Southern District of Texas

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 64-year-old Brownsville resident has been ordered to federal prison after admitting to running a drug distribution ring over a two-year period, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Roberto Rosales Jr. pleaded guilty Feb. 21, 2019.  

Today, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. ordered Rosales to serve the rest of his life in prison. At the hearing, the court noted his prior lengthy criminal history and that his is still involved in narcotics distribution at his age. Judge Rodriguez further stated that even after serving prior prison sentences, he reoffends and continues to sell narcotics as soon as he is released. He further noted Rosales is a danger to society, has large quantity Narcotics sales which indicates dangerous sources in Mexico and sees no chance of rehabilitation.

The court previously sentenced co-defendants Sarahi Hernandez, 22, and Mariella Ramirez, 25, both of Brownsville, to 87 and 60 months, respectively. They had admitted to possession and assisting in the sale of multiple narcotics and mailing them throughout the United States and Virgin Islands over a two-year-period.

At the time of his plea, Rosales admitted that for more than two years he would coordinate with individuals in Mexico to pick up methamphetamine smuggled through port of entries into the United States.

He ran the conspiracy from his residence in Brownsville, which served as a staging area for shipping methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and marijuana via FedEx, United Parcel Service (UPS) and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Once the narcotics were at his house, he would package and produce labels in order to ship the methamphetamine to co-conspirators throughout the country.

Rosales would then drop off the parcels at the U.S. Post Office or UPS store. He utilized the unknowing services of UPS and USPS to ship narcotics-laden packages to multiple destinations in the U.S. and Virgin Islands.

Rosales would also sell methamphetamine and other narcotics in person to individuals he trusted which were taken to locations throughout the Rio Grande Valley and Corpus Christi for street distribution. During the course of the conspiracy, Rosales recruited multiple young women whom he paid with cash and narcotics and allowed them to socialize at his house for assisting in his distribution scheme.

During the investigation, authorities executed a search warrant at his residence, discovered evidence of a complex shipping organization and seized more than four kilograms of methamphetamine, one kilogram of heroin and 30 kilograms of marijuana as well as multiple different pills including Xanax and Ecstasy.

Present at his house at that time was Hernandez, who was in charge of the house and in possession of the narcotics.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin S. Dinsdale prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – Three people in their twenties have entered guilty pleas in separate but similar cases involving the smuggling of minor children in October 2019, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Amelia Batres, 22, admitted in federal court today that she attempted to enter the United States with a minor child she falsely claimed was her son, while  Maria Elena Chavez-Valenzuela, 29, pleaded guilty earlier this week and admitted to attempting to enter with a minor child she falsely claimed was her daughter. On Monday, Michael Dimas Tibursio, 22, admitted to similar facts – that he attempted to bring a young child into the country, claiming he was his nephew.

On Oct. 13, 2019, Batres, of Laredo,  attempted to enter the United States at the Juarez–Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo. Batres had presented her real son’s birth certificate in an attempt to pass a 6-year-old who was accompanying her as her child. Authorities questioned the boy who then admitted Batres was not his mother. Batres ultimately admitted the child’s family was going to pay her to smuggle the minor into the United States.

The day prior, Maria Elena Chavez-Valenzuela, of Indianapolis, Indiana, also attempted to enter the United States with a minor, this time via the Gateway to the Americas Bridge in Laredo. She claimed that the 10-year-old female was her daughter. However, Chavez-Valenzuela eventually admitted she had been hired to smuggle the girl into the United States and was going to be paid $5,000 if successful.

In a third, yet similar case, Michael Dimas Tibursio, also of Indianapolis, arrived at the Juarez–Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo on a passenger bus Oct. 25. A 5-year-old boy was accompanying him. Tibursio told authorities that the boy was his nephew and presented a document he claimed was the boy’s birth certificate. Authorities soon determined the boy was actually a Mexican citizen and was not related to Tibursio. Tibursio later admitted he was being paid to smuggle the boy to family members in Indianapolis.

All will remain in custody pending sentencing.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose Chavez-Valenzuela’s sentencing April 22, while Tibursio and Batres will be sentenced at a date to be determined before U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducted all three investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Fawcett is prosecuting the cases.

HOUSTON - An Indian national has entered a guilty plea for his role in operating and funding India-based call centers which defrauded thousands of victims out of millions of dollars between 2013 and 2016. 

Hitesh Madhubhai Patel aka Hitesh Hinglaj, 43, of Ahmedabad, India, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud as well as a general conspiracy to commit identification fraud, access device fraud, money laundering and to impersonate a federal officer or employee.

“Hitesh Patel played a prominent role in this massive, India-based fraud scheme that bilked vulnerable Americans out of millions of dollars,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This important resolution would not have occurred without the assistance of our Singaporean colleagues, to whom we extend our deep appreciation.”

Patel and his conspirators perpetrated a complex scheme in which employees from call centers in Ahmedabad, India, impersonated officials from the IRS and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). They also engaged in other telephone call scams designed to defraud victims throughout the United States.  U.S. victims were threatened with arrest, imprisonment, fines or deportation if they did not pay alleged monies owed to the government. Those who fell victim to the scammers were instructed how to provide payment, including by purchasing general purpose reloadable (GPR) cards or wiring money. Upon payment, the call centers would immediately turn to a network of “runners” based in the United States to liquidate and launder the fraudulently-obtained funds.

In his plea, Patel admitted to operating and funding several India-based call centers from which the fraud schemes were perpetrated, including organizational co-defendant call center HGLOBAL. Patel frequently corresponded by email and WhatsApp messaging with co-defendants to exchange credit card numbers, telephone scam scripts, deposit slips, payment information, call center operations information, instructions and bank account information. The scripts included impersonation of IRS, USCIS, Canada Revenue Agency and Australian Tax Office personnel as well as payday loan, U.S. government grant and debt collection fraud schemes.

Patel also received monthly income and expense reports to his personal email from the call centers and used his Indian cell phone number to access GPR cards through automated telephone systems on many occasions.

A co-defendant described Patel as “the top person in India and the boss for whom most of the other defendants worked.” Another co-defendant claimed Patel was arrested in India in 2016, but paid a bribe and was released. Additionally, Patel admitted he was accountable for approximately $25-65 million.    

Patel was extradited from Singapore in April 2019 to face charges in this large-scale telefraud and money laundering scheme.  Singapore authorities apprehended Patel at the request of the United States pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant in September 2018 after Patel flew there from India.  

U.S. District Judge David Hittner accepted the plea today and set sentencing for April 3. At that time, Patel faces up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conspiracy and five years for the general conspiracy. Both counts also carry the possibility of a fine of up $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

A total of 24 domestic defendants associated with this transnational criminal scheme have already been convicted and sentenced to up to 20 years in prison in the Southern District of Texas, District of Arizona and Northern District of Georgia. They were also ordered to pay millions of dollars in victim restitution and money judgments and to forfeit seized assets. Some defendants were removed from the country based on their illegal immigration status, while another defendant had his U.S. citizenship revoked due to a separate conviction for immigration fraud. Charges remain pending for other India-based defendants. They are presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General and  Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration conducted the investigation. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and HSI Singapore provided significant support in securing and coordinating Patel’s arrest and extradition, working in concert with their counterparts at the Singapore Attorney General’s-Chambers and the Singapore Police Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark McIntyre and Craig Feazel of are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Mona Sahaf of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and  Amanda Wick of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section.

An Indian national pleaded guilty today in the Southern District of Texas for his role in operating and funding India-based call centers whose callers, and U.S.-based conspirators, defrauded U.S. victims out of millions of dollars between 2013 and 2016.

Hitesh Madhubhai Patel, also known as Hitesh Hinglaj, 43, of Ahmedabad, India, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and general conspiracy to commit identification fraud, access device fraud, money laundering, and impersonation of a federal officer or employee.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick of the Southern District of Texas, Acting Executive Associate Director Alysa D. Erichs of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Inspector General J. Russell George of the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) and Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) made the announcement today.

"Hitesh Patel played a prominent role in this massive, India-based fraud scheme that bilked vulnerable Americans out of millions of dollars," said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski.  "This important resolution would not have occurred without the assistance of our Singaporean colleagues, to whom we extend our deep appreciation."

According to admissions that he made as part of his plea, Patel and his co-conspirators perpetrated a complex scheme in which employees from call centers in Ahmedabad, India, impersonated officials from the IRS and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and engaged in other telephone call scams designed to defraud victims throughout the United States.  U.S. victims were threatened with arrest, imprisonment, fines or deportation if they did not pay alleged monies owed to the government.  Those who fell victim to the scammers were instructed how to provide payment, including by purchasing general purpose reloadable (GPR) cards or wiring money.  Upon payment, the call centers would immediately turn to a network of “runners” based in the United States to liquidate and launder the fraudulently obtained funds.

In his plea, Patel admitted to operating and funding several India-based call centers from which the fraud schemes were perpetrated, including the call center HGLOBAL. Patel corresponded by email and WhatsApp messaging frequently with his co-defendants to exchange credit card numbers, telephone scam scripts, deposit slips, payment information, call center operations information and instructions, and bank account information.  The scripts included IRS impersonation, USCIS impersonation, Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) impersonation, Australian Tax Office (ATO) impersonation, payday loan fraud, U.S. Government grant fraud, and debt collection fraud.

Patel also received monthly income and expense reports to his personal email from the call centers, and used his Indian cell phone number to access GPR cards through automated telephone systems on many occasions.

