Southern District of Texas

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A 68-year-old local man has been ordered to federal prison for receipt and possession of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Robert Andrew Riley pleaded guilty June 25, 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. imposed a 168-month term of imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the amount of child pornography Riley possessed and further ordered he pay $78,000 in restitution to 26 victims. He must also serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Riley will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

In January 2018, authorities initiated an investigation into child pornography sharing on the internet. This led them to Riley’s address on South Padre Island.

Law enforcement later executed a search at his residence and seized several electronic and digital devices. Forensic analysis resulted in the discovery of 22,628 unique images and 6,097 unique videos of child pornography.

Riley 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 - Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Task Force conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana C. Cano 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 tab on that page.

McALLEN, Texas – A 41-year-old Mexican national has been ordered to federal prison for 20 years for arranging the importation of 148 kilograms of meth, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. 

Hermenegildo Espino-Trejo pleaded guilty Dec. 2, 2020.

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered Espino-Trejo to serve a 240-month sentence. At the hearing, the court heard additional information including how Espino-Trejo recruited an unwitting truck driver to import a multi-million dollar load of narcotics into the United States. In handing down the sentence, Judge Alvarez enhanced Espino-Trejo’s sentence and found he was an organizer and supervisor of the drug conspiracy. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his sentence.

“As drug dealers prey on communities, they often ignore the laws of this nation. It’s great to have the cooperation of our federal partners to aid in the arrest and prosecution of these drug traffickers,” said Deputy Special Agent in Charge Timothy Tubbs of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “Hopefully, Espino-Trejo’s arrest and incarceration will be a deterrent to current and/or future drug traffickers.” 

On Sept. 11, 2020, Espino-Trejo drove a tractor-trailer from Michoacan to Reynosa, Mexico. He gave the vehicle to another driver and instructed him to cross the border, then deliver it to a gas station in Pharr where Espino-Trejo would then re-take possession.

However, at the Pharr point of entry, law enforcement discovered 148 kilograms of meth and one kilogram of heroin concealed within the trailer. They ultimately identified Espino-Trejo as the one who arranged the transportation and took him into custody.

Espino-Trejo admitted he knew controlled substances were in the trailer and directing the driver to cross it into the United State where he planned further distribution.

The drugs had an estimated street value of approximately $2.4 million.

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

Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Redavid and Scott Greenbaum prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 40-year-old Houston resident has admitted to being a felon in possession of a firearm while on supervised release from a previous conviction of the same crime, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

John Christopher Wolford is a documented member of the Gangster Disciples street gang. He has 18 prior convictions. As such he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition per federal law.

On March 28, an employee of a convenience store on the 8400 block of Main Street in Houston noticed Wolford pacing back and forth outside the building with a gun in his hand. He contacted authorities. Upon their arrival, law enforcement confronted Wolford and discovered a loaded 9-mm, semi-automatic pistol in his pants. 

Wolford’s prior convictions include drug trafficking, tampering with physical evidence, assault causing bodily injury and assault of a family member. The most recent was in 2019 when he pleaded guilty to another felon in possession charge. He received a 37-month prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release.  

As part of his plea today, Wolford also admitted to violating the terms of that supervised release.

U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison accepted the plea and set sentencing for Nov. 10. At that time, Wolford faces up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He also faces up to an additional two years for supervised release violation.   

Wolford was taken into custody pending that hearing. 

The Houston Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Laurence Goldman is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A Laredo federal jury has convicted a 32-year-old Mexican citizen for conspiracy to import and importation of meth, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

The jury deliberated for approximately three hours before convicting Juan Victor Larraga-Solano following a two-day trial.

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

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

Overall, authorities seized a total of 44.56 kilograms of meth from Larraga-Solano. During trial, the jury heard the total estimated street value was in excess of $1.1 million.

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

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo presided over trial and set sentencing for Nov. 30. At that time, Larraga-Solano faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.

Larraga-Solano will remain in custody pending that hearing.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection, Drug Enforcement Administration and Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam E. Harper and Brandon S. Bowling are prosecuting the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 49-year-old Mission resident has been ordered to federal prison for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of meth, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

The jury deliberated for approximately 40 minutes before convicting Eugenio Perez Jr. following a two-day trial which included three witnesses. 

Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane, who presided over the trial and sentencing, ordered Perez to serve 135 months in federal prison.

According to the testimony, authorities discovered 1.6 kilograms of meth while investigating a drag racing incident that resulted in a two-car collision.  

At trial, the jury heard from a local police officer who explained how Perez crashed into an SUV pulling out of a parking lot. The officer approached Perez after observing him pull a bag from his truck’s cab and place it into the bed of the truck. He instructed Perez to not take anything from the vehicle.

Perez’s daughter arrived on the scene. At that time, she took the bag from the bed of the truck and placed it in her car, according to testimony.

The officer further testified that he stopped her from leaving the area and asked her to show him what was inside the bag. The daughter opened the bag which was found to contain approximately 1.6 kilograms of meth.

The defense attempted to convince the jury that law enforcement had rushed to judgment and did not perform an adequate and thorough enough investigation to convict Perez. The jury disagreed and found him guilty as charged.

Perez 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 Palmview Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Mitchell and M. Alexis Garcia prosecuted the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 26-year-old local man has been ordered to federal prison for bank robbery, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Gustavo Guadalupe Guevara pleaded guilty May 20.

Today, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. ordered him to serve a 42-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard from the victim and noted the seriousness and nature of the offense.

On the morning of Nov. 3, 2020, Guevarra approached a teller at a Lone Star National Bank in Harlingen and handed her a piece of paper with a threatening message. In it, Guevarra also demanded money. The teller feared for her safety and complied. Guevarra then fled the bank.

The investigation led to Guevarra. Law enforcement ultimately found a large amount of U.S. currency at his residence.

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

The FBI and Harlingen Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Coronado prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 47-year-old Mexican citizen has been ordered to federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Dimas DeLeon Rios pleaded guilty Nov. 9, 2017.

Today, U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison imposed a total 15-year sentence. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court found DeLeon was the leader of the drug trafficking organization and tampered with three witnesses during the course of the investigation. Judge Ellison found that firearms were used during the commission of the offense and noted a kidnapping of a U.S. citizen at the hands of members of the Gulf Cartel was part of the case.

The investigation began in 2011 when authorities targeted a drug trafficking organization involved in the transportation and distribution of cocaine and marijuana. Authorities soon found the organization was also stealing loads of cocaine and marijuana from its sources of supply. As part of the scheme, the organization had created fake bundles of drugs and used law enforcement officers to seize them in order to cover up the theft.

DeLeon helped facilitate the distribution of more than 194 kilograms of cocaine during the course of the conspiracy. He and others were hired to transport the cocaine, but instead stole and sold it for profit. To cover up the theft, co-conspirators created fake drug bundles that were placed in an abandoned vehicle. DeLeon paid corrupt law enforcement officers for their participation in the scheme to seize the fake drugs.

This drug trafficking investigation has led to the arrest and prosecution of 20 individuals including six law enforcement officers, one of whom has already received a 10-year prison term. The court found another had played an integral role in the drug trafficking conspiracy, abused and exploited his position of trust and ordered him to serve 166 months in federal prison.

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

Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation dubbed Operation Blue Shame. 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 Casey N. MacDonald and Anibal J. Alaniz prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 32-year-old Alice resident has entered a guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute 112 grams of meth, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

On April 9, authorities found Jose Francisco Arredondo aka Cocaine Pepe in a vehicle with currency, drugs and a scale as well as a firearm.

