Southern District of Texas

LAREDO, Texas – A federal jury in Laredo has convicted a 39-year-old man from Petal, Mississippi, for smuggling seven undocumented aliens in the sleeper cab of his tractor-trailer, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

The jury deliberated for approximately 15 minutes before convicting Daniel McLaurin following a one-day trial.

On April 22, McLaurin drove his tractor-trailer into a Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint on IH-35 north of Laredo. At inspection, law enforcement asked McLaurin if there were any passengers in his vehicle. At that time, he stated that he had one passenger and that they were both U.S. citizens.

Shortly thereafter, authorities asked McLaurin if he would consent to drive his tractor-trailer through an X-ray scanner, and he agreed. It revealed images in the sleeper cab that appeared to be human bodies. They conducted a search and discovered seven undocumented individuals inside of the tractor cab.

Later, they were determined to be unlawfully present in the country.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo presided over trial and will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, McLaurin faces up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000.00 maximum fine.

He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gerard A. Cantu and Brandon Bowling prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – Three more co-conspirators have been taken into custody on charges related to a multi-layered mortgage fraud, credit repair and government loan fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B Lowery.  

Heather Ann Campos, David Lewis Best Jr. and Stephen Laverne Crabtree had evaded law enforcement for several months.

Campos, 43, Houston, is set for a detention hearing before U.S. Judge Dena H. Palermo today at 10 a.m. Best, 56, Spring, and Crabtree, 62, Herriman, Utah, remain in custody pending further criminal proceedings.

All three allegedly sent numerous sovereign citizen letters to federal agencies and the federal court in Houston declaring themselves immune from prosecution and refusing to recognize the authority of the federal courts.

Campos and Best were indicted in January on numerous charges for participating in a conspiracy to defraud mortgage lending businesses, banks, Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They indicated they would self-surrender but allegedly fled from law enforcement. Since that date, several other co-conspirators were indicted, including Crabtree. He was released on bond and also became a fugitive.

Those indicted include Steven Tetsuya Morizono, 59, Mission Viejo, California; Albert Lugene Lim, 53, Laguna Niguel, California; Melinda Moreno Munoz, 41, Elvina Buckley, 68, Leslie Edrington, 65, and ShyAnne Edrington, 29, all of Houston.

The charges allege Campos and Best recruited clients for credit repair using company names of KMD Credit, KMD Capital and Jeff Funding, among others. They allegedly “cleaned” their clients’ credit histories by filing false identity theft reports with the FTC. After fraudulently inflating client credit worthiness, the co-conspirators fraudulently obtained credit cards, disaster loans and mortgages for themselves and their clients, according to the charges. They were allegedly able to accomplish this through false statements and fake documents.

Campos was a mortgage broker and Buckley a realtor, while operating as a notary was the responsibility of Munoz, according to the charges. After fraudulently inflating client credit worthiness, the individuals allegedly obtained rental properties to deceptively build a real estate portfolio worth millions of dollars in their clients’ names and profit from rental income. The charges allege Crabtree was a credit repair client and recruited others, including his family members, and conspired to commit wire fraud.

In addition, they allegedly obtained loans from banks and the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program and Paycheck Protection Program. They were created in the names of clients, friends and family members through false statements and fake or altered documents.

Using the alias Jeff, Morizono was the leader and namesake for the scheme purporting to do business as Jeff Funding, according to the charges.

If convicted, they all face up to 30 years in federal prison and a possible $1 million maximum fine.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General (OIG), U.S. Postal Inspection Service and SBA – OIG conducted the investigation with the assistance of the FTC – OIG and IRS – Criminal Investigation.

Other agencies assisted with the arrests of Campos, Best and Crabtree, to include The Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake; police departments in South Jordan, Riverton, and Herriman, Utah; FBI Hostage Rescue Team; U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Pittsburgh and Salt Lake City Divisions; and the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Apprehension Strike Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kate Suh and Jay Hileman are prosecuting the case. 

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 31-year-old undocumented alien himself has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport undocumented aliens for financial gain, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Jose Luis Vega-Arzate, Nuevo Laredo, Temaulipas, Mexico, drove into the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint north of Laredo on May 11. At initial inspection, he displayed nervous behavior and had trouble shifting gears.

After a K-9 also alerted to the trailer, authorities broke the seal, opened it and discovered 85 individuals locked inside the vehicle. They were later determined to be illegally present in the United States.

At that time, Vega-Arzate told authorities that he had agreed to pay $8,000 to have himself smuggled from Mexico into the country and transported to Austin. He volunteered to drive the tractor trailer through the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint to receive a large reduction in his own transportation fee. He did not possess experience or a commercial driving license to drive a tractor trailer in Texas.

According to court documents, he was cautioned to avoid stopping on the way to San Antonio because the undocumented individuals could die due to lack of ventilation resulting from the trailer’s lack of movement.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing Oct. 20. At that time, Vega-Arzate faces up to 20 years in federal prison and possible $250,000 maximum fine.

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

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

McALLEN, Texas – A South Texas man and woman have been ordered to federal prison for production of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Reid Etheridge, 42, McAllen, and Alicia Cronkhite, 30, Edinburg, pleaded guilty April 1, 2021.

Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered Etheridge to serve a life sentence. Cronkhite was ordered to serve 180 months to be immediately followed by a lifetime of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional facts discussing the abuse both minor victims sustained at Etheridge and Cronkhite’s hands. In handing down the sentence, Judge Crane considered and heavily weighed the chances that Etheridge would re-offend in the future should he be released from federal prison. Judge Crane also considered that Etheridge manipulated Cronkhite into participating in their criminal conduct.

“This lengthy sentence is a testament to the repugnant nature of child exploitation crimes, particularly the production of child pornography which only perpetuates the trauma endured by victims,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Alejandro Amaro of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in San Antonio. “HSI agents make it a top priority to protect vulnerable children from victimization by working with their law enforcement partners to investigate predators involved with the production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material and ensure they are held accountable for their heinous actions.”

Etheridge had filmed himself committing the sexual abuse and assault of two minor children from on or about Jan. 1, 2020, to approximately Oct. 1, 2020. As part of her guilty plea, Cronkhite admitted she took photographs of one minor victim’s exposed genitals and transmitted those photographs to Etheridge at his request.

The investigation began when authorities identified an IP address in McAllen that had uploaded images and videos depicting minor children engaged in sex acts. On Oct. 2, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant and encountered Etheridge at the residence. He soon admitted he had filmed himself sexually assaulting one minor victim.

Further investigation revealed communication between Etheridge and Cronkhite detailing the sexual exploitation of another minor victim. Authorities searched her residence, at which time she admitted she produced multiple images of a minor victim and transmitted the images to Etheridge.

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

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

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

McALLEN, Texas – A 58-year-old Mexican national has been ordered to prison for knowingly and intentionally importing cocaine and meth into the United States from Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Francisco Garduno Bobadilla pleaded guilty April 29.

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered Bobadilla to serve 63 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, Bobadilla is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that if someone agrees to involve themselves in a crime, even if only moments before it happens, they are still held liable.

Bobadilla arrived at the Hidalgo Port of Entry Feb. 1, 2021, driving a red Dodge Avenger. There, a K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics hidden inside the vehicle.

