Southern District of Texas

HOUSTON – A 40-year-old Mont Belvieu man has admitted to wire fraud in connection with a Ponzi-style investment scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

From January 2022 through August 2023, Carl Channing Spence operated “AEI Financial” from his residence. He solicited friends, acquaintances and colleagues by promising high returns through stock trading specializing in “meme stocks.” Spence promised victims 10 to 12 percent returns by investing in popular stocks during a period of rapid stock market gains. Instead, he diverted funds for personal use and to make purported returns to earlier investors.

Once victims provided funds, Spence created fraudulent account statements that falsely showed investment growth and returns which he used to persuade victims to reinvest. In reality, he commingled investor funds into a single account and lost much of the money through unsuccessful trades.

The scheme resulted in numerous victims who received fraudulent account statements but never recovered their original investments or promised returns. Spence took in approximately $2.1 million from the known victims.

U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal will impose sentencing April 14. At that time, Spence faces up to 20 years in prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.   

FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Carter and Brad Gray are prosecuting the case.

VICTORIA, Texas – A 43-year-old Rockport man has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and failure to appear, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Daniel Wayne Dobbs pleaded guilty Aug. 20, 2025.

U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Dobbs to serve 240 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.

The investigation began May 19, 2022, after law enforcement observed multiple traffic violations involving a Nissan Sentra. Dobbs was the passenger.

Authorities conducted a traffic stop, at which time Dobbs acknowledged there was marijuana inside the vehicle. Law enforcement conducted a search and discovered a black backpack containing six clear plastic bags of a crystal-like substance, syringes, a digital scale, and marijuana.

The bags tested positive for methamphetamine and had a total weight of over 3.4 kilograms.

Dobbs admitted to making many additional methamphetamine deliveries.

Dobbs was initially permitted release pending his sentencing hearing. While on bond, he was arrested with an additional kilogram of methamphetamine and a firearm and failed to appear for his sentencing. Authorities located him in San Antonio and took him into custody where he remains pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Victoria County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patti Hubert Booth prosecuted the case. 

HOUSTON – A 31-year-old Mexican national with multiple felonies who illegally resided in Houston has been ordered to federal prison for illegally reentering the country again without authorization, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Javier Andres Rivera pleaded guilty Nov. 12, 2025. 

U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison has now ordered Rivera to serve 60 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court considered Rivera’s criminal history and noted that, despite a prior lengthy prison sentence, he has continued to reoffend and has not demonstrated a positive rehabilitative trajectory.

Rivera has felony convictions for aggravated robbery with a firearm, possession of more than 50 pounds of marijuana, terroristic threats and illegal reentry. He was first removed from the United States in November 2011 and illegally returned three times. 

Authorities discovered him again in July 2025 after arresting him for unlawful possession of a firearm.

Rivera will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Law prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 42-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been sentenced to prison for one count of wire fraud and one count of embezzlement from a labor organization, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Robert Cirilo pleaded guilty April 28, 2025.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Cirilo to serve 21 months in federal prison, to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. The court also ordered him to pay more than $280,000 in restitution.

From June 2021 to January 2024, Cirilo, former president of the United Steelworkers Local 13-1647 in Corpus Christi, used union debit cards to make approximately 430 unauthorized personal purchases. He concealed the transactions by lying to union members.

As part of his guilty plea, he acknowledged the embezzlement totaled more than $280,000.

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

The FBI and Department of Labor’s Office of Labor Management Standards conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Foster and John Marck prosecuted the case. 

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 38-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been ordered to federal prison for possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Ramsey Guerrero pleaded guilty Oct. 23, 2025.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Guerrero to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard about Guerrero’s flight from law enforcement during a traffic stop and his resistance to arrest on a separate occasion while facing active warrants. In handing down the sentence, Judge Ramos cited Ramos’ lengthy criminal history, including three prior state convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On June 10, 2025, authorities conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle Guerrero was driving. They noticed the odor of marijuana and requested to search the car. Guerrero refused, fled the scene and eventually crashed his vehicle into a field near the highway before escaping on foot. Inside the car, authorities found two pistols, a rifle and a shotgun, as well as nearly 300 rounds of ammunition, a full set of body armor, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Law enforcement eventually located Guerrero as the passenger in a parked car and attempted to arrest him based on his active warrants. When officers approached, he resisted, and authorities discovered Guerrero had another loaded firearm located directly beneath his seat.

As a convicted felon, Guerrero is prohibited from possessing firearms per federal law.

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

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of U.S. Marshals Service and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.

On Jan. 22, the Southern District of Texas, McAllen Division, issued an order revoking the citizenship of Mr. Carlos Noe Gallegos, who was convicted of sexually assaulting a child prior to naturalizing and, later, withheld disclosing his illegal acts and accompanying conviction throughout his naturalization process. Prior to naturalizing, Mr. Gallegos sexually assaulted a child younger than 14 years. Years after he naturalized, Mr. Gallegos pleaded guilty to the sexual assault, and the court issued an order of community supervision. Mr. Gallegos’s acts and his concealment of these material facts warranted the revocation of his 2010 naturalization under 8 U.S.C. § 1451.

“American citizenship is a privilege that this child-abusing monster never should have been able to attain,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We will continue ensuring that anyone who conceals such conduct while obtaining naturalization is found out and stripped of their citizenship.”

“Safekeeping the integrity of our society demands that this Administration be allowed to denaturalize monsters who sexually abuse our children,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division

The Southern District of Texas held that Mr. Gallego’s willful and knowing sexual contact with a child as described in sections 22.021(b)(1) and 22.011(c)(1) of the Texas Penal Code was a crime involving moral turpitude. Because Mr. Gallego’s criminal conduct reflected negatively upon his character, he illegally procured his citizenship when he was never eligible to naturalize and should not have been naturalized.

This case was handled by the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation, Affirmative Litigation Unit, with assistance from the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, after investigation by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations.  

HOUSTON – A local man has been sentenced for filing fraudulent and false statements on his federal tax returns causing a quarter of a million in losses, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Joseph Patrick Butler pleaded guilty April 23, 2025.

U.S. District Judge Sim Lake has now ordered Butler to serve 21 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by one year of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Butler provided false wage and withholding information in his tax returns over a span of eight years to induce the IRS to pay him refunds. The fraudulent refunds were Butler’s primary source of income during this timeframe, and he affirmatively sought to claim these refunds even after the IRS caught on to his scheme and placed a hold on payments. 

In handing down the sentence, the court noted that Butler’s conduct was particularly willful and involved year after year of false submissions. The court also stated that “eight years of continuous fraud cries out” for an appropriately significant sentence. 

Butler admitted that, for the 2013 to 2020 tax years, he filed false joint Form 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns and received inflated tax refunds to which he was not entitled. As part of the plea, Butler acknowledged creating shell companies that issued W-2 forms to himself, falsely reporting hundreds of thousands of dollars in wages and significant tax withholdings each year.

In reality, he earned no such wages, and no taxes had been withheld. Butler’s scheme resulted in a total tax loss of over $260,000 in fraudulent refunds.

He was permitted to remain on bond pending and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad Gray and Shirin Hakimzadeh prosecuted the case. 

HOUSTON – A 25-year local resident has entered a guilty plea to distribution of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl that lead to the deaths of two people, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. 

Antonio Curo admitted he distributed the drug through the U.S. mail to individuals across the country.

Specifically, Curo distributed fentanyl to a 16-year-old female in Houston who died after consuming pills that contained fentanyl. He had directly provided the counterfeit pills to the minor victim. The victim’s father found her in her room deceased with an imprinted “M-30” pill in a small, orange plastic bag next to her body. Laboratory testing confirmed the pill contained fentanyl.

Curo also acknowledged he was responsible for the death of a 24-year-old man in Connecticut. The victim ordered pills via social media and instant messaging service, and Curo sent them through the mail. The victim’s girlfriend saw him receive the package and ingest the pills before he died.

Curo admitted he was aware of the deaths and knew he was selling fentanyl.

“Curo knowingly distributed counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl, showing a complete disregard for the law and human life,” said Ganjei. “The facts are incredibly clear: one pill can kill. Now, two more young lives have been lost to this scourge, and two families will endure a lifetime of grief all because a criminal placed money before morality. My office will always protect the families within the Southern District of Texas by aggressively prosecuting those who seek to poison our community.”

U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett accepted the plea and set sentencing for April 30, at which time Curo faces a minimum of 20 years and up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of partner agencies in Vermont and Iowa, USPIS – Office of Inspector General, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Bend County Narcotics Task Force, Houston Police Department and Harris County Sherriff’s Office.

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 26-year-old Virginia man who previously resided in Corpus Christi has been found guilty despite claiming he was unaware it was illegal to possess child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei

The jury deliberated for approximately nine hours before convicting Anthony Porche following a three-day trial.

The investigation began in October 2023 when authorities discovered Porche had been engaging in activity involving images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material.

At trial, the jury heard how law enforcement executed a search warrant at Porche’s residence and seized his electronic devices. A physical search of his cellphone resulted in the discovery of several pornographic images.

Porche admitted he downloaded child pornography on his phone over a few months and that there were at least five images of child pornography on his device.

Forensic analysis resulted in the discovery of approximately 500 images and videos depicting CSAM. Evidence further revealed that some of images depicted prepubescent children engaging in sexually explicit conduct and in lewd or lascivious poses.

