Southern District of Texas

HOUSTON – A 40-year-old Katy man has been sent to federal prison following his conviction of committing wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Santiago Mora pleaded guilty March 3.

Today, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen imposed a 27-month-term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

Mora was co-owner with his business partner of Alku Modern Jewelers located in Katy.

During sentencing, the judge heard that Mora failed to deliver pre-paid Rolex watches valued at approximately $3.9 million to a customer. In an effort to pay the customer and others, Mora executed a scheme by which he obtained a total $500,000 in merchant cash advances via wire transfer by impersonating and using the good credit of his business partner.  

Mora eventually admitted his fraudulent dealings to his business partner and to using his partner’s identity to apply for and receive multiple merchant cash advances.

Mora was taken into custody in Miami, Florida, in June 2021 after he failed to appear in court for further proceedings.

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

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tina Ansari and Grace Murphy prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – The seventh and final member involved in a synthetic narcotics distribution network has been ordered to federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Frank Gonzalez, 61, Mesa, Arizona, pleaded guilty Aug. 19, 2020.

Today, U.S. District Judge George Hanks Jr. ordered Gonzalez to serve a total of 28 months in federal prison and to forfeit $117,984. During the hearing, testimony detailed the significant dangers of synthetic cannabinoids including the risk of death, major health problems and the negative impact it has on the community and first responders. The court also heard how there is no standard manufacturing process so users do not know what chemical substance is actually present or how it will affect them.

In imposing the sentence, Judge Hanks noted that the overall operation was fueled by greed and without regard for potential dangers to the community. He recognized the court’s role in deterring others who would engage in similar conduct and the need to protect the public.   

In 2015, authorities began investigating a smoke shop in Laredo. During that time, they discovered a nationwide mail order business that Bowles owned and operated which supplied the shop with illegal synthetic cannabinoid products. Call-takers in several states received order requests for the products with names such as Brain Freeze and Death Grip which were delivered to shop owners from California. Payments were often sent to accounts Bowles controlled in Arizona. In addition, he used various business entities to conceal the amount of the income made.

During the investigation, authorities tracked payments from multiple retail smoke shops throughout the United States and identified several bank accounts involved in the scheme. Financial records show that from February 2012 through 2019, the network received over $15.4 million in illicit proceeds.

Bowles, 47, Phoenix, Arizona, was previously sentenced to 192 months in prison, while five others received terms of imprisonment ranging from 63 to 98 months. Forfeitures for all seven convictions totaled $9.8 million.   

Synthetic cannabinoids are chemical compounds that mimic the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana but often with sever life-threatening side effects. They can be infused in plant material and ingested with rolling papers, pipes, vaporizers or taken orally. They are usually sold in small foil or plastic bags containing dried leaves and are marketed as incense that can be smoked. They are commonly sold on the street as synthetic marijuana, fake weed, legal and known by popular brand names such as Spice, K2, Kush and Klimaxx.

The Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and FBI conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation dubbed Operation Brain Freeze with the assistance of Texas Department of Public Safety and sheriff’s offices in Zapata County and Maricopa County, Arizona. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Graciela Lindberg and Lance Watt prosecuted the case.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas ‐ A 49-year-old Brownsville man has been charged for his role in a scheme to defraud Medicaid by working with a suspended medical license, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer Lowery.

Law enforcement took Fernando Mendez into custody this past weekend. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald G. Morgan at 9:30 a.m. today.

According to the indictment, returned Aug. 26 and unsealed today, Mendez was a physician assistant at CCI Therapy Counseling Centers International.

On July 20, 2021, the Texas Medical Board allegedly ordered the immediate suspension of Mendez’s physician assistant license, deeming him to be a “continuing threat to public welfare.” He was then prohibited from practicing medicine, according to the charges.

However, Mendez allegedly continued to evaluate and treat patients at mental health clinics in Brownsville, Harlingen and Pharr and billed Medicaid for services he rendered during his suspension.

The indictment further alleges Mendez attempted to conceal his continued practice of medicine by using identities of other physicians and medical personnel. Specifically, Mendez allegedly created medical records under the identities of other physicians while they were traveling outside of the United States. The charges also allege Mendez submitted false statements to the Texas Medical Board in an effort to conceal his improper practice of medicine.

Mendez is charged with seven counts of health care fraud for which he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. If convicted of any of the four aggravated identity theft charges, he faces another two years which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. All counts also carry as possible fine of up to $250,000.

The FBI, Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, Texas Health and Human Services and Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Swartz 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 - The United States obtained a warrant to seize a Boeing 737-7EM aircraft owned by PJSC LUKOIL, a Russian multinational oil and gas corporation headquartered in Moscow, Russia. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas authorized the seizure, finding probable cause that the Boeing aircraft was subject to seizure based on violations of federal law.

Earlier this year, the Department of Commerce issued sanctions against Russia in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions impose export controls and license requirements to protect U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. The Russia sanctions expanded prohibitions on the export, reexport or in-country transfer of, among other things, U.S.-manufactured aircraft to or within Russia without a valid license or license exception.

According to court documents, LUKOIL owns the Boeing aircraft – bearing tail number VP-CLR and manufacturer serial number 34865 – which flew into and out of Russia in violation of the Department of Commerce’s Russia sanctions.

“The FBI will remain focused and faithful to our responsibility to protect our U.S. national security and foreign policy interests,” said Special Agent in Charge James Smith of the FBI – Houston Field Office. “We’ll continue to go after individuals who insist on helping Russia advance its hostile and illegal activities, and we’ll continue to seize their valuable possessions, wherever they may be. We thank Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Department of Commerce for their partnership in this case.”

“Once again, the United States, through its experts at the FBI and the Department of Commerce, has laid open a series of shell companies and sham corporations designed to conceal the ownership and illegal movements of controlled technology,” said Task Force KleptoCapture Director Andrew C. Adams. “The aircraft at the center of today’s affidavit was ultimately the property of Lukoil, though that ownership was obscured through a now-public series of holding companies. With today’s unsealed affidavit, aviation, insurance, and financial services companies are made aware of that nesting doll-structure, and can proactively avoid the provision of services that might aid the movement of this tainted aircraft as the United States pursues its seizure.”

“Today’s actions to enforce the powerful export restrictions placed on Russia are our latest coordinated measures that let Vladimir Putin and his allies know they are isolated and we are watching,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod. “The Commerce Department’s Office of Export Enforcement continues to vigorously enforce the export laws of the United States and stand with the people of Ukraine against Putin’s war of aggression.”

“By aggressively pursuing the seizure of these assets, we have sent a resounding message to sanctions violators and third-party facilitators around the globe that we are committed to targeting any individual or entity that seeks to blatantly skirt the sanctions, export controls and license requirements imposed by the United States in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Dawson, HSI Houston. “Using our broad investigative and enforcement authorities and global reach, HSI will continue to work alongside our federal partners to protect U.S. national security interests and inflict maximum disruptive effects against anyone who violates these sanctions in an effort to support the Russian government.”

The Boeing last flew into the United States in March 2019 when the plane flew from overseas to Houston with LUKOIL officials, including a Russian oligarch – then LUKOIL president and CEO Vagit Alekperov – on board the aircraft. The Boeing is believed to be in Russia and worth approximately $45 million. Since September 2014, LUKOIL has been subject to sectoral sanctions imposed by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

The seizure action is being coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2 and run out of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.

The FBI’s Houston Field Office, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security and HSI in Houston are investigating the seizure matter. The investigation into additional aircraft is ongoing.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Pearson and Brandon L. Fyffe of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and Trial Attorneys Lindsay M. Heck and Sinan Kalayoglu of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section are leading the seizure action. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the FBI’s New York Field Office and the Federal Aviation Administration provided significant assistance.

The United States obtained a warrant to seize a Boeing 737-7EM aircraft owned by PJSC LUKOIL, a Russian multinational oil and gas corporation headquartered in Moscow, Russia. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas authorized the seizure, finding probable cause that the Boeing aircraft was subject to seizure based on violations of federal law.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued sanctions against Russia in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions impose export controls and license requirements to protect U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. The Russia sanctions expanded prohibitions on the export, reexport or in-country transfer of, among other things, U.S.-manufactured aircraft to or within Russia without a valid license or license exception.

According to court documents, LUKOIL owns the Boeing aircraft – bearing the tail number VP-CLR and the manufacturer serial number 34865 – which flew into and out of Russia in violation of the Department of Commerce’s sanctions against Russia.

The Boeing last flew into the United States in March 2019 when the plane flew from overseas to Houston, Texas with LUKOIL officials, including a Russian oligarch – then LUKOIL president and CEO Vagit Alekperov – on board the aircraft. The Boeing is believed to be in Russia and worth approximately $45 million. Since September 2014, LUKOIL has been subject to sectoral sanctions imposed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

The seizure action is being coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2 and run out of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.

The FBI’s Houston Field Office, the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Houston are investigating the seizure matter.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Pearson and Brandon L. Fyffe of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and Trial Attorneys Lindsay M. Heck and Sinan Kalayoglu of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section are leading the seizure action. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the FBI’s New York Field Office and the Federal Aviation Administration provided significant assistance.

McALLEN, Texas – A man illegally residing in Garland has been sent to federal prison for his role in smuggling firearms from the United States into Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Juan Jose Roque, 36, pleaded guilty April 29.

