Southern District of Texas

HOUSTON – A 54-year Mexican citizen who illegally resided in Houston has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute meth, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Salvador Naranjo-Sosa pleaded guilty April 25.  

Today, U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett ordered he serve a 126-month term of imprisonment. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face deportation proceedings following his sentence.

The investigation began in November 2016 when authorities had learned narcotics were being stored in a house on Berry road in Houston. There, they made contact with Naranjo-Sosa, who was the only person present.

Authorities soon observed what appeared to be crystal meth.

Naranjo-Sosa admitted he was being paid to “watch over” the narcotics.

An analysis later determined the substance was meth with a purity level of 92%, making it “Ice.”  The drugs weighed a total of 6.56 kilograms and had an estimated street value of $420,000.  

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration led the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart A. Burns is prosecuting the case. 

HOUSTON – A 68-year-old resident of Seabrook has entered a guilty plea to 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.

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.

U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett accepted the plea today and set sentencing for Dec. 12. At that time, Miller faces a minimum of five and up to 20 years for receipt as well as a maximum of 10 years for possessing it. Miller will also have to register as a sex offender and abide by special conditions limiting his use of the internet and interactions with persons under the age of 18. He also faces up to a $250,000 fine.              

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.

LAREDO, Texas – A local man and a Mexican national have pleaded guilty for their involvement in a conspiracy to distribute 42.5 kilograms of cocaine in the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Frederico Hernandez, 26, Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and Miguel Angel Cruz-Recio, 41, Laredo, admitted that on June 7, they conducted a drug transaction in a Laredo Home Depot parking lot involving 5.5 kilograms of cocaine.

Hernandez has left the scene but authorities attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle Cruz-Recio was driving. That ultimately led to a brief police chase that ended as he crashed his vehicle into a telephone pole. He attempted to flee on foot, but was soon captured.

Authorities later discovered an additional 37 kilograms of cocaine and a handgun at his residence.

Law enforcement later apprehended Hernandez as he attempted to apply for entry into Laredo from Mexico at the Gateway to the Americas Bridge.

U.S. District Court Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo accepted the plea today and set sentencing for Feb. 3, 2020. At that time, both men face up to life in prison.

They have been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Harrison is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas - A total of 12 area drug traffickers and money launderers have received their sentences following their convictions related to a drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

All had previously pleaded guilty for their varying roles in the scheme. U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo imposed the sentences over the course of the last three days.

Today, Judge Marmolejo ordered Elias Medina Ugarte, 27, Austin, to serve 120 months in federal prison for coordinating the receipt and distribution of marijuana.

Earlier this week, Laredoans Federico Hernandez, 36, Juan Ciprian Ruiz, 41, Peter Moreno, 26, Joe Alfredo Fuentes, 35, and Janie Guadalupe Lucio, 41, were ordered to serve 70, 60, 60, 50 and 16 months, respectively, while Marisa Guadalupe Deleon, 40, received a probated sentence with six months home confinement. Moreno had been on supervised release for an unrelated alien smuggling charge and received an additional 12 months for the revocation of that term, six of which are to be served consecutively to his other sentence.

Mexican nationals Leodan Martinez, 35, and Pedro Lomeli, 34, were ordered to serve a total of 36 and 120 months in federal prison and are expected to face deportation proceedings following their sentences.

David Gonzalez, 37, received an 18-month term of imprisonment after the court denied his purported acceptance of responsibility, finding he had tested positive for cocaine use while on bond.

Finally, Leticia Rocha Pruneda, 60, and her daughter Ruby Pruneda, 34, both also from Laredo, received three years of probation and 18 months in prison, respectively. The daughter had recruited her mother to launder drug proceeds.

As part of their respective sentences, most of the defendants received a money judgment or forfeiture in varying amounts up to $40,000.

The co-conspirators engaged in a conspiracy to distribute marijuana by means of tractor-trailers and other vehicles and used various U.S. bank accounts to transfer drug proceeds from distribution cities to Laredo. They were able to launder the drug proceeds by investing in businesses, real estate and vehicles in a manner to conceal and disguise the nature, ownership, control and source of their illicit funds.

The Prunedas spent more than $10,000 in drug proceeds or conducted transactions in a manner to conceal or disguise the source of drug proceeds. Gonzalez, Hernandez and Moreno acted as couriers willing to transport narcotics from Laredo to Austin, Dallas and elsewhere, while Lomeli and Ruiz were stash house operators in Laredo. The others assisted in scouting or transporting narcotics and/or drug proceeds.

With exception of Fuentes, Pruneda and Lucio, the defendants will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The organizers or leaders of the organization are scheduled for sentencing later this year. 

Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted long-term Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation dubbed Platinum Plus.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Graciela Lindberg is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 48-year-old Mexican national has admitted to importing 12 kilograms of cocaine via the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge in Laredo, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

On June 29, Pedro Moreno-Garcia applied for admission into the country driving a 2010 pickup truck. During the x-ray inspection, officers noticed anomalies within the vehicle’s side door pillars. Immediately thereafter, a service detection dog alerted to the vehicle. Law enforcement then searched the truck and discovered 12 bundles of cocaine wrapped in black tape.

The drugs weighed a total of 12 kilograms with a value of $384,000.

Today, Moreno-Garcia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, admitting he knew there were narcotics in his vehicle and expected to be paid for transporting them.   

U.S. District Court Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing at a later date, yet to be determined. At that time, Moreno-Garcia faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life imprisonment as well as a possible $10 million maximum fine. He has been in custody since his arrests he will remain pending that hearing.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony J. Evans is prosecuting

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 59-year-old U.S. citizen who resided in Mexico has admitted she possessed with intent to distribute nearly two kilograms of meth, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick.

Sharon Elaine Horne now faces up to life in prison.

On March 29, Horne attempted to enter the United States via the pedestrian lane at the Gateway International Port of Entry in Brownsville. A search of her belongings revealed two canisters of powdered baby formula. The seals appeared to have been removed and then re-glued.

The investigation revealed a total of 3.9 pounds of crystal meth concealed in bags and hidden underneath the baby formula.

At the time of her plea today, she admitted she picked up the two containers in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, with instructions to walk them across the bridge into the United States.

U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera will impose sentencing Jan. 8, 2020. At that time, Horne faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.

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

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.

LAREDO, Texas – Two men are set to appear in federal court to answer separate, but similar charges for allegedly trying to smuggle drugs into the country, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Alondra Pliego, 21, Houston, and Mexican citizen Jose Antonio Garza Gutierrez, 28, Vallecillo, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, were both originally charged by criminal complaints. A federal grand jury returned the indictments Sept. 24 for conspiracy to import methamphetamine and cocaine, respectively. They are expected to appear for their respective arraignments today at 1 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sam Sheldon.

On Aug. 29, 2019, Pliego attempted to enter the United States through the Colombia Solidarity International Bridge Port of Entry in Laredo driving a Chrysler sport utility vehicle.

The charges allege that during inspection, authorities conducted an x-ray examination of the vehicle which revealed anomalies within the rear area. A k-9 inspection allegedly alerted the possible presence of narcotics. Authorities then soon discovered a non-factory compartment within the rear cargo floor area concealing 65 packages, according to the charges. The white crystal-like substance allegedly field-tested positive for methamphetamine and had a total weight of approximately 66.95 kilograms.

In the other case, Gutierrez allegedly drove a semi-truck and trailer combination through the World Trade Bridge Port of Entry in Laredo on Sept. 3, 2019. During inspection, authorities noticed an unusual hidden compartment in the sleeper area of the vehicle, according to the charges. Soon after, the charges allege they discovered 14 tightly wrapped bundles containing more than 16.94 kilograms of cocaine.

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted both investigations with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Scott Bowling and Paul A. Harrison are prosecuting the Pliego and Gutierrez cases, respectively.

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 29-year-old resident of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been ordered to prison for conspiracy with intent to distribute meth, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Fernando Garcia-Leal pleaded guilty July 3.

Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo imposed a 72-month term of imprisonment. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following the sentence. The court further ordered he not return to the U.S. illegally.

On March 23, Garcia-Leal applied for entry into the United States at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge in Laredo driving a gray 2007 Jeep Commander. At inspection, an x-ray of the vehicle revealed anomalies within all four tires. A K-9 also alerted to possible narcotics.

Authorities ultimately found a total of 34 packages wrapped in black tape. All tested positive for meth and weighed approximately 25.46 kilograms.

Garcia-Leal initially denied knowledge of the narcotics, claiming he had purchased the vehicle approximately three weeks prior and was traveling to Houston to have maintenance work performed on it. He further added that he had purchased the vehicle from his wife’s relative who was in a drug cartel. He thought it might contain drugs, but was afraid to ask.

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 and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Bukiewicz is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 51-year-old citizen from Tamaulipas, Mexico, now faces up to life in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy and importation of marijuana into the country, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. 

Benjamin Gil Aguilera pleaded guilty today in federal court.