The defense attempted to convince the jury Porche was insane due to his autism diagnosis, therefore not fully aware of his conduct and unable to understand his viewing and possessing CSAM was illegal. The jury did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge David S. Morales presided over the trial and set sentencing for April 23. At that time, Porche faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Porche was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations and Corpus Christi Police Department conducted the investigation.

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

HOUSTON – In support of Operation Take Back America, the Southern District of Texas has filed another 331 cases in immigration and border security-related matters from Jan. 16-22, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.  

The cases include charges against 18 people allegedly involved in human smuggling. A total of 104 criminal complaints were filed for illegal entry, while another 206 people face charges of felony reentry after prior removal. Most of those individuals have prior felonies such as narcotics, violent crime, immigration crimes and more. The remaining cases charged this week relate to other immigration crimes and smuggling of goods.

As part of the new matters, criminal complaints allege several individuals attempted to unlawfully reenter the country after they had already been removed within the last year. Mexican nationals Jorge Samuel Herrera-Elias and Abel Zambrano-Hernandez were previously removed Oct. 22, 2025, and Nov. 24, 2025, respectively, according to court records, while authorities removed El Salvadorian national Jasson Eduardo Canas-Membrano May 12, 2025. Each allegedly has prior felony convictions, including illegal reentry, injury to child/elderly/disabled with intended bodily injury or burglary of a habitation.

Further, authorities discovered Mexican national Juan Hernandez-Ramirez in the Roma area, according to his complaint. The charges allege he was previously removed August 2023 and has a prior conviction for sexual assault of a child.

All four now face up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted

Also announced this week was the transfer of two alleged members of dangerous drug cartels to face federal drug trafficking charges. Juan Pedro Saldivar-Farias aka “Z-27” was allegedly a Los Zetas plaza boss and then regional commander of the northern region of Mexico, while Ricardo Cortez-Mateos aka “Billeton,” was a high-ranking member of Cartel del Gulfo, according to the charges. Separate indictments charge both men with participating in large-scale drug trafficking conspiracies operating along the U.S. – Mexico border. If convicted, they face up to life in prison.

In addition to the new cases, Penitas resident Diego Masiel Torres was ordered to federal prison for impeding federal law enforcement during a consensual worksite enforcement operation in Harlingen. Torres attempted to physically interfere by trying to remove the individual from custody and placing the law enforcement officer in a chokehold.

“There is, at present, an unfortunate belief that the public can freely obstruct law enforcement from carrying out their duties, and do so without consequence,” said Ganjei. “If you want to express your disagreement with a particular federal law or policy, there is a right way to do so, and a wrong way — and tangling with the police is one hundred percent always the wrong way. Today, Mr. Torres learned that lesson the hard way.”

Also announced was the sentencing of the owners of Abby’s Bakery and Dulce’s Cafe in Los Fresnos for employing and housing illegal aliens within their restaurant. Leonardo Baez-Lara and Alicia Avila-Guel hired and harbored workers who were in the United States illegally or on B1/B2 visas without having the right to work. The jury heard that employees were living in a storage area with only one exit, sleeping on mattresses and rarely had hot water.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.

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

LAREDO, Texas - A 45-year-old U.S. citizen who resided in Mexico has been ordered to federal prison for drug smuggling, after falsely claiming he was traveling to see dying grandmother, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Jimmy Vasquez Gonzalez pleaded guilty Sept. 2, 2025.

U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen has now ordered Gonzalez to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.

On May 3, 2025, Gonzalez entered the United States from Mexico driving a Ford Edge with Walter Diaz Nino in the front passenger seat. He approached the Lincoln Juarez Bridge in Laredo and provided a negative declaration. However, a preliminary examination detected an anomaly in the vehicle.

At secondary inspection, a K-9 alerted, and authorities discovered 15 bundles within the floorboard of the backseat which field tested positive for cocaine.

Gonzalez claimed they were headed to Houston to pick up his sister to take her to see their dying grandmother. The investigation revealed his relative, whom Nino claimed was his girlfriend, was not in Houston and the story was false. They were actually intending to deliver narcotics. Nino expected to be paid $4,500 upon their return to Mexico and promised a portion of the proceeds to Vasquez.

The total weight was 10.17 kilograms with an estimated street value of over $140,000.  

Further investigation also revealed this was the pair’s second time smuggling narcotics.

Nino, 41, a Mexican citizen with a visa allowing him to enter the United States, had also pleaded guilty and was previously sentenced to 130 months in federal prison. He is expected to face removal proceedings following his sentence.

Both have been and will remain in custody.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Manuel A. Cardenas Jr. prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – The current Webb County sheriff and his assistant chief have appeared in federal court for their alleged involvement in a scheme to defraud the Webb County Sheriff’s Office during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Laredo residents Martin Cuellar Jr., 67, and Alejandro Gutierrez, 47, have turned themselves in to authorities and have now made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan in Houston.    

A federal grand jury returned the now unsealed five-count indictment Nov. 19, 2025. It alleges that between 2020 and 2022, Cuellar and Gutierrez conspired with others to misappropriate WCSO funds.

According to the indictment, Cuellar, Gutierrez and former assistant chief Ricardo Rodriguez used WCSO staff and resources to run a for-profit disinfecting business during the COVID-19 pandemic. They allegedly opened Disinfect Pro Master in April 2020 and entered into service agreements with local businesses and restaurants despite having no employees or supplies of their own. The indictment alleges WCSO employees handled the company’s day-to-day operations from the sheriff’s office where they picked up schedules and equipment to conduct disinfecting services both on and off the clock with the county.

The charges also allege Disinfect Pro Master secured a $500,000 contract to clean United Independent School District schools in Laredo and completed the work using WCSO staff and resources. For more than two years, the business allegedly operated almost entirely with county employees and supplies, incurring minimal overhead.

Cuellar, Gutierrez and Rodriguez each received approximately $175,000 – one third of the profits, according to the charges. Cuellar allegedly used part of his proceeds to purchase property in Laredo. 

If convicted, Cuellar and Gutierrez both face up to 10 years in federal prison, as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Cuellar is additionally charged with money laundering, which carries an additional 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the amount of property involved in the real estate transaction.

Rodriguez, 65, Laredo, previously pleaded guilty and is set for sentencing March 16. He is currently on bond pending that hearing.

FBI - San Antonio and Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation as part of the Laredo Border Corruption Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Winter and Robert Johnson are prosecuting the case.

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

McALLEN, Texas – A 24-year-old Weslaco resident has been ordered to federal prison for coercion and enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Walter Wilkins pleaded guilty Dec. 20, 2024. 

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now sentenced Wilkins to a total of 276 months in prison. The court enhanced the sentence, finding Wilkins produced child sexual abuse material with a minor victim under 16 years of age and also found him to be a repeat and dangerous offender against minors. The court also heard testimony from the victims’ families who spoke of the lasting and devastating impact to their children. 

In handing down the prison terms, the court further ordered Wilkins to pay $13,564 in restitution and serve the rest of his life on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Wilkins will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. 

“Wilkins sexually preyed upon minors, inflicting mental scars on his victims that will likely haunt them for the rest of their lives. His conduct is even more shocking considering he was already on bond for state charges of child sex abuse when he committed this offense,” said Ganjei. “Wilkins is not the type of person that should be walking our streets, nor communicating online with minors. Fortunately, he will now spend the next 23 years in federal prison, unable to victimize anyone else.”

“Wilkins’ actions represent the worst kind of predatory behavior, targeting and exploiting vulnerable children in our community,” said acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Pasciucco, Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, San Antonio. “HSI, together with our law enforcement partners, worked tirelessly to uncover the full scope of Wilkins’ crimes and ensure he faces justice. HSI will not tolerate those who use technology to coerce, abuse, and traumatize minors. Our agents remain steadfast in their resolve to pursue child predators and protect our children from those who seek to do them harm.”

The investigation began after the mother of a 13-year-old female

reported the sexual assault of her daughter. 

Wilkins had picked up the minor and sexually exploited her in exchange for vape pens. Authorities discovered Wilkins had created child sexual abuse material and then threatened to release the files to the victim’s classmates if they ceased to participate in the sexual relationship. At the time, Wilkins was out on bond for two other state cases involving the sexual abuse of children. 

Authorities further determined Wilkins exploited three additional minor victims. He advertised the sale of vape pens on social media and then coerced the children into sexual acts instead of financial payment.

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

HSI conducted the investigation with assistance of Weslaco Police Department and Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Devin V. Walker prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice 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. 

VICTORIA, Texas – A 51-year-old Harlingen resident has been convicted for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

The jury deliberated for less than an hour before convicting Jimenez James Love guilty following a two-day trial.

“For too long, the Sinaloa Cartel and other foreign terrorist organizations relied on drug couriers to finance their campaigns of violence and terror. That ends now,” said Ganjei. “By transporting the hidden narcotics, Love engaged in the calculated deception cartels have used to flood our streets with these poisons. His conviction demonstrates my office’s resolve to dismantle the financial networks that sustain these terrorists.”

The investigation began June 30, 2021, when law enforcement discovered Love was transporting methamphetamine and fentanyl concealed in the gas tank of his girlfriend’s vehicle.

At trial, the jury heard how authorities had conducted a traffic stop and discovered approximately 11 kilograms of methamphetamine and 5.32 kilograms of fentanyl.

Love was hired as a driver to transport drugs for the Sinaloa Cartel. Love’s load was one of many shipments this arm of the organization had made. Testimony revealed that the number of shipments was so vast that an accurate number of shipments could not be determined. However, evidence revealed the single load of fentanyl that Love was carrying contained over two million potential lethal doses.