Law enforcement had arrived at a local hotel in response to a potential disturbance. They soon observed a vehicle with its lights on and engine running. Arredondo was driving. As they approached, they immediately noticed a firearm in the center console. Knowing he was a convicted felon, authorities conducted a thorough search of the vehicle.

They ultimately uncovered $10,000 as well as four bags of narcotics, one with 112 grams of meth, two containing a total of 56 grams of cocaine and another with 13 grams of marijuana. Law enforcement also discovered a digital scale and a defaced firearm.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos accepted the plea and set sentencing for Nov. 17. At that time, Arredondo faces up to life in prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine. He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing. 

The Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Jim Wells County Sheriff’s Office and the Alice Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Marin is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – Two alleged members of one of the most serious transnational criminal organizations will make their initial appearances in U.S. federal court on charges of narco-terrorism and distributing kilogram quantities of cocaine from Colombia.  

This is the first time believed members of the National Liberation Army (Ejército de Liberación Nacional aka ELN) have been extradited to the United States in their nearly 60-year history to face both narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges. ELN is a Colombian guerrilla group officially designated as a foreign terrorist organization Oct. 8, 1997. It continues to operate as one of the largest narco-terrorism organizations in the world.

Yamit Picon-Rodriguez aka Choncha, 36, and Henry Trigos-Celon aka Moncho Picada, 44, were extradited and landed in Houston just moments ago. They are set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sam Sheldon at 10 a.m. tomorrow.  

A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Picon-Rodriguez, Trigos-Celon and others Feb. 12, 2020. Colombian authorities took them into custody at the request of the United States in September 2020.

Picon-Rodriguez is charged with international cocaine distribution conspiracy along with five others. Those six are also charged with distribution of a controlled substance and knowing or intending to provide anything of pecuniary value to a person or organization that engages in terrorism or terrorist activity (narco-terrorism).

According to the indictment, Picon-Rodriguez, Trigos-Celon and others were involved in an ongoing 20-year conspiracy to distribute cocaine from Colombia to the United States knowing or intending to provide pecuniary support to the ELN.

In early 2019, Trigos-Celon and four others allegedly participated in distributing approximately 30 kilograms of cocaine in Colombia, knowing it would be imported into the United States.

Suspected ELN leader Villegas-Palomino aka Carlos El Puerco, 38, is also charged but not yet in custody. He is considered a fugitive as are Jaime Miguel Picon-Rodriguez aka Chencho and Jairo, 38, and Diomedes Barbosa-Montaño aka El Burro, 38. A warrant remains outstanding for their arrests. Anyone with information about their whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov. The U.S. Department of State, through its narcotics rewards program, is offering up to a $5 million reward for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Villegas-Palomino.

The Houston Divisions of the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted the investigation as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). FBI and DEA agents in Bogota provided substantial support as did the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) multi-agency Special Operations Division, including assigned attorneys from the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section and National Security Division, as well as DOJ Judicial Attaches in Colombia with the cooperation of Colombian authorities. DOJ – Office of International Affairs, Houston Police Department, U.S. Southern Command and international partners including the Colombian Army, National Police, National Prosecutor's Office and Technical Body of Investigation also provided critical assistance.

The operation, dubbed Operation Catatumbo Lightning, is part of an OCDETF Strike Forces initiative which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations.  The specific mission of the Houston Strike Force is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute the drug trafficking organizations that are designated Consolidated Priority Organization or Regional Priority Organization Target heads with their affiliates that impact Houston and south Texas.

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

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

McALLEN, Texas - The former controlling manager of Lone Star Shredding’s parent company has been ordered to federal prison for defrauding his employer, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Brian Janish, 44, pleaded guilty June 10.

Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered him to serve a 24-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. The court further ordered Janish to pay $340,293.19 in restitution. At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony from a representative of the company that described the impact the crime had on the business.  

Lone Star Shredding is a local subsidiary in Mercedes. Its parent company is located in Tennessee.

At the time of his plea, Janish admitted to using an unauthorized access device and engaging in other fraudulent activity to steal $403,293.19 between July 2013 and December 2017.

As part of his responsibilities, Janish was in charge of establishing bank accounts and approving expenses for the company. When the company switched banks, Janish failed to close the company’s previous bank account or destroy the corporate credit card issued in his name.

In fact, he charged personal expenses on the company credit card, including travel and online goods. Janish also wrote checks from the company account and withdrew cash for personal use. He attempted to cover his fraud by emailing fake bank statements to the company. 

The Morristown, Tennessee, resident also increased his payroll without authorization.

Janish 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 FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rodolfo Ramirez and Stephanie Bauman prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 44-year-old Rockport man has surrendered to authorities following the return of an indictment alleging charges of distributing and possessing images of sexually-exploited children, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Lowery.

A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment Aug. 11 against Mark Daniel Malone. He is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason B. Libby tomorrow at 10:15 a.m.

The investigation allegedly revealed Malone was a former high school basketball coach.

According to the indictment, Malone uploaded images of sexually-exploited children onto the internet. The investigation later revealed he had possessed photos of similar victimized children on his cell phone, according to the charges. Those images allegedly included children under the age of 12.

If convicted, Malone faces up to 20 in prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Texas Attorney General’s Office - Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation. 

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

HOUSTON – Dos presuntos miembros de una de las organizaciones delictivas transnacionales más temerarias tendrán una audiencia inicial en una corte federal de EE. UU. por cargos de narcoterrorismo y distribución de cocaína en cantidades superiores a un kilogramo desde Colombia. 

Es la primera vez que se extradita a Estados Unidos a presuntos miembros del Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) en los casi 60 años de existencia de la organización para enfrentar cargos por narcoterrorismo y narcotráfico. El ELN es una organización guerrillera colombiana que fue designada oficialmente como organización terrorista extranjera el 8 de octubre de 1997. Sigue operando como una de las organizaciones de narcoterrorismo más extensas del mundo.

Yamit Picón-Rodríguez, alias Choncha, de 36 años, y Henry Trigos-Celón, alias Moncho Picada, de 44, fueron extraditados y llegaron a Houston por vía aérea hace instantes. Está previsto que comparezcan ante el juez federal Sam Sheldon mañana a las 10 a.m. 

Un jurado federal de acusación dispuso el procesamiento de Picón-Rodríguez, Trigos-Celón y otras personas el 12 de febrero de 2020. Las autoridades colombianas aprehendieron a estas personas a pedido de Estados Unidos en septiembre de 2020.

Picón-Rodríguez está acusado de conspiración con fines de distribución internacional de cocaína junto a otras cinco personas. A los seis se los acusó también de distribución de sustancia controlada y de realizar actos orientados a proporcionar elementos de valor pecuniario, o a sabiendas de que serían proporcionados, a una persona o una organización que participa en terrorismo o actividades terroristas (narcoterrorismo).

Según la acusación, Picón-Rodríguez, Trigos-Celón y otras personas estuvieron implicadas en una conspiración por un lapso de 20 años para distribuir cocaína desde Colombia hacia Estados Unidos con la intención de proporcionar apoyo económico al ELN o a sabiendas de que tal apoyo se brindaría.

A comienzos de 2019, Trigos-Celón y otras cuatro personas presuntamente participaron en la distribución de cerca de 30 kilogramos de cocaína en Colombia, con conocimiento de que se importaría a Estados Unidos.