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered Roque to serve 46 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Roque had been participating for months in the criminal venture before he was caught. The court also heard that his participation included buying firearms and ammunition to be exported and loading vehicles for his wife who was acting as the leader/organizer. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Roque was an average participant in the venture even though he was acting at the behest of his wife at the time.

On Dec. 17, 2020, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Roque after he failed to use a signal to change lanes. Soon after, authorities discovered 13,000 rounds of ammunition and a firearm in the vehicle.

Investigation later revealed that Roque worked in conjunction with his wife Brendalit Hernandez, 44, and co-conspirator, Juan Marvin Garcia, 25, both illegally residing in Garland, to smuggle ammunition and firearms into Mexico. Hernandez was also romantically involved with Garcia while currently married to Roque.

Hernandez facilitated the delivery of the ammunition and firearms to individuals in Mexico. She instructed Roque to purchase the weapons and ammunition to then be transported in vehicles while coordinating with Garcia to carry ammunition from Dallas to the Rio Grande Valley area and eventually Mexico.

Garcia was previously sentenced to 36 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy. Hernandez pleaded guilty to charges July 5 and will be sentenced Sept. 14.

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

Homeland Security Investigations and the Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colton Turner prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 43-year-old local man has been charged with willfully injuring or committing a depredation against property of the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Authorities took Jesus Jaimes Merlan into custody today. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sam Sheldon tomorrow at 2 p.m.

A federal grand jury returned the indictment July 21. Merlan is charged with allegedly ramming his truck and trailer into the signage entrance to the FBI on May 11. He allegedly caused damage in excess of $1000.

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

The Federal Protection Service conducted the investigation with the assistance of the FBI, Houston Police Department and General Services Administration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Porto is prosecuting the case.

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 28-year-old resident of San Antonio has been ordered to federal prison for importing almost 17 kilograms of cocaine into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Alessandra Olivares pleaded guilty Aug.18, 2021.

Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana ordered her to serve a 51-month sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.

On May 20, Olivares attempted to enter the United States at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge in Laredo. Soon after, a K-9 alerted to her sport utility vehicle. Law enforcement conducted an X-ray inspection of the vehicle and discovered anomalies. Upon further investigation, authorities discovered a compartment containing 15 bundles of cocaine weighing 16.84 kilograms.

The drugs had an estimated street value of about $400,000.

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

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

GALVESTON, Texas – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging 10 alleged MS-13 gang members with crimes including racketeering conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to murder in aid of racketeering (VICAR), related firearms charges and obstruction of justice.

“The charges in this case reflect the Justice Department’s commitment to dismantling and disrupting MS-13, a criminal organization that sows violence, terror and fear in communities across the country,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We will continue to work closely alongside our law enforcement partners to root out criminal organizations wherever they exist and break the cycles of violence that they perpetuate.”

According to allegations in the indictment, the defendants were leaders and members of La Mara Salvatrucha, more commonly known as MS-13. In total, the indictment includes criminal charges related to seven murders, one attempted murder and one murder conspiracy.

“Protecting the safety of our communities is fundamental to what we do at the FBI,” said Director Christopher Wray of the FBI. “This indictment is one example of the persistent work being done by the FBI and our partners to combat violent gangs like MS-13 that inundate communities with violence. The FBI is committed to reducing violent crime and combating the threat criminal enterprises pose. We are proud to work alongside our local, state, tribal and federal enforcement partners in bringing violent members of criminal organizations like MS-13 to justice.”

The indictment alleges that beginning prior to at least in or around 2015, and continuing through today, the defendants engaged in a racketeering conspiracy involving murder, extortion, drug trafficking, robbery and obstruction of justice.

“This case is an important step in curbing crime in Texas and a message to criminal organizations that federal authorities are working with local law enforcement to stop the violence,” said U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery for the Southern District of Texas. “The charges in this case are extensive and violent. We will continue the fight and will stop at nothing to bring those who we believe are putting our communities at risk to justice.”

The murders and other crimes charged in the indictment were allegedly committed in the Southern District of Texas and the District of Maryland. Defendants Franklin Trejo-Chavarria aka Impulsivo and Julio Vigil-Lopez aka Hades reside in El Salvador. All other defendants are in law enforcement custody in the United States.

“As demonstrated by the allegations in the indictment, transnational criminal street gangs like MS-13 are a plague upon society that must be rooted out in the interest of public safety and national security,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Dawson of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston. “HSI Houston is committed to continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to bring an end to the relentless terror and violence that they reign on the innocent and law-abiding members of our communities.”

Under the authority of MS-13 leadership in El Salvador and elsewhere, members engaged in a variety of violent crimes throughout the Southern District of Texas and District of Maryland, according to the charges. Over the past several years, law enforcement has allegedly uncovered several homicides and attempted murders related to these cliques and their associates. The investigation has revealed that these criminal acts were committed to maintain the gang’s control, to retaliate against rival gangs and to seek retribution against those who were believed to have cooperated with law enforcement against the gang, according to the indictment.

Leaders in El Salvador and elsewhere allegedly authorized the acts to ensure individual members and cliques followed the customs, rules, and protocols of the larger MS-13 enterprise.

The seven murders alleged in the indictment span from 2015 through 2018 and include a range of victims. These murders were allegedly brutal in nature and include the killing of a juvenile female and a police informant. The murders also included multiple acts of mutilation and dismemberment with machetes, according to the charges.

“This indictment is a testament to the strong partnerships we have with our federal and local agencies to help bring violent gang offenders to justice,” said Houston Police Chief Troy Finner. “We thank our partners and look forward to working together to help keep our communities safe.”

The FBI; Homeland Security Investigations; police departments in Houston, Galveston and Prince George’s County, Maryland; and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Marshals Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Britini Cooper and John M. Lewis are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorneys Julie A. Finocchiaro, Matthew K. Hoff and Gerald A. Collins from the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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

 

Name

Age

Located In

Charges

Franklin Trejo-Chavarria, aka Impulsivo

25

El Salvador

Count 1: RICO Conspiracy;

Counts 2 and 3: VICAR Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Counts 7 and 8:  VICAR Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Count 9: Obstruction of Justice

Counts 13 and 14: VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder

Julio Vigil-Lopez, aka Hades

25

El Salvador

Count 1: RICO Conspiracy;

Counts 15 and 16: VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder

Counts 17 and 18: Using a firearm to cause death

Walter Antonio Chicas-Arcia, aka Walter, aka Mejia

25

Houston, TX

Count 1: RICO Conspiracy;

Counts 7 and 8:  VICAR Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Count 9: Obstruction of Justice;

Counts 13 and 14: VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder

Luis Ernesto Carbajal-Peraza, aka Destino, aka Chele

30

Houston, TX

Count 1: RICO Conspiracy

Counts 4 and 5: VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder; 

Count 6: Obstruction of Justice;

Counts 7 and 8:  VICAR Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Count 9: Obstruction of Justice;

Counts 10 and 11: VICAR Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Count 12: Obstruction of Justice

Carlos Alexi Garcia-Gongora, aka Garcia, aka Lil Maligno

24

Houston, TX

Count 1: RICO Conspiracy

Counts 4 and 5: VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Count 6: Obstruction of Justice; Counts 10 and 11: VICAR Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Murder

Count 12: Obstruction of Justice

 

Wilson Jose Ventura-Mejia, aka Discreto, aka Disco

26

Houston, TX

Count 1: RICO Conspiracy;

Count 6: Obstruction of Justice

Wilman Rivas-Guido, aka Inquieto

26

Houston, TX

Count 1: RICO Conspiracy;

Count 6: Obstruction of Justice;

Counts 7 and 8:  VICAR Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Count 9: Obstruction of Justice;

Counts 15 and 16: VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Counts 17 and 18: Using a firearm to cause death

Carlos Elias Henriquez-Torres, aka Kalin

22

Houston, TX

Count 1: RICO Conspiracy;

Count 6: Obstruction of Justice;

Counts 7 and 8:  VICAR Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Count 9: Obstruction of Justice

Angel Miguel Aguilar-Ochoa, aka Darki

37

Houston, TX

Counts 7 and 8:  VICAR Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Count 9: Obstruction of Justice

Marlon Miranda-Moran, aka Chinki

23

Houston, TX

Counts 7 and 8:  VICAR Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Count 9: Obstruction of Justice

A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Texas returned an indictment yesterday charging 10 alleged MS-13 gang members with crimes including racketeering conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to murder in aid of racketeering, related firearms charges, and obstruction of justice.

“The charges in this case reflect the Justice Department’s commitment to dismantling and disrupting MS-13, a criminal organization that sows violence, terror, and fear in communities across the country,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We will continue to work closely alongside our law enforcement partners to root out criminal organizations wherever they exist and break the cycles of violence that they perpetuate.”

According to allegations in the indictment, the defendants were leaders and members of La Mara Salvatrucha, more commonly known as MS-13. In total, the indictment includes criminal charges related to seven murders, one attempted murder, and one murder conspiracy.

“Protecting the safety of our communities is fundamental to what we do at the FBI,” said Director Christopher Wray of the FBI. “This indictment is one example of the persistent work being done by the FBI and our partners to combat violent gangs like MS-13 that inundate communities with violence. The FBI is committed to reducing violent crime and combating the threat criminal enterprises pose. We are proud to work alongside our local, state, Tribal and federal enforcement partners in bringing violent members of criminal organizations like MS-13 to justice.”