The defense attempted to convince the jury that Love was not involved in an ongoing drug trafficking operation. The jury did not believe the claims and found him guilty as charged.

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton presided over the trial and set sentencing for April 17. At that time, Love faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine on both conspiracy counts.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety and Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patti Hubert Booth prosecuted the case.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 19-year-old South Texas man has been ordered to federal prison for interfering with officers in the course of their duties, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Diego Masiel Torres pleaded guilty Oct. 29, 2025. 

U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now ordered Torres to serve six months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court described Torres’ conduct as unlawful towards someone performing their official duties. In handing down the sentence, the court noted his sentence is warranted as no one is above the law.  

“There is, at present, an unfortunate belief that the public can freely obstruct law enforcement from carrying out their duties, and do so without consequence. Today’s sentence shows just how mistaken that belief is," said Ganjei. “If you want to express your disagreement with a particular federal law or policy, there is a right way to do so, and a wrong way — and tangling with the police is one hundred percent always the wrong way. Today, Mr. Torres learned that lesson the hard way.”

“Those who endanger our agents and undermine the safety of our communities will face serious consequences,” said acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Pasciucco of HSI San Antonio. “Interfering with federal law enforcement is a grave offense, and today’s sentencing makes clear that such actions will be met with swift and decisive justice.”

On Aug. 27, 2025, authorities were conducting a consensual worksite enforcement operation in Harlingen. Upon their arrival, several people fled from the area. While authorities attempted to apprehend an illegal alien, Torres attempted to physically interfere by trying to remove the individual from custody and placing the law enforcement officer in a chokehold. Additional agents intervened and subsequently arrested Torres.   

He has been and will remain in custody. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney L. Salazar prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 

HOUSTON – Two members of prolific transnational criminal organizations have appeared in Houston federal court for significant drug trafficking offenses and/or allegedly running a continuing criminal enterprise, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.  

Mexican national Juan Pedro Saldivar-Farias aka “Z-27,” 42, and Ricardo Cortez-Mateos aka “Billeton,” 41, were transferred to U.S. authorities Jan. 20. Saldivar-Farias is set for a detention hearing Friday Jan. 23 at 10 a.m. Cortez-Mateos made his appearance and will be transferred to Brownsville for his arraignment. Both remain in custody pending further criminal proceedings.

The alleged cartel members were indicted in separate cases in 2021.

Saldivar-Farias was allegedly a Los Zetas plaza boss and then regional commander of the northern region of Mexico, while Cortez-Mateos was a high- ranking member of the Cartel del Gulfo (CDG), according to the charges.

Court documents allege the Zetas were a drug trafficking and money laundering organization which imported and distributed marijuana and cocaine from Mexico into the United States and controlled miles of Mexican territory along the border of Mexico and the United States, including the cities of Zapata as well as Nueva Cuidad Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Saldivar-Farias case allegedly oversaw all narcotics moving through the area. Throughout the conspiracy, Saldivar-Farias and other Zetas members and associates, secured, maintained and regulated the transportation routes used to import marijuana from Mexico to the United States across Falcon Lake, according to the allegations. Saldivar-Farias allegedly charged and collected a “piso” or “tax” for permission to store and transport marijuana and other controlled substances through the transportation routes and areas he controlled. The indictment alleges individuals who did not pay the “piso” or “tax” faced a potential consequence and potentially would be threatened, beaten, kidnapped, tortured or murdered.

According to the charges, Saldivar-Farias caused the delivery of more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and five kilograms of cocaine for importation into the United States during the nine-year conspiracy.

Cortez-Mateos was involved in significant drug trafficking between 2015 through 2021, according to his indictment. Those charge also allege CDG is a violent transnational organization based in northeast Mexico involved in drug trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, human smuggling and other illicit activities. CDG employs violence, including assassinations of civilians and government officials to intimidate the public and control territory.

Saldivar-Farias is charged with conspiracy to import and distribute marijuana and cocaine from Mexico into the United States and importation and distribution of cocaine and marijuana. He faces up to life in prison as does Cortez-Mateos if he is convicted of conspiracy to possesses with intent to distribute and conspiracy to unlawfully import more than 50 grams of meth, more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 400 grams of fentanyl.

The FBI and Border Patrol conducted the investigation into Saldivar-Farias with the assistance of Drug Enforcement Administration and Texas Department of Public Safety, while DEA and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations handled the investigation into Cortez-Mateos. The Department of State, Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and Government of Mexico provided invaluable assistance resulting in their transfers into U.S. custody.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey N. MacDonald and Anibal J. Alaniz are prosecuting the case against Saldivar-Farias while AUSA Lance Watt is handling the Cortez-Mateos matter. Both cases are now part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes these organizations commit, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

The cases are also a part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

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

HOUSTON – An 18-year-old Houston resident has been charged with illegally possessing a machine gun and unlawful receipt of a firearm and ammunition following the recent fatal shooting on a local Metro bus, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Patrick Santana Scott remains in custody on related charges and is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court at a later date.

According to the criminal complaint filed Jan. 16, a Houston Metro bus was in service and carrying passengers Jan. 7. The charges allege Scott was seated near the rear of the vehicle with a backpack when it stopped at an intersection. At that time, another individual allegedly entered, walked toward the back of the bus and fired a weapon in Scott’s direction. Scott then retrieved a firearm from his backpack and pointed it towards the shooter, according to court documents.  

The gunfire allegedly resulted in the death of a female passenger seated in front of Scott, who succumbed to a gunshot wound to the head. The charges allege a juvenile male passenger was also treated for a gunshot wound.

Court documents indicate that one of the shell casings from the scene was from a 9mm Glock handgun recovered the following day and linked to Scott. The weapon allegedly had a machine gun conversion device - commonly known as a “switch” - designed to convert it from semi-automatic to a fully automatic firearm.

The charges further allege Scott was under indictment in Harris County for aggravated robbery at the time of the shooting. As such, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law.

“SDTX has zero tolerance for those violent criminals who would turn our public transit into battlefields,” said Ganjei. “Scott is alleged to have violated his bond conditions by possessing a firearm—a decision that directly contributed to the death of innocent young woman and the wounding of a teen bystander. The facts, as alleged, paint the picture of somebody with no respect either for the law or for the life and health of his fellow citizens. With these federal charges, the Southern District aims to change his way of thinking.”

“While out on bond for aggravated robbery charges in Harris County, Patrick Scott was the last person who should have allegedly been in possession of a machine gun conversion device,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “A young woman was killed and a teenager endures a long recovery because of the disregard Scott and a teen rival held for innocent lives on that bus that afternoon. FBI Houston applauds the United States Attorney’s Office for holding alleged repeat violent offenders accountable at the federal level. We hope these charges make others consider the life-and-death consequences of their irresponsible actions.”

If convicted, Scott faces up to 10 years in federal prison for possession of a machine gun and up to five years for receipt of a firearm and ammunition while under indictment. Both charges also carry the possibility of a $250,000 maximum fine.

FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Byron Black is prosecuting the case.

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

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Two owners of Abby’s Bakery, located in Los Fresnos, have been sentenced following the discovery of illegal aliens at their business, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

The jury deliberated for approximately three hours before finding Leonardo Baez-Lara, 56, and Alicia Avila-Guel, 46, guilty on two counts of harboring aliens and conspiracy to do so after a three-day trial Aug. 13, 2025.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. has now imposed a four-month term of imprisonment for both and further ordered them to serve two years of supervised release and pay a fine of $21,300 each. At the hearing, the court heard the pair harbored six or more illegal aliens at their place of business. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Rodriguez noted they engaged in serious criminal conduct, contrary to the behavior of a law-abiding citizen. The two could also lose their status to reside in the United States.  

“For years, these defendants knowingly employed and harbored illegal aliens, disregarding federal law for their own financial gain,” said Ganjei. “Today’s sentences serve as a warning to any business owner who believes they can distort fair competition by utilizing a workforce of illegal aliens. It’s not worth running afoul of the law just to make a quick buck.”

“The couple’s deliberate disregard for the law and the safety of their workers cannot go unpunished,” said acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Pasciucco of HSI San Antonio. “Those who exploit vulnerable individuals and undermine our immigration system will face firm and decisive consequences.”

The married couple, both legal permanent residents, owned and operated Abby’s Bakery and Dulce’s Café since 2012. Authorities discovered they employed and housed workers who were in the country illegally or on B1/B2 visas without authorization to work. 

The jury heard the couple housed employees in a small office at the shopping plaza near the restaurant. The room, originally built as an insurance office and later used for storage, had mattresses on the floor and unsafe conditions, including exposed wiring, only one entrance and no fire extinguisher. Between five and six workers lived there at times, including the head baker who stayed more than two years.  

Testimony revealed workers were paid in cash, lacked paperwork and at times went months without hot water. One man testified he entered the United States illegally and was immediately hired after a brief interview. Another said Baez-Lara arranged his return after he was removed during the COVID-19 pandemic so he could continue working. 

The defense argued the owners only offered shelter to the aliens and that testimony did not reveal harboring took place. The jury did not believe those claims and found them guilty as charged.