A co-defendant described Patel as “the top person in India and the boss for whom most of the other defendants worked,” and the owner of multiple call centers. Another co-defendant stated that Patel was arrested in India in 2016, but then paid a bribe and was released.  Additionally, Patel admitted that a reasonably foreseeable loss of more than $25 million but less than $65 million was attributable to him, based on the government’s evidence against him.  

Patel was prosecuted in the United States after being extradited from Singapore in April 2019 to face charges in this large-scale telefraud and money laundering scheme.  Singapore authorities apprehended Patel at the request of the United States pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant in September 2018, after Patel flew there from India.  

U.S. District Judge David Hittner of the Southern District of Texas accepted the plea today and set sentencing for April 3, 2020.  At that time, Patel faces up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conspiracy and five years for the general conspiracy.  Both counts also carry the possibility of a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

A total of 24 domestic defendants associated with this transnational criminal scheme have previously been convicted and sentenced to terms of imprisonment of up to 20 years in the Southern District of Texas, District of Arizona and Northern District of Georgia.  The defendants were also ordered to pay millions of dollars in victim restitution and money judgments and to forfeit seized assets. Some defendants were ordered to be deported based on their illegal immigration status, with another defendant having his U.S. citizenship revoked due to a separate conviction for immigration fraud.  Charges remain pending for other India-based defendants.  They are presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.

HSI, DHS-OIG and TIGTA conducted the investigation.  The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and HSI Singapore provided significant support in securing and coordinating Patel’s arrest and extradition, working in concert with their counterparts at the Singapore Attorney General’s-Chambers and the Singapore Police Force.

Trial Attorney Mona Sahaf of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section, Amanda Wick of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark McIntyre and Craig Feazel of the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

A Department of Justice website has been established to provide information about the case to victims and the public.  Anyone who believes they may be a victim of fraud or identity theft in relation to this investigation or other telefraud scam phone calls may contact the FTC via this website.

Anyone seeking additional information about telefraud scams generally, or preventing identity theft or fraudulent use of their identity information, may find helpful information on the IRS tax scams website, the FTC phone scam website, and the FTC identity theft website.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

HOUSTON – A 26-year-old man from Houston has received a 30-year prison term following his convictions of producing and possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Stephen Edward Torres pleaded guilty June 7, 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge Sim Lake ordered Torres to serve 360 months for each count of the sexual exploitation of a child, otherwise known as production of child pornography. He also received another 120 months for the possession charge which were all ordered to be served concurrently for a total of 360 months in federal prison.

At the hearing, the court heard evidence regarding a pattern of abuse which rendered Torres a repeat and dangerous sex offender. The abuse included oral and vaginal penetration of the minors who were under the age of 5.

The defense asked Judge Lake to consider the fact that he is “slow,” suffers from substance abuse and has suffered head trauma. However, the government implored asked that Torres be held accountable for the pain and trauma he caused to the young victims - still too young to understand the magnitude of how he has impacted them. The court also heard that what he stole from the children cannot be replaced. Torres not only produced photos documenting the rapes of these minors, but he shared these images via the internet with others who share this sexually-deviant interest in children.

The victims’ mother also provided testimony who detailed the children’s suffering. She told the court how she and the children experience anxiety because of the trauma they endured and how scared the children are to be away from her. “We are thankful for being away from that HEARTLESS DECIEVING SOUL,” she said.  

Following the 30-year prison term, Torres will be on supervised release for the rest of his life, during which time he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender and must pay restitution. 

Torres came to the attention of law enforcement after a he communicated online with an undercover law enforcement officer and sent child pornography images he created of one of his molestation victims.

Authorities executed a search warrant, at which time they seized a cellular phone and children’s clothes from his residence. Forensic analysis yielded 17 image files and 56 videos that constituted child pornography. Torres produced 16 of the videos himself, some of them which depict Torres violating the minors via oral penetration.

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

The FBI conducted the investigation.

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

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Jorge Costilla-Sanchez has pleaded guilty to an international drug trafficking conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana into the United States.

Costilla-Sanchez, 48, was an active member of the “Cartel Del Golfo” (CDG or Gulf Cartel). CDG is a violent Mexican criminal organization engaged in the manufacture, distribution and importation of ton quantities of cocaine and marijuana into the United States. In the late 1990s, the Gulf Cartel recruited an elite group of former Mexican military personnel to join their ranks as security and enforcers who became known as Los Zetas. The Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas operated under the name of “The Company.” Costilla-Sanchez became the leader of The Company for several years following the arrest of Osiel Cardenas in 2003 and before Costilla-Sanchez’s arrest in September 2012.

During his association with The Company, Costilla-Sanchez was responsible for overseeing all operations and providing leadership that resulted in the importation of thousands of kilograms of cocaine and marijuana into the United States. Under Costilla-Sanchez’s leadership, The Company controlled numerous plazas along the United States and Mexico border including Matamoros, Rio Bravo, Reynosa, Miguel Aleman and Nuevo Laredo. Costilla-Sanchez used these strategically important locations to distribute cocaine and marijuana into the United States and to return bulk U.S. currency to himself and other members of CDG in Mexico.

During the course of his involvement in the conspiracy, law enforcement in Mexico and Panama seized ton quantities of cocaine that were intended for Costilla-Sanchez and other members of CDG to distribute in Mexico and the United States. Specifically, on Oct. 5, 2007, Mexican law enforcement seized 11,700 kilograms of cocaine from a warehouse in Tampico, Mexico, and on Nov. 30, 2007, the Panamanian National Police seized approximately 2,400 kilograms of cocaine in Colon, Panama.

During his guilty plea today, Costilla-Sanchez acknowledged his participation in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute over 450 kilograms of cocaine and over 90,000 kilograms of marijuana.

Costilla-Sanchez previously pleaded guilty in 2017 to a separate conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana as well as two counts of assault on a federal officer. He has not yet been sentenced for those offenses. 

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. will impose sentencing April 14. At that time, Costilla-Sanchez faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. 

The Drug Enforcement Administration - Houston Field Division conducted the investigation.

Trial Attorneys Cole Radovich and Kirk Handrich of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section prosecuted this case with significant assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jody Young of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs and Office of Enforcement Operations.

Jorge Costilla-Sanchez pleaded guilty to an international drug trafficking conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana into the United States.

Costilla-Sanchez, 48, was an active member of the “Cartel Del Golfo” (CDG or Gulf Cartel). CDG is a violent Mexican criminal organization engaged in the manufacture, distribution, and importation of ton quantities of cocaine and marijuana into the United States. In the late 1990s, the Gulf Cartel recruited an elite group of former Mexican military personnel to join their ranks as security and enforcers who became known as Los Zetas. The Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas operated under the name of “The Company.” Costilla-Sanchez became the leader of The Company for several years following the arrest of Osiel Cardenas in 2003 and before Costilla-Sanchez’s arrest in September 2012.

During his association with The Company, Costilla-Sanchez was responsible for overseeing all operations and providing leadership that resulted in the importation of thousands of kilograms of cocaine and marijuana into the United States. Under Costilla-Sanchez’s leadership, The Company controlled numerous plazas along the United States and Mexico border including Matamoros, Rio Bravo, Reynosa, Miguel Aleman and Nuevo Laredo. Costilla-Sanchez used these strategically important locations to distribute cocaine and marijuana into the United States and to return bulk U.S. currency to himself and other members of CDG in Mexico.

During the course of his involvement in the conspiracy, law enforcement in Mexico and Panama seized ton quantities of cocaine that were intended for Costilla-Sanchez and other members of CDG to distribute in Mexico and the United States. Specifically, on Oct. 5, 2007, Mexican law enforcement seized 11,700 kilograms of cocaine from a warehouse in Tampico, Mexico, and on Nov. 30, 2007, the Panamanian National Police seized approximately 2,400 kilograms of cocaine in Colon, Panama.

The Defendant oversaw a vast network of other individuals including local plaza bosses, drug couriers, security personnel, scouts, hitmen and others to facilitate The Company’s drug trafficking operations.  In the performance of his duties for The Company, the Defendant and others under his charge possessed and used dangerous weapons, including firearms. Further, the Defendant organized, directed, and carried out numerous acts of violence against rival drug trafficking groups, Mexican law enforcement and others who The Company perceived as threats to their drug trafficking activities.

During his guilty plea today, Costilla-Sanchez acknowledged his participation in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute over 450 kilograms of cocaine and over 90,000 kilograms of marijuana.

Costilla-Sanchez’s sentencing has been set for April 14, 2020, before U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. At that time Costilla-Sanchez faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. 

The Drug Enforcement Administration - Houston Field Division conducted the investigation.    

Trial Attorneys Cole Radovich and Kirk Handrich of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section prosecuted this case, with significant assistance provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jody Young of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs and Office of Enforcement Operations.

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LAREDO, Texas – A 40-year-old resident of San Antonio has been ordered to prison following his conviction of conspiring to import approximately two kilograms of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. 

Santos Rene Deleon pleaded guilty July 3, 2019.  

Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo handed Deleon a 87-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court noted Deleon had a lengthy criminal history and had stated he was trafficking drugs to pay off a debt.

On April 17, 2019, Deleon entered the United States through the Laredo port of entry as the passenger in a 2000 red Dodge Durango. Authorities soon discovered approximately 1.98 kilograms of meth inside the vehicle’s driveshaft.

Deleon admitted he knowingly imported the drugs into the United States from Mexico with the intent to deliver them to San Antonio. He expected to be paid $3,000.