On Aug. 1, he arrived at the World Trade International Bridge in Laredo driving a semi-truck and trailer. During the inspection, a service canine alerted to the vehicle’s trailer where authorities observed anomalies within the doors. A search of the trailer yielded 2,949 pounds of tightly wrapped bundles of marijuana.

The drugs weighed a total of 1,338 kilograms with a value of $56ayer0,000.

He has been and will remain in custody pending his sentencing, to be set at a later date before U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña. At that time, Gil Aguilera faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison as well as a possible $10 million maximum fine.  

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

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 21-year-old woman from Brunswick, Georgia, now faces up to life in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to import a large quantity of meth into the country, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Lidia Maria Nandi Bibiano pleaded guilty today in federal court.

On June 28, 2019, she arrived in Laredo at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge driving a Dodge Caravan. During inspection, law enforcement discovered 93 bundles of meth hidden inside a modified compartment in the vehicle’s floor.

The drugs weighed a total of 88.40 kilograms with an approximate value of more than $500,000.

Bibiano has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing, which will be set at a later before U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana. At that time, Bibiano faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison as well as a possible $10 million maximum fine.  

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

HOUSTON – A 49-year-old resident of Katy has been indicted for defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of more than $600,000, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Tammy Wilson made her initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Johnson.

A federal grand jury returned the three-count indictment Sept. 19, alleging she committed one count each of mail fraud, health care fraud and making a false statement relating to health care matters. She is set for trial before Chief U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal.

According to the charges, Wilson is a widow of military veteran. Her husband allegedly died of service related injuries, after which she was eligible to participate in the Civilian Health and Mental Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) Program. CHAMPVA is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, and is a comprehensive health care program in which the VA reimburses for eligible out-of-pocket prescription expenses, according to the indictment.

From 2013 through 2017, Wilson allegedly submitted falsified prescription summaries to the CHAMPVA Program. In the scheme, according to the charges, Wilson claimed to have paid for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of prescription medications. The VA then allegedly paid Wilson more than $640,000 for those claims. However, the indictment alleges the pharmacies never dispensed the prescriptions as she had claimed.

During the course of the scheme, Wilson was the biggest recipient of CHAMPVA funds in the world, according to the charges.

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

The VA - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heyward Carter is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct.
A defendant is presumed unless and until convicted through due process of law.

LAREDO, Texas – A 27-year-old resident of Laredo has entered a guilty plea to federal charges stemming from her attempt to smuggle a Mexican national minor, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

On July 13, Rosa Elia Amaya applied for admission into the country from Mexico at the Lincoln Juarez Port of Entry accompanied by a minor male and her U.S. citizen daughter. She claimed to be the boy’s mother and presented authorities with a birth certificate as proof of citizenship.

Upon questioning, the minor boy remained silent as authorities asked for the location of his mother. The investigation subsequently confirmed the unaccompanied minor was not Amaya’s son.

Today, she admitted she had agreed to smuggle him into the U.S. in return for $1,500.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose a sentencing at a later date. At that time, Amaya faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 31-year-old Huntsville, Alabama, woman has entered a guilty plea to knowingly attempting to smuggle 20 pounds of pure meth, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

On June 21, 2019, Guadalupe Inostroza-Diaz drove a white Nissan Altima into the primary inspection area of the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint near Falfurrias. An x-ray search of the vehicle revealed bundles of methamphetamine concealed within the walls of an ice chest located in the car’s trunk.

Laboratory analysis later confirmed the substance in the bundles was 100% pure meth totaling 12 kilograms with a value of more than $919,000.

U.S. District Judge David S. Morales will impose sentencing Jan. 15, 2020. At that time, Inostroza-Diaz faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million fine.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of BP. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert D. Thorpe Jr. and Julie K. Hampton prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A former Harris County deputy constable and her husband have been charged with conspiring to possess heroin with the intent to distribute it as well as attempting to launder drug proceeds, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. 

A Houston grand jury returned the six-count indictment Sept. 18 against Betty Jean Molina, 56, and her husband Henry Molina, 59, both of Houston. They were taken into custody yesterday and are expected to make their initial appearances today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina A. Bryan at 10 a.m.

At the time of the offense, Jean Molina was a deputy constable with Harris County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office.

She and her husband are charged for their involvement in the laundering of what they believed was $500,000 in drug proceeds over a two-month-period.

The couple is charged with one count of conspiracy and another count of possession with the intent to distribute heroin for which they face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison as well as a possible $10 million fine. If convicted of any of the four counts of money laundering, they also face a potential sentence of 20 years of federal imprisonment. Those counts also carry up to a $500,000 fine or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction.

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Harris County Constable Precinct 5 and the FBI Houston Law Enforcement and Border Corruption Task Force, which includes the Houston Police Department’s Internal Affairs Proactive Unit and the Texas Department of Public Safety.  

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Arthur R. Jones and Alamdar Hamdani 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 65-year-old Lubrizol Corporation employee has been taken into custody following the return of a 10-count indictment for wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

A federal grand jury returned the indictment under seal Sept. 17 against James Arthur Camp, of New Braunfels. Today, he is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan at 2 p.m.

The indictment alleges Camp was employed at Lubrizol Corporation in Deer Park, a  provider of specialty chemicals for the transportation, industrial and consumer markets. While employed there, he allegedly defrauded the company of $9,256,712.54 from approximately April 1998 through November 2017.

In order to execute the scheme, Camp submitted fraudulent invoices for laboratory services from two companies he owned, knowing they had not actually been performed. He then allegedly caused Lubrizol to issue payments to those companies. The indictment further alleges he used the fraudulently - obtained payments for his own personal use and benefit.

If convicted, Camp faces up to 20 years imprisonment on each count as well as a possible $250,000 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 convicted through due process of law.

A Texas state district judge has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison following his multiple convictions of conspiracy, bribery and obstructing justice, 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.

A federal jury in Houston convicted Rodolfo “Rudy” Delgado, 66, of Edinburg, July 11, 2019, following a six-day trial of one count of conspiracy, three counts of federal program bribery, three counts of travel act bribery and one count of obstruction of justice.  

Delgado was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett who also ordered Delgado to serve two years of supervised release.

Delgado was a justice in the 13th Court of Appeals for the State of Texas, having been elected in November 2018. He resigned from that position following his conviction.  

Prior to that, he was previously the presiding judge for the 93rd District Court for the State of Texas, which has jurisdiction over Texas criminal and civil cases located within Hidalgo County. As a district judge, Delgado conspired with an attorney from January 2008 to November 2016 to accept bribes in exchange for favorable judicial consideration on criminal cases pending in his courtroom. 

As part of the investigation, Delgado also accepted bribes on three separate occasions in exchange for agreeing to release three of the attorney’s clients on bond in cases pending before his court. The first two bribes totaled approximately $520 in cash and the third bribe - in January 2018 - totaled approximately $5,500.

After Delgado learned of the FBI’s investigation, he also attempted to obstruct justice by contacting the attorney and providing a false story about the payments.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Trial Attorney Peter M. Nothstein of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Arthur “Rob” Jones and Robert Guerra are prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A Texas state district judge has been ordered to federal prison following his multiple convictions of conspiracy, bribery and obstructing justice, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick and Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

A federal jury in Houston convicted Rodolfo “Rudy” Delgado, 66, of Edinburg, July 11, following a six-day trial of one count of conspiracy, three counts of federal program bribery, three counts of travel act bribery and one count of obstruction of justice.

Today, U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett handed Delgado a 60-month sentence to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence and testimony that detailed the value of the bribery activities and its impact on South Texas. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that a corrupt judge, who abuses the trust the public placed in him to enrich himself, undermines the integrity of the entire criminal justice system and tears at the very fabric of our society.

“The sentencing of Delgado sends a strong message to any public official who chooses to serve him or herself rather than their community,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs of the FBI’s San Antonio Division. “As this case illustrates, the FBI will tirelessly pursue those who betray the public trust. We can only hold corrupt officials accountable if people refuse to accept this behavior and are willing to cooperate and come forward with information.”

Delgado was a justice in the 13th Court of Appeals for the State of Texas, having been elected in November 2018. He resigned from that position following his conviction.

Prior to that, he was previously the presiding judge for the 93rd District Court for the State of Texas, which has jurisdiction over Texas criminal and civil cases located within Hidalgo County. As a district judge, Delgado conspired with an attorney from January 2008 to November 2016 to accept bribes in exchange for favorable judicial consideration on criminal cases pending in his courtroom. 

As part of the investigation, Delgado also accepted bribes on three separate occasions in exchange for agreeing to release three of the attorney’s clients on bond in cases pending before his court. The first two bribes totaled approximately $520 in cash and the third bribe - in January 2018 - totaled approximately $5,500.

After Delgado learned of the FBI’s investigation, he also attempted to obstruct justice by contacting the attorney and providing a false story about the payments.

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

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Arthur R. Jones and Robert Guerra are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Peter Nothstein of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 32-year-old former La Feria deputy constable has entered a guilty plea to extortion under color of official right, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

At the time of the offense, Armando Gonzalez was a Precinct 5 deputy constable.