ICE-HSI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Baltazar Salazar and Luis Salazar prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

HOUSTON – Four companies and their three owners have agreed to pay millions to resolve allegations they allegedly submitted false claims for federally funded loans under the Paycheck Protection Program, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Carnegie Homes & Construction LLC and Signature Collection Inc. (also operating as Fifty Seventh & 7TH Luxury Homes) design and build high-end residential luxury homes. Ram Gupta and Arpan Gupta own Carnegie and Signature, respectively. The Everstone Group provides consulting and construction services. Sapna Patel is the director and sole member of Everstone and also owns The Mosaic Group LLC.

The civil settlement resolves claims brought under the False Claims Act following a whistleblower lawsuit a Houston-area realtor filed in October 2021.

According to the allegations, the Guptas and Patel applied for and received PPP loans by falsely reporting payroll costs, misrepresenting the number of employees they employed and falsifying the purpose of the loans. This resulted in the submission of alleged ineligible and improper claims for payment to the United States. In addition, they allegedly submitted false information to justify loan forgiveness. 

“Those who misuse federal programs to falsely obtain public funds are stealing from the American people,” said Ganjei. “This settlement reflects our commitment to recovering ill-gotten gains and vindicating the interests of the taxpayer.”

“The Small Business Administration’s pandemic relief programs were created to help legitimate small businesses keep employees on the payroll during an unprecedented crisis, not to be exploited through false claims,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Michelle Blank of SBA-Office of Inspector General. “This $2.65 million settlement underscores that misuse of PPP funds will be pursued, and SBA-OIG will continue working with the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners to protect taxpayer dollars and safeguard the integrity of SBA programs.”

Under the False Claims Act, a private party (relator) can file a complaint on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the recovery.

SBA-OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill O. Venezia handled the matter.

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

HOUSTON – A total of 318 additional cases have been filed in immigration and border-related matters from Jan. 9-15, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Of those charged, 113 people face illegal entry charges, while another 180 face charges of felony reentry after removal. Many of those charged have prior felony convictions involving narcotics, violent crimes and immigration offenses. An additional 24 people are accused of engaging in human smuggling, while the remaining two face charges related to other immigration crimes.

Among those charged this week are Mexican nationals Carlos Ricardo Lucio-Lucio and Fernando Soto-Guerrero. Criminal complaints allege both men attempted to unlawfully reenter the United States within six months of their most recent removals. The complaints detail that Lucio-Lucio and Soto-Guerrero were previously removed Aug. 1, 2025, and Dec. 29, 2025, respectively. Both allegedly have prior felony convictions for transporting and harboring of illegal aliens. According to court documents, law enforcement discovered both aliens within the United States without any legal authorization.

Another illegal alien facing charges this week is Mexican national Maclovio Esparza-Salas, whom law enforcement allegedly discovered unlawfully in the United States near Roma. According to court documents, he was previously removed Oct. 11, 2024, and has a prior conviction for possession of a weapon.

If convicted of felony illegal reentry after removal as charged, all three face up to 20 years in prison.

In addition to the newly filed cases, Honduran national Jose Castro Orellana received a 54-month federal prison sentence for illegally reentering the United States without authorization. He has prior convictions for domestic violence, evading arrest and illegal reentry. He was first removed in 2012 and illegally returned twice.

Two Mexican nationals in Brownsville and Corpus Christi also received prison sentences for illegal reentry after removal. Gabriel Rodriguez-Martinez received a 60-month federal prison sentence, while Jose de Jesus Galicia-Castillo received 41 months. Both have prior felony convictions for illegal reentry.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.

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

HOUSTON – A 64-year-old Miami, Florida, woman has agreed to pay $500,000 to resolve violations of the Controlled Substances Act, including failing to maintain effective controls, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Karen Moody is the co-owner of Atlantic Biologicals Corporation, a licensed wholesale distributor registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration to distribute Schedule II-V controlled substances. The company is headquartered in Miami, Florida, with distribution warehouses there and in Morrisville, North Carolina. The company distributed pharmaceutical and medical products under its DEA registration through National Apothecary Solutions.

From 2018 through at least March 2023, nearly all opioids NAS distributed were sold to Houston-area pharmacies, according to DEA records. Most were hydrocodone/acetaminophen and oxycodone in their highest strengths which are commonly diverted to the Houston-area black market. During that time, the company also distributed millions of dosage units of opioids, as well as large quantities of other commonly abused controlled substances, including carisoprodol, alprazolam and promethazine with codeine.

Under the Controlled Substances Act, distributors must provide effective controls and procedures to guard against theft and diversion of controlled substances to include reporting suspicious orders and conducting due diligence on their customers. According to the allegations, NAS failed to report a single suspicious order to the DEA, despite at least 128 orders that were unusually large, deviated substantially from normal patterns or occurred with unusual frequency.

“For half a decade, Moody and Atlantic Biologicals turned a blind eye to keeping these dangerous and addictive controlled substances out of the wrong hands. Now, her bill has come due,” said U.S. Attorney Ganjei. “Moody will personally pay $500,000 to the United States; this is in addition to the $450,000 her company is paying. When distributors fail to identify and report suspicious orders of controlled substances, they are a part of the problem—and they will face the consequences.”

“NAS is the latest example of a drug wholesaler profiting at the expense of Houstonians, fueling the opioid crisis by allowing millions of highly addictive controlled substances to slip into the wrong hands,” said Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Division Brian C. Leardo. “The DEA is committed to holding companies like NAS accountable and combating the illegal diversion of controlled substances that drives drug overdose deaths and crime in our communities.”

DEA conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill O. Venezia prosecuted the case.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no admission of liability.

HOUSTON – A new Southern District of Texas initiative has resulted in the return of four separate indictments against Houston-area men for kidnapping women while working as rideshare drivers, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. 

Cesar Martell, 32, Humble, and Janaka Manatunga, 57, Conroe, are set to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan at 2 p.m. Authorities previously arrested Barney Steven Flores, 35, Tomball, who remains in federal custody. 

Also charged is Abdou Mbacke, 42, who last resided in The Woodlands. He is a fugitive, and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest.

These charges are the result of Operation Lighthouse, a Southern District of Texas initiative to combat sexual abuse involving ridesharing applications. The initiative leverages federal resources and sentencing laws to secure more meaningful penalties, bring justice to victims and ultimately promote a greater sense of safety within the community.

“Rideshare drivers who exploit the trust of their passengers will face the full force of law in the Southern District of Texas,” said U.S. Attorney Ganjei. “Operation Lighthouse is sending an unmistakably clear message–if you abuse your position to hurt others, we will find you, we will arrest you, we will prosecute you. Every passenger deserves to arrive at their destination safely; my office will fight to make that happen.”

“Cesar Martell, Barney Steve Flores, Janaka Manatunga, and Abdou Mbacke allegedly disguised themselves as trusted rideshare drivers to commit some of the most traumatic and violent crimes against female passengers,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “Today’s arrests are due in large part to the bravery of the victims who reported their kidnappings and sexual assaults to law enforcement. We encourage other potential victims of these men, or any other predators posing as rideshare drivers, to come forward and report it to the FBI.”

According to the indictments returned Dec. 16, 2025, Martell, Manatunga, Flores and Mbacke are charged with kidnapping victims and exploiting them for the purpose of sexual gratification. The charges also allege the defendants either drove their victims to locations other than what they had requested or prevented them from leaving the drivers’ vehicles.

In the case of Cesar Martell, he is alleged to have committed two separate sexual assaults while employed as a rideshare driver. Martell allegedly strangled his victims either before or during the sexual assaults. 

Court records indicate all four men previously worked for a rideshare company over multiple years. However, the company allegedly terminated their accounts following victim reports. Some of the defendants are also facing state charges.

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

If you believe you are a victim of a similar sexual assault involving any rideshare service or if you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Mbacke, contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

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 36-year-old Mexican citizen has been ordered to federal prison for illegally reentering the country again, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Jose de Jesus Galicia-Castillo pleaded guilty Sept. 24, 2025.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Galicia-Castillo to serve 42 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings again following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence about his criminal history while illegally present in the United States.

Galicia-Castillo has two previous convictions for illegally reentering the United States after being removed.

He was first removed in 2008 and returned illegally on at least two other occasions. Most recently, authorities discovered him July 25, 2025, near Falfurrias with no authorization to be there.

Galicia-Castillo has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley A. Pruitt prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 42-year-old Mexican man has been sentenced for illegally reentering the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Gabriel Rodriguez-Martinez pleaded guilty March 28, 2025.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. has now ordered Rodriguez-Martinez to serve 60 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.

Rodriguez-Martinez has felony convictions for illegal reentry as well as multiple driving while intoxicated offenses. He was first removed from the United States in September 2014 and returned illegally again.

Rodriguez-Martinez will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Immigration Customs Enforcement – Enforcement Removal Operations conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana C. Cano prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

McALLEN, Texas – A doctor and clinic employee have been sentenced following their convictions for receiving illegal kickbacks after ordering unnecessary lab tests and prescriptions, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

A federal jury found Dr. Osama Nahas, 70, McAllen, and Isabel Pruneda, 54, Edinburg, guilty March 1, 2024, of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, healthcare fraud and conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute following a two-week trial. Pruneda was also convicted for aggravated identity theft.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now imposed a 120-month-term of imprisonment for Nahas, while Pruneda received 97 months. Both must also serve three years of supervised release following their sentences. At the hearing, the court characterized Nahas and Pruneda as “predators” who exploited elderly, disabled and otherwise vulnerable patients at adult day care centers. Both were also ordered to pay over $3.1 million in restitution to Medicare.