Authorities sent him to secondary inspection where they soon found bundles of cocaine and meth hidden within the panels of his vehicle.

The drugs had a combined weight of 13 kilograms – 11 and two kilograms for the meth and cocaine, respectively, with an estimated street value over $100,000.

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

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Alexis Garcia prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 55-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to mailing meth-laced papers disguised as mail to the Coastal Bend Detention Center (CBDC), announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. 

Gail Hostetter, Corpus Christi, pleaded guilty to knowingly and intentionally possessing and attempting to provide meth to an inmate.

On Jan. 29, 2021, Hostetter mailed a letter purporting to be from a local law firm to an inmate at CBDC. However, facility staff intercepted it and sent it for testing. The mail tested positive for meth. Law enforcement subsequently executed a search warrant on Hostetter’s residence where they found additional empty envelopes pre-addressed from various local law firms. 

The investigation revealed the inmate devised the plan and recruited Hostetter among others to mail meth-laced papers into the detention center. The scheme involved creating envelopes designed to look like legal mail. 

As part of her plea, Hostetter admitted to mailing meth into a jail facility on at least one other occasion.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos will impose sentencing Oct. 18. At that time, Hostetter faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. 

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

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, The GEO Group, Drug Enforcement Administration, Corpus Christi Police Department, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Bureau of Prisons and FBI Miami Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Marin and John Marck are prosecuting the case.
 

GALVESTON, Texas – A 38-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of production and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Scott Jacob McGuire pleaded guilty Aug. 8, 2021.

Today, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown sentenced McGuire to 360 and 60 months for the production and possession convictions, respectively. They will run consecutively for a total 420-month-term of imprisonment. At the hearing, the court an impact statement from one of the identified victims in the images McGuire possessed.   McGuire was further ordered to pay $63,000 in restitution to seven of the victims whose images he possessed and the minor victim of whom he created child pornography. Additionally, he will serve the rest of his life on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. McGuire will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

McGuire had engaged in a conversation with someone who he believed to be a father to a young child on Kik, claiming he was also a dad to a three-year-old daughter. McGuire sent an image of the minor female with McGuire’s genitals in her hand and stated he would give the child melatonin so she would “sleep like a rock.” Then, McGuire requested images of the individual molesting his daughter.

Law enforcement was able to locate McGuire in League City and executed a search warrant at his residence. At that time, they seized numerous devices and discovered 721 images of child pornography. McGuire also possessed a large amount of child erotica and CGI animation child pornography.

In addition to the minor victim McGuire used to produce child pornography, he also possessed images and video of victims the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has previously identified in 47 known series.

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

FBI – Texas City conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Washington Metropolitan Police FBI Child Exploitation Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack 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 federal jury sitting in Laredo has convicted a 67-year-old Laredo man of conspiring to transport people in a sealed trailer, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

The jury deliberated for two hours before convicting David William McKeon for conspiracy to transport undocumented aliens following a two-day trial.

On April 20, McKeon arrived at the Laredo North Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint while driving a tractor-trailer. At that time, law enforcement heard suspicious noises coming from the trailer. They opened a vent door and discovered 124 locked behind the doors.  

At trial, the jury heard that McKeon had said he was recruited for the job at his birthday party a few days earlier. They heard he picked up the tractor-trailer from a dirt road then was given a fraudulent bill of lading in the parking lot of a Popeye’s restaurant before driving to the checkpoint.

However, the defense attempted to convince the jury that McKeon didn’t know there were aliens inside the trailer. The jury ultimately found him guilty of engaging in a conspiracy to transport the aliens.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo presided over trial and will set sentencing at a later date. At that time, McKeon faces up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

McKeon has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of BP. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Bajew and David Fawcett are prosecuting the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 48-year-old Mission resident has been ordered to federal prison after allowing drugs into the country, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Oziel Cantu is a former Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. He pleaded guilty April 1, 2021, to one count of bribery of a public official.

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez handed Cantu a 120-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Alvarez noted this type of case bothers her every single time and it is very difficult to understand the situation in which Cantu put himself. She informed him that everyone in the court room has been in a difficult financial situation before and yet none of them resorted to crime. Judge Alvarez stated that she would not let law enforcement corruption slide.

The investigation began after authorities suspected Cantu had contacted members of a Mexican drug trafficking organization to offer his assistance in smuggling narcotics through the Pharr Port of Entry where he was stationed for payment.

During an undercover operation, Cantu had agreed to assist with importing 40 kilograms of cocaine in exchange for a cash payment of $15,000. Cantu provided instructions on how to drive a vehicle containing the narcotics through a specific inspection lane during the early morning hours on Aug. 19, 2020. Once there, Cantu would let the vehicle pass into the United States.  

Cantu 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 Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General and CBP – Office of Professional responsibility conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney M. Alexis Garcia prosecuted the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 20-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of importing 500 grams or more of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery

Abiel Geronimo Fernandez pleaded guilty March 22.

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered Fernandez to serve 140 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard that Fernandez asked someone to hide marijuana and a firearm while he was waiting for trial. The court also saw pictures from his cell phone of narcotics and firearms. In one, he was taking a selfie while wearing body armor and holding a rifle. In other photos, there were kilogram quantities of narcotics indicating that this was not the first time he had transported large quantities of narcotics. In imposing the sentence, Judge Alvarez noted that Fernandez’s arrest for alien smuggling one day before his arrest on this matter was troubling.

On Nov. 28, 2021, Fernandez attempted to enter the United States from Mexico at the Rio Grande City Port of Entry while driving a Chevrolet Silverado. Authorities referred him to secondary inspection where they discovered anomalies in all four tires of the truck.

There were a total of 24 bricks of meth hidden within the tires. The total weight was approximately 59 kilograms with an estimated street value of $236,000.

As part of his plea, Fernandez admitted he was recruited the day before to smuggle three kilograms of meth into the country in exchange for $3,000.

He 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 Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colton Turner prosecuted the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A federal jury in McAllen has convicted a 27-year-old Mexican citizen for conspiracy and harboring and transporting aliens within the country, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

The jury deliberated for approximately an hour before convicting Silverio Moreno-Calderon following a two-day trial.

Moreno-Calderon illegally resided in a stash house on West 1st Street in Mission. On Feb. 2, authorities observed Moreno-Calderon exit the residence and meet with a driver in a black sport utility vehicle.

At that time, Moreno-Calderon prepared the vehicle for transportation of the undocumented individuals by rearranging the vehicle’s contents and viewing it from all angles with the doors both open and closed.

The jury heard that Moreno-Calderon directed three individuals into the vehicle and concealed them with blankets, boxes and various items. Soon after, the loaded vehicle departed from the residence. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop and found the undocumented individuals in the car. They were later determined to be illegally present in the United States.

Authorities searched the residence and discovered an additional 24 people who had been smuggled into the country and were awaiting further transportation.

At trial, two of the aliens provided testimony describing how Moreno-Calderon confiscated their cell phones upon arrival to the house, enforced rules they needed to follow and determined when they would be able to contact their families. One of individuals testified how Moreno-Calderon punched him in the face for attempting to use his cell phone without permission.