The indictment alleges that beginning prior to at least in or around 2015, and continuing through today, the defendants engaged in a racketeering conspiracy involving murder, extortion, drug trafficking, robbery, and obstruction of justice.

“This case is an important step in curbing crime in Texas and a message to criminal organizations that federal authorities are working with local law enforcement to stop the violence,” said U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery for the Southern District of Texas. “The charges in this case are extensive and violent. We will continue the fight and will stop at nothing to bring those who we believe are putting our communities at risk to justice.”

The murders and other crimes charged in the indictment were allegedly committed in the Southern District of Texas and the District of Maryland. Defendants Franklin Trejo-Chavarria, aka Impulsivo, and Julio Vigil-Lopez, aka Hades, reside in El Salvador. All other defendants are in law enforcement custody in the United States.

“As demonstrated by the allegations in today’s indictments, transnational criminal street gangs like MS-13 are a plague upon society that must be rooted out in the interest of public safety and national security,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Dawson of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston. “HSI Houston is committed to continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to bring an end to the relentless terror and violence that they reign on the innocent and law-abiding members of our communities.”

According to the indictment, under the authority of MS-13 leadership in El Salvador and elsewhere, members engaged in a variety of violent crimes throughout the Southern District of Texas and District of Maryland. Over the past several years, law enforcement uncovered several alleged homicides and attempted murders related to these cliques and their associates. The investigation revealed that these criminal acts were committed to maintain the gang’s control, to retaliate against rival gangs and to seek retribution against those who were believed to have cooperated with law enforcement against the gang.

“This indictment is a testament to the strong partnerships we have with our federal and local agencies to help bring violent gang offenders to justice,” said Houston Police Chief Troy Finner. “We thank our partners and look forward to working together to help keep our communities safe.”

Leaders in El Salvador and elsewhere allegedly authorized the acts to ensure individual members and cliques followed the customs, rules, and protocols of the larger MS-13 enterprise.

The seven murders alleged in the indictment span from 2015 through 2018 and include a range of victims. These murders were allegedly brutal in nature and include the killing of a juvenile female and a police informant. The murders also included multiple acts of mutilation and dismemberment with machetes, according to the charges.

The FBI, HSI, the Houston Police Department, the Galveston Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Prince George’s County Police Department are investigating the case. The U.S. Marshals Service and DEA provided assistance.

Trial Attorneys Julie A. Finocchiaro, Matthew K. Hoff, and Gerald A. Collins from the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Britini Cooper and John M. Lewis of the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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

Name, Location

Age

Charges

Max Penalty

Franklin Trejo-Chavarria, aka Impulsivo

El Salvador

25

Count 1: RICO Conspiracy;

Counts 2 and 3: VICAR Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Counts 7 and 8: VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Count 9: Obstruction of Justice;

Counts 13 and 14: VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder

Life

10 years

 

Life (or death)

20 years

Life (or death)

Julio Vigil-Lopez, aka Hades

El Salvador

25

Count 1: RICO Conspiracy;

Counts 10 and 11: VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Count 12: Obstruction of Justice;

Counts 15 and 16: VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Counts 17 and 18: Using a firearm to cause death

Life

Life (or death)

20 years

Life (or death)

Life

Walter Antonio Chicas-Garcia, aka Walter, aka Mejia

Houston, TX

25

Count 1: RICO Conspiracy;

Counts 7 and 8: VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Count 9: Obstruction of Justice;

Counts 13 and 14: VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder

Life

Life (or death)

20 years

Life (or death)

Luis Ernesto Carbajal-Peraza, aka Destino, aka Chele

Houston, TX

30

Count 1: RICO Conspiracy;

Counts 4 and 5: VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder; 

Count 6: Obstruction of Justice;

Counts 10 and 11: VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Count 12: Obstruction of Justice

Life

Life (or death)

20 years

Life (or death)

20 years

Carlos Alexi Garcia-Gongora, aka Garcia, aka Lil Maligno

Houston, TX

24

Count 1: RICO Conspiracy;

Counts 4 and 5: VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Count 6: Obstruction of Justice;

Counts 10 and 11: VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Count 12: Obstruction of Justice

Life

Life (or death)

20 years

Life (or death)

20 years

Wilson Jose Ventura-Mejia, aka Discreto, aka Disco

Houston, TX

26

Count 1: RICO Conspiracy;

Count 6: Obstruction of Justice;

Counts 7 and 8: VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Count 9: Obstruction of Justice

Life

20 years

Life (or death)

20 years

Wilman Rivas-Guido, aka Inquieto

Houston, TX

26

Count 1: RICO Conspiracy;

Count 6: Obstruction of Justice;

Counts 7 and 8:  VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Count 9: Obstruction of Justice;

Counts 15 and 16: VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Counts 17 and 18: Using a firearm to cause death

Life

20 years

Life (or death)

20 years

Life (or death)

Life

Carlos Elias Henriquez-Torres, aka Kalin

Houston, TX

22

Count 1: RICO Conspiracy;

Count 6: Obstruction of Justice;

Counts 7 and 8:  VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Count 9: Obstruction of Justice

Life

20 years

Life (or death)

20 years

Angel Miguel Aguilar-Ochoa, aka Darki

Houston, TX

37

Counts 7 and 8:  VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Count 9: Obstruction of Justice

Life (or death)

20 years

Marlon Miranda-Moran, aka Chinki

Houston, TX

23

Counts 7 and 8:  VICAR Murder and Conspiracy to Murder;

Count 9: Obstruction of Justice

Life (or death)

20 years

LAREDO, Texas – A 34-year-old Mexican national illegally residing in Zapata has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Abelardo Javier Caballero-Zamora pleaded guilty Jan. 5.

Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana ordered Caballero-Zamora to serve 63 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, Caballero-Zamora is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.

At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described how Caballero-Zamora admitted to relatives on recorded jail calls that he had been consuming drugs continuously for several days prior to the offense, but claimed to have no memory of it. Judge Saldana also noted his lengthy criminal record was an “absolute nightmare” and admonished him directly, telling him he needed to “grow up” and remain in Mexico.

On April 3, 2021, authorities responded to an emergency call reporting Caballero-Zamora was threatening people at a local motel. Law enforcement arrived to the location and found Caballero-Zamora illegally in possession of a loaded .44 caliber revolver. The Investigation revealed Caballero-Zamora had also pointed a handgun at a local Zapata store clerk earlier that same day.

As both an undocumented alien and a felon, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition per federal law. Caballero-Zamora was previously convicted in 2020 of illegally re-entering the United States after a previous deportation, a felony.

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

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the Zapata County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A 41-year-old Spring resident is set to appear in federal court on charges of fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Christopher Russell Bentley is expected to make his initial appearance today at 2 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheldon.

The criminal information, filed Aug. 16, charges him with one count of fraud. From February 2019 through April 2021, Bentley managed different oil and gas mineral rights investment funds, according to the charges. During that time, he allegedly inflated the value of oil and gas mineral rights he sold to investment funds and used their money to obtain a loan of $6.5 million for personal benefit.

The charges further allege he fraudulently obtained $3,972,492 from investors.

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

FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Braddock is prosecuting the case.

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

McALLEN, Texas – Three Mexican nationals have been indicted on charges of attempted exportation of wildlife, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

A federal grand jury returned the two-count indictment against Jonathan Roberto Rojas-Casados, 32, Roberto Rojas-Ramirez, 50, and Roberto Angel Roman-Alvarez, 27, today. They are expected to make their initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge in the near future.

The charges allege the men attempted to take over 160 animals out of the country.

On Aug. 3, according to the complaint originally filed in the case, the three men drove two vehicles into the Hidalgo Port of Entry and attempted to travel outbound into Mexico. Rojas-Casados and Roman-Alvarez allegedly rode together in a Ford Econoline while Rojas-Ramirez followed behind in a separate vehicle.

The charges allege authorities sent both vehicles for inspection. Upon a search of the Econoline, they allegedly discovered two boxes that contained over 160 animals that were concealed in small plastic containers and fabric bags located within the boxes. Among the animals were snakes, Chinese water dragons, iguanas, scorpions, tarantulas, frogs, geckos and lizards, according to the charges.

Rojas-Ramirez allegedly picked up the wildlife and loaded the boxes into the vehicle. Then, he contacted Rojas-Casados for assistance in transporting the wildlife in exchange for payment, according to the complaint.

The charges further allege that several of the animals are classified as Appendix II wildlife in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES):

 

Quantity

Common Name

Scientific Name

10

Ball Python

Pythons regius

3

Colombian Rainbow Boa

Epicrates maurus

2

Black and White Tegu

Salvator merianae

6

Green Iguana

Iguana iguana

5

Forest Armadillo Lizard

Cordylus jonesii

8

Jackson’s Chameleon

Trioceros jacksonii

2

Russian Tortoise

Testudo horsfieldii

10

Red-eyed Treefrog

Agalychnis callidryas

6

Green and Black Poison Dart Frog

Dendrobates auratus

6

Dyeing Poison Dart Frog

Dendrobates tinctorius

10

Curly-hair Tarantula

Tliltocatl albopilosus

10

Emperor Scorpion

Pandinius imperator

 

It is a violation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to export wildlife without a license or permission from the Department of the Interior or Department of Commerce. It is an additional violation of the Lacey Act to export CITES Appendix II wildlife against the ESA. None of the men had a license or permission to export wildlife from the United States, according to the charges.

 

If convicted, they face up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.  