“Medical professionals have a solemn obligation to heal the sick and infirm, not to subject them to unnecessary treatments solely for the sake of making a quick buck,” said Ganjei. “The defendants here abused their unique position of trust and shamelessly took advantage of particularly vulnerable victims. Now they will have several years in prison to reflect on their actions.”

Nahas, the owner and physician at Crosspoint Medical Clinic in Edinburg, traveled to adult day care centers across the Rio Grande Valley ordering unnecessary lab tests and prescriptions on behalf of elderly and vulnerable clients. Pruneda, a medical assistant at Crosspoint, helped carry out the scheme by fording patient signatures on consent forms and misappropriating expensive medications, including pain creams.

Pruneda would strip patient information and packaging from the creams to hand them out as “goodie bags” in an effort to encourage patients to agree to testing. From January 2016 through December 2017, Nahas and Pruneda ordered unnecessary prescriptions and lab work, resulting in millions in losses. They directed those prescriptions and tests to specific companies in exchange for kickbacks.

In June 2018, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Crosspoint and seized hundreds of thousands in stolen medications. Nahas and Pruneda also paid bribes-disguised as “rent” payments-to adult day care owners to gain access to their facilities. Witnesses testified that both accepted kickbacks for referrals, often labeling them as “rent” agreements.

Evidence also revealed that both received tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks from January 2016 to December 2017.

Nahas was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender, while Pruneda will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The FBI, Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Texas Health and Human Services - OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Swartz and Brad Gray prosecuted the case. 

HOUSTON – The owner of Martinez Pharmacy in Laredo has agreed to pay $750,000 to resolve allegations his pharmacy violated federal recordkeeping and dispensing requirements, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. 

Antonio Martinez Jr., 67, is the operator and pharmacist-in-charge. The pharmacy registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration March 19, 2003, and is authorized to dispense Schedule II through IV controlled substances. 

In February 2024, DEA conducted an on-site inspection of Martinez Pharmacy and found it failed to maintain required records and filled approximately 173 prescriptions for controlled substances that practitioners without a legitimate medical purpose allegedly issued. They were also written outside the usual course of professional practice. DEA regulations place a corresponding liability on pharmacists to dispense lawfully issued controlled substance prescriptions.  

“Pharmacists must ensure controlled substances are dispensed safely and only for legitimate medical purposes,” said Ganjei. “These violations represent a serious breach of a pharmacist’s duty to protect the wellbeing and safety of our community. My office takes prescription drug diversion extremely seriously, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure full accountability when the facts warrant it.” 

“When DEA Diversion investigators inspected Martinez Pharmacy in Laredo, they uncovered a troubling pattern of record-keeping violations, including more than 170 improperly dispensed prescriptions,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division Miguel Madrigal. “This type of negligent behavior endangers the community, and this significant settlement demonstrates that pharmacies must take their responsibilities seriously or face hefty consequences.”

The Controlled Substances Act and its implementing regulations seek to deter, detect and eliminate the diversion of controlled substances and listed chemicals into the illicit market while ensuring that an adequate supply of controlled substances and listed chemicals is available for legitimate medical, scientific, research and industrial purposes.

The DEA conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill O. Venezia is handling the case.

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 52-year-old Laredo resident has admitted to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to do so, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

In August 2024, Pio Alejandro Campos engaged in a series of cellphone and WhatsApp communications involving the potential sale of cocaine. During the course of the undercover operation, he sought to meet in person to discuss specifics rather than communicating via phone. 

Campos agreed to supply cocaine and discussed pricing based on delivery location, including San Antonio, Houston and New Orleans. On May 3, 2025, he delivered one kilogram of cocaine in San Antonio for $14,000.

Campos has multiple prior convictions in various jurisdictions. As such, he faces a potential enhanced penalty and could receive up to life in prison. U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will set a sentencing date at a later time. At the hearing, Campos could also be ordered to pay a possible $250,000 maximum fine. 

He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing.

Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Lou Castillo is prosecuting the case.

HOUSTON – The first full week of 2026 has resulted in 200 filed cases related to immigration and border security, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

From Jan. 2-8, a total of 117 people have been charged with felony reentry after removal, and another 70 face allegations of illegal entry. Most have felony convictions for narcotics, violent crime, various immigration crimes and more. The filed cases also include nine individuals accused of human smuggling, while the remaining matters involve firearms and other immigration-related crimes.

One of those charged is Mexican national Daniel Enrique Rangel-Quezada. According to the criminal complaint, authorities discovered him near Garciasville in possession of a firearm and with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. Not a U.S. citizen, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

Other criminal complaints allege several illegal aliens unlawfully reentered the United States in the past week. Two of those men - Mexican nationals Juan Dimas-Sosa and Audelio Rios-Castillo – had been removed from the country in August 2024 and June 2025, respectively. However, law enforcement allegedly encountered both in the McAllen area. Rios-Castillo has a prior conviction for illegal reentry, while Dimas-Sosa had been convicted of human smuggling, according to the allegations. They could receive up to 20 years in prison if convicted of felony reentry after removal.

In addition to the new cases, a Laredo felon has been ordered to federal prison for 10 years in a cartel-linked conspiracy to smuggle hundreds of illegal aliens into the country. At the sentencing hearing, the court heard additional evidence as to the prolific scope of Danny Nunez’s leadership of the large-scale human smuggling organization that served as a “one-stop shop” for all the necessary actions to harbor and smuggle illegal aliens on the United States side of the border. Nunez worked directly with Cartel del Noreste to smuggle over 1,900 aliens which resulted in a substantial amount of illicit profits for both the CDN and Nunez. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the sophistication of the operation, commenting that this was the largest number of aliens smuggled and the most prolific smuggler she had seen. 

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.  

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.

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

HOUSTON – Seven people have been charged for their alleged roles in a firearms trafficking scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

The indictment alleges Chinese national Shenghua Wen, 39, whose U.S. visa expired in 2013, served as the ringleader. He has now made his appearance in Houston federal court.

Also charged are Chinese nationals Sifu Zhao, 24, Yiyang Wu, 40, and Mingtong Tan, 27, who all resided in Houston; Jin Yang, 60, Ontario, California; Max Mingze Li, 36, Houston; and Richard Arredondo, 51, a U.S. citizen who resided in Mexicali, Mexico.

According to the indictment returned Oct. 8, 2025, Wen and his girlfriend, Yang, purchased a gun store and directed the purchase of specific firearms and their sale to straw purchasers, such as Zhao, Tan, Wu, Mingze Li, and Arredondo. Wu also allegedly recruited one straw purchaser into the ring and transported pistols to a second Houston gun dealer for sale to others.

Between 2023 and 2024, the group obtained approximately 170 firearms and several thousand rounds of ammunition that were destined for North Korea, according to the indictment.  

The charges allege Wen recruited Zhao and Tan to act as straw purchasers. They, along with Mingze Li and Arredondo, allegedly bought firearms on Wen’s behalf. Some of the firearms were later transported to another Houston firearms dealer for resale to members of the ring, according to the charges.

Wen and Yang are charged with conspiracy and conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking which carry respective terms of five and 15 years in prison, upon conviction. Wen could also receive an additional five years if convicted on any of the seven counts of aiding and abetting false statements to a federal firearms licensee.

Mingze Li, Arrendondo, Wu, Zhao and Tan each face one count of conspiracy and varying counts of aiding and abetting false statements to a federal firearms licensee with possible five-year maximum terms of imprisonment on all counts, upon conviction.

All charges also carry as possible punishment a maximum $250,000 fine.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with assistance from Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations and Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ganz 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 38-year-old Honduran national with a felony criminal history has been sentenced for illegally entering the country without authorization, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Jose Castro Orellana pleaded guilty Sept. 4, 2025.

U.S. District Judge Sim Lake has now ordered Orellana to serve 54 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, and with a current removal order, he is expected to be immediately removed from the United States after serving his sentence. At his sentencing hearing, the court heard that Orellana had been illegally entering and re-entering the country for the past 20 years.

Orellana’s criminal history includes felony convictions for domestic violence, evading arrest and illegal reentry. He was first removed in 2012 and returned unlawfully two times. He was removed again in 2022 but was arrested in July following his release from state custody for his fourth domestic violence conviction.

He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Immigration Customs Enforcement – Enforcement Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Law prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

HOUSTON – A 58-year-old local resident has been ordered to federal prison for conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud and stealing nearly $1.5 million, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Jesus Carlos Silva pleaded guilty July 9, 2025, to defrauding individuals with false promises of legal status. 

U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks has now ordered Silva to serve 60 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Silva made false promises that he could help people obtain U.S. citizenship and/or other legal immigration status in under a year. The court also heard how Silva recruited individuals at churches and obtained payments between $10,000-15,000 yet offered nothing in return.  

From March 2022 through December 2024, Silva pretended to be an immigration attorney affiliated with a Houston-based law firm. He charged thousands of dollars per person for his “assistance,” collecting payments through checks and money orders. He never provided legitimate immigration help and made excuses for delays before ultimately cutting off communication.

As part of the scheme, Silva also instructed several individuals to travel to Houston for what they thought were appointments with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. However, once they arrived, there were no such appointments. 

He admitted to stealing more than $1,450,555 from over 100 people living in Texas, Illinois, Louisiana and Florida.

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

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service and Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad Gray and Rodolfo Ramirez are prosecuting the case.

