HOUSTON – Two area residents are appearing in federal court on charges they willfully helped clients file false tax returns with the IRS, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Elfrin Lee Patten is set to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray at 2 p.m. Laquisha “Cookie” Shelton has already appeared in federal court following her arrest April 9.

A federal grand jury returned the 16-count indictment March 8, which has now been unsealed.

According to the indictment, Patten ran E. Patten Tax Prep in Houston beginning in at least 2019 for approximately seven years, while Shelton worked as a preparer for the business. The charges allege they used false credits and deductions to fraudulently lower their clients’ tax liability. In some cases, refunds exceeded $10,000 and clients were charged thousands in fees, according to court documents.

Patten and Shelton allegedly used false Schedule C losses for nonexistent businesses and fraudulent Sick and Family Leave Credits to inflate refunds.

The charges further allege Patten sent text and WhatsApp messages pressuring witnesses not to cooperate. Shelton also allegedly submitted a false affidavit claiming she had never prepared a tax return.

The IRS identified at least $30 million in Sick and Family Leave Credits tied with the business, according to the allegations.

In addition, Patten’s 2022 return allegedly reported false wages and withholdings and was accompanied by a false W-2 for a business where he did not work. The indictment alleges that return claimed a refund of $18,386. 

Patten and Shelton are charged with conspiracy and aiding and various counts of assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. Patten is also charged with filing a false tax return in his own name.

If convicted, both face up to five years in prison for the conspiracy count, as well as three years in prison for each of the tax charges. They also face potential fines of up to $250,000.

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

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

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

HOUSTON – In support of Operation Take Back America, the Southern District of Texas has filed another 353 cases in immigration and border-security related matters, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Of those charged from April 3-9, 114 are alleged to have illegally entered the United States, while another 212 face allegations of felony reentry after prior removal. Many have prior felony convictions involving narcotics, violent crimes and immigration offenses. An additional 25 people are accused of engaging in human smuggling, while the remaining three cases relate to other immigration crimes.

One illegal alien charged this week has a prior conviction for assault of a public servant, according to the charges. Authorities allegedly found El Salvadorian national William Alexander Morataya near Roma, despite having been removed March 3.

Charges also allege law enforcement found three others, all from Mexico, near the McAllen area without legal authorization to be in the United States. Omar Alejandro Valdez-Ornelas and Jose Antonio Romero-Uribe were previously removed Feb. 2 and March 13, respectively, according to court records. Criminal complaints allege Valdez-Ornelas has a prior felony sexual offense conviction, while Romero-Uribe allegedly assaulted a family member. Authorities had previously removed Javier Alegria-Ortega Oct. 19, 2025, following a conviction and sentence for bank fraud, according to his charges. However, law enforcement allegedly discovered him near Havana.

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

In addition to the new cases, another Mexican national who had illegally reentered the United States received a 495-month sentence for distributing drugs and machine guns from his South Texas residence. Carlos Alberto Garcia-Guajardo acted as a broker for selling narcotics and machine guns. The court heard how he emulated the “gangster” lifestyle and saw images of a Scarface poster hung in Garcia-Guajardo’s bedroom. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Garcia-Guajardo’s illegal status, the number of drugs and weapons involved, that he was a leader in this criminal enterprise and the dangerousness of his actions to include discharging firearms near children and from moving vehicles.

Another illegal alien was sentenced for her role in a multi-year cartel-linked human smuggling conspiracy. Giovana Lozano Hernandez served as the organization’s de facto chief financial officer, managing payments and records while working with Cartel del Noreste to smuggle more than 1,900 illegal aliens for profit. Authorities tied her to multiple smuggling incidents, including one involving 101 illegal aliens found inside a trailer, several of whom reported difficulty breathing and feared for their lives. A search of her residence uncovered cellphones, ledgers, more than $36,000 in proceeds and digital evidence documenting transportation, housing and payment tracking.

Also in Laredo, Guatemalan human smuggler Daniel Zavala Ramos aka Dany ZR pleaded guilty in a scheme tied to a tractor-trailer crash that killed more than 50 people and injured over 100 more. He and others transported illegal aliens, including unaccompanied minors, from Guatemala through Mexico to the United States. They recruited individuals, collected payment and arranged travel via foot and various other forms of transportation. In some cases, they provided scripted language if authorities apprehended them. He faces up to life at the time of his sentencing.

In Corpus Christi, Christopher Henson received 36 months for smuggling aliens in a disguised fishing trip. The investigation revealed Henson used his boat to bypass interior Border Patrol checkpoints while transporting illegal aliens along coastal waters. He posed trips as fishing excursions, sailing south to pick up illegal aliens at Port Mansfield, then traveling north to dock at locations beyond the checkpoints.

