Western District of Texas

SAN ANTONIO – A federal grand jury in San Antonio returned an indictment last week charging four members of a San Antonio family with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

According to court documents, Kenneth Flores, Christopher Flores, Antonio Flores Jr., and Irma Flores, are alleged to have conspired together to defraud the United States by eliminating competition and fixing contract awards and prices on Army contracts for the housekeeping and janitorial services at Army Hospitals and Medical Centers.  The alleged scheme involved a corrupt partnership between the Floreses and co-conspirator government employees Karisa Waysepappy Kelley and John Jordan “Chip” Mathes, involving millions of dollars in work on Army healthcare housekeeping and janitorial services contracts in return for bribes and kickbacks, eliminating the Flores’ competition in the process.

The defendants made their initial court appearances Monday, April 10, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard B. Farrer of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.

The four defendants are each charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted on all charges, they each face a maximum penalty of 45 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Floreses are currently released on a $50,000 bond each. An arraignment hearing is scheduled for April 19.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

The Defense Criminal Investigative Service; Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division; U.S. General Services Administration Office of Inspector General; and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William Lewis is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso woman pleaded guilty Monday to 11 counts related to wire fraud and impersonation of a federal employee.

According to court documents, Ana Maria Hernandez, 53, portrayed herself to be a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) employee and defrauded numerous undocumented noncitizen victims and their family members by falsely representing that she would process their immigration applications for a substantial fee. Hernandez’s victims provided her with the documentation required to file and adjust their immigration status.  She was not an employee of CIS and never took any actions to adjust the victims’ status. Investigation revealed that Hernandez had amassed thousands of dollars of unexplained wealth within the 18 months coinciding with her fraudulent activity.  Following her arrest on Jan. 23, 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas and the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso Division began receiving calls from dozens of potential victims in Hernandez’s fraud scheme.

Hernandez pleaded guilty to 10 counts of wire fraud and one count of impersonating an employee of the United States. She faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment on each wire fraud count and three years on the impersonation count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing date has not yet been set.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of the HSI El Paso Division made the announcement.

HSI is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Aguayo is prosecuting the case.

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EL PASO, Texas – The leader of a large-scale drug trafficking organization was sentenced in a federal court in El Paso Thursday to life in prison.

According to court documents, Jorge Sanchez Morales aka “Capulina,” 47, ran a drug trafficking organization, spanning from Mexico to El Paso and on to Atlanta, from 2002 to 2019. In the early 2000s, Sanchez Morales worked out of Atlanta, trafficking cocaine and other drugs with Sinaloa Cartel operatives.

In 2014, Sanchez Morales returned to Mexico to run his organization, which would then primarily traffic methamphetamine, often in liquid form. Sanchez Morales’ organization imported liquid methamphetamine from Juarez, Mexico into El Paso, and then transported it to Atlanta concealed in the fuel tanks of semi tractors.  In Atlanta, the liquid methamphetamine was converted to a crystalline form and distributed. Sanchez Morales oversaw the operation on behalf of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, otherwise known as CJNG.

On Nov. 8, 2022, an El Paso jury found Sanchez Morales guilty of conspiracies to import and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, conspiracy to commit international money laundering, and laundering monetary instruments.  The court sentenced Sanchez Morales to life in prison for the drug conspiracies and to 20 years imprisonment for conspiring and laundering monetary instruments.  The court ordered the sentences to run concurrently.

“This sentence serves as another step forward in the U.S. government’s efforts to disrupt and dismantle some of the most dangerous drug trafficking organizations we face,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “My office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners, within this district and beyond, to hold accountable those who attempt to poison our communities and carelessly endanger Americans.”

“The men and women of DEA are laser-focused in our mission of defeating the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Millard of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division. “We will continue to tirelessly target these cartels and their associates involved in the manufacture or distribution of methamphetamine and other illicit, synthetic poisons that are killing Americans at record rates.”

The DEA, HSI, United States Border Patrol, El Paso Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety and Socorro Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Spitzer and Nathan Brown prosecuted the case.

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SAN ANTONIO – Two New Braunfels men pleaded guilty in a federal court in San Antonio to selling non-controlled but dangerous substances through the mail.