The drugs had an estimated street value of $14,000.

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’ s Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez prosecuted the case.

VICTORIA, Texas – A ranking member of the Texas Chicano Brotherhood (TxCB) has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of conspiracy to possess and distribution of more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Rafael Diaz, 31, Rio Grande City, pleaded guilty Feb. 4, 2019.

Today, Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey handed Diaz 145-month sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.

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, firearms and human trafficking; kidnappings; home invasions; aggravated assaults; murders and other major crimes.

As a result, law enforcement launched a multi-agency investigation in May 2016. The investigation resulted in the identification of at least 70 members and criminal associates of the TxCB to include their leadership.

Authorities had identified Diaz and other TxCB members as part of a “rip crew.” The crew used force and intimidation to steal marijuana from drug smugglers and traffickers along the Rio Grande Valley area and re-sell it at discounted prices.

The investigation involved the smuggling and distribution of at least 1,000 kilograms of marijuana between February 2017 and February 2018. During that time, Diaz and other TxCB members were responsible for smuggling and/or stealing multiple loads of marijuana in and around Rio Grande City. Law enforcement interdicted at least five loads linked to Diaz and other members of the TxCB.

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

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

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 41-year-old Mexican national has been ordered to prison after admitting he injured a Border Patrol (BP) agent by hitting him with arm shackles, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Salvador Ramirez-Olvera pleaded guilty June 4, 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera handed Ramirez-Olvera an 18-month sentence. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following the sentence.

On April 1, 2019, Ramirez-Olvera was in custody at the Brownsville BP station for illegal entry. While awaiting transfer to federal court, he slipped out of his arm shackles and hit the agent with them. The agent was hit on his shoulder area, thus causing bodily injury.

After a brief struggle, officers had to use a Taser to control Ramirez-Olvera.

He was then arrested and charged with assaulting a federal agent who was engaged in the performance of his official duties. 

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

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Esquivel and Ana Cano prosecuted the case.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A 29-year old McAllen man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Dassahed Marines pleaded guilty Oct. 16, 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera Jr. ordered him to serve 120 months in federal prison. Marines will also serve 20 years on supervised released following completion of his prison term, during which he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He must also register as a sex offender.

Between Dec. 6-7, 2018, Marines utilized a cell phone as well as the social media app called Whisper and KIK messaging app to attempt to persuade and entice a 13-year-old girl to engage in unlawful sexual activity. He made initial contact through Whisper, but continued messaging the minor explicit messages via KIK. In those conversations, he attempted to persuade the minor to meet at a local park for a sexual encounter. Marines was arrested once he arrived at the location.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations - Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Task Force conducted the investigation.

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

HOUSTON – A 65-year-old resident of Seabrook has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of receipt and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Ocal John Miller is a former law enforcement officer, having served as chief of police in Martinsville, West Virginia; and city councilman and mayor pro tem for Seabrook. He pleaded guilty Oct. 3, 2019. 

Today, U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett ordered Miller to serve 120 months on each count to run concurrently. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that it should send a message to society. Judge Bennett further commented that unfortunately Miller is not the first nor will he be the last to stand before him having committed child pornography-related offenses. The court imposed a $50,000 fine as well as a $10,000 special assessment per the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. Miller will also be required to pay restitution in an amount to be determined later and will 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. He must also register as a sex offender.

Miller came to the attention of law enforcement in June 2016 when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) sent multiple cybertips to the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

The investigation revealed Miller was using Skype to receive and distribute child pornography images to others via the internet. Miller also used Dropbox and Kik Messenger to obtain and store child pornography. Based on information gathered during the investigation, authorities executed a federal search warrant for Miller’s home in Seabrook March 30, 2017. At that time, they seized a computer, iPhone and several digital storage devices. Forensic examination resulted in the discovery of more than 1,300 images and 1,000 videos containing child pornography.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and police departments in Webster and Pearland conducted the investigation as part of the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

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

HOUSTON – A former general manager and partial owner of a Florida-based energy company was sentenced to 48 months in prison today for his role in a scheme to corruptly secure contracts from Venezuela’s state-owned and state-controlled energy company, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA).

Juan Jose Hernandez Comerma (Hernandez), 54, of Weston, Florida, pleaded guilty Jan. 10, 2017, to one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and one count of violating the FCPA. 

Today, U.S. District Judge Gray H. Miller of the Southern District of Texas imposed the four-year term and further ordered Hernandez to pay a fine of $127,000 and forfeit $3 million. 

According to admissions made in connection with Hernandez’s plea, Hernandez conspired with U.S.-based businessmen Abraham Jose Shiera Bastidas (Shiera) and Roberto Enrique Rincon Fernandez (Rincon) to pay bribes and other things of value to PDVSA purchasing analysts. This ensured that Shiera’s and Rincon’s companies were placed on PDVSA bidding panels, which enabled the companies to win lucrative energy contracts with PDVSA. From 2008 until 2012, while general manager and, later, partial owner of one of Shiera’s companies, Hernandez provided recreational travel and entertainment and offered bribes to PDVSA officials, including Alfonzo Eliezer Gravina Munoz (Gravina), based on a percentage of contracts the officials helped to award to Shiera’s companies.  

Rincon, Shiera and Gravina have all also pleaded guilty in the case and await sentencing.

Hernandez is the sixth defendant to be sentenced as part of a larger, ongoing U.S. government investigation into bribery at PDVSA. Including Hernandez, Rincon, Shiera and Gravina, to date, the Justice Department has announced charges against 25 individuals, 19 of whom have pleaded guilty in connection with the investigation.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Houston is conducting the ongoing investigation with assistance from HSI in Boston. Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSA) John Pearson and Robert S. Johnson of the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorneys Jeremy R. Sanders, Sarah E. Edwards and Sonali D. Patel of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section. SDTX AUSA Kristine Rollinson is handling the forfeiture aspects of the case.

The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs and the Swiss Federal Office of Justice also provided assistance. 

The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting all FCPA matters. Please see the Justice Department’s FCPA page for more information.

A former general manager and partial owner of a Florida-based energy company was sentenced to 48 months in prison today for his role in a scheme to corruptly secure contracts from Venezuela’s state-owned and state-controlled energy company, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA).

Juan Jose Hernandez Comerma (Hernandez), 54, of Weston, Florida, pleaded guilty Jan. 10, 2017, to one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and one count of violating the FCPA. 

Today, U.S. District Judge Gray H. Miller of the Southern District of Texas imposed the four-year term and further ordered Hernandez to pay a fine of $127,000 and forfeit $3 million. 

According to admissions made in connection with Hernandez’s plea, Hernandez conspired with U.S.-based businessmen Abraham Jose Shiera Bastidas (Shiera) and Roberto Enrique Rincon Fernandez (Rincon) to pay bribes and other things of value to PDVSA purchasing analysts. This ensured that Shiera’s and Rincon’s companies were placed on PDVSA bidding panels, which enabled the companies to win lucrative energy contracts with PDVSA. From 2008 until 2012, while employee, and later, partial owner, of one of Shiera’s companies, Hernandez provided recreational travel and entertainment and offered bribes to PDVSA officials, including Alfonzo Eliezer Gravina Munoz (Gravina), based on a percentage of contracts the officials helped to award to Shiera’s companies.  

Rincon, Shiera and Gravina have all also pleaded guilty in the case and await sentencing.

Hernandez is the sixth defendant to be sentenced by Judge Miller as part of a larger, ongoing U.S. government investigation into bribery at PDVSA. Including Hernandez, Rincon, Shiera, and Gravina, to date, the Justice Department has announced charges against 25 individuals, 19 of whom have pleaded guilty in connection with the investigation.

HSI in Houston is conducting the ongoing investigation with assistance from HSI in Boston. Trial Attorneys Jeremy R. Sanders, Sarah E. Edwards and Sonali D. Patel of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Pearson and Robert S. Johnson of the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristine Rollinson of the Southern District of Texas is handling the forfeiture aspects of the case.

The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs and the Swiss Federal Office of Justice also provided assistance.

The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting all FCPA matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

LAREDO, Texas – A 22-year-old resident of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to import approximately nine kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Leonardo Baltazar Martinez-Garza entered to entered the United States through the Lincoln-Juarez Port of Entry in Laredo Oct. 28, 2019, driving a 2009 black Chevrolet Optra. At initial inspection, he presented a border crossing card as a Mexican national and denied having any contraband.

Authorities referred him to secondary inspection where another officer with a trained service K-9 alerted to the possible presence of narcotics. A subsequent X-ray inspection revealed numerous anomalies within the dashboard behind a firewall. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and eventually discovered eight bundles weighing approximately 9.20 kilograms of a substance that tested positive for cocaine.

Martinez-Garza admitted he had been hired to illegally import narcotics into the United States from Mexico. He expected to be paid $1,000 after he successfully dropped off his vehicle at the Mall Del Norte in Laredo with the narcotics.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo accepted the guilty plea and set sentencing for April 22, 2020. At that time, he faces up to life in federal prison.

Martinez-Garza has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’ s Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 30-year-old Mexican national has pleaded guilty for his role in a conspiracy to transport aliens within the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

On Oct. 7, 2019, authorities spotted a group of individuals crossing from the Mexican side of Falcon Lake via a boat and entering a red Ford Explorer in the United States. They located the SUV and attempted to get behind it. However, the driver – later identified Ruben Ernesto Mendoza-Zapata – fled the scene at a high rate of speed. During the pursuit, Mendoza-Zapata tried rounding a curve, but rolled the vehicle several times.