Villegas-Palomino, alias Carlos El Puerco, de 38 años, presunto líder del ELN, también fue acusado pero todavía no ha sido detenido. Se lo considera fugitivo, al igual que Jaime Miguel Picón-Rodríguez, alias Chencho y Jairo, de 38 años, y Diomedes Barbosa-Montaño, alias El Burro, de 38. Se ha librado una orden para su detención. Se pide a quienes tengan información sobre sus paraderos que se contacten con el FBI llamando al 1-800-CALL-FBI o enviando cualquier dato valioso a tips.fbi.gov.  El Departamento de Estado de EE. UU., a través de su programa de recompensas relacionadas con narcóticos, ofrece hasta $ 5 millones a cambio de información que posibilite que se detenga o condene a Villegas-Palomino.

Las Divisiones de Houston del FBI y de la Administración para el Control de Drogas (Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA) llevaron a cabo la investigación como parte de los Grupos de Tareas contra la Narcodelincuencia Organizada  (Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, OCDETF). Los agentes del FBI y la DEA en Bogotá brindaron un apoyo sustancial, al igual que la División de Operaciones Especiales, un organismo de carácter interinstitucional dentro del ámbito del Departamento de Justicia (DOJ), incluidos abogados asignados desde la Sección de Narcóticos y Drogas Peligrosas, así como agregados judiciales del DOJ en Colombia, con la cooperación de las autoridades colombianas. También prestaron asistencia esencial la Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales del DOJ, el Departamento de Policía de Houston, el Comando Sur de EE. UU. y varios socios internacionales, entre ellos el Ejército, la Policía Nacional, la Fiscalía General de la Nación y el Cuerpo Técnico de Investigación de Colombia.

La operación, que recibió el nombre de Relámpago de Catatumbo (Catatumbo Lightning), forma parte de una iniciativa del Grupo de Ataque de OCDETF que prevé la conformación de equipos de tareas interinstitucionales permanentes que trabajen codo a codo en un mismo lugar. Este modelo de emplazamiento conjunto permite que agentes de distintos organismos colaboren en operaciones basadas en datos de inteligencia en múltiples jurisdicciones para interceptar y desarticular el accionar de los narcotraficantes, responsables de blanqueo de capitales, pandillas y organizaciones delictivas transnacionales de mayor envergadura. La misión específica del Grupo de Ataque de Houston es interceptar, desbaratar y enjuiciar a las organizaciones de narcotráfico que han sido designadas como Organización Identificada de Prioridad Consolidada u Organización Identificada de Prioridad Regional y sus organizaciones afiliadas que tienen impacto en Houston y el sur de Texas.

Los fiscales federales auxiliares Casey N. MacDonald y Aníbal Alaniz del Distrito Sur de Texas impulsan la acusación.

El escrito de procesamiento es una acusación formal de una conducta delictiva y no constituye prueba de esta. Se presume la inocencia de los acusados hasta tanto se demuestre su culpabilidad sin lugar a duda racional en un tribunal de justicia.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 21-year old local woman has been ordered to federal prison for possessing with intent to distribute 94.18 kilograms of meth, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Jennifer Santamaria pleaded guilty May 13.

Today, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. ordered her to serve a 120-month sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Rodriguez noted the seriousness of the offense.

On Jan. 22, Santamaria attempted to make entry into the United States through the Gateway International Bridge Port of Entry in Brownsville. During inspection, law enforcement discovered anomalies in the vehicle. Further examination lead authorities to find approximately 22 foil-wrapped packages weighing a total of 94.18 kilograms that tested positive for the characteristics of meth.

The drugs had an estimated street value of $500,000.

Santamaria 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 David Coronado prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A resident of San Antonio has entered a guilty plea to importing almost 17 kilograms of cocaine into the United States, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

On May 20, Alessandra Olivares attempted to enter the United States at the Juarez–Lincoln Bridge in Laredo. After a service K-9 alerted to her SUV, law enforcement conducted an X-ray inspection of the vehicle and discovered anomalies. They drilled into that area and discovered a compartment containing 15 bundles of cocaine weighing 16.84 kilograms.

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

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana accepted the plea and will set sentencing for a later date. At that time, Olivares faces up to 10 years in prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine. She has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.  

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

McALLEN, Texas – A 35 year-old Mexican citizen from Camargo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been ordered to federal prison for conspiring to distribute more than 500 grams of meth, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Jesus Ivan Resendez-Gomez pleaded guilty Oct. 7, 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered him to serve a 170-month sentence. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following the prison term. In handing down the sentence, Judge Alvarez noted Resendez-Gomez’s prior 2014 federal conviction for possession with intent to distribute 307 kilograms of marijuana. Judge Alvarez also held him responsible for two additional drug transactions involving meth. The total weight of all three transactions was 2.9 kilograms.

At the sentencing hearing, Resendez-Gomez admitted that on March 13, 2019, he provided a kilogram of meth to a co-conspirator who had transported the drugs to a location in Palmhurst.

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

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

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Wells Jr. prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 38-year-old Beeville woman has been arrested on charges of attempting to bring meth to an inmate with whom she also had a sexual relationship, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Lowery.

A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment Aug. 11 against Jolienne Salinas. Yesterday, law enforcement took her into custody. She is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason B. Libby at 10:15 a.m. tomorrow.

Salinas is a correctional officer at FCI Three Rivers, a medium security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp. 

The indictment alleges that in early May 2020, Salinas provided or attempted to provide meth to an inmate. Additionally, she allegedly engaged in a sexual relationship with the inmate from approximately September 2019 to May 2020.

If convicted, Salinas faces up to 20 years in prison for providing narcotics for an inmate, while the sexual relations charge carries a possible 15-year-term of imprisonment. She also faces a $250,000 possible fine on each count of conviction.

Department of Justice-Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara J. De Pena 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 – Two military men stationed at Fort Hood have entered guilty pleas to conspiring to transport undocumented aliens within the United States, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Ralph Gregory Saint-Joie, 18, pleaded guilty today, while Emmanuel Oppongagyare, 21, entered his plea Aug. 11.

Saint-Joie has been identified as an active duty member of the U.S. Army while Oppongagyare is from the Pennsylvania National Guard. At the time of arrest, each noted they were stationed at Fort Hood.

On June 13, Oppongagyare and Saint-Joie attempted to go through the Border Patrol (BP) Checkpoint in Hebbronville wearing their army-issued uniforms. Upon inspection, authorities discovered two individuals hidden in the trunk who were determined to be in the country illegally. Authorities promptly took them and the soldiers into custody.

At the time of his plea, Oppongagyare admitted a person he met through Saint-Joie recruited him to pick up the aliens from McAllen and drive them to San Antonio. They expected to be paid once they arrived the destination.

The man who hired them had instructed the soldiers to wear their Army-issued uniforms to avoid questioning at the checkpoint.

The two Mexican nationals hidden in the vehicle admitted to paying Oppongagyare and Saint-Joie a fee in exchange for passage into the United States. They also identified Oppongagyare and Saint-Joie as the driver and the passenger, respectively, of that vehicle.

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana accepted the plea and will set sentencing for a later date. At that time, Oppongagyare and Saint-Joie face up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. They were permitted release upon posting bond. Oppongagyare remains in custody, while Saint-Joie is on bond pending that hearing.  