Moreno-Calderon’s co-conspirators previously pleaded guilty to transporting aliens within the United States. One of whom, the driver, testified how he had driven from Houston the day before and planned to transport four aliens back to the area. However, he and Moreno-Calderon were only able to fit three people in the vehicle due to their size. He also told the jury how he followed Moreno-Calderon’s advice as it seemed like he had done this many times. He testified how Moreno-Calderon told him that he was planning on walking a group north following the driver’s departure.

The defense attempted to convince the jury that Moreno-Calderon was just an alien who was also smuggled, not a smuggler. The jury did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge Miceala Alvarez presided over the trial and set sentencing for Nov. 3. At that time, Moreno-Calderon faces up to 10 years on each conviction as well as a possible $10 million maximum fine.

Moreno-Calderon has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric D. Flores and Lee Fry are prosecuting the case.  

McALLEN, Texas – A 60-year-old San Antonio resident has been ordered to federal prison after admitting to conspiring to import 18 kilograms of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Douglas Wayne Tatum pleaded guilty Feb. 1.

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered Tatum to serve a 188-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Alvarez noted Tatum was more than average participant and had recruited the driver who imported the meth.

At the time of his plea, Tatum admitted that on Sept. 30, 2019, he directed Kandy Martinez to drive into Mexico and smuggle a vehicle loaded with bundles of meth into the United States. He said he would be waiting for her when she returned and would pay her $4,000.

He admitted he drove Martinez from San Antonio to Rio Grande Valley. She then drove into Mexico and exchanged her car for the vehicle loaded with meth.

Martinez attempted to drive the vehicle into the United States at the Donna Port of Entry. At inspection, a search of the vehicle revealed 18 bundles of meth weighing 18 kilograms hidden within the rear panel of the vehicle and in the spare tire.

Martinez, 52, San Antonio,  previously pleaded guilty and received a 42-month term of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release.

Tatum 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 M. Alexis Garcia prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – Anahuac Transport Inc. must pay a substantial fine after admitting to fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Corporate representatives Gary Monteau and Brant Charpiot admitted their guilt Feb. 23 on behalf of the company and agreed to forfeit $251,401 in gross proceeds that it obtained from the criminal scheme.

Today, U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett ordered the company to serve three years on probation and to pay an additional fine of $275,000. During the hearing, the court noted the importance of the Johnson Space Center to the identity of the Houston area and how it was a privilege for a company like Anahuac to play a role in the U.S. space program. He noted that Anahuac had abused that privilege.

At the time of the plea, Monteau, Charpiot and Anahuac entered voluntary exclusions with the United States in which each agreed to be banned from federal government contracting for two years.

Anahuac admitted to falsifying its records and delivering potentially tainted rocket fuel for NASA and Department of Defense (DOD) rocket launches.  

NASA and DOD entered into contracts with various companies, including Space Explorations Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), to launch rockets with supplies for the International Space Station and with military payloads. 

These companies procured fuel for the rocket launches and contracted for transportation of the fuel to the launch sites. Anahuac was in the business of hauling chemicals in tanker trailers. From approximately 2012 through 2020, NASA and DOD subcontracted Anahuac to transport the rocket fuel.

To prevent contamination, Anahuac was required to ensure the tanker trailer they used did not previously contain certain chemicals that may have adverse reactions with the fuel. However, Anahuac intentionally falsified its documents, claiming it had not previously hauled incompatible chemicals with its tanker trailers. In fact, it had.

Anahuac transported the rocket fuel with its contaminated trailers. As a result, NASA used the fuel for rocket launches.

NASA - Office of Inspector General (OIG) and DOD – OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Johnson is prosecuting the case.       

GALVESTON, Texas – A 47-year-old Bay City woman has been ordered to federal prison after admitting defrauding a company of nearly half a million dollars, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Kimberly Knebel Janise pleaded guilty April 5.

Today, U.S. District Judge Jeffery V. Brown sentenced her to 27 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In assessing the term of punishment, the court imposed one month for every two months she stole.

The court also considered victim impact statements, one which described the profound effect of Janise’s embezzlement on the family-owned business and its employees. Janise was further ordered to pay $450,648.04 in restitution to the victims.

Janice worked as an accountant for McAda Drilling Fluids Inc. located in Bay City. In that role, Janice was responsible for paying bills, posting deposits and accounting. 

In August 2018, while reviewing business accounts, the company’s president noticed withdrawals linked to Janice’s credit card. The investigation revealed that Janise conducted 67 wire transactions from the company’s business account to pay off her credit card bill totaling almost half a million dollars.

Janise regularly withdrew between $4,000 to $12,000. However, in one particular month, she took $22,000. She continued to steal money to pay for travel and dining, while the company struggled with financial hardships. In fact, the president had not collected a paycheck for two years in an effort to retain employees.

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

FBI – Texas City conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zahra Jivani Fenelon prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 45-year-old Pharr resident has pleaded guilty to illegally transporting undocumented aliens within the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Leonardo Davila Sr. admitted to smuggling the individuals while driving an 18-wheeler.

On May 4, 2021, Davila drove a tractor trailer into the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint near Falfurrias. At inspection, a K-9 alerted authorities to the presence of concealed humans. Law enforcement opened the trailer and discovered 68 undocumented individuals among pallets of onions.

The individuals in the trailer were from Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala and Peru. They were all determined to be in the United States illegally.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos will impose sentencing Oct. 13. At that time, Davila faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

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

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

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A 44-year-old San Benito resident has pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute liquid meth, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Pedro Rodriguez III pleaded guilty today to possessing with intent to distribute approximately 253.2 kilograms of liquid meth.

On Jan. 11, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Rodriguez III after he switched lanes without signaling. They soon discovered he had several pending state arrest warrants and took him into custody.

As they conducted a search of his vehicle, they found approximately 253.2 kilograms of liquid meth hidden inside an auxiliary gas tank. Rodriguez III admitted he knew the meth was inside the gas tank and had agreed to transport the narcotics from South Texas to Dallas.

Rodriguez III is set for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera on Oct. 5. At that time, he faces up to life in prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.

Rodriguez III will remain in custody pending sentencing.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the San Benito Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edgardo J. Rodriguez prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 43-year-old health care marketer has been indicted in a conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Authorities took Patrick Osemwengie, Richmond, into custody today. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray at 2 p.m.

The indictment, returned July 12, alleges Osemwengie paid Medicare beneficiaries to sign up for home health services and made referrals to specific companies.

Osemwengie allegedly received more than $25,000 in kickback payments for referring patients to Grace Healthcare Services and Ebra Health Care Services. The health care companies submitted claims to Medicare using the patients Osemwengie referred according to the charges.

Medicare rules and federal law prohibits paying and receiving money for referrals.

If convicted, Osemwengie faces up to five years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.  

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

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

HOUSTON – A 36-year-old bank robber who last resided in the Wilmington, Delaware, area has been ordered to federal prison for robbing an IBC Bank in Houston, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

A federal jury convicted Sye Newton Nov. 19, 2021, on all counts as charged following a two-day-trial and several hours of deliberation.