Law enforcement secured the scene and rescued the occupants, one of whom was pinned underneath the vehicle. At the time of the rollover, a 6-year-old boy was also in the SUV.

Mendoza-Zapata and two others were taken to the hospital but have since recovered.

Mendoza-Zapata, also in the United States illegally, claimed a man in Zapata approached him and offered to pay him to transport the undocumented aliens.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo accepted the plea and will set sentencing at a later date. At that time, Mendoza-Zapata faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following the sentence.

He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Fawcett is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 27-year-old resident of Laredo has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute nearly eight kilograms of fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Jesus Homero Ortiz pleaded guilty Sept. 4, 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo ordered Ortiz to prison for 72 months to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard testimony that Ortiz transported the fentanyl hidden inside a speaker box he later delivered to the Mall Del Norte in Laredo.

On March 2, 2018, authorities intercepted a delivery Ortiz transported. The delivery consisted of approximately eight kilograms of a highly dangerous synthetic painkiller called fentanyl. It has morphine-like effects, but works at a mere 100th  of the dosage. Inadvertent exposure can result in overdose, respiratory failure and even death. 

Authorities ultimately learned the fentanyl was on the way to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Ortiz 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 Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 42-year-old veteran member of the Homietos outlaw motorcycle gang has been ordered to federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Larry Torres, 42, of Corpus Christi, pleaded guilty Sept. 27, 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge David S. Morales sentenced Torres to serve 121 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard evidence including that Torres sold multiple ounces of meth to undercover agent and was a member of the Homietos outlaw motorcycle gang.

In June 2019, authorities were conducting investigations into drug trafficking organizations that distributed meth throughout the area. This led them to Torres’ residence on Old Brownsville Road in Corpus Christi where he was believed to be involved in the distribution of drugs.

The investigation involved the controlled purchases of more than 160 grams of high potency meth known as “ice.” 

A search warrant at the residence resulted in the discovery of a firearm, ammunition, large capacity magazines, cocaine, narcotics packaging materials and other indicia of drug sales. Law enforcement also discovered Homietos gang paraphernalia and clothing.

Per federal law, Torres is prohibited from possessing firearms based on a prior felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance and for being a felon in possession of a firearm in 2009.

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

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; FBI; Corpus Christi Police Department Gang Unit and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the joint investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Paxton prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative that brings together federal and local law enforcement officials, prosecutors and community leaders to stop violent crime.

VICTORIA, Texas – A Texas man has admitted he knew he had received significantly more income what he claimed on his 2015 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Corey Campbell Boucher pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion.

As part of his plea, he admitted receiving significant income from illegal sports gambling in addition to his employment income. Boucher received his gambling winnings in cash which he deposited into his Wells Fargo bank accounts. Between 2012 and 2016, Boucher made cash deposits totaling $1,743,346. In 2015 alone, he deposited $493,935 in cash into his bank accounts but admitted he reported total income of only $128,066 on his Form 1040 United States Individual Income Tax Return for that year. His unreported income in 2015 resulted in $165,735 in unpaid taxes. 

Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey accepted the plea and set sentencing for April 6, 2020. At that time, Boucher faces up to three years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.

Boucher was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.

IRS – Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. Thorpe Jr. is prosecuting the case.    

HOUSTON – A 34-year-old Nigerian man who resided in Houston has been charged with conspiracy, bank fraud and aggravated identify theft, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Julius Joachim Ohumole is set to appear at 10 a.m. today before U.S. District Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo. A Houston grand jury returned the seven-count indictment Dec. 19. He was originally charged by criminal complaint Nov. 8 and later taken into custody.

Ohumole is charged with one count of conspiracy, four counts of bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identify theft.

The charges allege Ohumole opened a bank account in the name of Mars Construction (MARS) Dec. 5, 2018, at Regions Bank in Houston. At that time, he allegedly used false identification documents which identified him as someone else.   

Later than month, Ohumole accompanied another individual to Regions who used false identification documents to appear as an actual accountholder with the bank, according to the allegations. Ohumole allegedly requested that person be added as a co-signor to the MARS account which then allowed it to be linked to the real accountholder.

According to the allegations, an unknown individual transferred $274,000 from the real Regions account to the MARS account without the true person’s consent, knowledge or authorization. The same day, all but $1,000 of those funds were allegedly wired transferred to a bank account in New York and subsequently out of the country. A similar set of transactions involving approximately $200,000 occurred a few days later, according to the charges.  

The allegations also state Ohumole allegedly went to another Regions Bank and again used false identification documents to open a separate account, this time in the name of JMW Holt Constructions (JMW). Similarly, he allegedly accompanied another person who used fake documents to appear as a bank accountholder and requested their addition as a co-signor. Again, the scheme involved the transfer of thousands of dollars – approximately $805,000 – from the real account to the JMW account, then to an account in New York and out of the United States, according to the charges.  

Each count of conspiracy and bank fraud carries a possible sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison and the aggravated identify theft charge carries up to two years, upon conviction. Each conviction also carries a possible $1 million maximum fine.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Braddock is prosecuting the case.

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

LAREDO, Texas – A legal permanent resident and her U.S. citizen husband are set to make their initial appearances in Laredo federal court on charges of alien smuggling, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

The criminal complaint, filed over the weekend, charges Conroe residents Maria Guadalupe Cofraida-Pantoja and Amador Garcia-Canada, both 33, with alien smuggling. They are expected to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sam Sheldon in Laredo at 11:00 a.m. today.

The charges allege the couple attempted to bring a Mexican woman and her minor child into the United States illegally.

On Dec. 28, 2019, Cofraida-Pantoja allegedly arrived at the Juarez-Lincoln bridge driving a 2004 white Cadillac Escalade with her husband as a passenger along with a 22-year-old woman and her minor son.

The woman presented an authentic U.S. passport with the name of Garcia-Canada’s relative as her own, according to the allegations. At secondary inspection, she also allegedly presented an Illinois birth certificate for her five-year old son, falsely claiming she and her son were U.S. citizens. 

Upon investigation, authorities discovered a Mexican voter registration card identifying her actual identity, according to the complaint.

The charges allege the woman had made arrangements to pay $6,000 Garcia-Canada to bring them into the country and to be transported to Houston. Garcia-Canada allegedly provided her with the documents she had presented to authorities.

Cofraida-Pantoja and Garcia-Canada were aware both individuals were Mexican citizens not authorized entry into the United States, according the allegations.

If convicted, each faces up to 10 years in federal prison along with a possible $250,000 fine.

Customs and Border Protection is conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Homero Ramirez is prosecuting the case.

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

McALLEN, Texas –  The former interim executive director for the La Joya Housing Authority is now in custody on charges of wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Frances Salinas De Leon, 52, La Joya, is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Chestney in San Antonio tomorrow morning.

The criminal complaint was filed Dec. 12 and unsealed upon her arrest earlier this week. It alleges that from June 2018 to approximately November 2018, De Leon acted as an intermediary between Sylvia Garces Valdez and a local elected official. De Leon allegedly helped secure a public relations contract for Valdez.

The charges also detail text conversations between Valdez and De Leon in which De Leon claimed to have a direct connection with a La Joya official. That individual would allegedly ensure the contract’s approval and any necessary amendments, according to the complaint. De Leon also allegedly set the amount of payment under the contract. The charges further allege Valdez would have to give money to DeLeon after the contract’s approval.  

The complaint further alleges the women emailed each other about the contract and that Valdez had sent additional ones at DeLeon’s direction.

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

Valdez, 38, La Joya, is also charged in a related case. If convicted if federal program bribery, she faces up to 10 years and a possible $250,000 fine.

The FBI and Department of Housing and Urban Development—Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarina S. DiPiazza and Roberto Lopez Jr. are prosecuting the case.

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

HOUSTON – A 23-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison after admitting he recruited a high school girl and trafficked her for sex, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Dihlon Lee Davis pleaded guilty Aug. 1, 2o19.

Today, U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. noted there were consequences for his actions and sentenced Davis to 192 months in prison. He was further ordered to 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. Davis will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Restitution will be determined at a later date.

On several consecutive weekends in late February and early March 2016, Davis used online advertisements for the victim’s services and rented hotel rooms where some of the commercial sex acts occurred. The victim attended Manvil high school during the week and engaged in the sexual activity on the weekends.

On multiple occasions, Davis provided illegal drugs to the minor victim. He used the money the victim earned to purchase the drugs which he consumed with his girlfriend - also a minor - and the victim. 

Davis has been detained since his arrest and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and FBI – Texas City, both part of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance (HTRA), conducted the investigation. 

HTRA law enforcement includes members of the Houston Police Department, FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Attorney General’s Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Department of Labor, Department of State, Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission, DPS, Coast Guard, sheriff’s offices in Harris and Montgomery counties in coordination with District Attorney’s offices in Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend Counties. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherri L. Zack and Kimberly A. Leo are prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A 32-year-old resident of Houston has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of kidnapping in connection with the death of a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employee, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Don Gaines pleaded guilty April 26, admitting he choked the victim and drove her to Louisiana, ultimately shooting her in the head.

Today, U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett granted the government’s request for an upward departure of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and ordered Gaines to serve a 540-month sentence.

The court called the crime one of the most gruesome he has had to deal with in his 11 years on the bench. He considered the manner in which the victim died and her last moments of life as well as the defendant’s need for self-preservation over the life of the mother of his children. In imposing the sentence, the court remarked that if the crime had been a mistake, an argument gone horribly wrong, Gaines had the option of calling it off and turning around. “Instead, you doubled down,” he said, noting he then walked her into the woods and shot her.