Also of note was the sentencing of Mexican national Miguel Carreon in Houston. The court imposed a 57-month sentence, noting how he chose to reenter the United States illegally and commit other crimes. Carreon has a previous conviction for conspiracy to distribute meth and was first removed in 2016.

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

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

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

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

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

LAREDO, Texas – Two men have been handed significant sentences related to the sale of cocaine, machine guns and other drugs, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

The jury deliberated for less than three hours before finding Mexican national Carlos Alberto Garcia-Guajardo, 34, guilty on all 12 counts as charged following a less than three-day trial Dec. 3, 2025. Fernando Patino Jr., 32, Laredo, pleaded guilty prior to trial. 

Visiting U.S. District Judge Ivan Lemelle has now ordered Garcia-Guajardo to serve a total of 495 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. Patino received a 30-year sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. 

At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Garcia-Guajardo acted as a broker for selling narcotics and machine guns. Judge Lemelle considered that Garcia-Guajardo emulated the “gangster” lifestyle and saw images of a Scarface poster hung in Garcia-Guajardo’s bedroom. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Garcia-Guajardo’s illegal status, the number of drugs and weapons involved, that he was a leader in this criminal enterprise and the dangerousness of Garcia-Guajardo’s actions to include discharging firearms near children and from moving vehicles.

At trial, the jury heard that Garcia-Guajardo and Patino sold cocaine and firearms, including several machine guns, out of a residential home in Laredo. Testimony revealed details of the undercover operation which led to the discovery of the conspiracy. Starting Jan. 2, 2025, Patino and Garcia-Guajardo began selling cocaine and machine guns to undercover agents while using the sale of the narcotics and firearms to negotiate additional future deals.

Evidence also showed Garcia-Guajardo and Patino not only sold drugs and weapons but fired them indiscriminately within their neighborhood and conducted extensive drug trafficking. Both Garcia-Guajardo and Patino drove around Laredo, firing various firearms from the windows of their vehicle.

Further, on several occasions, the men had used a minor child to test fire various firearms, including machine guns. In several of these videos, Garcia-Guajardo and Patino were drinking excessively and using drugs.

On Jan. 31, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant on the 3000 block of Monterrey Street in Laredo. At that time, they found Garcia-Guajardo along with Jose Guadalupe Hernandez-Garza, a 27-year-old illegal alien from Mexico, as well as scales, cash in various denominations, crack cocaine and multiple firearms stored near items belonging to young children.

Garcia-Guajardo was also convicted of illegal reentry, having been ordered removed from the United States on two occasions, most recently in July 2024. As an illegal alien, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law.

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

Hernandez-Garza admitted to being an alien illegally in possession of a firearm and ammunition and has been ordered to prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Laredo Police Department; and Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Anti-Gang Unit – Laredo Center and Border Patrol.

Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Tory R. Sailer and Brandon Scott Bowling prosecuted the case.

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 52-year-old foreign national has pleaded guilty for his role in two-year, multimillion-dollar trade-based money laundering conspiracy to move drug trafficking proceeds through Texas to Mexico, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Gabriel Arturo Castillo, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, participated in a sophisticated, international money laundering conspiracy to transfer proceeds from the sale of illegal drugs in the United States to cartels in Mexico without physically transporting money across the U.S.-Mexico border. The conspirators concealed those funds through the movement of goods between the two countries.

As part of the black-market peso exchange scheme, the criminal conspiracy received large quantities of U.S. dollar drug proceeds in various cities in the United States. The proceeds then were either deposited into various bank accounts or transported to Laredo.

From there, the drug proceeds were sold to Mexican business owners in Mexico who used the U.S. currency to purchase products from stores in the United States, including perfume sellers. Once the businesses received payment, the merchandise Mexican business operators purchased was transported from Laredo to Mexico.

Finally, Mexican business operators paid for the drug proceeds by transferring pesos in Mexico to the drug trafficking organizations. By doing so, the conspirators sought to conceal the source of the drug proceeds and to allow the Mexico-based drug dealers to receive their profits in their native currency, pesos.

“Castillo and his co-conspirators all played a critical role in laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds through an intricate trade-based money laundering scheme,” said Marck. “This plea is yet another step we are taking to dismantle the financial networks that fuel violence and narcotics trafficking along our southern border. We will continue to follow the money trail until all participants in this organization are held accountable.”

“For years, Gabriel Arturo Castillo agreed to launder millions of dollars in drug proceeds through an intricate trade-based money laundering system,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Cartels are motivated by profit, and these financial facilitators promote their deadly drug trafficking and endanger lives, legitimate business and trade. The devastating effects of this transnational crime are vast and wide ranging. This conviction sends a clear message that the Criminal Division will pursue narcotraffickers as well as those who enable their crimes.”