 

Homeland Security Investigations and Fish and Wildlife Service conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection and Gladys Porter Zoo. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devin V. Walker is prosecuting the case.

 

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

McALLEN, Texas ‐ A physician and employee have been charged for their roles in a health care fraud scheme involving the submission of more than $3.5 million in claims to Medicare, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Authorities took Dr. Osama Balhir Nahas, 67, McAllen, and Isabel Moreno Pruneda, 50, Edinburg, into custody today. They are expected to make their initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis Aug. 22 at 9 a.m.

A federal grand jury returned the 15-count indictment Aug. 16. It alleges Nahas is a physician and owner, while Pruneda was an employee at Crosspoint Medical Clinic located in Edinburg. Nahas allegedly paid kickbacks to various adult day care companies to gain Medicare beneficiary information under the guise of providing medical services.

Nahas, Pruneda and other co-conspirators used their access to adult day care facilities to perform a variety of unnecessary medical tests and procedures and order prescriptions for expensive medications that were not needed, according to the charges.

The indictment further alleges many of the patients had their own primary care physicians who were not consulted prior to or after the examinations. Most of the patients were allegedly elderly or disabled and lacked the capacity to consent to the examinations, tests and other procedures that Nahas and Pruneda performed.

In addition, marketers paid Nahas and Pruneda illegal kickbacks in exchange for ordering laboratory tests and prescriptions that were unnecessary and that patients often did not want, according to the charges. In many instances, patients allegedly did not receive their test results or the prescribed medication.

Pruneda also forged patient signatures on consent forms connected to the fraudulent laboratory testing services and prescriptions, according to the charges.

The indictment further alleges more than $3.5 million was billed to Medicare in connection to the fraud scheme. 

Nahas and Pruneda are charged with seven counts of health care fraud and conspiracy to do so, all of which carry a possible 10-year-term of imprisonment, as well as one count of conspiracy to receive illegal remunerations which could result in another five years in prison. Both are also charged with aggravated identity theft which carries a mandatory two years in federal prison which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. All convictions could also result in maximum possible fines of $250,000.

The FBI, Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (OIG), Texas Health & Human Services Commission-OIG, Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Texas Department of Insurance - Fraud conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Swartz 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 – The 18th member of a trafficking cell responsible for sending hundreds of firearms to transnational criminal organizations in Mexico has been ordered to federal prison for his role in the scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Guillermo Gomez-Lazcano, 26, a Mexican national who illegally resided in Houston, pleaded guilty April 6 to being an alien in possession of a firearm, possessing a machine gun and participating in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

Today, U.S. Circuit Judge Gregg Costa ordered Gomez-Lazcano to serve a total of 200 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court noted how many dangerous weapons were being sent to very dangerous people in Mexico that ultimately destroyed many families.

Gomez-Lazcano is the son of Gustavo Gomez-Valenzuela, the leader of the gun trafficking organization that was unlawfully exporting firearms to Mexico. Gomez-Valenzuela had pleaded guilty to eight counts related to the scheme, admitting to providing funds to purchase hundreds of firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition, smuggling both firearms and ammunition to Mexico, possessing firearms and selling kilogram quantities of meth.

Co-conspirators purchased firearms from Khalid Abdulaziz, the owner and manager of Zeroed In Armory to send to Gomez-Valenzuela. While acting in the capacity of a federal firearms licensee in Houston, Abdulaziz sold the majority of the firearms to others in the cell. Several have also pleaded guilty, admitted to making false statements in the purchase of firearms.

As a result of the scheme, they purchased approximately 500 firearms which were ultimately trafficked to transnational criminal organizations in Mexico. To date, authorities have recovered over 60 firearms in Mexico, the majority of which were being used in acts of violence.  

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

Abdulaziz, 34, Manvel, and Gomez-Valenzuela, 49 and illegally residing in Houston, were sentenced to 10 and 30 years in prison, respectively. Other prison sentences have ranged from 18 months to more than 10 years.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Stabe and Lisa M. Collins prosecuted the case.

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A Corpus Christi health care company has agreed to pay $990,478.46 to resolve allegations they violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to Medicare for non-covered hospice services, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

The settlement resolves allegations that Familia Healthcare Services Inc. dba Del Cielo Hospice and Palliative Care knowingly submitted false claims from May 12, 2017, through Jan. 31, 2022. The claims allegedly involved hospice services for patients who were not eligible for, and did not qualify for, the hospice benefit in violation of the False Claims Act.

“This office is committed to pursuing providers who put profits ahead of patients,” said Lowery. “The decision to provide hospice services should be prompted by a patient’s terminally ill medical diagnosis, not a hospice provider’s desire to boost its profits.”

Hospice care is special, end-of-life care intended to comfort terminally ill patients. To be eligible for the Medicare hospice benefit, a patient must be “terminally ill,” meaning that the patient has a medical prognosis that their life expectancy is six months or less if the illness runs its normal course.

“The Medicare trust fund is not a piggy bank to be used at will by those intent on stealing from it,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Meadows, Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (DHHS-OIG). We, along with our law enforcement partners, will use all available investigative tools and means of recovery to return stolen Medicare money to its rightful place. We implore citizens who are aware of Medicare fraud to come forward.

“Del Cielo Hospice didn’t just unscrupulously rob the Medicare program out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, it also took advantage of ill patients who were unknowingly used for its scam,” said Special Agent in Charge James Smith of the FBI. “This type of health care fraud affects everyone - individuals and businesses alike. It raises our health insurance premiums, exposes patients to unnecessary medical procedures, harms patients and increase taxes, not to mention the billions of dollars in losses every year. The FBI will continue to work with our partners, including the private sector, to identify and disrupt health care fraud.”

The settlement includes the resolution of claims a former employee of Del Cielo Hospice brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The whistleblower will receive 16% of the proceeds from the settlement with Del Cielo Hospice.

The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

The U.S. Attorney’s Office jointly conducted the investigation with DHHS – Office of Inspector General and FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Green handled the matter.

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

HOUSTON – An operator and manager at a dental clinic have been charged for their roles in a health care fraud scheme involving $6 million in claims to Medicaid, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Authorities took Ifeanyi Ndubisi Ozoh, 51, Houston, into custody today. He is expected to make his initial appearance tomorrow before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sam Sheldon at 2 p.m. Also charged is Rene Fernandez Gaviola, 65, also of Houston. He had been previously arrested on similar charges Aug. 1. He is expected to appear on the new charges in the indictment in the near future.

On Aug. 16, a federal grand jury returned the 13-count indictment which was unsealed upon Ozoh’s arrest today.

According to the charges, Gaviola was the operator, while Ozoh was the manager of Floss Family Dental Care clinic located in Houston.   

The indictment alleges Gaviola and other employees submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicaid for dental services such as cavity fillings that were never provided as billed. Gaviola and Ozoh also allegedly paid kickbacks to marketers and caregivers of children Medicare insures to bring them to Floss for dental services.

Gaviola also employed at least one individual to practice pediatric dentistry without a license and billed Medicaid for their services, according to the charges.

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

From 2019 to 2021, the dental company allegedly billed Medicaid for nearly $6.9 million for which Medicaid paid approximately $4.9 million. Many of the dental services were not provided or that unlicensed and non-enrolled individuals had administered.

If convicted,  Ozoh and Gaviola face up to five years in federal for conspiracy to pay and receive kickbacks. Gaviola also faces up to 10 years for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and each count of health care fraud and money laundering. All charges also carry a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

The FBI, Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation with assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Olson 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.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 37-year-old San Benito man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of illegally transporting undocumented aliens within the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Eric Mendiola pleaded guilty May 23 to smuggling 31 individuals while driving an 18-wheeler.

Today, U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton ordered Mendiola to serve the statutory maximum of 60 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that this is Mendiola’s third conviction for smuggling humans. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the manner in which Mendiola transported individuals.

At the time of his plea, Mendiola admitted that on March 20, Mendiola drove a tractor trailer into the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint near Sarita. At inspection, A K-9 soon alerted authorities to the presence of concealed humans. Law enforcement opened the doors of the trailer and discovered individuals hiding behind a load of produce.

In the trailer were 31 undocumented aliens - 19 from Mexico; five, four and two from Columbia, Guatemala and El Salvador, respectively; as well as one Honduran national. All were determined to be in the United States illegally. In addition, the temperature inside the refrigerated trailer was 41 degrees Fahrenheit.

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

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of BP. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Marck prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 54-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison for transporting illegal aliens in a tractor trailer, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

A federal jury convicted Jose Luis Gutierrez-Plascencia, of Chicago, Illinois, May 17, following a two-day trial and 90 minutes of deliberation.

Today, U.S. District Judge David S. Morales ordered Gutierrez-Plascencia to serve 24 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Gutierrez-Plascencia had been caught with aliens in the cab of a tractor just one month before the incident for which he was found guilty. Several of the aliens in the trailer were also locked in with no way to communicate in the event of an emergency.

On Sept. 17, 2020, Jose Luis Gutierrez-Plascencia entered the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint near Sarita while driving a white Freightliner commercial tractor and pulling an enclosed trailer. At trial, the jury heard testimony that Gutierrez-Plascencia had told authorities he was hauling a load of watermelons to Chicago. Law enforcement testified that he had displayed nervous behavior and answered questions rapidly.