Homeland Security Investigations and BP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Bajew is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 50-year-old Houston resident has been ordered to federal prison for smuggling goods from the United States and making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Leonel Avalos-Santoyo pleaded guilty June 6.

Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana ordered him to serve a 46-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

On April 25, 2020, Avalos-Santoyo traveled as a passenger in a commercial van from the United States into Mexico at the Lincoln Juarez Bridge in Laredo. Law enforcement stopped the vehicle and performed an inspection. During the search, they discovered five firearms, ammunition and firearm accessories inside Avalos-Santoyo’s luggage.

Upon further investigation, authorities determined that between Sept. 21, 2019, and Nov. 5, 2020, Avalos-Santoyo purchased 41 firearms at three federal firearms dealers in Harris County. During each transaction, he falsely claimed he was the actual buyer.

Previously released on bond, Avalos-Santoyo was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility in the near future.

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

LAREDO, Texas – A Laredo federal jury has convicted a 32-year-old out-of-state man for conspiring to transport and transporting undocumented aliens within the United States, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

The jury deliberated for less than four hours before convicting Christopher Faust, Sacramento, California, following a two-day trial.

On May 5, law enforcement stopped Faust for a traffic violation, at which time he claimed to be transporting green bananas. However, authorities quickly noticed the temperature on the refrigerated trailer was too high for produce. A K-9 then alerted to an odor emanating from inside the vehicle. Authorities opened the trailer and found 105 undocumented aliens.

The jury heard from a representative of the storage facility who Faust claimed had given him the load. He told the jury they do not ship green bananas and that Faust never picked up a load of produce from their facility.

The defense attempted to convince the jury Faust did not know that the people, all 105 of them, were in his trailer. The jury did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged.

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

Faust was permitted to remain on bond pending his that hearing.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety and Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Fawcett and Aaron Petters are prosecuting the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A Corpus Christi federal jury has convicted a 44-year-old man from Missouri City for smuggling illegal aliens in the tractor and cab of his truck, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

The jury deliberated for 20 minutes before convicting Michael Dashun Howard following a two-day trial.

On Dec. 11, 2020, Howard drove his tractor-trailer to the primary inspection lane of the Javier Vega Jr. Border Patrol (BP) Checkpoint near Sarita. A K-9 named Gaz alerted to the vehicle, prompting authorities to send it to secondary inspection. There, law enforcement conducted a thorough inspection and located six people hidden between pallets of boxes. They also found four more in the cab. All were determined to be illegally present in the United States.

The jury heard from several agents who testified about their inspection of the vehicle and the discovery of the illegal citizens. They also heard recorded testimony of one of the smuggled individuals.

The defense attempted to convince the jury the aliens had assaulted and kidnapped Howard. However, he was the driver of the vehicle. The individuals held inside were restricted to compartments or otherwise locked in the tractor.

The jury did not believe Howard’s defense and found him guilty as charged

U.S. District Judge David S. Morales presided over trial and set sentencing for Nov. 12. At that time, Howard faces up to five years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

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

Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roland Swanson and Dennis Robinson are prosecuting the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 31-year-old San Antonio resident has been ordered to federal prison for his role in a meth conspiracy, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Jose Ramiro Acevedo Jr. pleaded guilty Dec. 3, 2020.

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered him to serve a 130-month sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard evidence noting Acevedo’s criminal history including 2017 felony convictions for manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance and evading arrest with a motor vehicle.

In June 2020, authorities began an investigation into parcels containing narcotics mailed from the Texas area of the Rio Grande Valley. Law enforcement intercepted two parcels containing meth mailed utilizing UPS, both destined for San Antonio. Acevedo, in San Antonio, coordinated with drug traffickers in the Rio Grande Valley to receive the two parcels containing a total of one kilogram of meth.

The drugs had an estimated street value of $5,500.

Acevedo 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 Laura M. Garcia prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 40-year old Laredo man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction for attempting to smuggle ammunition out of the United States, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Obed Rafael Cuevas-Serratos pleaded guilty Oct. 28, 2020.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos ordered him to serve a 30-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

“One of our top enforcement priorities is preventing ammunition from falling into the hands of those who might seek to harm innocent people,” said Deputy Special Agent in Charge Timothy Tubbs of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “HSI will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to combat this threat and hold the perpetrators accountable for putting our communities at risk.”

Cuevas-Serratos admitted that on Aug. 24, 2020, he purchased 13,000 rounds of 7.62x39 millimeter ammunition in San Antonio. The following day, his car attempted to cross into Mexico.

As part of his plea, he admitted he hired a juvenile to cross the ammunition into Mexico for him.

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

HSI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Makens and April Ayers-Perez prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 28-year-old Laredoan has been ordered to federal prison for a conspiracy which resulted in the death of an undocumented alien, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. 

David Valadaz pleaded guilty March 11.

Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo ordered Valadaz to serve a 97-month sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.

On Nov. 5, 2020, law enforcement attempted to pull over Valadaz, but he fled. He then crashed into the fence of a local business before fleeing on foot. Three undocumented aliens were in the vehicle, one of whom was in the trunk.

The individual in the truck of the vehicle was deceased when authorities found him. Another had suffered serious bodily injury requiring surgery to his elbow. 

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

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony Brown and April Ayers-Perez prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 58-year-old Chandler woman has been ordered to federal prison for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Maria Rivera-Maldonado pleaded guilty Sept. 18, 2020.

Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo ordered her to serve a 60-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Marmolejo noted Rivera-Maldonado played an active role in recruiting the truck drivers to help carry out the scheme.

On July 3, 2020, law enforcement discovered 52 undocumented non-citizens after stopping a tractor trailer in Laredo. Authorities arrested Rivera-Maldonado as the driver of a scout vehicle for the tractor trailer.

Further investigation revealed Rivera-Maldonado recruited truck drivers to travel to Laredo to smuggle undocumented non-citizens. The investigation revealed that from March 2019 to July 2020, drivers Rivera-Maldonado recruited smuggled over 100 undocumented non-citizens in their vehicles.

Rivera-Maldonado 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 Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Garrie Brown prosecuted the case.

VICTORIA, Texas – A Rio Grande City man and ranking member of the Texas Chicano Brotherhood (TxCB) organization has been ordered to federal prison for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Hector Guerra pleaded guilty May 3.

Today, U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey ordered him to serve a 120-month sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Rainey noted how Guerra changed during the prosecution in that he earnestly appeared to be accepting responsibility for his criminal actions.   

The TxCB is a violent criminal organization operating primarily in Starr County and Hidalgo Counties. Members have been involved in numerous crimes to include drug, firearm and human trafficking; kidnappings; home invasions; aggravated assaults; murders and other major crimes.

In May 2016, law enforcement at federal, state and local levels launched a multi-agency investigation in an effort to disrupt the organization’s violent acts. To date, 15 members and criminal associates have been charged.

Authorities identified Guerra and at least four other TxCB members as part of a “rip crew.” At times, they used force and intimidation to steal marijuana and re-sold it to other traffickers in the Rio Grande Valley area. The investigation involved the trafficking and distribution of at least 1,000 kilograms of marijuana between February 2017 and February 2018.

Law enforcement arrested Guerra at his home in October 2018 for his role in the conspiracy. At that time, they also executed a search warrant which led to the discovery of a .45 caliber pistol in his bedroom with approximately 123 rounds of ammunition.