Today, U.S. District Judge Sim Lake sentenced him to 276 months for bank robbery as well as 84 months for using a firearm during commission of a crime of violence. The sentences will be served consecutively for a total of 360 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence detailing how Newton committed other felony offenses in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

At trial, the jury heard that on March 25, 2019, Newton wore a face covering, glasses and a hijab. He then entered the IBC Bank on Kirkwood Drive in Houston. Once inside, he threatened bank employees with a firearm and ordered them to the ground while he took over the bank lobby and stole a large amount of U.S. currency.  

As he fled, a customer chased after him and was able to obtain the license plate number, ultimately leading to Newton’s arrest.

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 FBI and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Peneguy and Erin Epley prosecuted the case.

This is an example of coordination between law enforcement who are part of the Houston Law Enforcement Violent Crime Initiative which combines personnel and resources from numerous federal, state and local agencies. The goal is to proactively fight and reduce violent crime across the Greater Houston area by targeting the region’s most violent offenders, augmenting investigative and prosecutorial efforts and enhancing training, public awareness and education. It stems from the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

LAREDO, Texas – Two 41-year-old men have been indicted for conspiracy and illegally transporting more than 70 through a Laredo checkpoint, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

A federal grand jury returned two separate, unrelated but similar indictments against Menietto Lateet Crawford, Memphis, Tennessee, and Denny Fuentes, Miami, Florida, today. Both men are expected to appear for their arraignments next week.

On June 14, Crawford approached the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint north of Laredo, according to the criminal complaint originally filed in the matter. A K-9 allegedly alerted to Crawford’s trailer. Upon further inspection, authorities discovered 80 undocumented aliens in the non-refrigerated trailer that Crawford was hauling, according to the allegations in the complaint.

The following day at the same checkpoint, law enforcement allegedly found another 71 undocumented aliens from the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. According to the charges against Fuentes, he had tried to transport the people in a refrigerated trailer claiming he was transporting “pig meat.”

If convicted, each man faces up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 fine.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted both investigations with the assistance of Border Patrol.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Homero Ramirez is prosecuting the cases.

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 leader of a group of robbers that targeted game rooms, alien smugglers and drug traffickers has been ordered to federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Jose Salomon Madrid-Paz aka Chaparro, 58, pleaded guilty Jan. 10 to interference of commerce by robbery and using a firearm during a crime of violence.

Today, U.S. District Judge Lynn N. Hughes sentenced Madrid-Paz to a total of 312 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay $30,400 in restitution. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.

At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence detailing how Madrid-Paz and others were planning on committing three other robberies in addition to those related to their convictions as well additional statements about such crimes. Madrid-Paz said made comments detailing the arrest of others and how a security guard had been killed in other robberies because his co-defendants did not follow his instructions.

Madrid-Paz had been orchestrating robberies for over a decade. They would spend several days or weeks casing game rooms by pretending to be players. On the day of each robbery, Madrid-Paz would assign each member of the robbery crew specific duties. These included disarming security guards and tying them up, finding those with access to the safe or cash drawer, carrying it out of the location and acting as the getaway driver. 

Madrid-Paz himself would act as a lookout and be in charge of dividing the money. 

A “rip crew” is a group of individuals that engages in robberies of businesses and individuals that are unlikely to report the incident to law enforcement. This group was known as the tumbadores. They were comprised of illegal aliens from Central America who committed dozens of armed robberies in the Houston vicinity of game rooms, drug dealers and alien smugglers.

In addition to the robbery involving the death of a security guard, several others included the kidnapping of illegal aliens who were held for ransom.

Madrid-Paz 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 and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Laurence Goldman and Lisa Marie Collins prosecuted the case.  

HOUSTON – A 38-year-old man who held citizenship in the United States and Ghana has been arrested following the return of an indictment in a nationwide romance fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Authorities took Kenneth Anim into custody today. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray at 2 p.m. today.

Anim had previously resided in the Houston and Richmond areas.

A federal grand jury returned the five-count indictment July 6.

From 2014 to 2019, Anim and his co-conspirator created individual sham businesses, according to the charges. They allegedly operated as money mules in relation to various mail and wire fraud schemes including internet fraud and romance scams.

The indictment further alleges Anim also opened and maintained bank accounts to collect proceeds from the schemes and to send the money to himself, his co-conspirators and overseas.

If convicted, Anim faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $500,000 maximum fine.

FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek and Grace Murphy are prosecuting the case.

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

McALLEN, Texas – An Edinburg man has been ordered to federal prison for receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

James Archie Wells III, 63, pleaded guilty Dec. 2, 2021.

Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered Wells to serve a 180-month sentence to be immediately followed by a lifetime of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard and considered Wells’ previous convictions in Texas state court for indecency with a child and possession of child pornography. In handing down the sentence, Judge Crane noted that Wells had just finished serving his previous sentences a few months before he began re-offending. The court assessed sentencing enhancements for the number of videos, age of the victims and the sado-masochistic nature of the videos.

The investigation began when Wells resided at halfway house in Edinburg. Authorities learned that he had been viewing child sexual abuse videos and images on his phone.

Soon after, they seized Wells’ electronic devices. At that time, Wells admitted to using the dark web to download child sexual abuse materials on his phone and other multiple devices. Wells downloaded 371 videos of child pornography which included images of the sexual assault and rape of pre-pubescent children.  

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

FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Edinburg Police Department.

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

Three Texas men have been sentenced for illegally dispensing opioids and other controlled substances.

Hassan Barnes, 56, a pharmacist formerly of Missouri City, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for unlawfully dispensing opioids and other controlled substances. Clint Carr, 33, a pharmacy owner formerly of Cypress, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on June 24 and ordered to forfeit more than $700,000 for operating a pharmacy that illegally dispensed controlled substances and for laundering the criminal proceeds. Frasiel Hughey, 60, a supplier-level drug dealer formerly of Houston, was sentenced on June 23 to 20 years in prison for using fake prescriptions to purchase opioids and other controlled substances.

A jury convicted Carr in March of drug and money laundering conspiracies, along with other related charges. According to evidence presented at trial, Carr co-owned and operated CC Pharmacy in Houston, and CC Pharmacy 2 and CC Pharmacy 3 in the Austin area. Barnes was CC Pharmacy’s pharmacist-in-charge. In just 18 months, Carr, Barnes, and their co-conspirators unlawfully distributed over 1.5 million dosage units of controlled substances, including over 1.1 million pills of oxycodone and hydrocodone.

Trial evidence showed that CC Pharmacy unlawfully dispensed controlled substances — mostly oxycodone and hydrocodone — in bulk, for cash, based mostly on forged or stolen prescriptions brought in by drug couriers posing as staff of long-term care facilities. CC Pharmacy brought in over $5.5 million from the unlawful sale of these controlled substances, cash proceeds which Carr and his co-conspirators structured to avoid reporting requirements. Evidence at trial showed that Carr used these drug proceeds to finance a lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of luxury watches and the down payment on a $100,000 Ford pickup truck.

Carr was convicted following a five-day trial on charges of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances, unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances, conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. Barnes pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances. Hughey pleaded guilty in March to conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances and unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances. Four other co-conspirators pleaded guilty in connection with the operation of CC Pharmacy, two of whom are still awaiting sentencing.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jennifer Lowery for the Southern District of Texas, and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram made the announcement.