The defense tried to argue the facts did not warrant a sentence applicable to 1st degree murder. The government disagreed, contending Gaines deliberately decided the victim would die Sept. 11, 2017.

At the hearing, the court heard from Gaines’ former girlfriend who became emotional, describing how Gaines had also choked her in June 2017. He had threatened her after she denied his sexual advances and said he would kill her. The victim’s father also took the stand and described his wonderful and loving daughter and mother to her children.

The defense attempted to portray Gaines as a troubled person who had a difficult life.

The government asked the court to consider what the victim endured at the hands of the defendant and called Gaines a cold-blooded killer.

“Postal inspectors’ duties include protecting employees and investigating violent crimes committed against them,” said Inspector in Charge Adrian Gonzalez of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). “While these types of crimes are rare, when they do occur, we will aggressively investigate to find those responsible and bring them to justice. This investigation was a partnership between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies who worked together tirelessly to bring justice to the victim and her family.”

The investigation identified Gaines, also a postal employee, as the person who abducted the victim as she left from the U.S. Postal Station - Houston distribution Center on Aldine Bender Road Sept. 11, 2017. The victim’s family reported her missing shortly thereafter. Gaines and the victim had previously been in a relationship and had two children together.

At the time of his plea, Gaines admitted he choked the woman in her car near his residence in Houston. After he strangled her, Gaines believed she was dead and transported her to Louisiana. However, during the trip, she regained consciousness, and Gaines drove her to a secluded area off the highway. At that time, he parked the car and walked the victim into the woods where he shot her in the head with a firearm. He abandoned her body and drove back to Houston in her car the same day.

Investigators identified location data on the victim’s car through a GPS device.

Evidence mirrored Gaines’ statements. Authorities located the victim’s car at his residence the same date he claimed to have choked her. Her car also traveled along Interstate 10 through Louisiana and returned to Houston. A video further showed Gaines purchased gas on the return drive to Houston after he disposed of the victim’s body.

Ultimately, the investigation led to the remote location in Louisiana where authorities discovered skeletal remains Oct. 12, 2017. Subsequent DNA analysis confirmed those remains were of the victim.

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

USPIS led the investigation with the assistance of the Houston Police Department, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson Davis Parish (Louisiana) Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police, Calcasieu Parish (Louisiana) Coroner’s Office, Forensic Anthropology and Computer Enhancement Services Laboratory at Louisiana State University and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Jocher and James McAlister prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – The last of 11 Houston men convicted in a conspiracy to unlawfully possess a firearm by a felon has been sent to prison, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick. 

Joshua Amos, 31, pleaded guilty July 11. Today, U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas ordered him to prison for 30 months. Also sentenced this week were the remaining 10 defendants who had also pleaded guilty to the federal charges that resulted from a rap video filmed in Northeast Houston’s Lakewood Park March 28, 2018.  

The lead rapper in that video - Warren Brown II aka NFL Cartel Bo, 30 - received a 78-month term of imprisonment. Ivory Vershone Brown, 31, was the last to plead guilty and was also sentenced yesterday, receiving 36 months in prison, while Keithric Lewis, 30, was ordered to serve a 60-month sentence.

Roland Labome, 34, Garrett Winn, 30, and Devonte Haynes, 26, all received 30 months, while Kenneth Fontenot 22, and Marces Randolph, 30, were both ordered to serve 24-month terms of imprisonment.

Jerrell Grant, 37, and Frenton Price, 33, received respective terms of 36 months and 20 months.

At the hearings that began Dec. 16 and concluded today, the court heard additional evidence that detailed the unlawful possession of eight loaded firearms by convicted felons during the filming of a rap video.

During the video shoot, numerous criminal street gang members – all convicted felons - gathered in the park to film a music video promoting gangs in Houston. All brandished firearms on the basketball court. After receiving a 911 call, authorities responded to the scene to find that a majority of the group had fled the area. Law enforcement subsequently located eight loaded firearms abandoned at the park. The music video was released May 20, 2018, via YouTube which WorldStarHipHop.com promoted. From the video, authorities were able to identify each person who was in possession of a firearm by comparing each gun recovered at the scene to the ones they held in the video.

With the exception of Winn, Amos, Price, Randolph and Labome, all have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The others had been previously released but were permitted to voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Britni Cooper and Lisa Collins are prosecuting the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 57-year-old Brownsville woman has been ordered to federal prison following her conviction of sex trafficking of a 10-year-old girl, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Maria Candelaria Losoya pleaded guilty Aug. 1, 2017, in Corpus Christi federal court.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos ordered Losoya to serve the mandatory minimum of 15 years in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard a statement from the minor victim and her guardian detailing the impact the crime had on the victim’s life. In handing down the sentence, Judge Ramos noted that Losoya provided valuable testimony at the trial of co-defendant David Keith Wills. Losoya will also be ordered to pay restitution to the victim and will serve five years of supervised release following completion of her prison term, during which time she will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict her access to children and the internet. She will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

At the time of her plea, Losoya admitted she was responsible for the continued sexual assault of a then 10-year-old victim which began in Brownsville in 2012. Later, she traveled with the victim so that the assault could continue. She further admitted she did so in exchange for money. 

Wills, a 67-year-old businessman previously from Rockport and South Padre Island, went to trial in October. The federal jury convicted the aquaculture company owner following the 10-day-trial.

The jury heard that from 2012 to 2015, Losoya conspired with Wills to traffic the minor female for sex until the victim reported it in April 2015. Losoya and Wills used their cell phones to arrange meetings at several different locations where Wills would sexually assault the girl. These included Wills and Losoya’s respective residences as well as hotels and motels in the greater Corpus Christi area. 

The jury heard testimony from Losoya and others that Wills promised to provide financial support if he was allowed to sexually assault the young girl. Wills also reimbursed Losoya for gifts to the victim and expenditures she would otherwise not have been able to afford. These included an iPad, Bose headphones, a flatscreen TV, Apple laptop, trampoline, swimming pool and a school trip to Washington D.C. 

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

The court has not yet set a sentencing date for Wills. At that time, he faces up life in prison.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Brownsville Police Department and the Texas Rangers conducted the investigation.

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

HOUSTON – A federal grand jury has returned an 18-count indictment against the founding superintendent of Zoe Learning Academy on charges of conspiracy, mail fraud, theft of government funds, money laundering and false bankruptcy declarations, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick.

Authorities took Richard S. Rose into custody this morning. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray at 2:00 p.m. today. The Houston grand jury returned the indictment under seal Dec. 11, which was unsealed per his arrest.

The charges allege Rose was the founder of Zoe Learning Academy and served in various capacities to include superintendent, CEO and chief financial officer during its operations from 2001 until it closed in September 2019.

Rose allegedly embezzled funds intended for the charter school’s operation and used them for his personal expenses such as legal fees, a lawsuit settlement and for the purchase of a timeshare. The indictment also alleges that after Zoe ceased operations, Rose, as Zoe’s agent, filed for bankruptcy and made various false statements under penalty of perjury in documents regarding payments to insiders, creditors and other matters.

If convicted of mail fraud, Rose faces up to 20 years imprisonment. The money laundering and theft of government funds allegations carry a possible sentence of up to 10 years, while he faces additional five-year-terms for the conspiracy and false bankruptcy declarations, upon conviction. All charges could also result in a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

IRS-Criminal Investigation, Secret Service, Department of Education-Office of Inspector General and the FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek is prosecuting the case.

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

McALLEN, Texas – A 43-year-old Roma man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Jesus Amado Garcia pleaded guilty Oct. 4.

Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane sentenced him to 84 months of federal imprisonment and further ordered him to pay $40,000 in restitution to known victims. He will also serve five 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. Garcia will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

In January, law enforcement initiated an investigation into the sharing of child pornography which led them to Garcia’s address in Roma. At the time, the Roma Independent School District employed him as a maintenance worker.

On April 23, authorities executed a search warrant at Garcia’s home, at which time they seized multiple digital devices. The investigation resulted in the discovery of approximately 236 images and 27 videos of child pornography.

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations - Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Task Force conducted the investigation.

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

GALVESTON, Texas – A 57-year-old resident of Galveston who claimed the judicial system had no jurisdiction over him is headed to federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. found John David Knowlton guilty of receipt and possession of child pornography following a two-day bench trial that concluded June 18.  

Today, Judge Hanks ordered him to serve 144 and 120 months for the receipt and possession convictions, respectively. The sentences will run concurrently for a total 12-year-term of imprisonment. The court took into consideration victim impact statements and arguments detailing Knowlton’s extensive child pornography collection. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Knowlton’s military service and age, but also considered the seriousness of the offenses, the community and justice for the child victims. Knowlton will also 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. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

During trial, the court heard testimony from multiple law enforcement officers and a Comcast custodian of records.

In February 2016, law enforcement conducted an online session using a publicly available peer-to-peer file-sharing network and located an IP address whose shared folder contained images of child pornography. The IP address was associated with Knowlton’s residence. 

When law enforcement searched his home, they discovered more than a dozen electronic devices belonging to him that contained child pornography. Forensic analysis found that 18 electronic devices contained thousands of images and hundreds of videos of child pornography. 