While serving as a deputy constable, he admitted he received a $50 Bass Pro Shop gift card in exchange for conducting a license plate check on a vehicle for someone he personally knew. Gonzalez also knew that individual had been involved in narcotics trafficking. Gonzalez spent the gift card a few days later.   

According to the plea agreement, Gonzalez also committed another extortion act. Gonzalez admitted that on May 26, 2016, at the request of the same person, he caused another license plate check to occur on another car. On June 8, 2016, Gonzalez received $40 in cash in exchange for conducting that second check. 

U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera will impose sentencing Dec. 18, 2019. At that time, Gonzalez faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Gonzalez was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.

The FBI, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Cameron County District Attorney’s Office conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation dubbed Something About Maria. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jody Young and Oscar Ponce are prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON - The Justice Department has announced a coordinated health care fraud enforcement operation across the state of Texas involving charges against a total of 58 individuals, several of which are charged in Houston. They were allegedly involved in Medicare fraud schemes and networks of “pill mill” clinics resulting in $66 million in loss and 6.2 million pills. Of those charged, 16 were doctors or medical professionals, while 20 were charged for their role in diverting opioids.   

The Health Care Fraud Unit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section in conjunction with its Medicare Fraud Strike Force (MFSF) partners led the enforcement actions. The MFSF is a partnership among the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney’s Offices, FBI, Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and Drug Enforcement Administration. In addition, the operation includes the participation of the Veterans Affairs – OIG and the Department of Labor (DOL), various other federal law enforcement agencies and Texas State Medicaid Fraud Control Units. 

The charges announced today aggressively target schemes billing Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE (a health insurance program for members and veterans of the armed forces and their families), DOL - Office of Worker’s Compensation Programs and private insurance companies for medically unnecessary prescription drugs and compounded medications that often were never even purchased and/or distributed to beneficiaries. The charges also involve individuals contributing to the opioid epidemic, with a particular focus on medical professionals allegedly involved in the unlawful distribution of opioids and other prescription narcotics, a particular focus for the Department. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 115 Americans die every day of an opioid-related overdose.

Today’s arrests come three weeks after the Department announced that the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Houston Strike Force coordinated the filing of charges against dozens in a trafficking network responsible for diverting over 23 million oxycodone, hydrocodone and carisoprodol pills. 

“Sadly, opioid proliferation is nothing new to Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick of the Southern District of Texas. “What is new, is the reinforced fight being taken to dirty doctors and shady pharmacists. Texas may have four U.S. Attorneys, but we are focused on one health care mission: shutting down pills mills and rooting out corruption in health care. From Lufkin to Laredo and Dallas to Del Rio, one of us will shut these operations down.”

“Today’s charges highlight the amazing work being done by the Department’s Medicare Fraud Strike Force and our partners in Texas,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.  “As we continue to dedicate resources to battle healthcare and opioid fraud schemes in Texas and elsewhere, we are shining an inescapable light on dirty doctors, clinic owners, pharmacists and others who may have long believed they could perpetrate their frauds behind closed doors.”

“These arrests across multiple investigations and jurisdictions is further proof that successful teamwork exemplifies Texas law enforcement,” said DEA Houston Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy. “Today’s operation affirms both our commitment to targeting those individuals who illegally divert opioids in our communities, and our collective will to bring those individuals to justice.”

“Health care fraud undermines our country by driving up medical costs, wasting taxpayer dollars, and often harming patients,” said Special Agent in Charge C.J. Porter of HHS-OIG. “Today’s takedown shows that we are fighting hard to protect Medicare and Medicaid and the patients served by those programs. Working closely with our law enforcement partners, our agents are determined to ensure fraudsters pay for their crimes.”

“Today’s announcement demonstrates the close collaboration between the FBI and its law enforcement partners in North Texas,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno of the FBI’s Dallas Field Office. “The enormous economic damage caused by those who defraud crucial public health programs, as well as the ever-increasing loss of life caused by illicit and illegitimate pill schemes cannot be overstated. The public can rest assured the FBI will continue to make these investigations a top priority moving forward.”

Among those charged in the Southern District of Texas are:

Diana Hernandez, Kathy Hernandez, Hieu Troung R.P.H., Clint Randall, Prince White, Charles Walton and Cedric Milbrurn were charged for their alleged participation in a scheme to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substance without a legitimate medical purpose through S&S Pharmacy of Houston.

Franklin Nwabugwu R.P.H. was charged for their alleged participation in a scheme to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substance without a legitimate medical purpose through Golden Pharmacy of Houston.

Steven Inbody M.D. and Hoai-Huong Truong were charged for their alleged participation in a scheme to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substance without a legitimate medical purpose. 

Ashley McCain, John Sims, Gregory Comer, Kesia Banks and Jacqueline Hill were charged for their alleged participation in a scheme to unlawfully distribute and dispense a controlled substance without a legitimate medical purpose through Continuous Medical Care and Rehabilitation. 

Trial Attorneys Devon Helfmeyer and Catherine Wagner and Assistant Deputy Chief Aleza Remi, all of the Fraud Section, are prosecuting the respective cases.

Several others were also charged in the Northern District of Texas (NDTX), Eastern District of Texas (EDTX) and Eastern District of Texas (EDTX). 

“Healthcare should revolve around patients’ well-being – not providers’ personal interests,” said NDTX U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox.  “When medical professionals line their own pockets by submitting false insurance claims or prescribing unnecessary medications, equipment or treatments, it not only drains taxpayer coffers – but it makes healthcare more expensive for everyone else. We cannot allow the healthcare industry to become bloated by fraud.”

“Every dollar stolen from Medicare through fraud comes out of the pocket of taxpayers,” said EDTXU.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown of the “These are real costs that help drive up the cost of medical services for everyone. It is important that there be real consequences for those who cheat the system.”

“I am proud to fight healthcare fraud in Texas alongside Ryan Patrick, Erin Nealy Cox and Joe Brown,” said WDTX U.S. Attorney John Bash. “These crimes drive up the cost of health insurance, waste tax revenue and threaten the well-being of Texans.”

The Fraud Section leads the MFSF, which is part of a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country. MFSF maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts. Since its inception in March 2007, MFSF has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion. In addition, HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 28-year-old Hidalgo drug smuggler has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of possession with the intent to distribute nearly two kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Josue Rivera pleaded guilty May 30, 2019.

Today, U.S. Senior District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos ordered Rivera to serve 60 months in prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release.

On Feb. 18, 2019, Rivera drove his vehicle into the primary inspection area of the Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint in Falfurrias. Immediately thereafter, a service K-9 alerted to the vehicle by pulling hard towards its direction.

Upon questioning, Rivera claimed to be on his way to work in the oil field. However, authorities noticed he actually did not have any work equipment with him.

They searched the vehicle and discovered 1.95 kilograms of cocaine wrapped in two bundles hidden inside the door of the vehicle. They immediately arrested him.  

The estimated street value of the drugs was $179,200.

Rivera has been on bond and was ordered to surrender himself  to the U.S. Marshal Service on a date to be determined in the near future  for transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of BP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Dunn is prosecuting the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A durable medical equipment (DME) company owner and his biller have been sentenced for conspiring to submit fraudulent claims to Texas Medicaid, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Edinburg resident Everardo Villarreal, 46, of Edinburg, and his secretary and Medicaid biller, Delilah Rae Robles, 39, of Weslaco, pleaded guilty June 24, 2019, admitting they submitted false claims for DME that was never delivered to Medicaid beneficiaries.

Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez imposed a 40-month sentence for Villarreal, while Robles was sentenced to time served plus six months home confinement. Both will also be ordered to serve three years of supervised release following their sentences and have been ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $869,693.92. 

Villarreal was the owner and operator of now defunct Durable Medical Supply Depot of Elsa. From on or about April 2010 to on or about September 2014, he and Robles billed Texas Medicaid in excess of $1,500,000 for DME that was either never delivered or were only partially delivered to Medicaid beneficiaries. Both Villarreal and Robles purchased or arranged for the purchase of personal identification numbers of local Medicaid beneficiaries in order to submit the false and fraudulent claims. 

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

The Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Cynthia A. Villanueva and former Special AUSA Marian Swanberg prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 42-year-old resident of San Antonio had pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport 76 undocumented aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

On June 11, 2019, Nelson Vargas-Torres attempted to drive a tractor-trailer through the Border Patrol checkpoint located at mile-marker 29 on Interstate Highway 35, north of Laredo. Authorities became suspicious when Vargas-Torres stated he was transporting plastics, when his bill of lading actually stated “clutch parts.” A trained K-9 subsequently alerted to the possible presence of concealed humans inside the locked trailer he was hauling. Law enforcement then used wire cutters to break the seal for the trailer and eventually rescued 76 undocumented aliens from Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras who were hidden inside.

Today, Vargas-Torres pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga to conspiracy to transport undocumented aliens.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Vargas-Torres faces up to 10 years imprisonment. Vargas-Torres has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 23-year-old Corpus Christi man has been ordered to federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking offense, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. A federal jury convicted Roman Valdez following a two-day trial and approximately one hour of deliberations May 21, 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzalez Ramos handed Valdez a 12-month sentence for the drug charges. He also received an additional 60 months for the firearms offense which must be served consecutively for a total sentence of 72 months in federal prison. The sentence will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

During the trial, the jury heard testimony from multiple law enforcement officers.