DEA Houston, including the DEA Austin Resident Office, investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Devon Helfmeyer and Courtney Chester of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristine Rollinson of the Southern District of Texas is handling forfeiture.

LAREDO, Texas – A 46-year-old out-of-state woman has pleaded guilty to her role in a conspiracy to import over 3,700 kilograms of marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Patricia Pinto, Crete, Illinois, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to importing and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of marijuana.

The investigation began Dec. 8, 2020, after a truck driver hauling 18 pallets of carpet on a commercial tractor entered the United States through the World Trade Bridge in Laredo. Law enforcement conducted an X-ray inspection and discovered a total of 3208.8 kilograms of marijuana.

Authorities identified Pinto as the creator of the driver’s entry documents and linked them to Associated Distributions, a company located in Houston.

On July 20, 2021, law enforcement seized two cell phones from Pinto after she entered the United States from Mexico. A search of the phones revealed Whatsapp messages describing her role in forming the company as well as other incriminating discussions with co-conspirators.

Further analysis of the phones connected Pinto to another incident that occurred Dec. 20, 2019, involving the seizure of 537.2 kilograms of marijuana in Falfurrias.

The total amount of drugs involved in the case is estimated to be $12.2 million.

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana will impose sentencing at a later date to be determined after the completion of a presentencing investigation. At that time, Pinto faces up to life in prison.

She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard A. Cantu is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – Two Texas men have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 34.5 kilograms of liquid meth associated with the Cartel Del Noreste (CDN), announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Bonifacio Turrubiates, 48, Laredo, pleaded guilty today, while Dionicio Sanchez, 46, Houston, admitted his guilt June 3.

On April 28, 2020, authorities conducted a seizure on their vehicle in the parking lot of an HEB grocery store located in Laredo. There, they discovered kilograms of liquid meth hidden inside multiple fire extinguishers. The investigation revealed the meth belonged to an organization affiliated with the CDN.

As part of their pleas, Turrubiates and Sanchez admitted to conspiring to hide the meth inside fire extinguishers and transport them outside of Texas by driving the drugs north of Laredo.

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

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

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

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 39-year-old Brownsville man has been ordered to federal prison for smuggling individuals in a scheme that involved dangerous and life-threatening conditions, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Carlos Alberto Avila pleaded guilty Jan. 6, 2022.

Today, U.S. District Judge David S. Morales ordered Avila to serve 21 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that the individuals were locked in the trailer for over three hours and were instructed to climb into the trailer and lay on top of ice. They likely would have been in there for four more hours. The court also learned they used a cell phone for light and crawled to the trailer door for warmth.

In handing down the sentence, the court noted Avila personally put a lock on the trailer, trapping the 26 individuals. Judge Morales noted they were stuck in near freezing and life threatening conditions.

On Oct. 26, 2021, Avila drove a 2019 Kenworth tractor-trailer into the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint located near Falfurrias. Following a K-9 alert, the vehicle was referred to secondary inspection where authorities discovered 26 individuals in the locked trailer. Each were determined to be unlawfully present in the United States.

The undocumented aliens were located on top of ice and pallets of frozen broccoli. They reported they were afraid they would freeze to death due to being in the trailer for an extended period of time. The control temperature for the refrigeration unit was set at 33 degrees.

Avila 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 31-year-old man residing in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Sergio Bustos-Cruz, Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, pleaded guilty to smuggling 11.62 kilograms of cocaine.

As part of his plea, Bustos-Cruz admitted he attempted to drive through the World Trade Bridge in Laredo on April 21.

Upon arrival, authorities referred him to secondary inspection where an X-ray scan of his tractor trailer revealed anomalies within the roof of the tractor cab. At inspection, law enforcement discovered several bundles containing 11.62 kilograms of cocaine.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing Oct. 18. At that time, Bustos-Cruz faces up to life in prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.

Bustos-Cruz will remain in custody pending that hearing.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Isaac is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – Three men have been ordered to federal prison following their convictions of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Esteban Lopez Hernandez, 41, illegally resided in Katy and pleaded guilty in June 2021 as did two others - Robert Gomez, 28, Missouri City, and Longino Jaimes-Solorzano, 23, also illegally residing in Katy.

Today, U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes found Hernandez to be a leader in the conspiracy and ordered him to serve a 235-month term of imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence detailing that their drug trafficking organization specialized in distributing black heroin. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Hughes noted the extreme negative impact of the drug on the community after hearing that since the group was placed in custody there is almost no black tar heroin circulating in the Katy area.

Gomez and Jaimes-Solarzano were previously sentenced to 10 years in prison. Not U.S. citizens, Hernandez and Jaimes-Solarzano are expected to face removal proceeding following their terms of imprisonment.

All three men were involved in drug trafficking organization that specialized in black tar heroin for approximately two years. Hernandez was found to be the leader, while Gomez and Jaimes-Solarzano served as drug couriers.

The drug had a major impact on the Katy area in 2017. A rash of several young drug-related overdoses had links to specific dealers in the Katy area. Authorities were ultimately able to identify the source of supply for the dealers and uncover other details of the organization. The investigation revealed the organization deployed multiple stash houses and used several couriers.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Harris County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office and  Fort Bend Sheriff’s Office conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation dubbed Operation Shadow Theory with the assistance of IRS – Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Office of Inspector General and the Katy and Houston Police Departments. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

LAREDO, Texas – A 44-year-old man from Laredo has admitted to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Erasmo Medina-Villanueva pleaded guilty to trafficking 6.8 kilograms of cocaine.

As part of his plea, Medina-Villanueva admitted to attempting to drive through the Lincoln Juarez Port of Entry in Laredo on April 7.

At that time, he told authorities he was visiting his mother in Mexico. However, an X-ray scan revealed anomalies near the center console of his vehicle. Upon further inspection, law enforcement discovered several bundles containing cocaine.

The drugs had an estimated street value of $170,000.

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

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Isaac is prosecuting the case.

GALVESTON, Texas - A 40-year-old Alvin man has been sent to federal prison following his conviction of receipt of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Timothy Alan Fortenberry pleaded guilty Jan. 19.

Today, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown ordered him to serve 180 months in prison. The sentence will be immediately followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, during which time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Fortenberry was a registered sex offender serving a term of supervised release for prior federal convictions for receipt and possession of child pornography. He will again have to register as a sex offender.

The investigation began in June 2021, when law enforcement discovered an individual utilizing a computer sharing files of child pornography on BitTorrent, a peer-to-peer file sharing system. Authorities downloaded a torrent file which contained 694 images from Fortenberry’s computer and found images of minor females engaged sexually explicit conduct.

On July 12, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the residence where Fortenberry was living. He admitted that while on supervised release, he purchased a tablet which was probation was not monitoring. He used it to download and view child pornography.

He further admitted that after doing so, he would factory reset the tablet in order to erase all of the child pornography.

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

Pearland Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 22-year-old Laredo man has pleaded guilty to receipt and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Ricardo Reyna admitted to viewing and sharing child pornography between May 1, 2020 and May 6, 2022. 

During the investigation, authorities found 51 video files and 16 images of child pornography on Reyna’s cellphones. Reyna admitted to viewing and sharing child pornography on Kik starting in 2020. 