Knowlton had opted to represent himself at the trial with the court-appointed shadow defense counsel. Knowlton, identifying as a sovereign citizen, argued that the federal judicial system had no jurisdiction over him. The court was not persuaded by his arguments and found him guilty as charged.

Previously released on bond, Knowlton was taken into custody after the guilty verdict where has remained pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Pearland Police Department and Galveston Police Department’s - Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zahra Jivani Fenelon and Kimberly Leo prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” 

information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” 

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 50-year-old legal permanent resident from Donna has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction for knowingly and intentionally conspiring to unlawfully transporting undocumented illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

The jury deliberated for approximately one hour before convicting Federico Espinosa-Flores following a two-day trial Sept. 11.

Today, U.S. District Judge John Rainey ordered him to prison for 21 months to be immediately followed by one year of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the overwhelming amount of evidence against the defendant.

On Dec. 21, 2018, at approximately 7:40 a.m., Espinosa-Flores entered the primary inspection lane of the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint in Sarita driving a white Ford cargo van disguised as an adult daycare business. At that time, authorities noticed him exhibiting signs of nervousness, such as avoiding eye contact and having trembling hands. He consented to a vehicle search which resulted in the discovery of 10 undocumented aliens in the rear cargo area of the vehicle. Six were Chinese nationals and two others were from Mexico and Colombia.

During trial, the defense attempted to convince the jury that authorities coached Espinosa-Flores on what to say in his recorded and detailed confession. They did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged.

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neel Kapur and Lance Watt are prosecuting the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 34-year-old Corpus Christi man with a prior felony conviction has been ordered to federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Jacob Winkler pleaded guilty June 17.

Today, U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey handed Winkler a 41-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court ordered a probation against gang-related activity and noted his failure to learn from his previous convictions.  

On Jan. 31, law enforcement learned there was a man believed to be under the influence of drugs and carrying a gun at at a convenience store. They responded to the scene and found that man – Winkler. They immediately took him into custody and discovered a loaded handgun located in the cargo pocket of his shorts.

In 2015, Winkler was convicted for the manufacture and possession of a pipe bomb and, therefore, prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition per federal law.  

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

The Corpus Christi Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Dunn prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON - Two 67-year-old Houston women pleaded guilty today for their roles in an embezzlement scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.  

Beverly Davis and Evelyn Smith were each employed with the Communications Workers of America Local 6222 in Houston. Davis was employed from 2010 to 2017, while Smith served as secretary/treasurer from 2005 to 2018.

At the plea today, Davis admitted she used union funds to pay for personal expenses and other unauthorized charges. By the time she ceased doing so in 2017, she had embezzled union funds in the amount of $85,536.77.  

Smith began using union funds to pay for personal expenses in 2011. She stopped in 2018, but had taken $50,967.76 during that time.

According to the plea agreement, Davis administered a fund intended to help union members in financial hardships. As part of the scheme, she falsified reports to hide her activity. Smith had control over the general fund at the time she made the unauthorized transactions.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison accepted the pleas today and set sentencing for Feb. 28, 2020. At that time, each woman faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $10,000 maximum fine.

They were permitted to remain on bond pending those hearings.

The U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Labor Management Standards conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rodolfo Ramirez is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – Three men have been convicted for transporting and harboring illegal aliens in locked and boarded-up trailers in Houston, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. 

Albino Vargas-Hernandez, 48, a Mexican citizen who resided in Houston, and Rene Camacho, 47, Houston pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens. A third man – Mexican national Hiram Lamarca-Gonzalez, 21, who also resided in Houston - entered his plea Dec. 4.   

The investigation revealed that from approximately July 9, 2018, through on or about Aug. 22, 2018, multiple suspected aliens had arrived and departed trailers in Houston, which were locked and had boards on the windows. On several occasions, Vargas left his residence, picked up illegal aliens from the stash house and delivered them to others.

Law enforcement obtained search warrants on the Vargas residence as well as the stash houses. During that time, authorities found Vargas and Camacho inside one of the trailers along with 12 undocumented aliens. The aliens identified Vargas and Camacho as leaders of the smuggling organization, in charge of documenting alien information in ledgers and collecting payments for the those smuggled into the country. They also recovered multiple firearms, “pollo” lists (alien smuggling ledgers keeping track of alien and payment information), money service wire receipts and approximately $224,000 in cash. 

Authorities also arrested Lamarca for guarding the aliens at the stash house. 

U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett accepted the pleas today set sentencing for Feb. 13, 2020. Lamarca is also set for that date. At that time, each faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Camacho was permitted to remain on bond, while the others are in custody pending that hearing.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Bennett prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A federal jury has returned guilty verdicts against two Houston men for knowingly and intentionally conspiring to unlawfully transport an undocumented alien, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

The jury deliberated for approximately 90 minutes before convicting Reuben Stafford, 47, and Reginald Lewis, 31, following a three-day trial.

The jury heard that at approximately 9:15 a.m. on May 29, authorities at the Javier Vega Border Patrol (BP) Checkpoint in Sartia observed a truck hauling an empty boat trailer. Lewis was driving. At primary inspection, he provided several inconsistent stories about his travel plans and displayed signs of nervousness.

Testimony revealed that authorities suspected he was smuggling contraband through the inter-coastal waterway and followed Lewis to the Port Aransas boat docks. There, they observed Stafford arrive at the dock in a boat along with an undocumented alien.

Both men, along with the alien attempted to flee the Corpus Christi area. However, law enforcement quickly arrested them at the docks.

The jury heard a confession Stafford had made, but the defense attempted to convince the jury that authorities coached Stafford on what to say. They further tried to claim the men had no idea they were transporting an undocumented alien.

The jury did not believe those claims and found them guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge David S. Morales presided over the trial and set sentencing for March 13, 2020. At that time, each man faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a maximum $250,000 possible fine. Both have been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.  

BP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neel Kapur is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A 41-year-old Richmond resident has been ordered to federal prison after admitting she committed fraud and made false statements regarding her participation in a scheme to defraud her 94-year-old client, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Amy Anglin pleaded guilty Sept. 25.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas handed Anglin a 36-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony from the victim, now 95 and blind, that detailed the extent of his losses and how the Anglin preyed on his trust. In handing down the sentence, the court concurred with the government in describing the defendant as a “predator whose version of blood in the water is human kindness and trust.” Judge Atlas further ordered Anglin to pay restitution of at least $249,000.

“Amy Anglin preyed on the trust of a 94-year-old, legally blind man. She should be punished for her actions,” said Harris County Precinct One Constable Alan Rosen. “Families should always thoroughly vet people working for our elderly.”

Anglin began working for a successful real estate developer in Houston in approximately 2015 when he 91 years old and his eyesight was beginning to fail. Anglin admitted she took advantage of the victim’s poor health and began to steal money from his bank accounts and misused his credit cards to purchase, among other things, Hawaiian vacations and airline tickets for herself and her family. Anglin would get her elderly victim to sign checks he believed were legitimate and authorized expenditures. She would then have the funds deposited into her personal bank account.

Anglin would also convert the victim’s assets by use of both his bank account and his credit cards. In addition to using her access to the victim’s banking accounts and business credit cards, Anglin wired herself large amounts of money and used Western Union to transfer the victim’s money to her friends and acquaintances. Anglin transferred funds from the victim’s accounts to pay for vacations in Las Vegas, resorts in Hawaii and trips to her hometown. Anglin also used the stolen money to pay for country club memberships, golf lessons, overdue child support payments and major home improvements, including a hot tub.    

At the time of her plea, Anglin admitted she was not authorized to make these transfers or payments. 

Anglin’s scheme was uncovered when the victim’s family began to question certain payments associated with his accounts. With the help of a Houston-based attorney, the family has estimated the total amount of fraud associated with Anglin’s scheme to be more than $249,000.

The scheme continued until approximately December 2018.

Previously released on bond, Anglin was taken into custody following the sentencing today where she will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.  

The case is the result of a renewed law enforcement effort to protect America’s older citizens from elder abuse.

The FBI and Harris County Precinct One Constable’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heyward Carter and Steve Mellin are prosecuting the case.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 29-year-old Austin woman has been sentenced for smuggling heroin through the local port of entry, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Lorena Garcia pleaded guilty May 8 to possession with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin.

Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera ordered Garcia to serve a total of 72 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.

On Feb. 25, Garcia attempted to make entry into the United States from Mexico driving a Jeep Cherokee at the Brownsville Veterans International Bridge. Authorities referred the vehicle to secondary inspection where they discovered packages wrapped in black electrical tape in the vehicle’s firewall.

Law enforcement extracted a total of eight packages which all tested positive for the properties of heroin. The narcotics had a total weight of 7.04 kilograms and an approximate value of $253,440.

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Coronado prosecuted the case.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – The vice president of the Brownsville Independent School District (BISD) Board of Trustees is now in custody on charges of conspiracy and corruption, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

A federal grand jury returned the eight-count indictment Dec. 10 against Sylvia P. Atkinson, 48, of Brownsville. It was unsealed as authorities took her into custody upon her arrival for a scheduled BISD meeting last night. She is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald G. Morgan today at 10 a.m.

The charges allege Atkinson was elected to the BISD Board Nov. 4, 2016, and appointed vice president in 2018. During her career in education, she has served as the superintendent of Socorro, Santa Rosa and Los Fresnos school districts, assistant superintendent of BISD and Rio Hondo ISD (RHISD) and is currently the executive director of High School Programs and Community Outreach at Texas Southmost College, according to the indictment.  