On Nov. 14, 2018, at approximately 3:00 p.m., they discovered Valdez passed out behind the wheel of his vehicle at a traffic light in front of Flour Bluff Elementary School as students were being released. When the officers opened the door to check on him, he became combative and began reaching around inside the vehicle. During the struggle, officers discovered a loaded handgun between the driver’s seat and the center console.

Law enforcement secured the firearm but Valdez continued to reach behind the driver’s seat. He was ultimately removed from the vehicle and taken into custody.

When officers searched his vehicle, they discovered multiple bags of white powder, a black tar substance, a bag of synthetic cannabinoids, assorted prescription pills, small bags, a digital scale and a second loaded handgun in the back seat.

The controlled substances were sent to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Laboratory. Testing confirmed the substances were cocaine, heroin and 5F-MDMB-PICA – a synthetic cannabinoid.       

The defense attempted to convince the jury Valdez possessed the cocaine for personal use and the firearms were not related to any of the drugs. They did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged.

Synthetic cannabinoids are chemical compounds that mimic the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. These chemical compounds can be applied to carrier mediums such as plant material and ingested using rolling papers, pipes, vaporizers or otherwise taken orally. Synthetic cannabinoids are usually sold in small, foil or plastic bags containing dried leaves (resembling potpourri) and is marketed as incense that can be smoked. It is commonly sold and known on the street as synthetic marijuana, fake weed, legal and by its popular brand names such as Spice, K2, Kush, Klimaxx and many others.

In custody since his arrest, Valdez 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, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lance Watt and Joel Dunn are prosecuting the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 52-year-old illegal alien who resided in Corpus Christi been sentenced to federal prison for possessing more than 10 thousand child pornography images, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Baldemar Cardenas-Martinez pleaded guilty May 20, 2019.

Today, Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey ordered Cardenas to serve a 63-month term of imprisonment. After his sentence, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet and register as a sex offender. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his sentence.

A Mexican citizen, Cardenas was originally granted a Visa which expired in 1997. He has been illegally present in the United States since that time.

The investigation began when authorities went online on a peer-to-peer network which catered to offenders sharing child pornography. Law enforcement was able to download multiple images from the device which belonged to Cardenas.

They conducted a search warrant, at which time they seized multiple electronic devices from the residence. A forensic examination of those devices revealed 10,673 child pornography files.

The Corpus Christi Police Department – Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany L. Jensen is prosecuting 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."

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 20-year-old resident of Wilmer has been ordered to federal prison for a significant amount of time after committing multiple bank robberies and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Markeist Daquon Reed pleaded guilty June 17, 2019, to a total of three counts of bank robbery involving three different banks and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.

Today, Senior U.S. District Judge John Rainey handed Reed a 63-month sentence for the robberies. He also received an additional 84 months for the firearms charge which must be served consecutively to the other sentence imposed. The sentences will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the more than 12-year sentence, the court noted how people were put in significant danger as a result of Reed’s actions during each of the robberies.

The charges stem from a series of bank robberies that occurred Oct. 5, Oct. 19 and Oct. 25, 2018, at the BB&T Bank on Park Lane in Dallas, Value Bank Texas on South Staples in Corpus Christi and BBVA Compass Bank on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, respectively.

In each instance, a male - later identified as Reed - entered the banks and approached an employee demanding money. During the last robbery, Reed carried with him and pointed an AK-47 style rifle as he demanded the money from the bank employee. Reed was later arrested during a traffic stop. At that time, law enforcement recovered the rifle and items linking him to the robberies.

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

The FBI and police departments in Corpus Christi and Dallas conducted the investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Watt is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 39-year-old Mexican national has been sentenced for attacking a Border Patrol (BP) agent with a flashlight, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Melecio Lopez-Hernandez pleaded guilty April 30, 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo handed Lopez-Hernandez a 70-month sentence. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face deportation proceedings following the sentence. At the hearing, the defense attempted to convince the court he thought the officer was a cow and was startled when he appeared. Judge Marmolejo was not persuaded. She further found the flashlight he used was a dangerous weapon under the law and noted Lopez-Hernandez had a clear intent to harm the agent based on the evidence.

Authorities arrested Lopez-Hernandez Feb. 7, 2019, after a BP agent encountered him walking through the brush south of Freer. He began to struggle as the agent attempted to detain him, during which time Lopez-Hernandez dislodged a flashlight that was clipped to the agent’s outer vest.

After verbally threatening him, Lopez-Hernandez then struck the agent in the head with the flashlight. The agent sustained injuries from the impact. 

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

The FBI and Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Day is prosecuting the case.

A Houston, Texas-area hospital administrator was sentenced today for his role in a $16 million Medicare fraud scheme involving partial hospitalization programs.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick of the Southern District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner of the FBI’s Houston Field Office, Special Agent in Charge C.J. Porter of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Dallas Region, and the Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) made the announcement.

Starsky Bomer, 46, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore of the Southern District of Texas to 10 years in prison for his role in the scheme, and ordered the defendant to pay $6,277,575.77 in restitution and to forfeit $158,260.  On Oct. 5, 2018, following a five-day trial before Judge Gilmore, Bomer was convicted of one count of conspiracy to receive health care kickbacks, two counts of violating the Anti-Kickback Statute, and one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud from a November 2017 superseding indictment.

According to evidence presented at trial, from 2011 until February 2013, Bomer and his co-conspirators engaged in a scheme to defraud Medicare by submitting to Medicare, through Atrium Medical Center (Atrium) and Pristine Healthcare (Pristine), approximately $16 million in false and fraudulent claims for partial hospitalization program (PHP) services.  A PHP is a form of intensive outpatient treatment for severe mental illness. 

The evidence presented at trial showed that Bomer, the hospitals’ chief financial officer and chief operating officer, orchestrated a scheme by which he and others paid illegal bribes and kickbacks to group home owners and patient recruiters in exchange for sending Medicare patients to Atrium and Pristine’s PHPs.  Bomer disguised bribes and kickbacks as salary payments and transportation payments to group home owners in exchange for patient referrals.  In addition, evidence presented at trial showed that Bomer knew that many of the patients admitted to Atrium and Pristine’s PHPs did not qualify for and were never provided legitimate partial hospital services. 

This case was investigated by the FBI, HHS-OIG and the Texas Attorney General’s MFCU.  Assistant Chief Aleza Remis and Trial Attorneys Jason Knutson and Gerald M. Moody, Jr. of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.

The Medicare Fraud Strike Force is part of a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and HHS to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country.  Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion.  In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.

HOUSTON – A total of 22 people from 13 states plus the District of Columbia will soon have to appear before a federal judge to answer charges following their alleged protest at the Fred Hartman Bridge in Houston, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

The criminal information, filed today, charges each with one count of aiding and abetting obstruction of navigable waters. They are currently in state custody on related charges but are expected to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Palermo at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14.

“I commend the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) for their professionalism,” said Patrick. “This was a unique situation that required hours of preparation and execution to bring to a close. Rather than peacefully protesting, these defendants are charged with a crime that put lives at risk.”

The charges allege each aided and abetted each other and others known and unknown to unlawfully obstruct the navigable capacity of the waters of the United States. Specifically, the information alleges they obstructed the waterway by rappelling off and suspending themselves from the Fred Hartman Bridge over the San Jacinto River. Their actions caused a disruption and affected vessel traffic within the Houston Ship Channel - to and from the Port of Houston, according to the allegations.

Those charged in federal court include California residents Zeph Fishlyn, 52, Tamura R. Seiji, 29, and Richard A. Sisney, 32, all of Oakland, and Cole Asher Taylor-Martin, 35, of Fullerton; Missouri residents Jayden Allen, 20, of  Warrensburg, and Dakota P. Schee, 25, of Kansas City; Jonathan Butler, 29, and Tracye Redd, 28, both of Washington, DC; Washington State residents Ryan Harris, 41, of Olympia, and Piper Werle, 29, of Port Orchard; New York women Brianna Gibson, 28, of Brooklyn, and Kim Irene, 26, of Jerico; Colorado residents Julie A. McElvain, 36, of Steamboat Springs, and Cheloee Price, 23, of Denver; as well as Christan Bufforu, 32, of Ellerwood, Georgia; Sydney Clifford, 21, of Portland, Oregon; Heather Doyle, 35, of Albequrque, New Mexico; Michael Herbert, 36, Hyattsville, Maryland; Tyler N. McFarland, 27, of Dover, New Hampshire; Sarah Newman, 42, of Lexington, Kentucky; Heidi Nybroten, 26, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Shevone Torres, 39, of Pennsauken, New Jersey.     

If convicted of the misdemeanor charges, each faces up to a year in federal prison and a possible $2,500 fine.