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

Homeland Security Investigations; Texas Department of Public Safety; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; District Attorney’s Offices in Starr and Hidalgo Counties; and the Texas Attorney General’s Office conducted the joint investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patti Hubert Booth prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A total of 16 Laredoans are now in custody following the return of two separate, but related indictments related to the distribution of large quantities of marijuana, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.  

Most are expected to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga in Laredo as early as 1:30 p.m. today.

Among those taken into custody were Jose Guadalupe Alaniz and Fernando Garcia, both 39; 21-year-olds Eduardo Javier Vazquez, Carlos Alejo Soliz and Carlos Erik Lopez; Arturo Villarreal and Francisco Arturo Neri, both 22; Edgar Alejandro Mashuca and Gustavo Alberto Duenes-Perez, both 34; Gavino Cadena, 33, Eduardo Gutierrez, 27, Jose Gerardo Gutierrez-Gonzalez, 23, Jesus Hernandez, 20, Jesus Rodriguez, 37, Leonardo Garza, 40, and Juan Lopez, 30. Also arrested were Alberto Castro, 40, Austin, and Mexican nationals Sergio Rodriguez and Jose Hernandez-Vazquez, both 37; and Jonathan Guadalupe Rodriguez-Rivera, 29.

A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment under seal June 29 charging Cadena, Sergio Rodriguez, Gutierrez, Villarreal and Mashuca. It alleges they conspired to possess with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana Feb. 5-21, 2019.

A separate, but related six-count sealed indictment was also returned June 29. It alleges Gutierrez-Gonzalez, Duenes-Perez, Hernandez, Castro, Garza, Juan Lopez, Hernandez-Vazquez, Jesus Rodriguez, Neri, Vazquez, Soliz, Carlos Lopez and Rodriguez-Rivera conspired to possess with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana between March 28, 2019 and April 23, 2020. Some are also charged with substantive counts of possession with intent to distribute marijuana on varying dates during that time.

Alaniz and Garcia were charged via a related criminal complaint, alleging they conspired to possess with intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana March 28-May 15, 2019.

All men face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison as well as a possible $10 million maximum fine, upon conviction. Those charged in the substantive possession counts could also face additional maximum terms ranging from 40 years to life.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration and Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; Border Patrol; Customs and Border Protection; FBI; Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. National Guard; Webb County District Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Office and Constable's Office, Precincts 1 and 4; and Texas Department of Public Safety.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Day is prosecuting this case.

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

LAREDO, Texas – Three men are now facing federal charges for their roles in a conspiracy on behalf of Cartel del Noreste (CDN), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.  

Luis Ramos, 43, Rio Bravo, is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher A. Dos Santos in Laredo today at 1:30 p.m. Authorities took him into custody Tuesday, July 27. Also charged and previously arrested are Mexican national Manuel Perez-Ortiz, 39, and Arturo Mata Jr., 55, Rio Bravo. They are expected again in federal court Aug. 12. A federal grand jury retuned the five-count indictment May 18.

The charges allege that negotiations to purchase $500,000 worth of high-powered weapons occurred in May 2020. The weapons allegedly included machine guns, grenades, military-style rifles and rocket-propelled launchers. According to the indictment, the plan was for the weapons to be purchased in the United States and then smuggled into Mexico. There, those associated with CDN planned to use them in battles against rival cartels to further their drug smuggling activities, according to the charges.   

CDN allegedly sent Perez-Ortiz to conduct the transaction in Laredo. On June 19, 2020, Ramos and Mata drove Perez-Ortiz to and from the meetings discussing the exchange, according to the indictment. Mata also allegedly assisted in providing counter-surveillance during the operation.

Law enforcement apprehended Ramos and Perez-Ortiz June 19, 2020. At that time, authorities seized $500,000, according to the charges.

All men are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to export firearms to Mexico. Upon conviction, they face up to 20 years in prison for the money laundering conspiracy as well as a maximum $500,000 fine or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction. The indictment also alleges three substantive money laundering counts, including international money laundering, which carry the same potential penalty. The conspiracy to export firearms charge carries a potential punishment of five years and a maximum $250,000 fine.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation of this case with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Marshals Service. The Blue Indigo task force also includes Border Patrol.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Day is prosecuting this case.

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

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A 25-year-old local man has been ordered to federal prison for receipt and possession of child pornography and transferring obscene material to a minor, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Miguel Angel Lopez pleaded guilty Oct. 24, 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. sentenced Lopez to a total of 180 months in federal prison. Lopez was further ordered to pay $36,000 in restitution to the victims and will serve 15 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Lopez will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

In January 2018, authorities initiated an investigation into child pornography sharing on the internet. This led them to the address of Lopez in Brownsville.

Law enforcement later executed a search at his residence and seized several electronic and digital devices. Forensic analysis resulted in the discovery of  63,975 unique images and 853 unique videos of child pornography.

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

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A Texas Syndicate gang member has been ordered to federal prison for possessing a semi-automatic handgun in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute meth, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Benjamin Govella, 42, Corpus Christi, pleaded guilty May 4.

Today, U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton ordered him to serve a 72-month sentence for the meth trafficking. He also received an additional 60 months for the firearms charge which must be served consecutively to the other sentence imposed. Following the 132-month term of imprisonment, Govella must also serve three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how authorities had originally conducted a traffic stop in early 2020. They subsequently arrested him on a parole violation and for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The investigation revealed the Sig Sauer 9mm semi-automatic pistol had been stolen. Govella had also discussed drug trafficking while he was in jail.

On Nov. 18, 2020, authorities executed a federal arrest warrant on Govella, who was riding a bicycle near an apartment complex in Corpus Christi. At that time, he possessed a backpack containing a Ruger SR9C 9mm pistol and nearly 50 grams of pure meth as well as two loaded magazines and a scale.

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

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Corpus Christi Police Department (CCPD) conducted the investigation with the assistance of the CCPD Narcotics Vice Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Manning prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 55-year-old local woman has been ordered to federal prison for conspiring to entice a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Lowery.

Diana Martinez pleaded guilty March 2. At that time, she admitted to conspiring with Santos Gonzalez, 53, Robstown, to produce and send illicit photographs of a minor victim. In exchange, Gonzalez provided her money for groceries and medication.

Today, U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton handed Martinez a sentence of 360 months. Following her incarceration, she will serve 10 years of supervised release, during which time she will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict her access to children and the internet. Martinez will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

Martinez came to the attention of law enforcement in May 2020. Authorities learned about the suspected abuse and discovered a tablet used to commit the crimes.

The Facebook accounts of Gonzalez and Martinez revealed they had been communicating since at least January 2016 which continued through May 2020. Throughout the thousands of pages of interaction, Gonzalez wrote of wanting to have sexual intercourse with the minor victim. Martinez would then take nude photographs of the minor victim and send them to Gonzalez in exchange for money.

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

Judge Tipton previously sentenced Gonzalez to a total term of 420 months in federal prison.

Homeland Security Investigations, Corpus Christi Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation.

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

HOUSTON – A 56-year-old Houston resident has pleaded guilty to a scheme to fraudulently sell 50 million non-existent N95 facemasks to the Australian government, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

In early April 2020, Arael Doolittle attempted to sell 50 million 3M N95 respirator masks to the government of Australia. However, he actually did not possess them.  

The Australian government was supposed to pay over $317 million for the masks, but authorities disrupted the transaction before it was completed.

U.S. District Judge Lynn N. Hughes accepted the plea and set sentencing for Oct. 25. At that time, Doolittle faces up tofive5 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

The Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin R. Martin prosecuted the case.