The jury also saw an X-ray scan conducted at the scene that revealed anomalies – human bodies. Law enforcement had physically searched the vehicle and also discovered four aliens hiding in the cab of the tractor. Upon further inspection, they unlocked the trailer, with a key from Gutierrez-Plascencia’s keychain, and found three more individuals lying down inside the trailer. There were no watermelons in the vehicle.

It was later determined that the total of seven non-U.S. citizens were illegally present in the country. Two of the seven testified at trial and identified Gutierrez-Plascencia as the driver.

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

BP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel Dunn and Ashley Martin prosecuted case.

HOUSTON – A 27-year-old Honduran national who illegally resided in the Houston area has been ordered to prison for 29 years, announced  U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Denis Matute pleaded guilty Nov, 2021.  

Today, U.S. Circuit Judge Gregg Costa handed Matute a 108-month term of imprisonment for the two counts of interference with commerce by robbery. He also received 120 months for each of two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence which must be served consecutively to each other and to the other sentence imposed. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following the lengthy 348-month total prison term.

At the hearing, the court heard evidence of the underlying offenses as well as the details surrounding three additional murders and two home invasions Matute had committed. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the sadistic method Matute used toward the victim of one of the home invasions and that this case was much more than mere brandishing of a firearm.    

Matute was part of a robbery crew that was involved in several crimes, to include two violent robberies during which they brandished firearms. One occurred at the A1 Flea Market in Houston. There, the crew handcuffed a security guard and proceeded to kick him while down. They then robbed two separate booths and pointed guns at multiple individuals.

At the hearing today, the judge commented on how en route to the robbery, the crew had also carjacked an individual at gunpoint.

Matute had also been convicted for his role in the robbery of the R&R Pawn Shop in January 2017. During that robbery, the crew pointed guns at employees’ heads before breaking the glass and stealing multiple items to include expensive Rolex watches.

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

The Houston Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa M. Collins prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A federal judge has imposed a guilty verdict against a 57-year-old Mexican man of illegally re-entering the United States after previously being removed, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo immediately handed down a guilty verdict against Antonio Montes-Ortiz following a bench trial. Montes-Ortiz is a citizen of Mexico who was found illegally present within the United States. He was previously convicted twice of the same crime.

On Feb. 15, law enforcement found Montes-Ortiz walking in the brush near a creek that leads to the Rio Grande River on Highway 83 near Zapata. At that time, he admitted he was a citizen from Mexico and entered the country by wading across the river.

During trial, the judge heard that Montes-Ortiz had been ordered deported on Dec. 20, 1996. He has since been convicted twice for re-entry by deported alien. A fingerprint expert also testified that Montes-Ortiz’s fingerprints matched those on the deportation documents.

An official from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services also provided testimony that Montes-Ortiz  did not seek permission to reapply for admission into the United States. 

Montes-Ortiz is set for sentencing on Nov. 15. At that time, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.   

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

Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gerard A. Cantu and Leslie Cortez are prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A 59-year-old Houston woman has been sent to federal prison following her conviction of committing and conspiracy to commit health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Naomi Moore pleaded guilty April 7.

Today, U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge imposed the statutory maximum of 60 months to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Eskridge noted a variance would not appropriate given the amount of money involved in the scheme.

Moore was the owner of Friend’s Place and Metro Health Services, both home health care service businesses located in Houston.

From May 2006 to June 2019, Moore billed Medicare by fraudulently using names of beneficiaries that were not patients of Metro or Friend’s Place. They did not need home health services, were not treated by a physician and had never been patients.

Moore created false documents and billed Medicare for approximately $10.7 million in purported home health services. The federal health insurance paid nearly $6.8 million on those claims.

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

The Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Attorney General’s Medicare Fraud Control Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tina Ansari prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON –  A 24-year-old Conroe man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of kidnapping of a minor victim from Northwest Houston, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Roaim Shams Shaikh pleaded guilty April 19.

Today, U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes ordered Shaikh to serve 131 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described the trauma this caused the victim.

On Jan. 24, 2021, Shaikh abducted his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend from a vehicle parked in front of a residence and transported her to Panama City, Florida.

At that time, Shaikh assaulted, threatened to kill and violently coerced her to participate in sexual intercourse. He has also made threats to shoot her with a pistol in the past.

Law enforcement soon located Shaikh and the victim at a Microtel Inn and took him into custody.

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

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the Panama City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Peneguy prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON –  A 24-year-old Conroe man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of kidnapping of a minor victim from Northwest Houston, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Roaim Shams Shaikh pleaded guilty April 19.

Today, U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes ordered Shaikh to serve 131 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described the trauma this caused the victim.

On Jan. 24, 2021, Shaikh abducted his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend from a vehicle parked in front of a residence and transported her to Panama City, Florida.

At that time, Shaikh assaulted, threatened to kill and violently coerced her to participate in sexual intercourse. He has also made threats to shoot her with a pistol in the past.

Law enforcement soon located Shaikh and the victim at a Microtel Inn and took him into custody.

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

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the Panama City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Peneguy prosecuted the case.

McALLEN, Texas – The current mayor of Penitas has pleaded guilty to fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Rodrigo Lopez, 38, Penitas, admitted that in 2018 he aided and abetted the La Joya Independent School District (LJISD) athletic director in committing fraud against the district.

Through his company Xizaka LLC, Lopez had responded to an LJISD solicitation for bids for athletic supply vendors. He was approved. LJISD purchasing procedures require employees to disclose personal or financial interest in connection with bids to the superintendent. As an LJISD employee, he failed to do so.

Lopez also failed to submit the required Conflict of Interest Questionnaire disclosing his interest as a vendor prior to entering into transactions with LJISD.

LJISD purchasing procedures require competitive bids for purchases in excess of $15,000. LJISD purchasing procedures and state law also require competitive procurement mechanisms for contracts for goods in excess of $50,000 per year.

As a vendor, Lopez sold approximately 156 baseball gloves, 15,400 square feet of turf and three pitching machines to LJISD between March and August 2018 for a total of approximately $70,010. In efforts to approve the inflated costs associated with those purchases, Lopez fraudulently submitted over 20 separate invoices to the La Joya athletic director in efforts to aid and abet circumventing of competitive procurement procedures and subsequent approval of the invoices.

As a result of the fraudulent approvals, Lopez fraudulently received at least $34,923.70 in profits and proceeds from the LJISD.

Lopez agreed to pay restitution in that amount.        

U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez accepted the plea and set sentencing for Oct. 31. At that time, Lopez faces up to 10 years in prison. He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms, and explosives, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Texas Department of Insurance and McAllen Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roberto Lopez Jr. is prosecuting the case.

WASHINGTON – Three Nigerian citizens were extradited from the United Kingdom (UK) and arrived in the United States in relation to their alleged participation in multimillion-dollar cyber-enabled business email compromise (BEC) fraud schemes in the Western District of North Carolina, Southern District of Texas and Eastern District of Virginia. The scams allegedly perpetrated by the defendants and their co-conspirators targeted unsuspecting victims including universities in North Carolina, Texas and Virginia, and attempted to cause more than $5 million in losses.

BEC, also known as “cyber-enabled financial fraud,” is a sophisticated scam often targeting employees with access to company finances, businesses working with foreign suppliers and/or businesses that regularly perform wire transfer payments. The same criminal organizations that perpetrate BEC also exploit individual victims, often real estate purchasers, the elderly, and others, by convincing them to make wire transfers to bank accounts controlled by the criminals. This is often accomplished by impersonating a key employee or business partner after obtaining access to that person’s email account or sometimes done through romance and lottery scams. BEC scams may involve fraudulent requests for checks rather than wire transfers; they may target sensitive information such as personally identifiable information (PII) or employee tax records instead of, or in addition to, money; and they may not involve an actual “compromise” of an email account or computer network. Foreign citizens perpetrate many BEC scams. Those individuals are often members of transnational criminal organizations, which originated in Nigeria but have spread throughout the world.

Western District of North Carolina

Oludayo Kolawole John Adeagbo aka John Edwards and John Dayo, 43, a Nigerian citizen and UK resident, and Donald Ikenna Echeazu aka Donald Smith and Donald Dodient, 40, a dual UK and Nigerian citizen, are charged with wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and aggravated identity theft for defrauding a North Carolina university (the University) of more than $1.9 million via a business email compromise scheme. The indictment was returned by a federal grand jury in the Western District of North Carolina on April 17, 2019, and was unsealed yesterday following Echeazu’s initial appearance in federal court in Charlotte.

According to allegations contained in the indictment, from Aug. 30, 2016, to Jan. 12, 2017, Adeagbo and Echeazu conspired with other individuals to obtain information about significant construction projects occurring throughout the United States, including an ongoing multi-million-dollar project at the victim University. To execute the scheme, the defendants allegedly registered a domain name similar to that of the legitimate construction company in charge of the University’s project and created an email address that closely resembled that of an employee of the construction company. Using the fake email address, the co-conspirators allegedly deceived and directed the University to wire a payment of more than $1.9 million to a bank account controlled by an individual working under the direction of defendants. Upon receiving the payment, the co-conspirators allegedly laundered the stolen proceeds through a series of financial transactions designed to conceal the fraud.

The wire fraud conspiracy charge and the money laundering conspiracy charge each carry a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence consecutive to any other term imposed.

The FBI Charlotte Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Billings of the Western District of North Carolina is prosecuting the case.