“Gabriel Castillo played a key role for years in hiding drug trafficking proceeds using complex money laundering schemes,” said Special Agent in Charge Miguel Madrigal of the Drug Enforcement Administration San Antonio Division. “Castillo helped facilitate the concealment of drug profits through elaborate laundering operations. But once DEA agents in Laredo started their investigation, they swiftly identified the cartel's activities, leading to justice and ending the criminal schemes that empower their operations.”

“The specific type of scheme they used is called a black-market peso exchange, versions of which existed for decades and can be as complex as the concept is old,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rodrick Benton of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Houston Field Office. “We were able to follow the money to unravel how merchandise was purchased from U.S. businesses near the border and then sold in Mexico for a predetermined price. You can’t hide your ill-gotten gains from a law enforcement agency dedicated to following the money.”

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing July 7. At that time, Castillo faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

DEA and IRS-CI conducted the investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia, provided significant assistance in this matter. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and August 2025 extradition of Castillo.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lance Watt and Amanda Gould are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorneys Keith H. Liddle and Stephanie Williamson of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section.

A Mexican national pleaded guilty yesterday to participating in a two-year, multimillion-dollar trade-based money laundering conspiracy that moved drug trafficking proceeds through Texas to Mexico.

According to court documents, Gabriel Arturo Castillo, 52, of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, participated in a sophisticated, international money laundering conspiracy to transfer proceeds from the sale of illegal drugs in the United States to cartels in Mexico without physically transporting money across the U.S.-Mexico border. The conspirators concealed those funds through the movement of goods between the two countries.

As part of the black-market peso exchange scheme, the criminal conspiracy received large quantities of United States dollar drug proceeds in various cities in the United States. The proceeds then either were deposited into various bank accounts or transported to Laredo, Texas. From there, the drug proceeds were sold to Mexican business owners in Mexico who used the U.S. currency to purchase products from stores in the United States, including perfume sellers. Once the businesses received payment, the merchandise purchased by the Mexican business operators was transported from Laredo to Mexico. Finally, Mexican business operators paid for the drug proceeds by transferring pesos in Mexico to the drug trafficking organizations. By doing so, the conspirators sought to conceal the source of the drug proceeds and to allow the Mexico-based drug dealers to receive their profits in their native currency, pesos.

“For years, Gabriel Arturo Castillo agreed to launder millions of dollars in drug proceeds through an intricate trade-based money laundering system,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Cartels are motivated by profit, and these financial facilitators promote their deadly drug trafficking and endanger lives, legitimate business, and trade. The devastating effects of this transnational crime are vast and wide ranging. This conviction sends a clear message that the Criminal Division will pursue narcotraffickers as well as those who enable their crimes.”

“Castillo and his co-conspirators all played a critical role in laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds through an intricate trade-based money laundering scheme,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck for the Southern District of Texas. “This plea is yet another step we are taking to dismantle the financial networks that fuel violence and narcotics trafficking along our southern border. We will continue to follow the money trail until all participants in this organization are held accountable.”

“Gabriel Castillo played a key role for years in hiding drug trafficking proceeds using complex money laundering schemes,” said Special Agent in Charge Miguel Madrigal of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) San Antonio Division. “Castillo helped facilitate the concealment of drug profits through elaborate laundering operations. But once DEA agents in Laredo started their investigation, they swiftly identified the cartel's activities, leading to justice and ending the criminal schemes that empower their operations.”

“The specific type of scheme they used is called a black-market peso exchange, versions of which existed for decades and can be as complex as the concept is old,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rodrick Benton of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s Houston Field Office. “We were able to follow the money to unravel how merchandise was purchased from U.S. businesses near the border and then sold in Mexico for a predetermined price. You can’t hide your ill-gotten gains from a law enforcement agency dedicated to following the money.”

Castillo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7 and faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The DEA and IRS-CI are investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Keith Liddle and Stephanie Williamson of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lance Watt and Amanda Gould for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and August 2025 extradition of Castillo.

MNF’s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.

MNF’s Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit investigates and prosecutes sophisticated money laundering schemes involving financial facilitators, gatekeepers, and other individuals and entities laundering criminal proceeds, and litigates complex civil forfeiture cases to recover assets on behalf of victims.

LAREDO, Texas – A 27-year-old Mexican national illegally residing in Laredo has been ordered to federal prison for her role in a multi-year conspiracy to smuggle illegal aliens for financial gain, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Giovana Lozano Hernandez pleaded guilty Sept. 3, 2025.

U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen has now ordered Hernandez to serve 70 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, she is expected to face removal proceedings following her imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that the large-scale human smuggling organization operated as a “one-stop shop” for harboring and transporting illegal aliens on the United States side of the border. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the depth of her involvement and significant responsibility she had in this large-scale human smuggling organization. Further, the court noted the dangerous individuals involved in this organization.

The investigation revealed Hernandez served as the group’s de facto chief financial officer, managing its books and finances alongside her husband, Danny Nunez. The couple worked directly with Cartel del Noreste and helped smuggle over 1,900 aliens which resulted in a substantial amount of illicit profits for both the CDN and the couple.