HCSO led the investigation and arrests with the participation and assistance of Harris County Precinct 8 Constables’ Office, U.S. Coast Guard, Houston Police Department, FBI, Texas Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration and fire departments in Houston and Baytown. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark McIntyre is prosecuting the case.

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 44-year-old Lyford woman has been sentenced for possessing with the intent to distribute more than 26 kilograms of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Jacqueline Barrera pleaded guilty June 19, 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge David S. Morales handed her a 120-month sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Morales noted the seriousness of the offense and the potential sentence. 

On April 17, 2019, Barrera drove a white Mitsubishi Lancer into the primary inspection area of the Border Patrol Checkpoint located near Sarita. A search of the vehicle revealed bundles of methamphetamine concealed within speaker boxes in the trunk of the car.  

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.

This Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert D. Thorpe Jr. is prosecuting the case.  

HOUSTON – A 53-year-old Houston man has admitted he possessed 2.57 lbs of synthetic cannabinoids aka “kush” and to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Authorities conducted surveillance at Jeffery Alan Foster’s residence on Truxillo Street after he had sold several batches of the illegal substances. The investigation resulted in the execution of a search warrant at that location July 10, 2018. Foster had left this residence, but authorities stopped him for traffic violations, after which he agreed to return to his home.

During the search, law enforcement found synthetic cannabinoids and more than $800 in a backpack. They also found computers, cell phones, a digital scale $4,232, two boxes of ammunition, two firearms as well as a black fire safe containing four large bags of loose kush which  totaled 1166.06 grams (2.57 pounds).

Foster admitted he possessed and had been distributing synthetic cannabinoids for human consumption for approximately seven years. He further acknowledged he knew it was illegal to do so.

Foster has prior convictions of cocaine possession and theft. As a convicted felon, Foster is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law.

U.S. District Judge Sim Lake accepted the plea today and set sentencing for Dec. 5, 2019. At that time, Foster faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $1 million maximum fine for the drug conviction and a maximum of 10 years and a $250,000 possible fine for the firearms conviction.

Foster was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.

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

HOUSTON – A 53-year-old Houston man has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud for his participation in a scheme to defraud Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Inc. (DPSG), announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Joseph A. Isaac admitted to participating in the scheme with Anna Maria Sites, 42, of Friendswood, from 2010 through Feb. 17, 2015, by not paying rebates to those who had requested them.

Isaac was the majority shareholder of FulFill Plus Inc., which administered the DPSG rebate campaigns. The rebates included returned bottle caps or for switching to DPSG brand drinks in restaurant/convenience store soda dispensers. DPSG paid FulFill to administer those campaigns.

Isaac admitted the fraud caused a loss to DPSG of $1,058,445.

U.S. District Judge Gray Miller will impose sentencing Dec. 4, 2019. At that time. Isaac faces up to five years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. 

He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.                     

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A federal jury has convicted a 49-year-old legal permanent resident from Donna 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.

During trial the jury heard that on Dec. 21, 2018, authorities arrested Federico Espinosa-Flores at the Border Patrol Checkpoint in Sarita.

At approximately 7:40 A.M., Espinosa-Flores drove a white Ford cargo van disguised as an adult daycare business and entered the primary inspection lane. At that time, authorities noticed him exhibiting signs of nervousness, such as avoiding eye contact and having trembling hands. Espinosa-Flores consented to a search of which resulted in the discovery of 10 undocumented aliens in the rear cargo area of the vehicle. Six were Chinese nationals. Two others were from

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

Senior U.S. District Judge John Rainey presided over the trial and set sentencing for Dec. 16, 2019. At that time, Espinosa-Flores faces up to 10 years imprisonment and a maximum $250,000 possible fine.

Previously released on bond, Espinosa-Flores was taken into custody following the verdict today where he will remain pending his sentencing.  

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neel Kapur is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – A federal jury sitting in Houston has convicted a 34-year-old man for conspiracy and methamphetamine 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, who illegally resided in Houston, for the conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  

The jury heard testimony from co-defendant Mexican national Genaro Pavon Pena that Benito operated stash houses in Houston between July 2016 and late 2017. The stash houses were used to produce methamphetamine for distribution in Houston, and Benito and Pena had discussed the movement of methamphetamine and cash proceeds. The jury also heard from law enforcement officers regarding search warrants and seizures of more than 130 kilograms of methamphetamine between November 2016 and February 2018. 

Benito removed gasoline tanks from vehicles coming from Mexico to extract liquid methamphetamine which was later processed into crystalized methamphetamine for distribution. Authorities seized 27 kilograms of methamphetamine April 4, 2017, which was directly tied to a stash house belonging to Pena. Testimony demonstrated that Benito delivered at least 25 kilos of methamphetamine he produced at his residence to the Pena residence before the seizure. Pena testified that the organization moved at least 500 kilograms of methamphetamine during the course of the conspiracy.

The defense argued that authorities did not seize drugs directly from Benito and that Pena falsely testified in order to receive a lesser sentence for his previous conviction. The jury was not convinced and convicted Benito as charged.

U.S. District Judge David Hittner presided over trial and set sentencing for Dec. 6, 2019. He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

Pena, 32, and Edwin Sanchez-Villa, 27, of Houston, previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy and are set for sentencing Nov. 5 and 20, 2019, respectively. All three men face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison.

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

LAREDO, Texas – A Laredo federal grand jury has returned several unrelated  indictments, four of which involved a methamphetamine conversion lab, illegal firearms purchases and two habitual illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Isidro Gonzalez, 44, Ismael Espinoza-Martinez, 37, Jesus Sanchez-Rico, 42, and Heriberto Castro-Escamilla, 45, were all originally charged by criminal complaint and have remained in custody. Today, a Laredo grand jury returned seven, one, one and seven-count indictments, respectively. They are all expected for their arraignments before U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga in the near future.

Gonzalez is a legal permanent resident who resided in Dallas and is charged with importing more than 43 kilograms of methamphetamine and having a conversion lab found in a family home.

The indictment alleges that on July 30, 2019, federal agents searched his family home in Dallas, at which time, they allegedly found a liquid methamphetamine conversion lab, two kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, 13.5 kilograms of liquid methamphetamine and conversion equipment. They also discovered a box of empty bottles in his daughter’s bedroom closet that tested positive for methamphetamine residue, according to the charges.

The liquid methamphetamine was allegedly transported from Mexico via bus lines and couriers through Laredo, to the Dallas residence where he converted it into crystal methamphetamine.

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

The two separate, but similar indictments against Mexican citizens Espinoza-Martinez and Sanchez-Rico allege they illegally re-entered the country on multiple occasions. According to the charges, Espinoza-Martinez was removed from the U.S. a total of six times - March 26, 2004, Sept. 19, 2006, March 4, 2008, Feb. 25, 2012, March 24, 2015, and Aug. 3, 2018. The 2015 removal followed his conviction for driving while intoxicated, according to court records. Nevertheless, he allegedly returned to the U.S. without authorization near Hebbronville once again Aug. 25, 2019. 

Authorities apprehended Sanchez-Rico near Laredo for illegally re-entering the country Aug. 24, 2019, according to his charges. He had allegedly been removed July 21, 2009, March 10, 2010, and March 18, 2019. The final removal date was subsequent to a felony conviction for aggravated stalking.                                                                              

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

Castro-Escamilla is a U.S. citizen who had lived in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, for 34 years. He is charged for his role in aiding and abetting others and for making a false statement in connection with the purchase of firearms. According to the criminal complaint, he purchased five AR-15 type semi-automatic rifles over the course of three months beginning March 27, 2019. On the federal form required for the purchases, he claimed the weapons were for himself when, in fact, they were allegedly going to Mexico, according to the charges.

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted the Gonzalez investigation with the assistance of the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office. Border Patrol and HSI conducted the illegal re-entry investigations, while the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives handled the Castro-Escamilla investigation with the assistance of HSI, Border Enforcement Security Task Force and Laredo Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Mary McAuliffe is prosecuting the methamphetamine and firearms cases, while AUSA Adam Harper is handling the illegal re-entry matters.

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 51-year-old Laredo resident has admitted she made a false statement and provided contraband in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Oralia Aparicio pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement and one count of providing contraband to a prison inmate.

Aparicio was employed by GEO Group Inc. as a Kitchen Supervisor at the Rio Grande Detention Center in Laredo. GEO is a Florida-based company that contracts with the Office of the Federal Detention Trustee to operate private corrections facilities. 

In early November 2018, Aparicio began engaging in a prohibited romantic relationship with an inmate, including consensual sexual encounters in the warehouse and cleaning utility room of the Rio Grande Detention Center. In January 2019, Aparicio engaged in prohibited favoritism by providing the inmate with contraband nude photographs of herself which Aparicio snuck into the facility in an eyeglass case. At approximately the same time, she also began knowingly providing the inmate with other contraband, including food, an unidentified over-the-counter cold medicine (Xtra), Amoxicillin and a Vicks nasal inhaler. 

Aparicio also provided the inmate with weekly to biweekly commissary deposits of up to $30. In order to conceal her prohibited relationship from officials, Aparicio intentionally submitted a fictitious name when making commissary deposits in the inmate’s account from Oct. 25, 2018, to Jan. 15, 2019. 