According to court documents, Evan Asher Field, 42, and Michael Dominic Diaz, 30, purchased bulk quantities of various drugs, including synthetic opioids and benzodiazepines, and re-sold them through a website Field created in September 2019.  The drugs, most of which originated in China and were not regulated or approved for any use by the FDA, can potentially cause toxic and fatal overdoses if consumed by humans.  The two defendants, assisted by employee co-conspirators, repackaged the drugs into consumer-size containers and shipped them to various locations throughout the United States.  The initial website remained online until September 2021, when Diaz launched a second website offering a nearly identical service.  Despite disclaimers on the website and product packaging stating “for research purposes only,” and “not for human consumption,” the two defendants were aware that customers were purchasing the substances for personal use and consuming the drugs.

Field pleaded guilty on March 28 to conspiracy to defraud the United States and traffic in misbranded drugs.  Diaz pleaded guilty on April 4 to the same charge.  They each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 8, 2023.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas; Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs Judy McMeekin, Pharm.D., for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Houston Field Office made the announcement.

The FDA and DEA are investigating the case.  This case was prosecuted utilizing resources from the Dark Market and Digital Currency Crimes (DMDCC) Task Force. The DMDCC Task Force is a joint effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, HSI – Baltimore, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Food and Drug Administration, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Baltimore Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department, targeting the use of dark net marketplaces and digital currencies to facilitate criminal activities.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Chung and Amy Hail are prosecuting the case.

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ALPINE, Texas – A Pecos man was sentenced in a federal court in Pecos last week to 180 months in prison for attempted murder.

According to court documents, Alberto Jimenez Pastrana, 35, shot at a vehicle containing multiple people—later determined to be his children and their mother—then crashed into it with his own vehicle and drove away.  Pecos Police Department (PPD) patrol officers located Pastrana, who fled at a high rate of speed and led the officers on a vehicle pursuit, shooting at PPD officers and Reeves County Sheriff’s Deputies.  Texas State Troopers, along with the other law enforcement officers in pursuit, tracked Pastrana to a neighborhood south of Pecos where he had crashed and took off on foot.  He eventually ditched his assault rifle and surrendered in an area that contained empty oil-field chemical containers and abandoned vehicles.

Pastrana was charged in a criminal complaint on Sept. 28, 2022 with one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.  Pastrana, a convicted felon with four prior felony convictions, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David Counts to the statutory maximum sentence.

“It was very evident that this defendant tried to end the lives of his own children and their mother with both a firearm and a vehicle,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “I greatly appreciate the joint effort and professionalism by our local and state law enforcement partners, who selflessly placed themselves in harm’s way in the pursuit leading to the Pastrana’s arrest.”

The Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division, Pecos Police Department, and Texas Highway Patrol investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Ellis prosecuted the case.

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SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio woman pleaded guilty in San Antonio federal court Thursday to distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death.

According to court documents, Claudia Cardenas, 47, provided a man with a sample of fentanyl on May 8, 2022, allowing him to try the substance before committing to future purchases.  The man ingested the fentanyl sample the following day.  He immediately collapsed and was unresponsive.  Two doses of Narcan were administered prior to the arrival of Emergency Medical Services, but the man was declared deceased upon EMS’s arrival.  An autopsy revealed that the victim’s death was the result of toxic effects from Fentanyl and Methamphetamine. 

Cardenas is scheduled to be sentenced on July 13 and faces a penalty of at least 20 years in prison up to life imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.

The DEA; the University of Texas at San Antonio Police Department; the San Antonio Police Department; the Texas Department of Public Safety; and the Alamo Heights Police Department are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Hail is prosecuting the case.

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MIDLAND, Texas – An Odessa woman was sentenced in a federal court in Midland Wednesday to 18 months in prison for providing false statements during purchases of firearms.

According to court documents, Delma Vitela, 45, purchased at least six firearms between December 2020 and March 2022 from various gun stores in the Midland/Odessa area for her then-boyfriend, a Mexican national.  Vitela's then-boyfriend was prohibited from possessing firearms based on his immigration status.  By representing on the purchase forms that she was the intended buyer of the guns, Vitela knowingly made false or fictitious written declarations when purchasing the firearms.

In March 2022, an individual was stopped by law enforcement in Laredo, Texas while attempting to cross into Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.  This individual had in his possession two firearms that Vitela had straw purchased, one of which she’d purchased less than two weeks prior.

Vitela was arrested by federal authorities on Oct. 21, 2022 and was released on bond on Oct. 26.

“This defendant’s conduct posed a serious threat to the safety and security of people in our communities on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “I am thankful our law enforcement partners were able to locate and recover some of the firearms before they reached Mexico.”