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose a sentencing Oct. 18. At that time, Reyna faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Reyna has been and will remain in custody pending his hearing.

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office.

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.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 34-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison for 27 years for drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Henry Wilkinson pleaded guilty Nov. 23, 2021.

Today, U.S. District Judge David S. Morales handed Wilkinson a sentence of 324 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Wilkinson organized the drug trafficking by purchasing hotel rooms in Houston where meth was purchased on several occasions. In handing down the sentence, the court found Wilkinson was in fact the leader/organizer of the drug trafficking conspiracy.  

On June 2, 2020, authorities arrested a drug dealer in possession of 39.99 grams of pure meth. Soon after, they learned that Wilkinson supplied the individual with meth from February through June 2020.

On Aug. 25, 2020, law enforcement intercepted a 2.8 kilogram shipment of meth in transit from Houston. Subsequent investigation revealed that Wilkinson instructed the individual to transport multiple kilograms of meth and other drugs on numerous occasions from Houston to Corpus Christi.

Wilkinson 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Dunn prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A tax preparer and her two daughters have admitted to conspiring to commit tax fraud over a four-year period, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Jeannette Villarreal, Leannette Villarreal and Zeannette Salazar prepared and filed income tax returns for clients under the business name of J&G Armadillo’s Tax Service aka Reals Tax Service.

As part of their pleas, they each admitted to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States by willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns.

On numerous occasions, they knowingly reported inaccurate earnings, fictitious charitable contributions and improper tax credits in order to increase the refund paid to the client. The tax returns purported their clients were permitted to claim deductions, credits or both. However, they were not entitled to claim more money, resulting in a tax loss to the United States.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos will impose sentencing Oct. 6. At that time, all three conspirators face up to three years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

They were permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.

IRS – Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert D. Thorpe Jr. and John Marck are prosecuting the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 32-year-old Houston man has pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle undocumented aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Today, Vince Ruiz III pleaded guilty to one count of transporting illegal aliens within the United States.

On Oct. 5, 2021, Ruiz drove a white Freightliner tractor pulling two trailers marked “FedEx Ground” into the primary inspection lane at the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint located near Falfurrias. During inspection, a K-9 alerted authorities to one of the trailers.  

A subsequent search of the trailer revealed 20 undocumented individuals inside behind a locked door.

Ruiz admitted he drove to Edinburg to pick up the trailer and return to Cypress. During the trip, he pulled over to the side of the road in a secluded area where the undocumented individuals were then loaded into the trailer.

They were later determined to be illegally present in the country

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos will impose sentencing Oct. 4. At that time, Ruiz faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Ruiz has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Parker Gochenour is prosecuting the case.

VICTORIA, Texas – A 43-year-old non-U.S. citizen illegally residing in Mission has been sent to prison for conspiracy to commit hostage taking which resulted in death, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Nelson Bahena-Garcia pleaded guilty Nov. 2, 2021, admitting the victim died during the smuggling incident.

Today, U.S. District Judge Rainey ordered Bahena-Garcia to serve 252 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence about how he operated an alien stash house using threats and intimidation and refused to allow the victim to be released for medical care during the smuggling attempt.

The investigation began after authorities had learned of a missing Honduran female. Her fiancé called authorities and informed them he had been unable to make payment for her release.

On May 28, 2018, authorities found her on a rural county road in Victoria County. She had been stripped nude and had what appeared to be trauma inflicted upon her body. The investigation revealed she had collapsed during the smuggling attempt and had to be carried. Even though she said, “please don’t leave me,” a companion heard Bahena-Garcia eventually provide instructions to leave her behind in the brush to die.

At the time of his plea, Bahena-Garcia admitted his driver had abandoned her by on the side of the highway.

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

Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protection and the Victoria County Sheriff’ Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patti Booth prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 64-year-old Houston resident is set to appear in court on charges he participated in a fraud scheme for 12 years, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Abraham Joseph is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray at 2 p.m. today.

A one-count criminal information, filed June 27, alleges Joseph was the owner of a company called One Point Inc. and participated in a fraud scheme from 2007 until 2019 against a company with a manufacturing facility in Houston.

Joseph allegedly engaged in a bribery and bid rigging scheme to obtain construction and maintenance work at the victim company. According to the charges, Joseph submitted fake bids through the facilities manager who made it appear that OnePoint was the low bidder. In return, Joseph allegedly paid millions of dollars and gave other items of value. Joseph also had work funneled to him and his company and paid kickbacks in return, according to the charges.

The information alleges that when submitting invoices for payment to the victim company, Joseph failed to disclose he was submitting falsified bids, paying kickbacks from victim company funds and even had their employee on OnePoint’s payroll at one point.

The victim company would not have paid OnePoint invoices had it known about the falsified bids or the kickback payments, according to the charges.                  

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

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek 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 leader within Cartel De Jalisco Nueva Generacion has been ordered to federal prison for his role in an elaborate conspiracy of possession with intent to distribute meth, heroin, cocaine and fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Juan Manuel Salazar Alvarez, 29, Michoacan, Mexico, pleaded guilty Nov. 5, 2020.

Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana sentenced Alvarez to 282 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. He was also ordered to pay a $2.7 million.

The investigation began in June 2017, when authorities identified Alvarez as a leader within Cartel De Jalisco Nueva Generacion. Alvarez directed the cartel’s large-scale operations functioning in Tamaulipas, Mexico. It comprised of couriers, stash house operators and transportation coordinators, all responsible for smuggling multi-kilogram quantities of narcotics concealed in fire extinguishers, wooden blocks, car batteries and hydraulic jacks. The drugs were often illegally imported into Laredo and stashed in storage units or tractor trailers to then be distributed into Houston, Dallas, Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina.

During the course of the investigation, authorities linked 16 separate drug seizures to Alvarez. The drugs were concealed in similar manner. The seizures spanned from July 18, 2017, through Sept. 10, 2019.

The wholesale value of the drugs seized is estimated to be $2.7 million.

Alvarez’s co-conspirators included truck drivers, stash house operators and transporters who were implicated in the seizure of wooden/steel blocks, hydraulic jacks, batteries or fire extinguishers which contained bundles of an assortment of drugs in multiple kilograms.

Alvarez is the last defendant among 11 who have been previously sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy. Roberto Ivan Rodriguez Ramirez, 27, and Manuel Enrique Ayala Rodriguez, 45, both of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, were each sentenced to 192 months, while Giovani Mendez Hornelas, a non-U.S. citizen residing in Angier, North Carolina, received 108 months. Daniel Morales Hinojosa, 52, Santos Salazar, 35, Victor Hinojosa, 36, Omar Hiracheta-Cruz, 38, and Armando Animas Hernandez, 33, all from Michoacan and or Nuevo Leon, Mexico, were sentenced earlier in the year. Daniel Hinojosa and Salazar were each ordered to serve 262-month-terms of imprisonment, while Victor Hinojosa, Hiracheta-Cruz and Hernandez received 210, 192 and 120 months, respectively. All are also expected to face removal proceedings.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Operation Gelo Podre (Rotten Ice) with the assistance of Laredo Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, Border Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety and Williamson County Sheriff’s Office coordinated through Special Operations Division Operation Python.