McALLEN, Texas – Two Rio Grande Valley men have been ordered to federal prison for their roles in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

James Queen, 41, McAllen, and Angel Valdez, 36, Alton, pleaded guilty Sept. 4 and Oct. 28, 2025, respectively.

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now imposed a 60-month term of imprisonment for Queen, and Valdez received 27 months. Both must also serve three years of supervised release following their sentences. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Tipton noted the dangers of fentanyl and its use in the community.

The investigation began in May 2025 when law enforcement discovered  Valdez was selling fentanyl in the McAllen area. Over the next two months, authorities determined Queen supplied Valdez with fentanyl.

As part of an undercover operation, law enforcement purchased more than 50 grams of fentanyl directly from Valdez. During the investigation, authorities learned Valdez routinely met Queen at his residence to obtain the drugs.

On June 23, 2025, authorities executed a search warrant at Queen’s residence and seized an additional 15 baggies of fentanyl weighing more than 50 grams. They also discovered multiple firearms, a bulletproof vest, a large amount of currency and a money counter.

Queen later confessed that he distributed user-level amounts of fentanyl to approximately 30 repeat customers.  

Valdez and Queen have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A 53-year-old Houston-area resident has been ordered to federal prison for possession of child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Sean M. Doran pleaded guilty April 24, 2025.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt sentenced Doran to 60 months in federal prison Jan. 6. At the hearing, the court heard additional information detailing how Doran possessed over 500 images on seven devices. Some of the images portrayed sadomasochistic conduct and bestiality with minors younger than the age of three.

In handing down the sentence, the court noted Doran’s conduct contributed to trauma the victims suffered. Doran was further ordered to pay $55,000 in restitution to the victims and will serve 10 years on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous conditions designed to restrict his access to both children and the internet. Doran will also be ordered to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.

On July 29, 2020, law enforcement discovered an online user, later identified as Doran, sharing multiple files containing CSAM in a public Kik chat room. The videos and images depicted children under the age of 12 in various sexual acts with adults, animals and other victims.

Authorities obtained a search warrant for Doran’s residence and seized his electronic devices. Forensic analysis resulted in the discovery of 62 images and seven videos of CSAM.

Doran will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

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

McALLEN, Texas – A 57-year-old Mission resident has been ordered to federal prison after diverting company funds to pay for her personal expenses, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas Ganjei.

Elizabeth Batten pleaded guilty July 9, 2025.

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton has now ordered Batten to serve 25 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay $1.2 million in restitution. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Batten used company funds to pay her personal debt. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Batten abused a position of trust for her own benefit.

Batten was the director of financing at McCreery Aviation in the Rio Grande Valley from 2019 to 2023. Batten worked for the company for 16 years. As part of the plea, she admitted that during her tenure, she diverted company funds to pay for her personal expenses. Batten used signed blank company checks intended for legitimate business purposes to settle her personal credit card accounts.

She also used the U.S. Postal Service to conceal her behavior and actions by mailing her fraudulent payments to multiple credit card companies in different states. 

The investigation began after a McCreery Aviation employee noticed irregularities in the handling of company checks in late 2023.

Ultimately, it revealed Batten had fraudulently diverted a total of $1.2 million as part of her scheme.

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

FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Garcia prosecuted the case. 

LAREDO, Texas – A 35-year-old Laredo man has been ordered to prison for a multi-year conspiracy to smuggle illegal aliens for financial gain, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Danny Nunez pleaded guilty Feb. 6, 2025.

U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now imposed a 120-month-term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. The court also ordered Nunez to serve 12 months for a supervised release violation following a prior federal felony conviction to be served consecutively for a total sentence of 132 months. 

At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence as to the prolific scope of Nunez’s leadership of a large-scale human smuggling organization that served as a “one-stop shop” for all the necessary actions to harbor and smuggle illegal aliens on the United States side of the border. Nunez worked directly with Cartel del Noreste to smuggle over 1,900 aliens which resulted in a substantial amount of illicit profits for both the CDN and Nunez. 

In handing down the sentence, the court noted the sophistication of the operation, commenting that this was the largest number of aliens smuggled and the most prolific smuggler she had seen. 

The investigation tied Nunez to multiple smuggling events since March 2023, including one the following December when authorities observed several people being loaded into a white trailer at a warehouse.

A subsequent search uncovered 101 aliens, including 12 unaccompanied minors locked inside the trailer. Several of them reported having difficulty breathing and feared for their lives due to the trailer’s conditions.

At the time of Nunez’s arrest, authorities searched his home and found cellphones, ledgers documenting smuggling activity, more than $36,000 in proceeds and two illegal aliens on the premises.

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

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Texas Department of Public Safety and Border Patrol conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection, Laredo Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration and Webb County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling prosecuted the case.

HOUSTON – A total of 399 cases have been filed related to border enforcement efforts in the Southern District of Texas from Dec. 19 - Jan 2, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

The cases include 19 people allegedly engaged in human smuggling. Charges were also filed against 146 individuals accused of illegal entry and 230 others who allegedly reentered the country after prior removal. Many already have felony convictions for narcotics, violent crime, immigration crimes and more. Other cases include allegations regarding firearms and other immigration crimes.

Several of those charged with felony reentry include men from the countries of Mexico, Honduras and Cuba - two that authorities had just allegedly removed from the United States less than one month before their apprehension. Charges allege Cuban national Armando David Naranjo-Alemany and Melvin Antonio Ramos-Avila, a Honduran national, had been removed Nov. 28, and Nov. 25, 2025, respectively. However, according to their criminal complaints, authorities discovered both men unlawfully in the South Texas area in the final weeks of December. Other individuals allegedly found in the country illegally were Ruben Jimenez-Garcia, Jose Raul Sotelo and German Garza-Velez, all of Mexico. Even though all had allegedly been previously removed from the United States, criminal complaints indicate they were back in the country illegally. Each man has a criminal history that includes convictions either related to controlled substances, such as methamphetamine or cocaine, burglary or illegal reentry, according to the charges.

Similarly, authorities also allegedly discovered a Mexican female in the Donna area with no permission to be there. Charges allege Eva Aidee Rodriguez-Rivera had been removed previously and was sentenced to 75 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. 

If convicted of the illegal reentry charges, all face up to 20 years in federal prison.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.  

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.

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

LAREDO, Texas – A 21-year-old San Antonio man has been sentenced for smuggling a stolen weapon and other firearms out of the country, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Ivan Alexys Oseguera Vara pleaded guilty Aug. 19. 

U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen has now ordered Vara to serve 30 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. He must also pay a $2,100 fine. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described how Vara had previously purchased seven firearms in his name, and their whereabouts are now unknown. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that smuggling firearms into Mexico is not a victimless crime.

On June 3, Vara drove a gray Honda Civic to the Colombia Solidarity International Bridge. He claimed to not have any firearms, ammunition or large amounts cash and was just traveling from his San Antonio home to Mexico. 

During a secondary inspection, law enforcement uncovered multiple bundles wrapped in plastic and hidden within the rear bumper, undercarriage and center console. A K-9 also alerted to the vehicle. 

Authorities ultimately discovered 59 rounds of ammunition, eight magazines and six firearms – three rifles and three pistols. The investigation further revealed none of the weapons were registered to Vara, and one of the handguns had been reported stolen. 

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

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch prosecuted the case. 

HOUSTON – A 59-year-old Brenham resident has been ordered to federal prison for misappropriating thousands in federal grant funding, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Clifford Wayne Robertson pleaded guilty Sept. 5.

Senior U.S. District Judge David Hittner has now ordered Robertson to serve 42 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court cited Robertson’s criminal history, including prior convictions for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. 

Robertson served as the former executive director and CEO of a nonprofit organization that operated a homeless shelter for veterans. In that role, he misappropriated federal grant funds awarded to Castle Cares Community Ministry Inc., doing business as The Warrior’s Refuge.

Between February and April 2020, Robertson submitted multiple applications for federal assistance to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor on behalf of The Warrior’s Refuge. As a result, the organization received approximately $1.3 million from the VA and $500,000 from the DOL.

As part of his plea, Robertson admitted he knowingly embezzled grant funds for unallowable personal expenses. He also acknowledged using funds for counseling services he never provided to veterans, resulting in a loss of $180,216.96.

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

The VA-Office of the Inspector General, DOL-OIG and Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shirin Hakimzadeh prosecuted the case.   

HOUSTON – A total of 275 cases have been filed related to immigration and border security from Dec. 12-18, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

In total, 79 people face charges of illegal entry and another 171 face felony reentry charges after removal. Many of those charged have prior felony convictions involving narcotics, violent crime and immigration offenses. The charges also include 23 individuals accused of engaging in human smuggling, while the remaining five face charges related to other immigration crimes.

Among those charged this week are Diego Alan Martnez-Barajas, Pedro Gregorio-Alonzo and Nelson Antonio Segovia-Segovia. According to court documents, authorities discovered all three men in the McAllen area following prior removals from the United States within the last four months. Each allegedly has prior convictions, including abandonment/endangerment of a child, forgery, domestic abuse and illegal reentry.

Two Mexican national discovered near Rio Grande City also face new criminal charges. The complaints allege Jose Alvarez-Ontiveros and Simon Brambila-Galvan entered the United States unlawfully. According to court documents, the men were part of a group of illegal aliens and human traffickers. During the encounter, one member from the group assaulted a Border Patrol agent, prompting a shooting that resulted in that person’s death.

If convicted, all five men face up to 20 years in prison. 