The charges allege a long-running criminal scheme to solicit bribes from vendors seeking to obtain contracts with BISD and RHISD. The contracts would provide various goods and services to the school districts, including computer tablets, medical teleconferencing services and tutorial services, according to the indictment. In 2018, Atkinson also allegedly solicited and received a $10,000 bribe from an undercover agent related to a film crew’s potential use of BISD facilities for filming a purported Hollywood movie.

Atkinson is charged with one count each of conspiracy, bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds as well as six counts of violation of the Travel Act. For the conspiracy and each Travel Act violation, she faces up the five years in prison, while the bribery charge carries a possible 10-year term of imprisonment, upon conviction.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jody Young and Robert S. Johnson are prosecuting the case.

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

HOUSTON – Two suburban women have been ordered to federal prison following their conviction for embezzling from their former employer, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Susanna Guajardo, 43, Pearland, and Grace Garza aka Grace Valencia, 49, Pasadena, pleaded guilty June 19 and Feb. 17, respectively.

Today, U.S. District Judge Lake handed Guajardo and Garza a total of 33 and 21 months in prison, respectively, each to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, Judge Lake also ordered Guarjardo and Garza  o pay $1,154,876 and $1,163,673 in restitution, respectively. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the sentence was appropriate given the long duration of the scheme and the amount of money involved.

Guajardo and Garza were long-time employees at a local credit union. Guajardo was a supervisor in the Accounting Department and Garza was a teller/vault supervisor. Both women admitted to embezzling $1,154,876 by depositing worthless checks from other banks into their credit union accounts. When the checks were returned for insufficient funds, Guajardo failed to deduct the “bounced” amounts from their credit union accounts and concealed the theft by making false entries in the bank’s books and records. Garza also stole $110,000 from the credit union’s vault.

Previously released on bond, Guajardo and Garza were permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

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

McALLEN, Texas – A 40-year-old resident of Weslaco is now in custody on allegations he violated the civil rights of a San Juan man, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Authorities took Juan P. Galindo into custody today. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis Dec. 10 at 11 a.m.

Galindo is a sergeant with the San Juan Police Department.

The indictment, returned Dec. 4, alleges he violated the civil rights of an individual in December 2015 while acting under his authority as a uniformed police officer. Galindo allegedly physically assaulted the man while he was in custody. According to the charges, the victim had been handcuffed and under police control when Galindo hit him in the groin area with his knee.

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

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney K. Alejandra Andrade is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON - A 41-year old previously convicted violent offender has been ordered to federal prison for lying on a firearms application to purchase multiple handguns, announces U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. 

Javier Cruz is from Puerto Rico but resided in Houston. He pleaded guilty Sept. 16.

Today, U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen handed Cruz  a 46-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

At the time of his plea, Cruz admitted he unlawfully purchased four firearms Feb. 9. As part of the purchase, he was required to fill out Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) form 4473 in order to complete a background check. Cruz fraudulently signed the form in that he claimed he never had a felony conviction.

However, Cruz actually had multiple prior convictions for violent felony offenses in Puerto Rico – theft by means of violence, robbery, carrying a firearm without a license and possession of a controlled substance. The investigation also revealed that on Feb. 10, Cruz attempted to unlawfully purchase a fifth firearm from the same dealer, again by falsifying information on form 4473. That second attempt failed.

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

ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Peneguy prosecuted the case. 

HOUSTON – Three Colombian citizens are set to appear in federal court for their alleged roles in a drug smuggling attempt involving more than 1,300 kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Jesus Alfredo De La Cruz Orobio, 59, Juan David Portocarrero Diaz, 34, and Milton Valencia Blandon, 29, are set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan today at either 10 a.m. or 2 p.m.

A Houston grand jury returned the indictment Dec. 5.

The charges contained in the criminal complaint, filed Dec. 2, allege that on Nov. 21, 2019, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter Thetis was on routine patrol off the Pacific Coast of Colombia and Ecuador. At that time, they allegedly detected a long low profile go-fast vessel 81 nautical miles southeast of Malpelo Island, Colombia. The charges allege the USCG stopped the vessel which did not have a  flag, registration documents, homeport name and nor any identification on the hull.

The charges allege authorities boarded the boat and found three crewman, at which time Orobio identified himself as the master of the boat. According to the allegations, USGC conducted a search and discovered 54 bales of cocaine weighing approximately 1,321 kilograms in the hold of the boat along with sophisticated satellite communication and global positioning devices.

The three crewmen are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine on a vessel in the high seas in violation of the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act and the Drug Trafficking Vessel Interdiction Act of 2008. 

This is the second such prosecution in the Southern District of Texas under a statute that allows any jurisdiction in the United States to prosecute such smugglers. The law gives the United States jurisdiction over “stateless” vessels without nationality found on the high seas with contraband.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration and USCG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Gallagher is prosecuting the case.

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

HOUSTON -  A Houston businessman has pleaded guilty to making illegal political contributions in the names of others to campaign committees for U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in 2017, announced First Assistant U.S. AttorneyTim S. Braley along with Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

James D. Dannenbaum, 80, pleaded guilty today to violating the Federal Election Campaign Act. 

On Nov. 22, Dannenbaum Engineering Corporation (DEC) and its parent company, Engineering Holding Corporation, entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA). They also agreed to pay a $1.6 million criminal fine for its involvement in a multi-year conduit contribution scheme. Dannenbaum is DEC’s former CEO.

As part of the plea, Dannenbaum admitted that from 2015 through 2017, he and DEC made $323,300 in illegal conduit contributions through various employees and their family members to federal candidates and their committees. DEC corporate funds were used to advance or reimburse employee monies for these contributions. Dannenbaum did not reveal to any of the federal candidates that the corporation was the true source of the contributions. The object of the scheme was for DEC, Dannenbaum and a former employee to gain access to and potentially influence various candidates for federal office, including candidates for the presidency as well as the Senate and House of Representatives.

U.S. District Judge Sim Lake of the Southern District of Texas accepted the plea and set sentencing for March 5, 2020. At that time, Dannenbaum faces up to two years in federal prison.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Ferko and John Pearson are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Jessica C. Harvey of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section.

A Houston, Texas, businessman has pleaded guilty to making illegal political contributions in the names of others to campaign committees for U.S. Senate and House of Representatives in 2017, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick of the Southern District of Texas.

James D. Dannenbaum, 80, pleaded guilty today to violating the Federal Election Campaign Act. 

On Nov. 22, Dannenbaum Engineering Corporation (DEC) and its parent company, Engineering Holding Corporation, entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) and agreed to pay a $1.6 million criminal fine for its involvement in a multi-year conduit contribution scheme. Dannenbaum is DEC’s former CEO.

As part of the plea, Dannenbaum admitted that from 2015 through 2017, he and DEC made $323,300 in illegal conduit contributions through various employees and their family members to federal candidates and their committees. DEC corporate funds were used to advance or reimburse employee monies for these contributions. Dannenbaum did not reveal to any of the federal candidates that the corporation was the true source of the contributions. The object of the scheme was for DEC, Dannenbaum and a former employee to gain access to, and potentially influence, various candidates for federal office, including candidates for the presidency as well as the Senate and House of Representatives.

U.S. District Judge Sim Lake of the Southern District of Texas accepted the plea and set sentencing for March 5, 2019.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Trial Attorney Jessica C. Harvey of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Ferko and John Pearson of the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – An alleged ranking member of the Clan Del Golfo has been extradited to the United States to face numerous drug trafficking and money laundering charges, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick along with FBI Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Perrye K. Turner and DEA Acting SAC Steven S. Whipple.

Joaquin Guillermo David-Usuga aka “Guillermo,” 41, is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan at 2 p.m. today.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment against him and others Aug. 16, 2018. Colombian authorities took him into custody in November 2018. He was extradited and landed in Houston yesterday

“Arrests like these are a direct result of what the president has reiterated we must do to immediately attack organizations that traffic narcotics and other criminality into the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. “Executive Order 13773 - Enforcing Federal Law with Respect to Transnational Criminal Organizations and Preventing International Trafficking – prioritizes the need to increase cooperation and information sharing with foreign counterparts to dismantle transnational criminal organizations including drug cartels.”

David-Usuga is believed to be a ranking member of the Clan Del Golfo. The indictment alleges he is the cousin of Dairo Antonio Usuga David – the known supreme commander of the Clan Del Golfo and designated as one of DEA’s most wanted fugitives.

“David-Usugal is alleged to be the Clan del Golfo's chief drug trafficker and money launderer, but couldn’t escape the U.S. arm of justice. No one is untouchable, even in Clan del Golfo controlled-territory in rural Colombia,” said SAC Perrye K. Turner. “His arrest, and now extradition, fulfills the FBI and DOJ's permanent pledge to identify and disrupt the top suspected transnational criminal groups potentially threatening the health, safety and prosperity of the American people and its allies. Today's extradition is a result of the outstanding relationship and collaboration between FBI Houston, DEA and our international partners including the Colombian Army, Police and Prosecutor’s Office.”

“The arrest and extradition of David-Usuga is just another example of the highly effective cooperation between law enforcement in the United States and Colombia,” said Whipple. “DEA continues our global pursuit of suspected major drug traffickers who are believed to be profiting from the sale of dangerous drugs to our citizens and potentially threatening the security of our country.”

The indictment alleges David-Usuga was involved in the importation of kilogram quantities of cocaine into the United States. He is charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine internationally and one count of international cocaine distribution.