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.

Deputy Criminal Chief for the South Texas Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Mary Lou Castillo prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 40-year-old Victoria man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of possession with intent to distribute meth, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Michael Salazar pleaded guilty April 7.

Today, U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton ordered Salazar to serve 95 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence of telephonic conversations during which Salazar discussed illicit drug sales and purchases. While in custody, Salazar also provided an individual with his Facebook login information and instructed her to “deactivate it” and “erase everything.”

Salazar was also identified as a member of the Tango Valluco, Tango Blast and Tango Houston gangs. In addition, the court learned of Salazar’s extensive criminal history that includes six prior drug convictions. Salazar committed the instant offense while serving a sentence for unlawful delivery of controlled substance.

On July 22, 2021, law enforcement was conducting surveillance on a female individual who had an outstanding warrant. However, the operation eventually led to Salazar who was driving East on Port Lavaca Highway with the woman in the passenger seat. Authorities attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but he did not initially comply. He eventually did as instructed.

At that time, authorities conducted a search of the vehicle and discovered a digital scale with meth residue in the center console. They also discovered a bag with crystal-like substance on the passenger side near the front right tire.

While stopped, Salazar told the female to take a bag he had removed from his pockets and run. She did but dropped the bag on the ground. At that time, Salazar yelled several times at the female to “take the charge.”

Laboratory analysis later confirmed the substance in the bag was in fact 22.65 grams of meth at 100% purity.     

Salazar 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Parker Gochenour prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 55-year-old Aransas County man has been ordered to federal prison for transporting obscene images, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Bryan Wesley Fulfer, Aransas Pass, pleaded guilty April 5.

Today, U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton sentenced Fulfer to 60 months in prison. At the hearing, the court heard evidence that Fulfer was previously convicted of indecency with a child, possession of child pornography and failure to register as a sex offender. The charges spanned from 1992 to 2014.

The court also saw several virtual images Fulfer possessed which depicted adult men sadistically abusing prepubescent boys.

Fulfer was further ordered to serve three years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet.

The investigation began July 28, 2021, when Fulfer’s relatives found his cellphone in a room at their grandmother’s house. He had been residing there. On the device, they saw computer-generated images of prepubescent children engaging in sex acts.

They notified authorities who, in turn, arrested Fulfer within days.

He ultimately admitted to viewing what he called “fake” child pornography online.

Fulfer 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 assistance of the Aransas County Sheriff’s Office.

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

LAREDO, Texas –  A 24-year-old Mexican national been charged with possession and transportation of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

A federal grand jury returned the two-count indictment today against Cristian Dolores Munoz-De La Rosa. He is expected to appear for his arraignment in the near future.

On June 6, law enforcement was conducting a human smuggling investigation near Carrizo Springs, according to the charges. Upon inspection, they seized a phone allegedly belonging to one of the individuals.

The charges allege they found child pornography images on that device. A preliminary review of the phone showed approximately 20 images of child pornography, according to the allegations.  

If convicted, Munoz-De La Rosa faces up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a $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.

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 49-year-old Desoto man has been sent to prison following his conviction of alien smuggling, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Dedrick Lindell Coleman pleaded guilty April 14.

Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo ordered Coleman to serve 24 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony that described Coleman’s efforts to smuggle over 90 people inside a tractor trailer. In handing down the sentence, Judge Marmolejo considered that number of individuals and his prior criminal history.

At the time of his plea, Coleman admitted that on Jan. 14, he approached the Interstate Highway 35 Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint located on mile marker 29 while driving a tractor trailer. A K-9 unit alerted authorities to the presence of concealed humans and referred him to secondary inspection.

There, authorities found a total of 95 non-U.S. citizens hidden in the trailer. All were determined to be in the United States illegally. At the time of his arrest, authorities also discovered a pistol in Coleman’s possession.

He 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 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Isaac prosecuted the case.

McALLEN, Texas – Two Edinburg residents have been indicted on multiple charges to include hostage taking, labor trafficking and financially benefitting from the labor of three victims, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Today, a federal grand jury returned a seven-count superseding indictment against Eduardo Javier Gomez, 31, and Margarita Alvarez, 40. They are expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott Hacker for their arraignment in the near future.  

Both had been previously indicted for hostage taking and labor trafficking. The superseding indictment returned today adds the charge of financially benefitting from the forced labor.

According to the complaint originally filed in the case, authorities learned that three individuals had allegedly been taken at gun point and forced to work in McAllen for approximately two weeks. 

The investigation revealed the victims were allegedly being harbored separately and forced to work without pay. The two male victims were forced to sell drugs outside of a club, while a female was required to act as a nanny and housekeeper at the house Gomez and Alvarez shared, according to the charges. All three victims were also allegedly made to work at a local fireworks stand Gomez managed.

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

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliza Carmen Rodriguez 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 73-year-old Houston man entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to transport an undocumented alien, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Anthony Alfred Boring arrived at the Border Patrol checkpoint April 15 on IH-35 approximately 29 miles north of Laredo. He was driving a tractor that was pulling a locked utility trailer.

Upon questioning about what he was hauling, Boring appeared shocked. His face also turned pale, his eyes became glassy, and he sunk into his seat. He then shrugged his shoulders and mumbled “I don’t know.”

Law enforcement unlocked the trailer and discovered 145 individuals in the trailer. A total of 86 were from Mexico, 49 from Guatemala and five, three and two from Honduras, El Salvador and Ecuador, respectfully.

One of the people described how hot it was in the trailer and that it was excessively packed with bodies. Further, there was no drinking water in the trailer.

At the time of his sentencing, Boring faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

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

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 28-year-old non-U.S. citizen has been sentenced to federal prison following his conviction for possession with intent to distribute nearly two kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

The jury deliberated for less than five hours following a two-day trial before convicting Edwin Lopez-Chavez March 25 on one count of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. 

Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos ordered Lopez to serve 60 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his sentence. At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony that detailed how Lopez had received money in his jail commissary account from a person related to alien smuggling. Lopez claimed he was unfortunate to get involved with the wrong people as he was attempting to illegally enter the United States.

At trial, the jury heard that Lopez was a passenger in a vehicle that entered the primary inspection area at the Border Patrol checkpoint near Sarita on Aug. 22, 2021. A K-9 alerted to the vehicle which was then sent to the secondary inspection area for further investigation. 

There, authorities discovered three non-U.S. citizens inside the trunk of the vehicle. Lopez, admitted he was a citizen and national of Honduras who was illegally present in the United States. 

Law enforcement ultimately found four bundles of cocaine taped to his ankles and inside his waist band. Lopez admitted the bundles contained narcotics.

However, during trial, he attempted to convince the jury that he transported the cocaine because some cartel members had threatened him. These people were allegedly involved in moving Lopez and other illegal aliens north.

The jury heard that Lopez could have used his cell phone to contact law enforcement at any time or at the checkpoint explain he had been forced to transport narcotics. Additional evidence showed that he had lied to authorities during an interview by saying that his phone had no service in the United States. A forensic report of his phone revealed otherwise. 

The jury ultimately did not believe his claims and found Lopez guilty as charged.