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing Jan. 27, 2020. At that time, Aparico faces up to five years imprisonment as well as a $250,000 maximum possible fine. 

The FBI and Department of Justice - Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sebastian Edwards prosecuted this case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 45-year-old Brownsville man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of possession with the intent to distribute more than a kilogram of methamphetamine and 15 kilograms of marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Arturo David Aguilar pleaded guilty May 30, 2019.

Today, US. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos ordered Aguilar to serve 120 months in prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. On supervised release for a previous methamphetamine conviction, the court revoked the remainder of that term and ordered he serve an additional six months to be served concurrently.

In handing down the sentence, the court noted Aguilar had just been released from prison when he committed this new offense. On April 6, 2019, Aguilar approached the Falfurrias checkpoint in a Greyhound bus traveling northbound on Interstate Highway 281. The bus was referred to secondary inspection where a K-9 alerted to a black suitcase that belonged to Aguilar. The suitcase contained multiple bundles of methamphetamine and marijuana. 

Authorities ultimately discovered a total of 15 kilograms of marijuana and 1.28 kilograms of methamphetamine, respectively. The drugs have an estimated street value of $100,000.

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of BP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neel Kapur is prosecuting the case.

McALLEN, Texas – A South Texas doctor has agreed to pay the United States $2,133,959.30 to resolve allegations he fraudulently submitted claims to the Medicare program for medically unnecessary diagnostic tests, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

“This settlement reflects our continued resolve to protect the Medicare program from exploitation,” said Patrick. “We will vigorously pursue providers who subject vulnerable patients to medically unnecessary and wasteful services in order to boost their profits and will not hesitate to bring enforcement actions when necessary.” 

Dr. Augusto Castrillon is a family physician who, until recently, owned and operated the Castrillon Family Clinic in Mission. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) conducted a proactive review of claims data and determined Castrillon to be a significant statistical outlier for various metrics. He appeared to be ordering an excessive number of diagnostic tests – many of which were highly complicated and ones which only trained specialists such as neurologists or cardiologists typically order. Claims data also indicated these tests were ordered for patients on a recurring basis.

The settlement resolves allegations that, from June 2009 to June 2015, Castrillon violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary transcranial doppler imaging studies, electromyography and nerve conduction studies and autonomic function testing.  

The USAO jointly conducted the investigation with the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad Gray and Andrew Bobb handled the investigation and conducted settlement negotiations.

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

HOUSTON - A 31-year-old man has entered a guilty plea for his role in a felon in possession of firearms conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick.

Ivory Vershone Brown is the last of 11 to be convicted in the federal charges that resulted from a rap video filmed in Northeast Houston’s Lakewood Park March 28, 2018. 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 brandishing firearms on the basketball court.  

Authorities received a 911 call reporting a group of suspicions people shooting a video with guns at the location and dispatched officers to the scene. As they arrived, the majority of the group 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. Authorities were able to identify each convicted felon and documented gang member who was in possession of firearms in the video. They compared each firearm recovered at the scene to the firearms the defendants held and identified similar characteristics of each. 

The lead rapper in the music video - Warren Brown II aka NFL Cartel Bo, 20, of Houston, previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Pleading guilty to the same charge were Kenneth Fontenot 22, Garrett Winn, 31, Devonte Haynes, 26, Joshua Amos, 31, Keithric Lewis, 31, Frenton Price, 33, and Marces Randolph, 30, all also of Houston.

Additionally, Roland Labome, 34, and Jerrell Grant, 37, entered their pleas to conspiracy to unlawfully possess firearms by a felon. They also reside in Houston.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas accepted the final plea today. Brown’s sentencing has been set for Dec. 18, 2019. At that time, he faces up to five years in federal prison as do Labome and Grant. The remaining defendants face a maximum of 10 years imprisonment. In addition, all defendants could potentially be ordered to pay fines up to $250,000.

The remaining defendants are set for sentencing between Dec. 16-18, 2019.

With the exception of Winn, Amos, Price, Randolph and Labome, all have been and will remain in custody pending those hearings.

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.

McALLEN, Texas – Two men face up to life in prison following their convictions of drug crimes, carjacking, robbery and firearms offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. The McAllen jury deliberated for five hours before convicting Mexican citizen Marin Macrin Cerda aka Filtro, 33, and Jose Miguel Montemayor aka aEl Mickey, 29, of Mission, late Friday. Sept. 6, 2019, following a seven-day trial. 

Both were convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and a crime of violence, two counts of carjacking, four counts of Hobbs Act robberies, two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and/or a drug trafficking offense and three counts of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and/or a drug trafficking offense. Cerda was also convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana, an additional count of carjacking, an additional count of Hobbs Act robbery, two additional counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence or drug trafficking offense and one additional count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or crime of violence in relation to events he participated in without Montemayor.

The investigation began after discovering a local rip crew was responsible for multiple carjackings and home invasions in Hidalgo County in order to steal controlled substances or drug proceeds.

Testimony revealed Cerda and other  crew members utilized law enforcement officials to further their drug trafficking activities. Two of those included former Donna Independent School District police Officer Juan F. Mata, 40, of Donna, and former Hidalgo County Court at Law No. 6 bailiff Oscar De La Cruz, 53, of Pharr. Jurors heard Mata conducted fraudulent traffic stops in order to allow members of the organization to steal cocaine hidden in load vehicles. De La Cruz produced fictitious court paperwork or queried sensitive law enforcement and judicial databases the organization would provide to sources of supply in order to retain and steal controlled substances in their possession.

During trial, the jury heard about multiple crimes involving Cerda, Montemayor or both between 2016-2017.

Three of those crimes were carjackings in McAllen and Pharr involving both men in an attempt to steal cocaine. In the second and third instances, rip crew members discharged firearms at the vehicles in order to obtain the controlled substances.

Testimony further revealed Cerda and Montemayor were involved in an attempted robbery which resulted in a shoot-out in a McAllen neighborhood. Another crime involved a home invasion, during which the criminals entered the wrong residence seeking drugs and terrorizing a family, including a female who was eight months pregnant.

Cerda and Montemayor also served as scouts for a drug transaction involving more than 20 kilograms of cocaine Feb. 1, 2017, in McAllen.

Jurors heard that rip crew continued their activities when they also attempted to rob multiple kilograms of cocaine from a vehicle traveling through Mission and McAllen Feb. 27, 2017. Cerda and Montemayor discharged firearms at the targeted load vehicle in an attempt to steal the cocaine. Testimony revealed a bullet struck an occupant of the vehicle and required significant medical attention. 

Cerda was further involved in the carjacking of a tractor trailer in rural Mission July 7, 2016, and a car chase and shootout Jan. 6, 2017. In the first instance, the rip crew threatened a family, including several juveniles, in order to steal a tractor trailer believed to conceal drug proceeds. During the car chase incident, the crew discharged firearms and rammed their vehicles into a vehicle before it ultimately crashed. 

Jurors also heard testimony relating to a home invasion conducted in Mission April 3, 2017, when rip crew members, including Cerda, entered the residence of a suspected drug trafficker armed with firearms to steal more than $100,000 in drug proceeds. 

The jury also heard that casings recovered from three of the crimes were fired from firearms recovered from Cerda’s vehicle.

The defense attempted to convince the jury that althought the crimes had been committed, co-conspirators fabricated Cerda’s and Montemayor’s involvement. They did not believe those claims and convicted both men as charged.

U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez presided over the trial and sent sentencing for Dec. 19, 2019. At that time, both men face up to 10 years for conspiracy to possess a firearm, a maximum of 15 years for each of the carjackings and 20 years on each of the robbery counts, a minimum of five and up to 40 years for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana as well a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison for the cocaine conspiracy. 

In addition, they face a minimum of seven years and up to life for each of the brandishing firearms convictions and a 10-year minimum up to life for each of the discharging a firearms counts. The firearms sentences must be served consecutively to each other and to the other sentences imposed.

All in all, Montemayor faces a minimum of  54 years, while Cerda faces a minimum of 78 years to life in prison. Both face a maximum lifetime term of imprisonment.

They have been and will remain in custody pending their sentencing hearing.

To date, more than 25 co-conspirators have been convicted in connection with the investigation. Mata and De La Cruz also pleaded guilty and have been sentenced to 130 and 60 months, respectively.

The FBI Safe Streets Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with assistance from Border Patrol, U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Department of Public Safety’s Highway Patrol and Regional Crime Laboratories, Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office and Police Departments in McAllen, Mission, Pharr and San Juan. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roberto Lopez Jr. and K. Alejandra Andrade are prosecuting the case. 

HOUSTON – A 23-year-old El Salvadorian citizen has been ordered to federal prison for his role in a horrific gang slaying – the murder of a teenager in the Sam Houston National Forest in 2013, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Jose Leonel Bonilla-Romero aka Jose Tupapa, who resided in Houston, pleaded guilty April 19, 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. handed Bonilla-Romero a 460-month term of imprisonment and ordered him to pay $13,000 in restitution. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following the sentence. If that occurs, the court ordered he must remain outside the country unless lawfully allowed to return. 