David-Usuga was allegedly involved in an ongoing five-year conspiracy to distribute cocaine from Colombia to the United States. In May 2019, he and others participated in distributing approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine in Colombia knowing it was to be imported into the United States, according to the allegations.  

The Department of Justice designated Clan Del Golfo as one of the most serious transnational organized criminal organizations that threatens the United States.

The FBI and DEA led the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF is a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. OCDETF’s principal mission is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises.

The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in the extradition. The Justice Department also extends its gratitude to the government of Colombia for its cooperation and assistance. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey N. MacDonald and Anibal Alaniz are prosecuting the case.

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

HOUSTON – A 34-year-old Mexican foreign national who illegally resided in Houston has been ordered to prison for conspiracy and meth smuggling, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. The jury deliberated for less than three hours following a three-day trial before convicting Rogelio Rivera Benito aka Mecanico Sept. 10. 

Today, U.S. District Judge David Hittner handed Benito a 292-month sentence. Also sentenced today was Mexican national Genaro Pavon Pena, 32, who previously pleaded guilty for his role as a fellow-cook and stash house operator in the conspiracy and testified at Benito’s trial. He was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment. Both are expected to face removal proceedings following their sentences.

Another defendant - Edwin Sanchez-Villa, 27, of Houston, also previously pleaded guilty for his role as a transporter in the conspiracy and will be sentenced Dec. 13.

During trial, the jury heard testimony that Benito operated stash houses in Houston between July 2016 and late 2017. They used the stash houses to produce and distribute meth for distribution in Houston.

Benito removed gasoline tanks from vehicles coming from Mexico containing  liquid meth, later processed into crystalized meth for distribution. Authorities seized 27 kilograms of meth April 4, 2017, directly tied to a stash house belonging to Pena. Testimony demonstrated Benito delivered at least 25 kilograms of meth he produced at his residence to the Pena residence before the seizure.

Authorities made five seizures in the course of the investigation which involved 135 kilograms of meth. Pena testified that the organization moved at least 500 kilograms of meth during the course of the conspiracy.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward Gallagher and Abe Martinez are prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A 67-year-old Houston resident is set to appear in federal court for her alleged role in an embezzlement scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.  

The criminal information, filed Nov. 25, charges Beverly Davis with embezzlement and theft of Labor Union assets. She is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan today at 10 a.m.

The charges allege Davis was an employee of Communications Workers of America Local 6222 in Houston from 2010 to 2017. She allegedly used union funds to pay for personal expenses and other unauthorized charges. By the time she ceased doing so in 2017, she had embezzled union funds in the amount of $85,536.77, according to the allegations.

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

The U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Labor Management Standards conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rodolfo Ramirez is prosecuting the case.

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

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 26-year-old Brownsville woman has been ordered to federal prison after she admitted to possession with the intent to distribute more than 17 kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Micxi Rueda pleaded guilty Sept. 3.

Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera sentenced her to 36 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted her age and lack of criminal history. 

On May 18, Rueda attempted to enter the United States through the vehicle lanes at the Brownsville & Matamoros International Bridge. An alert for Rueda and her vehicle led to a secondary inspection, where a scan revealed an anomaly located in the vehicle’s passenger-side quarter panel. Authorities extracted 15 packages of cocaine, weighing 17.74 kilograms with an estimated street value of $355,000. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nikki Piquette is prosecuting the case.  

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 39-year-old Florida man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in an Rio Grande Valley-based drug conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Roberto Santos-Gonzalez pleaded guilty June 4 to conspiracy with intent to distribute more than 1000 kilograms of marijuana.

Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera ordered he serve 150 months in prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. The sentence includes upward adjustments because he was found to be a leader within the drug trafficking organization.

Santos-Gonzalez was part of a multi-state drug trafficking and money laundering organization that had existed since 2010. The organization would hire out-of-state tractor-trailer drivers to haul loads of produce with ton quantities of marijuana hidden in false compartments within refrigerated trailers. Drug proceeds would then be transported back to the Rio Grande Valley. The conspiracy extended to Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, North Carolina and Tennessee.

At the hearing today, the court heard Santos-Gonzalez recruited drivers and was a drug transportation coordinator. He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Seven others have also been sentenced to terms ranging from 45 to 200 months in federal prison. Additionally, authorities have forfeited real estate, currency, cars, tractors, trailers, guns and jewelry valued at more than $1.5 million.

The Drug Enforcement Administration led the three-year Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation with assistance of IRS-Criminal Investigation; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; FBI; sheriff’s offices in Cameron and Zapata Counties; Hidalgo County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force; Border Patrol and the Brownsville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel Castro is prosecuting the case.

GALVESTON, Texas - A Texas apartment developer and a Texas site engineer had agreed to settle a federal lawsuit alleging they violated the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The suit alleged they built an eight-building addition and associated rental office at the Seasons Resort in Galveston that were inaccessible to persons with disabilities. 

“There is no place in our community for violating the ADA and FHA,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. “Our Office is committed to enforcing these to ensure that every person with a disability has full access to residential buildings within our district.”

“The FHA and the ADA require that new multifamily housing be accessible to persons with disabilities,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “This lawsuit and its resolution help ensure that individuals with disabilities and their families live with dignity and enjoy equal housing and all other opportunities available to the people of the United States.”

Today’s settlement, pending court approval, settles a lawsuit the department filed in February 2019. It alleged  Galveston developer TFT Galveston Portfolio LTD and site engineer James W. Gartrell Jr. violated the FHA and the ADA when they designed and constructed an eight-building addition and associated rental office at the Seasons Resort in 2003. The structures had steps and other features that made it inaccessible to persons with disabilities.

Under the terms of the settlement, Galveston Portfolio must take corrective actions such as removing steps, replacing steeply-sloped walkways and adding accessible parking to make public and common use portions of the property accessible to persons with disabilities, including wheelchair users. They must also construct a new apartment building with 24 accessible units as well as a new accessible rental office and establish a $75,000 settlement fund for people the lack of accessible features at the Seasons have harmed. The settlement also requires Galveston Portfolio and Gartrell obtain training on the requirements of the FHA and ADA and ensure any future housing they design or construct complies with FHA and ADA requirements.

Persons who lived at or sought to live at the Seasons Resort and were denied housing or otherwise harmed because the complex was not accessible may be entitled to monetary compensation through today’s settlement. Such persons can contact the Justice Department toll-free at 1-800-896-7743 mailbox #94 or via email.

The FHA prohibits discrimination in housing based on disability, race, color, religion, national origin, sex and familial status. The FHA requires all multifamily housing constructed after March 12, 1991, to have basic accessibility features, including accessible routes without steps to all ground-floor units. The ADA requires places of public accommodation, such as rental offices at multifamily housing complexes designed and constructed for first occupancy after Jan. 26, 1993, be accessible to persons with disabilities. 

More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available here. Individuals who believe that they have been victims of housing discrimination may call the Justice Department at 1-800-896-7743, e-mail the Justice Department or contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-669-9777 or through its website.

A Texas apartment developer and a Texas site engineer have agreed to settle a federal lawsuit alleging they violated the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The suit alleged that they built an eight-building addition and associated rental office at the Seasons Resort in Galveston, Texas, that were inaccessible to persons with disabilities. 

“The Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act require that new multifamily housing be accessible to persons with disabilities,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “This lawsuit and its resolution help ensure that individuals with disabilities and their families live with dignity and enjoy equal housing and all other opportunities available to the people of the United States.”

“There is no place in our community for violating the ADA and FHA,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick for the Southern District of Texas. “Our Office is committed to enforcing these to ensure that every person with a disability has full access to residential buildings within our district.”

Today’s settlement, pending court approval resolves a lawsuit the Department filed in February 2019. It alleged that Galveston developer TFT Galveston Portfolio LTD and site engineer James W. Gartrell Jr. violated the FHA and the ADA when they designed and constructed an eight-building addition and associated rental office at the Seasons Resort in 2003 with steps and other features that made them inaccessible to persons with disabilities.

Under the terms of the settlement, Galveston Portfolio must take corrective actions such as removing steps, replacing steeply-sloped walkways and adding accessible parking to make public and common use portions of the property accessible to persons with disabilities, including wheelchair users. They must also construct a new apartment building with 24 accessible units, as well as a new accessible rental office, and establish a $75,000 settlement fund for people who suffered harm due to - the lack of accessible features at the Seasons Resort. The settlement also requires that Galveston Portfolio and Gartrell obtain training on the requirements of the FHA and ADA and ensure any future housing they design or construct complies with FHA and ADA requirements.

Persons who lived at or sought to live at the Seasons Resort who were denied housing or otherwise harmed because the complex was not accessible may be entitled to monetary compensation through today’s settlement. Such persons can contact the Justice Department toll-free at 1-800-896-7743 mailbox # 94 or by email at fairhousing@usdoj.gov.

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on disability, race, color, religion, national origin, sex and familial status. Among other things, the Fair Housing Act requires all multifamily housing constructed after March 12, 1991, to have basic accessibility features, including accessible routes without steps to all ground-floor units. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires, among other things, that places of public accommodation, such as rental offices at multifamily housing complexes designed and constructed for first occupancy after Jan. 26, 1993, be accessible to persons with disabilities. 

More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.usdoj.gov/crt. Individuals who believe that they have been victims of housing discrimination may call the Justice Department at 1-800-896-7743, e-mail the Justice Department at fairhousing@usdoj.gov, or contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at 1-800-669-9777 or through its website at https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/online-complaint.