On May 17, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic - https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form.

LAREDO, Texas – A 42-year-old resident of Covington, Georgia, has pleaded guilty in Laredo federal court to conspiracy to transport undocumented aliens, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Jonathan Kyle Price admitted he had agreed to smuggle 117 aliens past a Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint.

On Feb. 19, Price arrived at the BP checkpoint on Interstate Highway 35 approximately 29 miles north of Laredo in a tractor-trailer. However, he drove away before his immigration inspection was complete. Law enforcement pursued and quickly stopped him

A service K-9 then detected an odor within the trailer. Authorities conducted a thorough inspection and found 117 undocumented aliens.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing Oct. 25. At that time, Price faces up to 10 years in prison. He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

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

McALLEN, Texas – A 48-year-old resident of Mission has pleaded guilty to violating the Travel Act by unlawfully accessing federal documents in order to assist a known drug trafficking organization, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Eric S. Jarvis is a licensed criminal defense attorney out of McAllen. Today, he admitted to using a cellular phone and the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) database to assist and promote the drug trafficking activities of known drug traffickers since at least July 24, 2017, through May 10, 2021.

Jarvis admitted to assisting drug trafficker Angel Aziel Herrera and his successors in Mexico. He helped the drug trafficking organization by obtaining documents that provided information regarding co-conspirators during the ongoing investigation. Jarvis knew criminal complaints had documented loads that law enforcement seized from the organization. He also knew Herrera and his successors could and would provide the complaints to their sources of supply in order to continue receiving drugs from their sources of supply for importation and distribution into the United States.

Jarvis admitted to obtaining the criminal complaints from PACER on at least eight occasions from July 24, 2017, through May 2021 and providing them to Herrera and/or his co-conspirators by WhatsApp or hand delivery. 

He also admitted to accepting drug trafficking proceeds from Mexico as payment from Herrera to represent other co-conspirators working for the organization in criminal matters.

As part of the plea, Jarvis also agreed to the forfeiture of $8,000 in drug trafficking proceeds he received as payment for his criminal actions.

U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa accepted the plea today and set sentencing for Oct. 1, at which time he faces up to five years in prison. He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

Homeland Security Investigations and FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas, Customs and Border Protection, Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety and Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roberto Lopez Jr. is prosecuting the case.

The plea is a result of Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation dubbed Operation Dead Men Walking. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States. It uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

HOUSTON – Three illegal aliens from Central America have been ordered to prison following their multiple convictions involving conspiracy to rob a drug dealer, drug trafficking, as well as firearms and immigration offenses, announced Acting U.S. Jennifer B. Lowery. 

The jury deliberated for less than four hours before convicting Nestor Henriquez-Parada, aka Homie, 37, Edwin Martinez-Brilia, aka Jarrito, 42, and Josue Marquez-Oseguera, aka Nahun, 37, Sept. 4, 2019, following a nearly three-week trial. Christain Benjhamin Martinez-Meraz, aka Peludo, 39, pleaded guilty in the middle of trial. All had repeatedly and unlawfully re-entered the United States. 

Today, U.S. District Judge David Hittner handed Martinez-Meraz a 220-month sentence, while Martinez-Brilia and Marquez-Oseguera received respective total sentences of 205 and 210 months in federal prison. Not U.S. citizens, all are expected to again face removal following their incarceration. At the hearing, the court heard evidence about numerous robberies they committed prior to their arrests for these charges, multiple previous deportations and other convictions. One of those noted was a violent assault Martinez-Brilia committed against his wife. 

Henriquez-Parada is set for sentencing July 30.

The four men were “Tumbadores” known to be part of a “rip crew” who engage in armed robberies of game rooms, drug dealers, alien smugglers and human traffickers. 

During trial, the jury heard from a total of 24 witnesses and saw 38 exhibits.

The jury heard the crew was involved in several robberies, or “rips,” in the Houston area.

Martinez-Meraz decided to plan a robbery of a local drug dealer and employed the three others as his crew. They thought a pickup truck was coming to Houston from Mexico and contained 25 kilograms of cocaine and five kilograms of meth, but later heard drugs were actually located at a residence in Houston. They went there armed with a sledgehammer and three loaded firearms, one of which had an extended magazine. 

Martinez-Brilia was the armed getaway driver, while the other three forced their way into the house. Marquez-Oseguera was armed with a sledgehammer and used it to knock down several doors in the house while Martinez-Meraz and Henrinquez-Parada were armed with firearms. They eventually broke into a closet and found what they thought were drugs. Law enforcement apprehended them as they were preparing to move the narcotics to the truck.

Authorities later executed a search of Martinez-Meraz’s residence and recovered additional drugs, a loaded assault rifle and several other magazines containing ammunition. 

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.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation along with Houston Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Laurence Goldman and Lisa Marie Collins are prosecuting the case.  

LAREDO, Texas – A 40-year-old Laredo man has entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Between Oct. 10-26, 2016, Jesus Gabriel Vara-Perez conspired with others to deliver fire extinguishers containing approximately 24 kilograms of meth to Atlanta, Georgia. He also admitted he received $8,000 for his participation in the meth transportation.

He was arrested in Laredo Sept. 23, 2020, at which time he was in possession of more fire extinguishers containing an additional 17 kilograms of meth.

The drugs had a combined estimated street value of more than $320,000.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing at a later date yet to be determined. At that time, Vara-Perez faces up to life in prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine. He was taken into custody pending that hearing. 

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney José Angel Moreno is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A Houston-area man and woman are set to appear in Laredo federal court on allegations they attempted to smuggle undocumented aliens, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Marc Anthony Bane, 45, Porter, and Tara Renee Dillon, 33, Conroe, are set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher Dos Santos at 3 p.m. today.

According to the charges, Bane and Dillon arrived at the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint on Interstate Highway 35 approximately 29 miles north of Laredo in a tractor-trailer. There, a service K-9 allegedly detected an odor within the trailer. The charges allege law enforcement then searched the vehicle and found 89 undocumented non-U.S. citizens.

The individuals were sweating profusely inside the warm trailer even though it was approximately 3 a.m. when authorities found them, according to the charges.

Bane allegedly expected to be paid $1,000 for transporting the trailer.

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

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

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

HOUSTON – A 47-year-old Katy woman has entered a guilty plea to scheming to defraud British Petroleum (BP), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Angelica Garcia Dunn admitted to diverting over $2.2 million in vendor payments to her own business accounts. She worked as a contract escrow agent with BP. As part of her duties, she provided third-party services by making vendor payments to BP’s railcar lessors and repair vendors. Dunn received lump sum payments from BP in order to make vendor payments through a bank account over which she had sole authority. It was from these funds that she took approximately $2,282,148.53 in BP funds that were supposed to be for vendors.

U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett accepted the plea and set sentencing for Sept. 30. At that time, Dunn faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing. 

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Annis is prosecuting the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 38-year-old Mexican national has entered a guilty plea to possessing a dangerous weapon while in custody, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

On June 11, 2020, Sergio Anguiano-Camarillo was awaiting transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility from the Coastal Bend Detention Center. On that date, law enforcement responded to an assault in the recreation yard. At that time, authorities had observed Anguiano-Camarillo go under the fence and enter the recreation yard.

As part of the plea, Anguiano-Camarillo admitted he used a sharp object he possessed to attack another inmate. The victim sustained several puncture and laceration wounds to the head and neck areas as well as to one of his eyes.