Lopez 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 the Drug Enforcement Administration and Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda L. Gould and Liesel Roscher prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 42-year-old Nueces County man has been ordered to federal prison for distributing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Michael Aaron Galvan, Corpus Christi, pleaded guilty April 5.

Today, U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton sentenced Galvan to 210 months in prison. At the hearing, the court heard an emotional victim impact statement detailing the negative impact of Galvan’s criminal actions. Galvan will serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Galvan will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Restitution to the victims will be determined at a later date.

The investigation began June 14, 2021, when authorities discovered Galvan had distributed multiple videos of child pornography via social media. Galvan was later apprehended at the U.S./Mexico border where authorities discovered he possessed a cellphone containing child pornography. Forensic analysis  of that device and others seized from Galvan’s residence showed he possessed hundreds of videos and images depicting the sexual abuse of prepubescent children. There was also evidence of how Galvan created surreptitious recordings of young children at play in his neighborhood and children walking to an elementary school near his home.

Galvan 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 assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department.

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 33-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 34 kilograms of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Jeffrey Justice Dale Williams, Gray Court, South Carolina, pleaded guilty Jan. 5.

Today, US. District Judge Drew B. Tipton ordered Williams to serve 156 months in prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony that detailed how Williams recruited other individuals to transport a large quantity of meth from Texas to Georgia. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that this drug trafficking venture would not have happened if not for Williams’ involvement.

The investigation revealed Williams recruited Doug Allen Navy and Noah Michael Hiler in the narcotics scheme. They were to pick up meth in McAllen and transport it to Atlanta, Georgia, for distribution.

Authorities discovered the co-conspirators referred to bundles of meth as roosters because Williams participated in cock-fighting in South Carolina. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement discovered hundreds of brutalized animals and evidence of cock-fighting at his property.

On Jan. 25, 2020, law enforcement arrested Navy and Hiler at the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint near Falfurrias. A search of the vehicle revealed 12 bundles of meth hidden in speaker boxes located inside of Navy’s vehicle.  

Navy and Hiler also pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme. They later received 96 and 70 month sentences, respectfully.

Williams 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 Laurens County, South Carolina, Sherriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly K. Smith prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 47-year-old Cuban national has been sent to federal prison following his conviction of conspiring to distribute large quantities of marijuana and cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Juan Suarez-Pupo pleaded guilty March 29.

Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo ordered Suarez-Pupo to serve 144 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described Suarez-Pupo as a leader within the drug trafficking organization and that he oversaw smuggling operations in both Texas and Florida. He also had connections to sources of supply in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Suarez-Pupo’s extensive involvement in drug trafficking and his previous conviction for alien smuggling for which he had served 37 months in prison. Judge Marmolejo stated that Suarez-Pupo had placed himself in this situation by his own choices.

In April 2019, authorities initiated an investigation on a drug trafficking organization operating in Laredo. They seized 615 kilograms of marijuana and approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine. They also seized $26,000 in drug proceeds.

The marijuana had an estimated street value of approximately $400,000, while the cocaine is valued at $250,000.

Co-defendant and Laredo resident Charlie Gonzalez, 36, was previously sentenced to 135 months for his role in the conspiracy to smuggle narcotics to Houston, Dallas and Louisville, Kentucky. Judge Garcia Marmolejo found that, like Suarez-Pupo, Gonzalez was a leader within the drug trafficking organization and that he had significant involvement. The court also considered Gonzalez’s 27 prior arrests, which included 11 assaults, six gun charges, two money laundering offenses and a murder. Judge Marmolejo additionally imposed a sentencing enhancement against Gonzalez for threatening the life of the federal agent who arrested him.

Additional co-conspirators Ildefonso Martinez Jr., 40, Laredo, and Jesus Antonio Trevino-Cabrera, 43, Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, were also previously sentenced for their involvement. They received prison terms of 36 and 26 months, respectively.

This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation dubbed Operation The World is Yours.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the OCDETF operation with the assistance of Border Patrol and Laredo Police Department. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage.

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

McALLEN, Texas ‐ A 56-year-old woman has been taken into custody on charges related to a healthcare fraud and kickback scheme, announced Jennifer B. Lowery.

Nora Alaniz, South Padre Island, is set to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker at 10 a.m. today. Previously charged was Dr. Tajul Shams Chowdhury, 72, McAllen. He will again appear on the charges in the superseding indictment in the near future.

The 16-count superseding indictment returned June 21 charges Alaniz and Chowdhury with conspiracy to pay and receive illegal kickbacks in exchange for the referral of prescriptions for compound drugs.

Alaniz is a registered nurse and the former owner of a home health care company located in Hidalgo County, according to the charges, while Chowdhury is a physician who also previously operated a medical clinic in Edinburg.

Alaniz allegedly received kickbacks disguised as employee salaries from a local pharmacy. In turn, she paid Chowdhury and employees of his medical clinic for the referrals.

The superseding indictment alleges Chowdhury wrote prescriptions and referred them to the pharmacy. As a result of the illegal kickback scheme, the pharmacy received more than $300,000 from healthcare benefit programs such as Medicare and Medicaid from January to July 2017, according to the charges.

The indictment further alleges Alaniz received over $70,000 in kickbacks.

Chowdhury and five others were originally charged July 15, 2021, for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, multiple counts of healthcare fraud, illegal kickback conspiracy and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Four have already pleaded guilty in relation to the charges in the original indictment.

If convicted o  the new charges, Chowdhury and Alaniz face up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General (OIG), FBI, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Department of Labor – OIG, Veterans Affairs - OIG, Texas Health and Human Services and the Department of Health and Human Services - OIG, Texas Attorney General's Office - Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Texas Department of Insurance conducted the investigation. The South Padre Island Police Department provided assistance with the arrest. 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.   

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 30-year-old Austin man has been ordered to federal prison for attempting to smuggle meth into the country while eating a cheeseburger, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Yen-Tsun Huang pleaded guilty Nov. 3, 2020.

Today, U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton ordered him to serve a total of 90 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Huang, a citizen of Taiwan, will lose his legal permanent resident status and be issued an immigration detainer upon completion of his incarceration.

On July 4, 2020, Huang was a passenger in a vehicle that attempted to pass through a Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint. Law enforcement noticed Huang displayed suspicious behavior by eating a cheeseburger immediately upon arrival. A K-9 also alerted authorities to the presence of narcotics within the vehicle.

Authorities referred him to secondary inspection. There, they discovered brick-shaped objects strapped to each of Huang’s thighs. They contained a total of 738.56 grams of meth.

Huang 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 Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis E. Robinson prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 32-year-old man has pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Chad Everett Williams Jr., Corpus Christi, admitted to possessing a loaded Diamondback Firearms pistol and 18 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

On Oct. 27, 2021, law enforcement pulled Williams over to conduct a traffic stop. At that time, they noticed the odor of marijuana. He admitted to smoking in the car earlier in the day. Upon questioning, he also admitted he had a weapon in his vehicle. Soon after, authorities conducted a search and discovered the pistol along with the ammunition.

Williams has been previously convicted for aggravated robbery. As a felon, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos will impose sentencing Sept. 21. At that time, Williams faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations conducted investigation with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Marin is prosecuting the case.