In addition to these new cases, a father and son in Laredo pleaded guilty to trafficking at least 534 firearms, along with magazines and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Authorities stopped Emilio Ramirez Cortes and his son, Edgar Emilio Ramirez Diaz, at the Juarez-Lincoln Port of Entry Oct. 23. Following a K-9 alert, law enforcement discovered false walls within their trailers. A search uncovered approximately 534 firearms and more than 31,000 rounds of ammunition.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.  

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.

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

HOUSTON - A six-count second superseding indictment has been unsealed, charging four Venezuelan nationals, including multiple alleged high-ranking members of Tren de Aragua - a designated foreign terrorist organization, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.   

The indictment adds charges against Yohan Jose Romero aka Johan Petrica, 48, and Juan Gabriel Rivas Nunez aka Juancho, 44, for conspiring to provide and providing material support to TdA. Also charged in those counts are Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano aka El Viejo, 37, and Jose Enrique Martinez Flores aka Chuqui, 24. Mosquera Serrano and Martinez Flores are also under indictment for conspiracy and distribution of cocaine in Colombia intended for distribution in the United States.

“Tren de Aragua poses a direct threat to our national security, to our communities, and to our American way of life,” said Ganjei. “These defendants allegedly conspired to support a highly-structured foreign terrorist organization by smuggling bulk quantities of cocaine across our southern border and funneling the proceeds back to their fellow terrorists in Venezuela. The Southern District of Texas will scour the Earth to find and prosecute narco-terrorists, wherever they may hide. The American people have demanded nothing less than the total elimination of foreign terror groups like TdA, and Operation Take Back America will deliver.”

“TdA grew from a prison gang to a transnational criminal organization to a foreign terrorist organization,” said Co-Director Christopher Eason of Joint Task Force Vulcan. “Gold and drug trafficking, and violence and extortion to support TdA’s terrorist activities will not be tolerated. The charges unsealed today against TdA members and, specifically, some of the highest leaders of TdA, is directly in line with JTFV’s mission: a collaborative, whole of government effort to destroy TdA. We are grateful for our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and our law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to investigate and bring these important charges.”

A federal grand jury in Houston returned a second superseding indictment Dec. 16, which has now been unsealed in its entirety.  

According to court records, Jose Romero and Mosquera Serrano are two of the three topmost leaders of TdA. Jose Romero is allegedly one of the organization’s founders and exercises command and control over all of TdA’s criminal operations, including the illegal importation and smuggling of gold and narcotics as well as extortion and murder. Mosquera Serrano is an alleged senior leader who oversees TdA criminal operations across Colombia, Central America and the United States. The indictment alleges Rivas Nunez and Martinez Flores are also high-ranking TdA leaders who operate out of multiple South American countries and direct operations to include gold smuggling, narcotics export and violent crime.

For years and up to the present, Jose Romero has allegedly exercised leadership over TdA, as one with authority over TdA’s expansion across the Western Hemisphere. The charges allege that under his authority, TdA members and associates engaged in a wide range of crimes, including extortions, kidnappings, murders, drug and gun trafficking, prostitution and sex trafficking, robberies, bank burglaries and money laundering. 

He and other leaders have charged and collected a “causa” or fee from lower-level TdA members and others to work in their area of control, according to the allegations. These payments allegedly enrich TdA leadership and provide financial support to TdA, and members would threaten, beat or murder those who did not pay it.

As a TdA leader operating and managing from Venezuela, Jose Romero has allegedly ordered, directed, facilitated and supported such acts of violence and terrorism, including murders, kidnappings, extortions, and maiming against victims located inside and outside the United States.

The charges also allege Mosquera Serrano and Martinez Flores caused the delivery of more than five kilograms of cocaine for international distribution, proceeds of which were used to further TdA’s criminal goals.

“Federal charges keep coming for alleged TdA leaders, regardless of where they are,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams of the FBI Houston Field Office. “Just as the Venezuelan foreign terrorist organization is relentless in sowing violence and terrorizing communities throughout America, so are the efforts of the FBI and our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in our commitment to make our neighborhoods peaceful and safer.”

“The Drug Enforcement Administration is unwavering in its mission to dismantle the command and control of Tren de Aragua, a designated foreign terrorist organization that thrives on drug trafficking and violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Eugene L. Crouch of the DEA Andean Division. “For years, TdA has exploited corruption to expand its reach and evade justice, but those days are over. DEA is relentlessly targeting TdA’s leadership, financial networks, and infrastructure, and we will not rest until these individuals are brought to justice. We are grateful to the Colombian National Police and the Colombian Attorney General’s Office for their invaluable partnership in this investigation.”

On Feb. 20, the Department of State designated TdA as a foreign terrorist organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

Colombian authorities arrested Martinez Flores March 31 in Colombia pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant the United States had requested. He remains in custody there pending further proceedings.

Mosquera Serrano is on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List. Jose Romero and Rivas Nunez are also fugitives. If you have any information concerning either individual, please contact the FBI via WhatsApp or Telegram at 281-787-9939. Those with information may also contact their local FBI office, nearest American Embassy or Consulate or can submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

The Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program is also offering a reward of up to $4 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Jose Romero and up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Mosquera Serrano.

All four are charged with one count of conspiring to provide material support to TdA in the form of personnel (including themselves) and services and one count of providing material support to TdA. The indictment also charges Martinez Flores and Mosquera Serrano with one count of international drug distribution conspiracy based on their involvement in the distribution of five kilograms of cocaine or more and two substantive counts of international drug distribution.

If convicted, all face up to life in prison and a possible $10 million fine.

The FBI and DEA conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Houston Police Department, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Colombian National Police and the Colombian Attorney General’s Office (Fiscalía General de la Nación). The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia, provided significant assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey N. MacDonald and Anibal J. Alaniz are prosecuting the case along with Deputy Director David C. Smith and Trial Attorneys James Keller and Kelly McGann from JTFV.

JTFV was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded to target TdA. It is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country to include the Southern District of Texas; Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; and the District of Nevada; as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI, DEA, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; USMS, and Federal Bureau of Prisons are essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.

This case is also a part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

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

HOUSTON – A Houston-based company that provides ocean bottom node seismic acquisition services to energy companies has paid to resolve allegations of fraudulently securing Paycheck Protection Program loans, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

In 2020 and 2021, Magseis FF LLC was a subsidiary of Magseis FF AS, which Norway-based Magseis Fairfield ASA owned. The company and its affiliates offer 3D and 4D data services to oil and gas exploration and production companies.

From March 23, 2021, to Jan. 11, 2022, Magseis applied for a “Second Draw” PPP loan and requested forgiveness. The CARES Act created the PPP to provide forgivable loans to small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. To qualify for these loans, companies had to have fewer than 300 employees or meet industry-specific size limits. Those with shared ownership had to count all affiliated employees. 

The settlement resolves allegations that Magseis misrepresented its total employee count to obtain PPP funds and loan forgiveness.

The company has now paid $4,155,333 to resolve the claims and has cooperated throughout the investigation.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation in coordination with the Small Business Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul B. Moore is handling the matter along with Attorney Amber Perez, Office of General Counsel for the SBA.

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

McALLEN, Texas – A 53-year-old man illegally residing in McAllen has been convicted of attempting to threaten or intimidate a government witness from testifying in a pending trial, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

The jury deliberated for more than six hours before convicting Carlos Gerardo Perez-Munoz following a two-day trial.

The investigation began in July when law enforcement learned that Perez-Munoz approached an individual and threatened them not to “snitch.” He told the individual he knew where they lived in Mexico and knew they had been speaking with authorities about an ongoing investigation.

At trial, the jury heard Perez-Munoz illegally worked at a used clothing warehouse while in the United States on a tourist visa. They also viewed photographs of the warehouse and heard a recording of Perez-Munoz’s interview with authorities.

The defense argued the government witness fabricated the threat and claimed the statements were intended to deter the witness from testifying against other workers who were in the country illegally, not the owner of the used clothing store. The jury rejected those claims and found Perez-Munoz guilty as charged.  

U.S. District Judge Randy Crane presided over the trial and set sentencing for Feb. 24, 2026. At that time, Perez-Munoz faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. 

Perez-Munoz remains in custody pending sentencing.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin S. Lyles and Patricia Cook Profit are prosecuting the case. 

HOUSTON – A 34-year-old local resident has been ordered to federal prison for a stolen mail fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Britni Marie Johnson pleaded guilty July 29.

U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered Johnson to serve 65 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court described Johnson as intelligent and capable but cited her involvement in fraud and drug offenses. In imposing the sentence, the court considered the impact of the crimes, noting that mail and identity theft often leave those affected feeling violated. The court also stated her conduct made the lives of innocent victims more difficult. Johnson is also required to pay approximately $1,448.65 in restitution.

At the time of her plea, Johnson admitted she stole checks from the mail to commit fraud and used counterfeit identification documents to cash those stolen checks.

Johnson will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. 

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation with assistance from the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman prosecuted the case.  

LAREDO, Texas – A 29-year-old Laredo man has been ordered to federal prison for sexually assaulting two women while working as a corrections officer, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Hector Humberto Rodriguez Jr. pleaded guilty Dec. 30, 2024.

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña has now ordered Rodriguez to serve 240 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court described Rodriguez’s predatory conduct, the danger he posed to the community and how he abused a system meant to protect victims by exploiting his position of authority to commit the offenses. Rodriguez will also be required to register as a sex offender.