Authorities conducted a search of the area near the assault and recovered a homemade weapon or “shank.” It was a jagged plastic object approximately six inches in length with a makeshift fabric handle. 

Anguiano-Camarillo also admitted the shank was his.

Sentencing has been set for Oct. 20 before U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos. At that time, Anguiano-Camarillo faces up to five years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing. 

The FBI and U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Manning is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 43-year-old resident of Rosharon is set to make an appearance in Laredo federal court on allegations he attempted to smuggle dozens of undocumented non-citizens, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Michael Warren Mccoy is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher A. Dos Santos at 1:30 p.m. today.

According to the charges, authorities encountered a tractor hauling a white refrigerated trailer on U.S. Highway 59 approximately eight miles east of Laredo. Law enforcement allegedly conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle bearing Texas license plates due to a failure to drive in a single lane.

At that time, they cut the seal on the trailer doors and discovered a total of 115 undocumented individuals, according to the charges.

The complaint alleges Mccoy expected to be paid $250 for the transport. He also had allegedly made three previous, similar trips.

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

Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Department of Public Safety and Border Patrol are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Garrie Brown is prosecuting the case. 

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

McALLEN, Texas – A 60-year-old McAllen resident has been ordered to federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Jorge Arturo Gonzalez pleaded guilty Feb. 4, 2020.

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez ordered Gonzalez to serve a 235-month sentence to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony from witnesses. They described Gonzalez’s role in receiving, storing and distributing kilogram quantities of cocaine at his residence for further distribution since early 2018.

At the time of his arrest, Gonzalez had also threatened his co-conspirator. Today, the court heard how shots had been fired at the co-conspirator’s family home and that someone had killed his dog. In addition, a bullet with the co-conspirator’s name was on his front porch. 

The court also determined Gonzalez was responsible for distributing at least 7.97 kilograms of cocaine as part of the conspiracy. Judge Alvarez enhanced the sentence, finding he maintained a residence for the purpose of distributing controlled substances and possessed a firearm in connection with the offense. She further found Gonzalez used credible threats of violence against his co-conspirator and obstructed justice.

On Sep. 13, 2019, authorities conducted a search of Gonzalez’s residence in McAllen and discovered 3.46 kilograms of cocaine along with a firearm, ammunition, a drug scale, thousands of dollars in U.S. currency and multiple cellphones. There also were numerous videos on his cellphones depicting him in possession of a firearm and large quantities of cocaine and other controlled substances. 

Considered a danger to the community and a flight risk, Gonzalez 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. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Kristina Pekkala prosecuted the case, while AUSA Matthew Redavid handled the contested sentencing hearing today.

LAREDO, Texas – A Laredo federal jury has convicted a 35-year-old legal permanent resident for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

The jury deliberated for approximately four hours before convicting Baldemar Guadiana following a two-day trial which included four witnesses.

At trial, the jury heard about the investigation which resulted in the discovery of approximately 3.68 kilograms of cocaine.

On Jan. 31, 2018, an undercover officer received eight bundles of narcotics at a local grocery store parking lot. Later that day, Guadiana contacted the officer and made arrangements to meet and take possession of the cocaine. Once at the pre-arranged location, Guadiana parked behind the officer. He then took the drugs and attempted to leave.

Law enforcement soon stopped him and took him into custody. authorities ultimately discovered a total of nearly four kilograms of cocaine in the eight bundles.

The defense attempted to convince the jury Guadiana had no knowledge the bundles in his truck contained narcotics. They also contended law enforcement did not perform an adequate and thorough enough investigation to convict him. The jury disagreed and found him guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo presided over trial and set sentencing for Oct. 25. At that time, Guadiana faces up to 40 years of imprisonment and a possible $5 million maximum fine. Not a U.S. citizen, he could lose his status as a legal permanent resident.

Previously released on bond, Guadiana was taken into custody following the trial today where he will remain pending his sentencing.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys José Angel Moreno and Yoona Lim are prosecuting the case.

McALLEN, Texas - A 26-year-old former local police officer has been ordered to federal prison after sexually assaulting two men while in his custody, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery. 

A federal jury deliberated for approximately two hours before returning guilty verdicts March 10 against Matthew Lee Sepulveda, Edinburg, on two violations of civil rights following a two-day trial.

Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered Sepulveda to serve a 360-month sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Crane commented on the shame and embarrassment to law enforcement as a result of Sepulveda’s actions. The court further noted its disappointment in Sepulveda’s lack of empathy for the victims.

“The vast majority of law enforcement officers in the United States are deeply committed to fulfilling their oath to serve and protect our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs of the FBI. “Sepulveda betrayed this oath by preying on his victims, exploiting his authority to serve his own personal, depraved interests.”

Sepulveda served as a law enforcement officer with the Progreso Police Department from April 17 to July 2, 2019. The jury heard that while acting under his authority as a uniformed police officer, Sepulveda performed oral sex on two victims while they were in his custody.

At trial, The jury heard from the two men.

The first explained that after he was arrested, Sepulveda took him from the jail cell and escorted him to another office at the police department. Sepulveda then began asking him questions of a sexual nature and performed oral sex on him. The victim testified because Sepulveda was a police officer, he was scared and did not think he could leave.

The evidence showed that Sepulveda’s DNA was found on the victim’s underwear. The jury also heard that Sepulveda logged the victim’s arrest and case after the fact.

The second victim, who was only 17 at the time, was taken to the police department because he was unable to contact his parents subsequent to a traffic stop in which he was a passenger. He described how Sepulveda took him to an office located within the police department where he began asking the victim questions of a sexual nature and also performed oral sex on the victim.

The defense attempted to portray one of the victims as a liar and questioned some of the evidence. The jury was unconvinced and found Sepulveda guilty of two civil rights violations. They also found that on the second count, his conduct resulted in bodily injury and included attempted aggravated sexual abuse, aggravated sexual abuse and kidnapping.

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

The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation with the assistance of the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarina S. DiPiazza and Angel Castro prosecuted the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 53-year-old U.S. citizen living in Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been ordered to federal prison for importing meth into the United States, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Fernando Ramirez pleaded guilty Feb. 26.

Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane ordered him to serve a 70-month sentence to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence how this was not the first time he imported a controlled substance into the United States. Ramirez admitted to crossing loaded vehicles several times in the past. In sentencing Ramirez, Judge Crane further noted the seriousness of the crime.

On Dec. 11, 2020, Ramirez arrived at the Hidalgo port of entry and attempted to enter the United States from Mexico. Ramirez stated he was on his way to work from his home in Tamaulipas. He was referred for a secondary inspection where a K-9 alerted to the gasoline tank of the vehicle. Authorities inspected it and seized 44 packages of meth with a weight of approximately 23 kilograms.

The drugs had an estimated street value of $126,500.

Ramirez eventually admitted he knew the vehicle he was driving contained drugs and that he would be paid $500 to smuggle them into the United States. 

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

McALLEN, Texas – A Border Patrol (BP) agent has been arrested on allegations he attempted to aid and abet smuggling cocaine through a BP checkpoint, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Oberlin Cortez Pena Jr., 22, La Joya, is set to make his appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nadia S. Medrano at 9 a.m. today.

Authorities took him into custody July 9 upon the filing of a criminal complaint. The charges allege that on two separate occasions, Pena accepted $1,000 in exchange for helping a vehicle with at least five kilograms of cocaine through the Falfurrias checkpoint. Pena allegedly utilized his knowledge as a BP agent in acting as a scout and providing information about the inspection lanes and which one to utilize.