Southern District of Texas

Oludayo Kolawole John Adeagbo aka John Edwards and John Dayo, 43, a Nigerian citizen and UK resident, is also charged in the Southern District of Texas with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. A federal grand jury returned the indictment March 30, 2022, which was unsealed on Aug. 3, 2022 before he was extradited to the United States. 

From November 2016 until July 2018, Adeagbo allegedly conspired with others to participate in cyber-enabled business email compromises in an attempt to steal more than $3 million from victims in Texas, including local government entities, construction companies and a Houston-area college. The indictment alleges Adeagbo and his co-conspirators registered domain names that looked similar to legitimate companies. They then sent emails from those domains pretending to be employees at those companies, according to the charges. The conspirators allegedly sent emails to clients or customers of the companies they impersonated and deceived those customers into sending wire payments to bank accounts they controlled.

Adeagbo faces up to 20 years in prison, if convicted on the charges.

The FBI Houston Cyber Task Force conducted the investigation with the assistance of the FBI Cyber and Criminal Investigative Divisions. The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, Metropolitan Police Service, City of London Police and Crown Prosecution Service also provided substantial assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rodolfo Ramirez for the Southern District of Texas is prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Brian Mund of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS).

Eastern District of Virginia

Olabanji Egbinola, 42, is charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

According to a criminal complaint issued by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, from Sept. 26, 2018, to Dec. 26, 2018, Egbinola is alleged to have conspired with others to defraud a Virginia-based university. Egbinola and co-conspirators created and used a fraudulent email account that incorporated the name of a construction company that had a large, ongoing contract with the university. Using this email account, Egbinola and co-conspirators deceived the university into transferring $469,819.49 to a bank account controlled by Egbinola and co-conspirators. That money was quickly laundered and transferred overseas through numerous transactions. Evidence obtained during the investigation showed that Egbinola repeatedly accessed the email account used to defraud the Virginia university.

The FBI Richmond Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hood of for the Eastern District of Virginia is prosecuting the case.

All three defendants were arrested April 23, 2020, by UK authorities at the request of the United States and ordered extradited on Sept. 3, 2021. All three defendants filed appeals, all of which were rejected by the UK High Court on July 12, 2022.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of all three defendants.

Victims are encouraged to file a complaint online with the IC3 at bec.ic3.gov. The IC3 staff reviews complaints, looking for patterns or other indicators of significant criminal activity, and refers investigative packages of complaints to the appropriate law enforcement authorities in a particular city or region. The FBI provides a variety of resources relating to BEC scams through the IC3, which can be reached at www.ic3.gov. For more information on BEC scams, visit: https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/business-email-compromise.

The charges contained in an indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

HOUSTON – A 22-year-old Houston resident is set to appear in federal court for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

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

Coleman is charged with one count of conspiracy. She allegedly filed false online applications for government assistance in exchange for a fee from March to December 2020. Some included Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds for rentals, personal property and critical needs, according to the charges. 

The criminal information alleges the funds were designed for disaster assistance.   

As part of the conspiracy, Coleman also allegedly helped others apply for unemployment claims and economic injury disaster loans meant for certain businesses and non-profit organizations that the pandemic had affected.

If convicted, she faces up to five years of imprisonment and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.  

The Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General (OIG) conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Department of Labor-OIG, Secret Service, (FEMA and the Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rodolfo Ramirez is prosecuting the case.

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

LAREDO, Texas – A federal grand jury sitting in Laredo has charged a U.S. citizen who resides in Mexico under the Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act for trafficking handguns into Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

The Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act is part of the broader Safer Communities Act, passed June 25. Said Isaac Hernandez, age 25, is the first person believed to be indicted under the new law.

The charges allege that on July 11, authorities apprehended Hernandez as he was traveling south on U.S. Interstate 35 towards the port of entry in Laredo. At the time of his arrest, they allegedly discovered 17 firearms hidden in his car.

Hernandez had been the subject of an investigation related to the purchasing of a large number of firearms then transporting them to Mexico, according to the charges. Between Jan. 21, 2020, and July 11, 2022, Hernandez allegedly purchased a total of 231 handguns in calibers of 9mm, .380 and .22. 

If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison. 

The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Makens 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.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A federal jury in Corpus Christi has convicted a 27-year-old man for possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

The jury deliberated for approximately 45 minutes before convicting Carlos Javier Zelaya-Guerra following a two-day trial.

On Feb. 5, authorities stopped Zelaya-Guerra in Sinton for driving with an expired temporary license plate. At that time, Zelaya-Guerra admitted he had a firearm with him in the vehicle.

Zelaya-Guerra provided law enforcement with a Honduran passport, but did not have a driver’s license or any documentation allowing him to be in the United States lawfully.

Authorities later determined Zelaya-Guerra was present in the country illegally.

At trial, Zelaya-Guerra testified that he thought he had permission to be in the United States because he married a U.S. citizen who had initiated the paperwork necessary to obtain lawful status.

The jury did not believe his story and found him guilty as charged.

Zelaya-Guerra will remain in custody pending that hearing.

The San Patricio County Sheriff’s Office, Border Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel Dunn and John Marck are prosecuting the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 25-year-old Mexican citizen illegally residing in Monte Alto has been ordered to federal prison after admitting to possessing with intent to distribute 140 kilograms of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Jose Maria Hernandez-Alvarez pleaded guilty Dec. 3, 2021.

Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered Hernandez to serve a 70-month sentence. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his/h imprisonment.  

On Sept. 8, 2021, law enforcement was conducting surveillance which led to a traffic stop. At that time, Hernandez gave consent for a search of his car.

Authorities soon discovered approximately 15.5 kilograms of meth in an Igloo ice chest in the trunk of his vehicle. Hernandez claimed ownership of the narcotics and admitted he had more drugs stored at his residence. A search at that location resulted in the discovery of an additional 123.5 kilograms of meth.

Hernandez stated he had been living in the United States for three months and, during that time, had received three shipments of meth from Mexico.

The estimated street value of the meth is $490,000.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Hidalgo County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Alexis Garcia prosecuted the case.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A 27-year-old man has pleaded guilty to illegally possessing numerous firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Marco Antonio Moreno pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing four semiautomatic rifles and five pistols while under felony indictment.

On May 8, 2021, law enforcement responded to reports of shots fired at a residence located in San Benito. Upon arrival, they encountered Moreno who denied discharging a firearm. He claimed unknown individuals had entered his property and shot a gun.

However, they observed spent shell casings in the area and asked Moreno if he owned any firearms. He said he did not and granted consent to search his residence.

After entering the residence, authorities discovered various amounts of illegal narcotics as well as numerous firearms, including three AR-15 style semiautomatic rifles, one AK-47 style semiautomatic pistol, one .45-caliber rifle and four handguns. They also found over 450 rounds of ammunition of various calibers.

At that time, Moreno was under indictment for charges of unlawful use of a criminal instrument. He was, therefore, prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. will impose sentencing Nov. 15. At that time, Moreno faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He will remain in custody pending that hearing.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Brownsville Police Department and Cameron County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edgardo J. Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON - A 31-year-old Cuban citizen who resided in Houston has been sentenced for his role as leader of an organization that installed hundreds of credit card skimmers in Southeast Texas over the last six years, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Durlan Garica-Pupo pleaded guilty May 18, 2021, to one count of conspiracy to commit fraud in connection with access devices and one count of aggravated identity theft. 

Today, U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal sentenced Durlan Garcia-Pupo to 60 months in prison for the conspiracy. He also must serve 24 months for the aggravated identity theft which must be served consecutively for a total 84-month prison term. In handing down the sentence, Judge Rosenthal noted Garcia-Pupo’s leadership role in the scheme, sophistication of the scheme and the volume of stolen personal information involved. Garcia-Pupo is expected to face removal proceedings following his incarceration.       

From 2017 through 2019, Garcia-Pupo directed other members of the scheme to install credit card skimmers at gas station pumps located around Harris and Montgomery counties to steal personal and banking information. Garcia-Pupo also used at least one of those stolen identities himself to purchase fuel.   

Authorities executed a search at his residence and found a laptop computer filled with up to 1500 stolen credit card numbers as well as materials to make credit card skimmers. Garcia-Pupo and his co-defendants would either sell the stolen information to other criminals or use the information to buy fuel that was then resold at much lower prices to generate cash.    

Two others - Lazaro Martinez-Garcia, 36, Houston, and Julio Cesar Blanco-Diaz, 41, Houston, were previously sentenced to 33 and 24 months, respectively.

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

The Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas H. Carter prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 24-year-old Mexican national has admitted to having child pornography on his phone, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Christian Dolores Munoz-De La Rosa pleaded guilty to transporting and possessing child pornography.  

As part of his plea, Munoz-De La Rosa admitted that on June 6 he was part of a group of undocumented aliens caught near Carrizo Springs. At the time of his arrest, authorities examined his phone and soon discovered the child pornography images. 

There were a total of 116 images of child pornography, some of which involved a child as young as three.  

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing Nov. 9. At that time, Munoz-De La Rosa faces up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

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

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 33-year-old Mexican citizen has been ordered to prison for conspiracy to import and importation of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

A federal jury convicted Juan Victor Larraga-Solano Aug. 25, 2021, following a two-day trial.

Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo ordered that he serve a total of 235 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the seriousness of drug smuggling and the significant quantity of meth Larraga-Solano attempted to bring into the United States. Judge Marmolejo also pointed out that Larraga-Solano’s testimony at trial did not make any sense and that he had not acknowledged any responsibility for his actions.

Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his sentence.

On March 8, 2020, Larraga-Solano attempted to enter the United States through the Lincoln-Juarez International Bridge in Laredo. He claimed he was importing glass beer bottles, juice boxes and meat contained in coolers from Mexico.

Law enforcement inspected the items and noticed that, when shaken, the juice boxes sounded as if they contained rocks. Further, the alleged beer did not have any bubbles. A follow up X-ray examination also revealed anomalies in the walls of the coolers. Authorities conducted a thorough inspection and found 56 packages of meth and 12 beer bottles containing liquid meth.

Overall, authorities seized a total of 44.56 kilograms of meth from Larraga-Solano.

During trral, the jury heard the total estimated street value was in excess of $1.1 million.

Testimony at trial revealed that Mexican cartels have increased the price of meth to raise demand for less expensive drugs like cocaine and marijuana.

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

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection, Drug Enforcement Administration and Border Patrol.  Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Brandon S. Bowling and former AUSA Adam E. Harper prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 26-year-old Corpus Christi man has been sent to prison following his convictions of conspiracy to distribute narcotics and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

A federal jury deliberated for approximately two hours following a three-day trial before returning a guilty verdict April 6 on both counts against Jonathan Rodriguez, Corpus Christi.

Today, U.S. District Judge David Morales sentenced him to a total of 300 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that detailed the long-term drug conspiracy Rodriguez operated.

At trial, the jury heard that Rodriguez was a co-conspirator in a multi-person crack cocaine trafficking scheme. From 2016 to 2019, Rodriguez managed a Corpus Christi residence from where drugs were distributed.

In May 2019, law enforcement responded to reports of gunfire between rival drug dealers at the property. A search of the residence revealed various amounts of crack cocaine and meth.

The jury also heard that Rodriguez had maintained a commercial storage unit in Corpus Christi. A search of the unit revealed $1.26 million in U.S. currency, more than 600 grams of cocaine, 52 rifles, shotguns and pistols.

At trial, the defense attempted to convince the jury Rodriguez was merely a narcotics user, not a distributor and the evidence was insufficient. However, they saw video evidence of Rodriguez distributing narcotics within the house and surveillance footage at the commercial storage unit.

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

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dennis E. Robinson and John Marck prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – Two suburban Houston men have been charged with conspiracy to commit and committing wire fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic involving medical-grade nitrile gloves, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Authorities took Caleb Jordan McCreless, 32, Richmond, and Christopher Luke McGinnis, 39, Spring, into custody today. They are expected to make their initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Yvonne Ho at 2 p.m. Aug. 3.

The six-count indictment returned July 28 charges McCreless and McGinnis with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. McCreless also faces an additional five counts of wire fraud.

The indictment alleges McCreless purported to have access to medical-grade nitrile gloves during the ensuing demand for medical personal protection equipment amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical companies allegedly paid him $39 million to buy the in-demand gloves. However, McCreless did not have any gloves at all and never delivered them to anyone that had made purchases, according to the charges.

McGinnis served as a logistics operator and delayed or stalled the delivery process when companies became concerned about their order of gloves not arriving, according to the charges.

Healthcare professionals who were on the frontlines during the fight against COVID-19 were expected to use the gloves, according to the charges.  

As a result of this scheme, one victim allegedly lost over $13 million.

The indictment also includes the forfeiture of the residence of McCreless in Ft. Bend County which is valued at over $2 million. The charges allege the house was purchased with money profited during the scheme.   

If convicted, both men face up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

The FBI and Harris County Constable’s Office - Precinct 1 conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas H. Carter is prosecuting the case.

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

HOUSTON – Two Houston area men face new charges in nationwide pharmacy health care fraud scheme that that targeted elderly citizens, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Mohamed Mokbel, 57, and Fathy Elsafty, 63, both of Houston, are expected to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Yvonne Ho today at 2 p.m.

The 18-count superseding indictment, returned July 20, alleges that from 2013 to January 2022, Mokbel and ElSafty conspired to commit a $150 million mail fraud and health care fraud scheme and engaged in money laundering with the fraud proceeds. Mokbel is also alleged to have continued the fraud scheme at MK Pharmacy, a Houston area pharmacy, from April 2021 through January 2022. During this time, he had been permitted release on bond after the return of the original indictment in March 2021.

Mokbel was the CEO of 4M Pharmaceuticals Inc., according to the charges. With ElSafty’s assistance, he allegedly acquired and controlled over a dozen pharmacies that operated in Houston and elsewhere. The indictment alleges Elsafty served as 4M’s accountant and tax preparer and had ownership interests in several pharmacies located in California, Texas and Florida. ElSafty allegedly aided Mokbel by falsifying corporate filings and concealing Mokbel’s involvement in the pharmacies.

The fraud was pervasive and carried out using a sophisticated mass marketing scheme targeting individuals over the age of 55 using telemarketing and mail, according to the charges. Mokbel is alleged to have purchased patient data and directed 4M Pharmaceuticals’ employees to submit test claims to patient insurance plans to determine insurance coverage.

4M then allegedly sent prescription fax requests to doctors’ offices on behalf of the patients without their knowledge or consent. In some cases, 4M requested prescriptions for patients who had been dead for months, if not years, according to the allegations.  

Company employees then allegedly called patients to report their doctor had approved prescriptions for them and that they would receive the medications at no cost. However, Medicare and other insurance plans often required a copay which 4M did not collect, according to the charges. When audited, 4M allegedly falsified proof of the copay collection.

Mokbel and ElSafty are charged with one count of a conspiracy to commit mail and health care fraud, two counts of health care fraud and 15 counts of money laundering.

If convicted of the conspiracy, they face up to 20 years in prison, while the health care violations carry a 10-year-term. Money laundering also carries a potential 10-year sentence. The use of telemarketing to target people over 55 as a means to commit mail fraud and health care fraud carries an additional penalty of 10 years. Fines could also be assessed in the amounts of $250,000 or not more than  twice the amount of the criminally derived property involved in the transaction.

Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General, Food and Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, IRS - Criminal Investigation, Ohio Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Texas State Board of Pharmacy, United States Postal Inspection Service and California Department of Health Care Services, conducted the joint investigation. 

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Abdul Farukhi and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zahra Fenelon are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristine Rollinson is assisting with asset forfeiture.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.

A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Osiel Cardenas Jr. has pleaded guilty to smuggling goods from the United States into Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Cardenas aka Osiel Cardenas-Salinas Jr., 30, Brownsville, admitted he attempted to purchase 10 assault rifles to export into Mexico. Cardenas is the son of former head of the Gulf Cartel Osiel Cardenas-Guillen who was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in federal prison and ordered to pay a money judgment of $50 million.

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

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

Cardenas further admitted he committed the crime while on supervised release for a previous felony.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. will impose sentencing Nov. 8. At that time, Cardenas faces up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. 

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

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elena Salinas is prosecuting the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 46-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of illegal re-entry into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton convicted Jose Villatoro-Avila May 10, following a two-day bench trial.

Today, Judge Tipton ordered Villatoro-Avila to serve 27 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, Villatoro-Avila is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Villatoro-Avila’s repeated attempts to come into the country illegally, despite previously being sentenced to two 24- month sentences.

Villatoro-Avila is a citizen of El Salvador who was found illegally present within the United States.

At trial, evidence and testimony showed that on April 6, 2021, law enforcement apprehended Villatoro-Avila in Kenedy County while he was trying to circumvent the Javier Vega Jr. checkpoint. Authorities quickly pursued and were able to apprehend him while he was still in the brush.

The judge heard that Villatoro-Avila had been convicted - twice - of illegal re-entry into the United States. At a previous sentencing, he told the court “I promise I will never come back here if you give me leniency.”

However, evidence and testimony revealed he unlawfully returned to the country two more times after making that promise to the judge. The investigation further revealed he had been removed from the country multiple times beginning in 1999 and as recently as 2016.

The court also heard how authorities had used his fingerprints to make the identification, thus revealing the previous deportations.

The defense attempted to convince the court there was a possibility of evidence that showed Villatoro-Avila had received permission to re-enter the United States from appropriate authorities. The defense also attacked the credibility of fingerprint testimony and his identification at the time of his previous removals from the country.

Judge Tipton did not believe the claims and found him guilty as charged.

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

Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Parker Gochenour and Christopher Marin prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 23-year-old resident of Missouri City is set to appear in court on allegations he used his hoodless Buick to steal postal mail and keys, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Brandon Brantley was taken into custody today. He is set for his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Yvonne Y. Ho at 2 p.m. Aug. 3.  

The charges allege that on July 12, a hoodless gold Buick was used to steal postal keys from a U.S. Postal Service employee. The investigation soon allegedly revealed the same vehicle and driver was believed to steal mail on June 18.  

According to the criminal complaint, law enforcement identified the driver as Brantley. Upon executing a search at his Missouri city home, authorities allegedly found items linking him to both crimes.  

If convicted, Brantley faces up to 10 years for stealing the postal keys and a maximum of five years for mail theft.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation with the assistance of police departments in Missouri City and Houston. Assistant U.S. Attorney Celia Moyer prosecuted 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.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 37-year-old local man has been handed a significant federal prison sentence following his conviction for possession with intent to distribute 11.88 grams of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Bryson Hughes pled guilty Jan. 19.