At the hearing, evidence established the crime was unusually heinous, cruel and degrading. The court also heard Bonilla-Romero’s conduct in detention was clearly inconsistent with acceptance of responsibility. He has continued his allegiance to the MS-13 gang and continued the use of gang signs.

The victim’s family also spoke today, mentioning how they took in Bonilla-Romero and let him share a room with the victim. They commented that they had given Bonilla-Romero support for two weeks, allowing him to share clothes with their son and giving him food. The victim’s father asked Bonilla-Romero to repent and accept God. As the judge pronounced the sentence, the victim’s mother wept in back of courtroom.  

In handing down the lengthy prison term, Judge Werlein noted Bonilla-Romero was the victim’s friend. However, he supplied him with alcohol and coerced him to come to the federal land in Huntsville, knowing he was going to be killed. The court further noted Bonilla-Romero even struck the first blow. He took a metal baseball bat, concealing it from the victim, and then hid behind him, rushed him and hit him with such force that he fractured his skull. 

At the time of his plea, Bonilla-Romero admitted to aiding and abetting two others in the murder of the 16-year-old victim Sept. 22, 2013.   

Those others - Cristian Alexander Zamora aka Christian Zamora, Alex or Pollo, 28, and Ricardo Leonel Campos Lara aka La Muerte, 24, both also of El Salvador, who resided in Huntsville and Houston, respectively -  previously pleaded guilty and are currently serving their federal prison sentences of 420 months each.

At the time of Bonilla-Romero’s hearing, the court heard that when officers found the mutilated victim’s body they observed gaping wounds on his knees and ankles with his head nearly severed from his body. The investigation led police to Zamora who ultimately confessed his role in the crime, implicating Romero and Lara. All three admitted to being members of the transnational MS-13 gang. They explained that a gang leader had ordered them to kill the victim, because he had supposedly cooperated with police in El Salvador, leading to the arrests of several MS-13 gang members. 

After Bonilla-Romero struck the first blow, the other two butchered the victim’s body with machetes. 

The medical examiner noted that the victim suffered deep cutting and chopping wounds, some all the way to the spinal cord with others causing partial decapitation.

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

The FBI, Houston Police Department, Texas Rangers, Walker County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Forest Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark E. Donnelly and Casey MacDonald prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – Three men are expected to make their appearances in federal court for aiding and abetting bank robbery and aiding and abetting brandishing a firearm in relation to robbing the Woodforest National Bank, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Originally charged by criminal complaint, a federal grand jury returned the two- count indictment Aug. 28, 2019, against Thaddeaues Williams, 21, Andre Palmer-Gilliams, 28, and Tydreic Sublet, 19, all of Houston. They are set to appear for their arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Palermo today at 10:00.

The charges allege Williams jumped the counter of the bank and took an unspecified amount of money. Palmer-Gilliams allegedly entered the Woodforest National Bank while brandishing a firearm and stole money from a customer who was using the ATM inside the bank. Sublet entered the bank, while also brandishing a firearm, pointing it at customers and tellers, according to the allegations. Sublet also allegedly disarmed the security guard and took his firearm before the three men exited the bank.   

The security guard was able to get a make, model and first letter of the license plate of the get-away vehicle, and officers were quickly able to locate it, according to the charges. Officers commanded them to stop but Sublet, the driver, allegedly refused and a chase ensued. The charges allege the vehicle ultimately crashed into a ditch, at which time the three men proceeded to run on foot. Authorities caught them and located four firearms - one of which belonged to the security guard - and the money allegedly stolen from the bank, according to the allegations.

The Houston Police Department and FBI Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Stotts 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 31-year-old Mexican man is set to appear in federal court following charges of importing 22 kilograms of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Oscar Emmanuel Villegas-Ipina was originally charged by criminal complaint July 31, 2019. A federal grand jury returned the two-count indictment Aug. 27, 2019, alleging conspiracy to import and importing methamphetamine into the United States.

Today, he is set to appear for his arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sam Sheldon at 1:00 p.m.

According to the charges, Villegas-Ipina approached the Lincoln Juarez Port of Entry in Laredo July 29, 2019, driving a 2008 Toyota Sienna with his wife and two children. He was sent to secondary examination where a positive K-9 alert and x-ray examination allegedly revealed anomalies within the backrest of the front and rear seats. A search of the seats resulted in a discovery of 21 bundles of methamphetamine weighing approximately 22.48 kilograms, according to the allegations.

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Garrie Brown 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 federal grand jury has indicted a 43-year-old Houston man on four counts of firearms violations including possession of a machine gun, specifically, a bump stock, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

The four-count indictment, returned yesterday, alleges Ajay Dhingra possessed a machine gun, made two materially false statements in the acquisition of two firearms and unlawfully possessed a firearm after having been adjudicated as a mental defective or who had been committed to a mental institution.

Previously charged by criminal complaint, he made his initial appearance in federal court Aug., 19, 2019, at which time he was ordered into custody pending further criminal proceedings. He is expected to appear for his arraignment before U.S. District Judge Gray Miller Sept. 12, 2019, at 10:00 a.m.

According to court records, on or about Aug. 17, 2019, Dhingra called the George Bush Foundation and left a concerning message. Authorities discovered Dhingra had previously been committed to a mental institution, according to the allegations. As such, he is prohibited by federal law of possessing a firearm or ammunition.

The charges further allege law enforcement contacted Dhingra at his residence where they found two firearms in his possession, one of which law enforcement identified as a rifle with an installed bump stock.

Authorities obtained a search warrant, which allegedly resulted in the discovery of a Glock pistol, a Colt rifle with a bump stock and 277 rounds of 9 mm ammunition.

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), this is the first case filed in Texas and what is believed to be the first nationwide involving illegal possession of bump stocks since the law was implemented in March 2019.

If convicted of any of the charges, Dhingra faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.

The Secret Service and ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ted Imperato and Steven Schammel 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.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 45-year-old Houston man has been sentenced in Brownsville federal court for recruiting individuals to petition for visa workers they did not need, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick along with Jeffrey McGallicher, special agent in charge of the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) - Houston Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) - San Antonio, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli and Steven Grell, special agent in charge of Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), Dallas Region.

Marco Pesquera pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit visa fraud Jan. 3, 2019.

Today, U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez sentenced Pesquera to 38 months in prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. He was further ordered to forfeit $5 million in a money judgment and his Houston residence.

Norma Linda Vega, 46 of Houston, Saul Atkinson, 47, of Brownsville, and Gwendolyn Saldivar, 41, of Snellville, Georgia were also charged and have pleaded guilty.

At the time of plea, Pesquera admitted that from approximately 2011 to January of 2018, he and his co-conspirators utilized legitimate and fictitious companies to petition for H-2B visas. Pesquera recruited and paid individuals to petition for visa workers they did not need and then utilized the foreign workers to fulfill labor contracts. 

“This is a perfect illustration of our global reach and our ability to partner with U.S. and foreign law enforcement agencies on complex international, multi-jurisdictional cases,” said McGallicher. “DSS and our counterparts are conducting investigations like these on a daily basis around the world to protect the integrity of the visa process, the security of the homeland and the American work force.”  

“HSI’s message is clear – America’s legal immigration system is not for sale,” said Folden. “In addition to posing significant security and safety vulnerabilities that could be exploited by criminals and others who pose a danger to our community, immigration benefit fraud undermines the integrity of our legal immigration process and penalizes those who abide by the law.”

“USCIS officers are on the job everyday looking to identify and expose those who attempt to defraud and exploit our nation’s immigration system,” said Cuccinelli. “We are proud to have supported our law enforcement partners in this investigation and pleased to have had a role in putting this fraudster out of business.“

“Pesquera and his co-conspirators defrauded the DOL’s H-2B program by filing false documentation to obtain visas for more than 1000 foreign workers to work in the U.S illegally,” said Grell. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to vigorously pursue those who defraud worker visa programs for their own personal gain.”

Pesquera’s business, Pangea Enterprises Inc., contracted with large industries to provide labor and profited by paying foreign workers an hourly wage well below the contract rate.

Pesquera and his co-defendants utilized false documents that included contracts, tax forms, web sites and fictitious phone numbers and business addresses to facilitate the fraud. 

Pesquera also admitted to obstructing the investigation by creating false documents in response to a federal subpoena.

He was permitted to temporarily remain on bond and surrender Oct. 4, 2019, to begin his sentence at a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.

DSS, HSI, USCIS and DOL-OIG conducted the investigation as members of the Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Hagen is prosecuting the case.

LAREDO, Texas – A 22-year-old man has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Cristian Jose Castro admitted today he viewed and downloaded child pornography from the internet on two of his laptop computers. 

On Oct. 11, 2018, law enforcement initiated an investigation into suspected possession and distribution of child pornography from a Laredo residence. They later executed a federal search warrant at the address and encountered Castro.