According to the complaint, he also gave detailed instructions on how to conceal the drugs and tactics to employ in order to distract the K-9 unit at the checkpoint.

If convicted, he faces a minimum of 10 years up to life in federal prison as well as a possible $10 million maximum fine.

Department of Homeland Security - Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation with assistance from Customs and Border Protection - Office of Professional Responsibility and BP. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jongwoo Chung and John Pearson are prosecuting the case.

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

HOUSTON – A 51-year-old woman has been ordered to federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Elizabeth K. Fisher pleaded guilty Jan. 11, 2020.

Today, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt ordered Fisher to serve an 84-month-term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Hoyt noted the sentence should provide deterrence to those that traffic in controlled substances.

Fisher intended to come to Houston where she would receive shipments of cocaine to test and store before delivering it someone who would transport it Canada.  

She first flew into the United States in April 2019. While she did not receive any drugs on that trip, she did rent a townhouse before returning to Calgary, Canada, April 30.

On May 12, 2019, Fisher returned to Houston and her rented residence. Less than a week later, she drove to a Home Depot where she met with an individual who got in her car and drove off while Fisher entered the store. Authorities later saw her talking on her phone as she exited the parking lot in her vehicle.  

Law enforcement executed a traffic stop and found four duffle bags containing a total of 78 kilograms of cocaine.

Fisher 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 in Houston and Vancouver, Canada, and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation along with law enforcement in Calgary. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Stabe prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 31-year-old resident of Laredo has been ordered to federal prison for bringing drugs into the country concealed in his “lunch,” announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Nicolas Castro Jr. pleaded guilty Nov. 30, 2020.

Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana ordered him to serve an 87-month sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Saldana noted Castro’s background and her concerns about how his graduation to drug smuggling after a prior conviction for alien smuggling.  

On Sept. 8, 2020, Castro attempted to enter the United States at the Gateway to the Americas Bridge in Laredo. Authorities inspected Castro’s belongings and found a plastic bag with tacos and chips. Castro claimed the food was for his lunch.

Law enforcement referred him to secondary inspection where a K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics within the bag. It then tested positive for meth.

Castro eventually admitted to knowing the tacos contained a kilogram of drugs and that he was going to be paid $1,500 to transport the drugs to Austin.

He 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 Brian Bajew prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 32-year-old Houstonian has been ordered to federal prison for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Brodrick Keith Rhodes pleaded guilty April 7.

Today, U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton ordered him to serve a 50-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Tipton noted that Rhodes had transported an exceptionally high number of aliens in his trailer.

On Jan. 12, Rhodes arrived at the Freer Border Patrol checkpoint driving a semi-truck and refrigerated trailer. He claimed he was hauling lettuce, but authorities noticed discrepancies with his bill of lading. They also noted he appeared nervous and that the trailer was set to 30 degrees but with an internal temperature of 68.

At secondary inspection, law enforcement ultimately found 119 aliens in the trailer’s cargo area.

Rhodes claimed he worked for a business in La Porte, but the bill of lading indicated he was transporting lettuce from a Laredo produce company to a location in Sugar Land. The business indicated Rhodes had never been employed with them nor do they even transport outside the Houston area. The other two companies confirmed they had no record of the shipment.

The aliens told authorities they had been taken to a truck and told to get in the trailer. It soon departed and did not stop until it reached the checkpoint.

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

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Harrison prosecuted the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A 35-year-old Edinburg man has entered a guilty plea to being a prohibited person in possession of firearms, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

On April 29, 2020, authorities observed a vehicle departing Christian Ruben Chavez’s residence in Edinburg and conducted a traffic stop. At that time, they found marijuana inside the vehicle. 

The investigation revealed Chavez had just sold the drugs to the driver at his residence.

Authorities subsequently searched his residence and found Chavez along with a .40 caliber pistol, 12-gauge shotgun, 5.56 caliber rifle, approximately 1000 rounds of ammunition, multiple high capacity magazines, body armor, eight pounds of vacuum sealed marijuana, marijuana plants, psychedelic mushrooms, a scale and thousands of dollars in U.S. currency.

Chavez admitted to regularly smoking marijuana for the past five years and to possessing both the marijuana and firearms. 

Authorities confirmed Chavez had multiple arrests and other adjudications for possessing controlled substances. As such, federal law prohibits him from possessing firearms and ammunition.

Chavez has also agreed to forfeit all the firearms and ammunition.

U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez accepted the plea and set sentencing for Sept. 22. At that time, Chavez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Edinburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Redavid is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A Laredo federal jury has convicted a 64-year-old man for attempting to export firearms, firearm magazines and thousands of rounds of ammunition to Mexico, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

The jury deliberated for less than six hours before convicting Jose Rafael Vasquez, Dallas, following a two-day trial.

On Oct. 15, 2020, Vasquez attempted to exit the United States into Mexico through the Laredo Port of Entry. The jury heard that he was driving a tan 2007 Chevrolet Suburban. During initial inspection, law enforcement discovered suspicious bundles zip-tied to the undercarriage of the vehicle. They appeared to contain ammunition.

A further inspection revealed three AK-47 rifles, eight semi-automatic handguns of various calibers, 16 handgun magazines and approximately 4,714 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition hidden inside his vehicle. Several of the handguns had decorative handles. The jury heard testimony that these weapons were expensive and highly prized by senior members of criminal organizations in Mexico.

The weapons and ammunition had an approximate street value of $25,000.

The defense attempted to convince the jury Vasquez did not know about the items inside the vehicle. They did not believe his claims and found him guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana presided over trial and will set sentencing for a later date. At that time, Vasquez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Previously released on bond, Vasquez was taken into custody following the sentencing today where he will remain pending sentencing.  

Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation along with Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francisco J. Rodriguez and David Fawcett are prosecuting the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A federal jury has returned a guilty verdict against a Cuban woman for assaulting two Border Patrol (BP) agents at the Javier Vega Checkpoint, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

The jury deliberated for approximately 25 minutes before convicting Yaniuska Ordaz-Echevarria, 31, following a one-day trial.

The jury heard that just before midnight on Jan. 31, Ordaz-Echevarria arrived at the checkpoint in Sarita as a passenger on a commercial bus. Law enforcement removed her in order to inquire more about her citizenship status. Ordaz-Echevarria possessed no identification or other documents indicating she was in the United States lawfully. Authorities then escorted her into the checkpoint building for further processing.

Once inside, Ordaz-Echevarria became irate with authorities, refusing to answer their questions. When law enforcement attempted to peaceably escort her into a holding cell, she swung her fists violently. Her aggressive behavior required multiple agents to attempt to restrain her, during which time she continued to kick and punch them.

Two of the BP agents injured at the checkpoint testified and described attempting to subdue Ordaz-Echevarria while she swung and kicked wildly at agents. The jury also saw exhibits documenting their injuries as well as a video depicting Ordaz-Echevarria’s belligerent acts.

The defense attempted to convince the jury that Ordaz-Echevarria’s actions were unintentional and that Ordaz-Echevarria was just angry about possibly being deported for the fourth time. They were not persuaded and found Ordaz-Echevarria guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge David Morales presided over the trial and set sentencing for Sept. 28. At that time, Ordaz-Echevarria faces up to eight years imprisonment and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

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

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Yifei Zheng and Dennis Robinson are prosecuting the case.