Authorities tied Hernandez to multiple smuggling events dating back to March 2023. In one December 2023 incident, authorities observed several people being loaded into a white trailer at a warehouse. A subsequent search uncovered 101 aliens inside the trailer, including 12 unaccompanied minors.

Several of the aliens reported difficulty breathing and feared for their lives due to the trailer’s conditions.

A search of the couple’s home led to the discovery of cellphones, ledgers documenting smuggling activity, more than $36,000 in proceeds and two illegal aliens on the premises. Authorities also identified numerous digital images of paper ledgers and illegal aliens as well as voice messages exchanged between Hernandez and others detailing the transportation, housing and financial accountability for aliens who had already been transported and harbored.

Nunez, 35, was previously ordered to serve 10 years in federal prison Jan. 7.

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Border Patrol and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department and ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling prosecuted the case.

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

HOUSTON – A total of 10 Houston residents are now in custody for various firearm and drug trafficking offenses, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Authorities arrested Damian Ray Broussard, 39, Corre Deandre Plater, 36, Stacy Lawton, 46, Quentin Mayes, 51, Johnnie Lee Chatmon, 51, Leroy Lumpkin, 55, Emanuel Walker, 30, and Anthony Means, 51, April 7, who have begun to make their initial appearances in federal court. All are charged in separate, but related indictments returned in March which were unsealed upon their initial appearances.  

Ronald Maddox, 42, was previously arrested and remains in custody pending further criminal proceedings.  

At the time of the arrests, law enforcement also took a 10th man into custody. Justin Leonard, 39, is charged in a separate, but similar criminal complaint. He is in custody on related charges and is expected to make his appearance in federal court in the near future.

According to the allegations, the group trafficked fentanyl, crystal meth, cocaine and counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs as well as firearms in Houston’s Clinton Park neighborhood.

As detailed in the complaint, Walker and Leonard allegedly sold various amounts of cocaine, crystal meth and approximately 3,000 pills containing meth. Leonard has also sold a large amount of crack cocaine out of the Clinton Park residence, according to the charges.

As part of the operation, authorities allegedly discovered and seized over 30 firearms, cocaine, pills containing meth or fentanyl, crystal meth, prescription pills, crack cocaine, heroin, marijuana and cash, among other things.

With the exception of Mayes, Chatmon and Walker, who face varying terms up to 40 years in federal prison for the drug charges, the remaining men could receive up to life in prison for either the drug and/or firearms charges. All could also be ordered to pay a maximum $250,000 fine on any of the counts.

FBI – Houston led the investigation as part of Operation Spring Cleaning along with Houston Police Department; U.S. Marshals Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard D. Hanes 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 Houston area woman has been taken into custody on charges that she willfully helped clients file false tax returns with the IRS, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Bobbie Zermeno aka Roberta Villarreal is set to make her initial appearance in Houston federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray at 2 p.m.

A federal grand jury returned the 14-count indictment March 25, which was unsealed upon her arrest. 

Zermeno ran a tax preparation business in Houston from at least 2017 to 2022, according to the charges. At times during those years, she allegedly added false credits or deductions on tax returns to fraudulently lower her clients’ overall tax liability. 

The indictment alleges Zermeno utilized false Schedule C losses for businesses that did not even exist and false car mileage expenses to fraudulently inflate her clients’ tax refunds. The false amounts claimed on these returns would, at times, exceed thousands of dollars, according to the charges.

Zermeno allegedly earned money from the scheme by charging her clients preparation fees of hundreds of dollars per return. The charges also allege she  did not disclose some of these fees to her clients.

If convicted, she faces up to three years in prison for each count of aiding in the preparation and filing of false tax returns as well as potential fines of up to $250,000.

IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Lu and Brad Gray are prosecuting the case.  

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

McALLEN, Texas – A 24-year-old foreign national with a B1/B2 visa has been sentenced for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Roberto Ferral-Sanchez pleaded guilty Nov. 25, 2025.

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Ferral-Sanchez to serve 48 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 that Ferral-Sanchez was not a lower-level participant in the organization given the amount of narcotics involved. In handing down the sentence, the court noted bringing narcotics across an international border is a critical and risky drug trafficking function.

On Sept. 14, 2025, Ferral-Sanchez approached primary lane at the Hidalgo Port of Entry. Authorities referred him to for further inspection where an X-ray of the Chevrolet Cruze he was driving revealed anomalies along the rocker panels on both sides of the vehicle.

Law enforcement removed the back paneling and discovered two hidden aftermarket compartments containing approximately 16 sealed and marked bundles.

The packages tested positive for cocaine and weighed approximately 18.7 kilograms and have an estimated street value of approximately $1.4 million.

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Garcia prosecuted the case.