He admitted he obtained the child pornography from certain messaging applications and file-sharing programs via the internet using the wi-fi network at his residence. Castro said he had previously viewed adult pornography but he had become bored with it. He said he first watched child pornography when he was only nine. When law enforcement talked to him in December 2018, he added that he had searched, downloaded and viewed child pornography as recently as the month before. He admitted the children appearing in that ranged in age from seven to 12 years of age and that he had also downloaded pornography which  included infants and toddlers. 

A forensic analysis of one of Castro’s seized laptops included more than 2000 images of child pornography.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, Castro faces a minimum of up to 20 years in federal prison.

Castro was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.

The FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Bukiewicz and Francisco Rodriguez are prosecuting 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."

A Houston-area man who posed as a physician at an unregistered pain clinic was found guilty today for his role at a “pill mill” at which he and his co-conspirators illegally prescribed hundreds of thousands of doses of opioids and other controlled substances.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick of the Southern District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Will R. Glaspy of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Houston Division made the announcement.

After a five-day day jury trial, Muhammad Arif, 61, of Katy, Texas, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances and three counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances.  Arif is expected to be sentenced on a date not yet determined by U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett of the Southern District of Texas, who presided over the trial.

According to the evidence presented at trial, from September 2015 through February 2016, Arif conspired with a doctor and with the owner of Aster Medical Clinic of Rosenberg, Texas, which operated as an illegal pill mill, to unlawfully prescribe controlled substances to patients.  The evidence showed that Arif was not licensed to practice medicine in the United States, but posed as a physician at Aster Medical Clinic, saw patients as if he were a physician and wrote prescriptions for patients on prescription pads that had been pre-signed by the doctor, Arif’s co-conspirator. 

Through this scheme, Aster Medical Clinic dispensed prescriptions for over 200,000 dosage units of hydrocodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, and over 145,000 dosage units of carisoprodol, a Schedule IV controlled substance.  The combination of hydrocodone and carisoprodol is a dangerous drug cocktail with no known medical benefit, the evidence showed.

Trial evidence showed that Aster Medical Clinic issued unlawful prescriptions for controlled substances to over 40 people on its busiest days.  “Crew leaders” brought numerous people to pose as patients at Aster Medical Clinic and paid for their visits in order to obtain prescriptions for controlled substances that the crew leaders would then sell on the street.  Aster Medical Clinic charged approximately $250 for each patient visit, and required payment in cash, the evidence showed.

To date, two co-conspirators have pleaded guilty based on their roles in the unlawful prescription scheme at Aster Medical Clinic.  Baker Niazi, 48, of Sugar Land, Texas, and Waleed Khan, 47, of Parker, Texas, are currently awaiting sentencing before U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett of the Southern District of Texas.

The case was investigated by the DEA, and was brought as part of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, under the supervision of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Deputy Chief Aleza Remis and Trial Attorney Alexis Gregorian of the Fraud Section.

The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which is part of a joint initiative between the Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to focus their efforts to prevent and deter fraud and enforce current anti-fraud laws around the country.  Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 14 strike forces operating in 23 districts, has charged nearly 4,000 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion.

HOUSTON – The 42-year-old Friendswood woman charged with committing fraud against a popular beverage company has admitted her guilt, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Anna Maria Sites pleaded guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nancy Johnson to conspiracy to commit mail fraud against Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Inc. (DPSG).

Sites admitted to participating in the scheme from 2010 through Feb. 17, 2015, by not paying rebates to those who had requested them. Sites handled human resources and accounting for FulFill Plus Inc., which administered the DPSG rebate campaigns. The rebates included returned bottle caps or for switching to DPSG brand drinks in restaurant/convenience store soda dispensers. DPSG paid FulFill to administer those campaigns.

Specifically, in 2014 and 2015, FulFill administered a DPSG program known as 2014 Fast Start, which paid a $75 rebate for switching to a DPSG drink in soda dispensers. DPSG paid $125,000 for FulFill to manage this campaign. Sites was responsible for rebates not being issued. Only after receiving multiple complaints would she arrange for the monies to be dispersed.

Sites sent rebate fund reports for the 2014 Fast Start rebate program to DPSG, which falsely represented that rebates were being paid when, in truth, they were not.

DPSG suffered a financial loss as a result of the scheme Sites committed. The court will determine that official amount at the time of sentencing.  

U.S. District Judge Gray Miller will impose sentencing Dec. 4, 2019. At that time. Sites faces up to five years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.  

She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.                      

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

A Bangladeshi national residing in Tapachula, Mexico, was arrested Aug. 31 on arrival at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, to face a superseding criminal indictment for his role in a scheme to smuggle aliens into the United States.

The unsealed superseding indictment alleges that from March 2017 to August 2018, Milon Miah conspired to bring and brought 15 Bangladeshi nationals to the United States at the Texas border in exchange for payment.  Miah allegedly maintained a hotel in Tapachula, Mexico, where he housed and fed aliens and provided them with plane tickets to locations in northern Mexico where the aliens were met by other smugglers who transported them to the U.S. border. One of Miah’s co‑conspirators in the smuggling operation, Moktar Hossain, pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States as well as several related smuggling charges.

“Human smuggling rings endanger the security of the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.  “This arrest sends a strong message that the Department is dedicated to holding accountable those who conspire to subvert our nation’s immigration laws for their own profit.”

“Securing our borders is a national security and law enforcement priority,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick for the Southern District of Texas.  “Often, disparate organizations cooperate in an effort to exploit our border.  The great investigative work by multiple agencies stopped this group and is able to bring foreign based defendants to justice.”

“The arrest of Milon Miah represents a significant joint effort in ensuring national security and public safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio.  “HSI remains steadfast in vigorously investigating and dismantling transnational criminal networks that pose a threat to our nation.  We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to maintain the integrity of our border and ensure the safety of our communities.”

Miah was presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena H. Palmero in the Southern District of Texas for his initial appearance.  At the hearing, Judge Palmero ordered that Miah be held pending transfer to Laredo for further criminal proceedings.

HSI Laredo is conducting the investigation with assistance from HSI Mexico City, HSI Monterrey, HSI Houston, HSI Calexico, Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol and the U.S. Marshals Service.  The investigation is being conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI.  The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks or present grave humanitarian concerns.  ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence and prosecutorial resources.  ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

Trial Attorneys James Hepburn and Erin Cox of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.

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

HOUSTON  - A Bangladeshi national residing in Tapachula, Mexico, was arrested Aug. 31 on arrival at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston to face a superseding criminal indictment for his role in a scheme to smuggle aliens into the United States.

The unsealed superseding indictment alleges that from March 2017 to August 2018, Milon Miah, 39, conspired to bring and brought 15 Bangladeshi nationals to the United States at the Texas border in exchange for payment. Miah allegedly maintained a hotel in Tapachula, Mexico, where he housed and fed aliens and provided them with plane tickets to locations in northern Mexico where the aliens were met by other smugglers who transported them to the U.S. border. One of Miah’s co-conspirators in the smuggling operation, Moktar Hossain, pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States as well as several related smuggling charges.

“Human smuggling rings endanger the security of the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This arrest sends a strong message that the Department is dedicated to holding accountable those who conspire to subvert our nation’s immigration laws for their own profit.”

“Securing our borders is a national security and law enforcement priority,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. “Often, disparate organizations cooperate in an effort to exploit our border. The great investigative work by multiple agencies stopped this group and is able bring foreign based defendants to justice.”

“The arrest of Milon Miah represents a significant joint effort in ensuring national security and public safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio. “HSI remains steadfast in vigorously investigating and dismantling transnational criminal networks that pose a threat to our nation. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to maintain the integrity of our border and ensure the safety of our communities.”

Miah was presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena H. Palmero in the Southern District of Texas for his initial appearance. At the hearing, Judge Palmero ordered Miah be held pending transfer to Laredo for further criminal proceedings.

HSI Laredo is conducting the investigation with assistance from HSI Mexico City, HSI Monterrey, HSI Houston, HSI Calexico, Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol and the U.S. Marshals Service. The investigation is being conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

Trial Attorneys James Hepburn and Erin Cox of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.

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 - Two local residents have been ordered to federal prison after having being caught for selling methamphetamine out of a Cotulla residence, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Francisco Flores, 44, and Fabian Cordova, 35, pleaded guilty in October 2018.

On Sept. 3, 2019, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana ordered Flores to serve 151 months in prison for his four counts of trafficking methamphetamine. Flores was sentenced to 60 months for his one count of conspiracy to commit drug trafficking. The sentences will be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.

The investigation revealed Flores and Cordova had conducted several drug trafficking transactions. Authorities executed a search warrant March 8, 2018, at the residence of Flores in Cotulla. At that time, Flores and Cordova had attempted to flee but were ultimately arrested.  

During the search, authorities also found 10 weapons and narcotics packaged for sale which included nearly 70 grams each of cocaine and methamphetamine.  

Flores admitted he kept the weapons to protect himself and to selling narcotics for more than 25 years.

Both 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, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Cotulla County Sheriff’s Office conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force operation dubbed Eagle Ford Shales. Assistant U.S. Attorney Graciella Lindberg prosecuted the case.