Rodriguez was a correctional officer with the Webb County Sheriff’s Office during the commission of the offenses.

On two separate occasions in Jan. 2022, while working in his law enforcement capacity, he used force to sexually assault the two women while they were housed as inmates at the Webb County jail. 

During each instance, Rodriguez removed the victims from their cell and isolated them in a secluded area where he then used force, threats and coercion to sexually assault them. 

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

The FBI and Department of Justice - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Scott Bowling and Leslie Ann Cortez prosecuted the case.

LAREDO, Texas – Two men have entered guilty pleas to trafficking at least 534 weapons along with numerous magazines and large amounts of ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Emilio Ramirez Cortes, 48, a Mexican citizen who legally resides in Albertville, Alabama, and his son, Edgar Emilio Ramirez Diaz, 23, also of Albertville, have now admitted to smuggling of goods from the United States and trafficking firearms.

On Oct. 23, two vehicles, which appeared to be driving in tandem, approached the Juarez-Lincoln Port of Entry in Laredo. Ramirez Diaz drove a Chevrolet Tahoe, while his father was following in a Chevrolet Silverado. Both vehicles were hauling enclosed white box utility trailers. The Tahoe had an Alabama license plate while the other truck and two trailers had Mexican plates.

At initial inspection, Ramirez Diaz admitted he was traveling with his father. Both men claimed they were not hauling any firearms, weapon parts, ammunition or currency over $10,000.  

Following a positive K-9 alert, law enforcement conducted a search and found false walls in both trailers which resulted in the discovery of approximately 534 firearms, 31,482 rounds of ammunition, 525 magazines, 40 scopes, four lasers, 10 rifle slings and other related items.  

As part of their pleas, the men admitted they were smuggling the weapons and accessories. They also acknowledged they had done so on multiple occasions. 

U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña will impose sentencing at a later date. At that time, both men face up to 15 years for trafficking firearms as well as another 10 years for smuggling of goods from the United States. Both convictions carry as possible punishment a $250,000 maximum fine.

The father and son have been and will remain in custody pending that hearing. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Customs and Border Protection; and Department of Commerce - Bureau of Industry and Security (Office of Export Enforcement) conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

HOUSTON – A total of 294 cases have been filed related to immigration and border security from Dec. 5-11, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. 

A total of 87 people face charges of illegal entry, while another 182 face charges of felony reentry after removal. Most have felony convictions for narcotics, violent crime, immigration crimes and more. The filed cases also include 22 individuals accused of engaging in human smuggling and the remaining two charges involve assaults on federal officers.

As part of the new filed complaints, two Mexican nationals have been charged with illegal reentry into the country. Authorities had just removed Josadad De La Cruz-Perez in April but found him near Rio Grande City this week, according to the charges. A separate case alleges law enforcement discovered Jose Yuriel Tovias-Alvarez near McAllen. According to their complaints, both men have prior felonies - De La Cruz-Perez for illegal reentry, while Tovias-Alvarez had served a substantial prison sentence for possession with intent to distribute kilogram quantities of cocaine. If convicted for the new illegal reentry charges, they each face up to 20 years in federal prison.

In addition to the new cases, the leader and organizer of an alien smuggling ring in Laredo was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard how Laredo resident Juan De Dios Aguero recruited drivers and set abandoned vehicles on fire to distract law enforcement. On Aug. 6, 2024, authorities at a Border Patrol checkpoint near Freer discovered 35 illegal aliens, including three unaccompanied minors, sealed inside a tractor-trailer with a temperature of nearly 100 degrees. Many suffered from heat exhaustion. The investigation revealed Aguero organized the failed smuggling event by driving co-defendant Mateo Guerra to a truck lot and helping Guerra steal the tractor trailer utilized in the operation. Aguero also rented the U-Haul used to move the aliens from a stash house. Authorities further connected Aguero to two additional failed alien-smuggling attempts in October 2023 and February 2024 that involved 28 and 11 illegal aliens, respectively. 

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 

Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.  

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. 

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

HOUSTON – A 45-year-old Houston man has been ordered to federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute bulk crystal methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Devon Shermaine Rhodes pleaded guilty Sept. 15.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now ordered Rhodes to serve 135 months in federal prison, followed immediately by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, Rhodes argued for a 46-month sentence, claiming he did not discard drugs or drive dangerously at the time of his arrest. The court rejected his request after reviewing video evidence and citing his extensive criminal record, the inherent danger of crystal methamphetamine and the risk he posed to the Houston community. 

On Nov. 8, 2022, authorities conducted surveillance at a local fast-food establishment where they observed a drug transaction involving Rhodes. He had paid more than $10,000 in cash for approximately five kilograms of crystal methamphetamine earlier in the day. 

When law enforcement attempted a traffic stop, Rhodes fled, reaching speeds of 100 mph. During the pursuit, he threw multiple kilograms of methamphetamine out the drivers-side window, which burst as they hit the road. 

A search of the vehicle later uncovered a significant amount of crystal methamphetamine. 

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, Harris County Sheriff’s Office and Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shelley J. Sullivan prosecuted the case.

Operation All Gas No Brakes is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes these organizations commit, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Houston comprises agents and officers from DEA, FBI, HSI and ATF with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas leading the prosecution.  

HOUSTON – A 25-year-old man has been sentenced for coercion and enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Brice Andrew Flickinger pleaded guilty March 20.

U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison has now sentenced Flickinger to 120 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard additional information, including a victim letter detailing how the minor victim was taken advantage of at a young age and how it affected the victim negatively for several years. In imposing the sentence, the court noted that Flickinger engaged in a sexual relationship with a very young minor.

Flickinger was also ordered to pay $5,000 to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015 and forfeit his phone. Restitution will be determined later. Following his prison term, Flickinger will serve the rest of his life on supervised release and must comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

On July 9, 2021, the victim’s mother reported her daughter missing. Shortly thereafter, authorities conducted a traffic stop after observing a vehicle with two men, including Flickinger as passenger, drop the minor victim off near her home. A search resulted in the discovery of a phone in Flickinger’s possession. Forensic examination revealed at least nine videos of child sexual abuse material depicted Flickinger and the minor victim engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Law enforcement later executed a search warrant at his home where they seized numerous items, including a pair of purple handcuffs located near his bed.

The investigation revealed Flickinger had initially met the minor victim through social media. They later met in person, approximately 15 times, during which he would drive them both to his home after midnight.

He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Sherrif’s offices in Harris and Fort Bend County.

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

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Two Corpus Christi residents have been sentenced for a string of aggravated robberies, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Jonathan Stein, 20, and Alvaro Martinez, 21, pleaded guilty Aug. 4.

U.S. District Judge Davis S. Morales has now imposed a 96-month term of imprisonment for Stein, while Martinez received 68 months. Both must also serve three years of supervised release following their sentences. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence detailing the robberies committed on Christmas Day and in the days that followed. In handing down the sentences, Judge Morales noted the seriousness of the offenses and the fear and danger their actions caused the victims.

Between Dec. 25 and 27, 2024, Stein and Martinez worked together to rob three Stripes convenience stores in Corpus Christi.

Surveillance footage showed Stein entering a Stripes convenience store on Airline Road Dec. 25. He was wearing a red and grey ski mask and brandished a firearm with an attached drum magazine while demanding money from the cashier.

Approximately two days later, he robbed another Stripes in a similar manner. Martinez provided the firearm and acted as the getaway driver.

Authorities uncovered a photograph of Martinez posing with a firearm and a large amount of cash. That firearm matched the one used in the robberies. Inside his vehicle, they located the firearm, along with a red-and-black mask matching the one used in the robberies.

Both men were permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 30-year-old Brownsville resident has been sentenced for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Christian Ivan Hernandez pleaded guilty May 19.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Hernandez to serve 60 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Hernandez conspired with others to transport over 100 illegal aliens in dangerous conditions. The court also reviewed Hernandez’s lengthy criminal history which includes two prior convictions: transporting illegal aliens in 2018 and conspiracy to transport illegal aliens in 2019. In handing down the sentence, Judge Ramos noted that his past smuggling offenses carry consequences but believes he can move past them. 

From May 1 – July 21, 2024, Hernandez facilitated the smuggling of approximately 107 illegal aliens concealed in the cargo areas of three separate tractor trailers, as well as another 10 found in the vehicles’ cab areas.  

At the time of his plea, Hernandez admitted that in early May 2024, he called Carlos Josue Cruz-Rivas and asked him to pick up several illegal aliens at a warehouse in McAllen. Authorities later arrested Cruz-Rivas for attempting to smuggle the 36 illegal aliens found in his empty utility trailer along with six other aliens in the sleeper portion of the cab.

That same month, authorities arrested David Vargas-Muniz for attempting to smuggle 46 illegal aliens in a tractor trailer in Brooks County. Hernandez had met him at the location and told him the illegal aliens were in his trailer and not to make any stops.

On July 21, 2024, law enforcement also identified and arrested Mendez-Hernandez after attempting to smuggle 25 aliens in a utility trailer and another four in the tractor’s cab.

The court found that Hernandez was the organizer of the overall conspiracy. He also operated three stash houses in the McAllen area.

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

Honduran national Cruz-Rivas, 35, who illegally resided in Brawley, California, Vargas-Muniz, 53, Waxahachie, and Mendez-Hernandez, 31, Santa Maria, California, have all pleaded guilty for their roles and been sentenced.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Young Min Burkett prosecuted the case.