Today, U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton sentenced Hughes to serve 60 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. At the hearing, Hughes expressed his remorse for the offense he committed and requested that his sentence include drug treatment and testing so that he can continue his rehabilitation.

On April 22, 2021, Hughes was pulled over by authorities for traffic violations after his car was seen leaving the residence of a known meth dealer.  Officers asked Hughes to exit the vehicle, and saw what Hughes admitted was a marijuana cigarette on the floorboard. 

During a search of the vehicle, officers found a lock box on the driver’s side floorboard which contained meth.  Meth was also found between two layers of socks on Hughes’ left foot. 

The total weight of the narcotics was 11.88 grams.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Aransas Pass Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda L. Gould prosecuted the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 67-year-old man has admitted to charges of providing ammunition to a prohibited person, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Daniel Gallegos pleaded guilty to selling thousands of rounds of various ammunition.

Gallegos is the long-time owner and operator of Danny’s Pawn and Sporting Goods in McAllen.

As part of his plea, Gallegos admitted to selling approximately 280 rounds of .50 BMG caliber ammunition as well as more than 5,000 rounds of various sizes, ranging from .223 caliber to .50 caliber. He provided all of it to someone he knew to be a prohibited person – an individual who was illegally and unlawfully present in the United States - on four separate occasions during 2021.

Gallegos also admitted that he knew the person was prohibited under federal law from possessing the ammunition because the individual was illegally present in the United States.

U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa will impose sentencing Oct. 18. At that time, Gallegos faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $10,000 maximum fine.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert L. Guerra, Jr. is prosecuting the case.

The Department of Justice launched Operation Guardian targeting firearms and illegal export of firearms in November 2019. On April 8, 2021, President Biden issued executive orders specifically targeting crimes involving guns.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas –  A third individual has been sent to prison for his role in a large-scale narcotics distribution operation involving multiple properties throughout Corpus Christi, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Javon Hicks aka Drank Nitti Kasino, 41, Corpus Christi, pleaded guilty April 5.

Co-conspirator Dwayne Thompson aka Muddy Kasino, 39, and Zackari Williams aka Arm and Hammer Zone, 30, both of Corpus Christi, pleaded guilty to the same charges March 9 and March 30, respectively.

Today, U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton ordered Hicks to serve a total of 138 months, in federal prison. He must also serve five years of supervised release following the sentence.

Hicks and Thompson forfeited personal items including cars, guns, jewelry and cash valued at more than $123,000 following their pleas.

At the time of their pleas, the individuals admitted they were each part of a hip-hop group that produced music under the Kasino World label. They used various houses and apartments throughout Corpus Christi to record their songs and videos. Investigation further revealed the group members also used the locations to distribute crack cocaine and meth with at least 100 sales per day.

Thompson and Williams have previously received their sentences and are currently serving 150 and 120 months, respectively, in prison.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roland Swanson and Dennis E. Robinson prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 28-year-old man has pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm as a felon and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

On April 22, authorities executed a search warrant at Manuel Moya’s residence, at which time they discovered approximately 11.2 kilograms of cocaine, 1.5 kilograms of meth, three kilograms of marijuana and $120,000. They also found other controlled substances such as psilocybin mushrooms, crack cocaine, synthetic cannabinoid and MDMA. He was the only one present at the location.

Law enforcement also found a Century Arms Inc. pistol, Ruger rifle, two Taurus pistols, three Glock pistols, a JTS Group shotgun, body armor, high-capacity magazines and several rounds of ammunition. Two of the firearms contained chambered rounds. Moya took responsibility of the weapons and ammunition.

In addition, they discovered several ledgers that documented Moya’s controlled substance distribution activities and a notebook with instructions on how to make drugs. Other supplies were found in the search including glassware with residue of controlled substances, bags, equipment for vacuum sealing, weight scales, small sandwich bags, money counters and razor blades.

The investigation revealed Moya was a local gang member and a drug supplier to the Mexican Mafia. He distributed narcotics on both an individual and large-scale basis.

Moya has been previously convicted of possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of cocaine and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. As such, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law.

U.S. District Judge David S. Morales will impose sentencing on Oct. 19. At that time, Moya faces up to life in prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.

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

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Parker Gochenour is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A federal jury in Laredo has convicted a 45-year-old man of being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

The jury deliberated for 45 minutes before convicting Daniel Arturo Lozano following a one-day trial.

At trial, the jury heard that on June 21, 2021, law enforcement responded to reports describing Lozano’s angry and disorderly behavior at Lozano’s Country Store located in San Ygnacio.

Upon their arrival, Lozano fled the scene and began a vehicle chase before returning to the store. At that time, he exited his vehicle and brandished an AR-style rifle. Lozano left the rifle at the store, returned to his truck and departed. Law enforcement took Lozano into custody later that night.

The defense attempted to convince the jury that the weapon Lozano displayed was actually a realistic-looking pellet gun that law enforcement found when they arrested him. However, the jury saw both the pellet gun and AR-style rifle compared side by side and the rifle was identified as the weapon Lozano had showed at the scene.

The jury did not believe defense claims and found Lozano guilty as charged.

He had been previously convicted of possession of cocaine. As such, he is prohibited per federal law of possession of firearms or ammunition.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo presided over trial and set sentencing for Oct. 27. At that time, Lozano faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Zapata County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Bajew and David Fawcett are prosecuting the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 28-year-old Alice man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of trafficking meth, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Allen Marcus Carrillo pleaded guilty May 2.

Today, U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton ordered him to serve a 126-month sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence detailing Carrillo’s efforts to acquire narcotics and other contraband while in custody for this offense by attempting to bribe a guard at the federal detention facility. In handing down the sentence, Judge Tipton noted Carrillo’s efforts to acquire contraband while in federal custody were “extraordinary” and justified the lengthy sentence imposed.   

On May 17, 2021, authorities observed Carrillo’s vehicle obstructing traffic on Highway 359. When they approached, they discovered Carrillo asleep in the driver’s seat of the running car. 

A subsequent search revealed a black magnetic box containing more than 90 grams of pure meth underneath Carrillo’s seat.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted this investigation with the assistance of the Jim Wells County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. Thorpe Jr. prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 49-year-old Houston man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of smuggling undocumented aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Alex Chamie pleaded guilty April 21.  

Today, U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton ordered Chamie to serve 51 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional details that described Chamie’s extensive criminal history including 11 burglaries, nine thefts and two drug convictions among other criminal misconduct. In handing down the sentence, the court noted he was also previously convicted of conspiring to transport undocumented aliens in 2018.

On Feb. 23, law enforcement observed multiple individuals moving in brush on the side of U.S. Highway 281 north of a Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint located near Falfurrias. At that time, Chamie pulled over near the group. They ran out of the brush and loaded into the car.

Authorities attempted to stop the vehicle. However, the car failed to yield and increased speed. Eventually, the car pulled over to the shoulder of the road and the individuals fled into the brush.

Chamie ignored commands to place his car in park and attempted to flee, but law enforcement was holding on to the driver’s side door. They subdued him and turned off the vehicle. A search revealed a black pepper spray gun resembling a firearm tucked into his waistband.

Later, authorities found four individuals all determined to be illegally present in the country.

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

Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Parker Gochenour prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 41-year-old Laredo resident has been sent to prison for his role in a conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Simon Medina III pleaded guilty March 8.

Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo ordered Medina to serve 24 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Medina was in a position of power and was law enforcement and, as such, more aware of his actions. She highlighted the facts surrounding the severity of the actions and the danger in which he put the community.

Medina was a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. He admitted that between May 25 and Aug. 6, 2020, he allowed several individuals to enter the United States with contraband in their vehicles on approximately 20 occasions. Although not assigned to the entry lanes at the Laredo Port of Entry, Medina would open a lane and allow his co-conspirators to pass through without inspecting their cargo. Medina also accepted gratuities from his partners.

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

CBP - Office of Professional Responsibility conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney José Angel Moreno prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 36-year-old border crossing Visa holder out of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, has admitted to conspiring to transport an undocumented alien, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Marthin Rueda Alcorta pleaded guilty to his role in smuggling 110 undocumented individuals in a refrigerated trailer.

On May 24, Rueda Alcorta drove a tractor trailer into the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint north of Laredo. He drove erratically through an inspection lane and nearly hit a K-9 until authorities ordered him to stop.

Law enforcement conducted a search of the trailer and discovered 110 people in his trailer. All were later determined to be illegally present in the country and were from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. 

As part of his plea, Rueda Alcorta admitted he was desperate for money. He sought out an alien smuggler and agreed to drive undocumented individuals from Laredo to San Antonio for $5,000.

Rueda Alcorta was previously employed as a truck driver but admitted he was “out of practice.”

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Rueda Alcorta faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 maximum fine. He may also lose his status as a visa holder.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of BP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Homero Ramirez is prosecuting the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 25-year-old woman has admitted to possession with intent to distribute more than four kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

On May 14, Marisol Sanchez-Sanchez attempted to drive a sport utility vehicle into the primary inspection lane of a Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint located near Sarita. There, authorities searched her vehicle and discovered four bundles of cocaine hidden inside the vehicle’s battery compartment.

The drugs weighed 4.4 kilograms and have an estimated street value of more than $100,000.

U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton will impose sentencing Oct. 19. At that time, Sanchez-Sanchez faces up to 40 years in federal prison and a possible $5 million maximum fine.

She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing. 

BP and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Marck is prosecuting the case.