“Straw purchasing is not an act of love; it is an act that fuels violence across our country and our neighbors,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division.  “ATF and our partners in the Permian Basin are steadfast in our fight to keep firearms out of the hands of those that shouldn’t have them. Ms. Vitela thought she was being a good girlfriend when she was actually helping to arm vicious Mexican drug cartels. I hope that others don’t make this same mistake.”

ATF investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Mahoney prosecuted the case.

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ALPINE, Texas – A federal jury in Pecos convicted an Oklahoma City man last week for illegal smuggling of goods from the United States.

According to court documents and evidence presented at the two-day trial, Jesus Soto-Parra, 31, drove into Mexico in December 2022 and was turned back by Mexican authorities due to vehicle registration issues.  As Soto-Parra returned through the Presidio, Texas Port of Entry, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers discovered a firearm, body armor and ammunition in his vehicle.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola for the Homeland Security Investigations El Paso Division made the announcement.

CBP and HSI are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Cayton and Matthew Ellis are prosecuting the case.

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SAN ANTONIO – Five San Antonio men were arrested in San Antonio today on criminal charges related to their alleged roles in a drug trafficking organization.

According to court documents, Cesar Martinez aka Viejito, 66; Bruce Charles Morales, 51; Kelvin Sauls, 41; Juan Alberto Coronado aka Cacheton, 49; and Julio Rodriguez III, 39, were named in a six-count indictment issued by a grand jury earlier this month. 

Martinez is charged with all six counts in the indictment, to include conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; conspiracy to commit money laundering; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and two separate counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.  If convicted, Martinez faces punishments of at least 15 years in prison up to life imprisonment.

Morales is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.  If convicted, Morales faces punishments of at least 10 years in prison up to life imprisonment.

Sauls is charged with five counts, to include conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; conspiracy to commit money laundering; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.  If convicted, Sauls faces punishments of at least 10 years in prison up to life imprisonment.

Coronado is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering.  If convicted, he faces punishment of at least five years up to 60 years in prison.  

Rodriguez is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute detectable quantities of cocaine and conspiracy to commit money laundering.  If convicted, he faces punishment up to 40 years in prison. 

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Houston Field Office made the announcement.

The DEA is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Nowinski is prosecuting the case.

This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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SAN ANTONIO – A Karnes County Detention Facility (KCDF) correctional officer was arrested Friday in San Antonio on criminal charges related to his alleged smuggling of contraband and narcotics into KCDF.

According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Dexter Obryan Sistrunk, 40, of Converse is alleged to have smuggled contraband such as heroin, methamphetamine and tobacco to inmates in return for money. 

Sistrunk is charged with attempting to provide contraband in prison. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas; Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. of the FBI San Antonio Division; Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux of the Drug Enforcement Administration Houston Field Office; and U.S. Marshal Susan Pamerleau for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.

The FBI, DEA and U.S. Marshals Service are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fidel Esparza III and Amy Hail are prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio Thursday to 12 months and one day in prison for preparing false tax returns.

According to court documents, Eden Garza, 43, prepared numerous false income tax returns for clients between tax years 2014 and 2019. IRS-Criminal Investigation agents determined that Garza aided and assisted in the preparation of 49 false income tax returns by falsifying filing statuses, itemized deductions, income and expenses, and residential energy credits.  The fraudulent refunds resulted in a criminal tax loss of $255,967.  The investigation also revealed that Garza had received a preparation fee from his clients, which was usually 10% of the refund received.

In addition to the prison sentence, Garza was ordered to serve one year of supervised release and pay restitution equal to the criminal tax loss of $255,967.

“This case serves as an important reminder—especially at this time of the year—to be aware of those who commit tax fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “The preparers of false income tax returns do untold damage to our nation, and hopefully this sentencing will serve to deter others from preparing false returns for financial gain.”

“Federal prison is a fitting home for this tax criminal who flaunted his criminal enterprise by placing advertising stickers on the false tax returns he prepared,” said Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Rodrick J. Benton of IRS-CI’s Houston Field Office. “Approximately 98% of investigated tax returns he prepared were egregiously false.  As we wind down tax season, know that criminals like him will go to prison for stealing from our nation.”

IRS-CI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bill Harris and Kelly Stephenson prosecuted the case.

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SAN ANTONIO – A Dripping Springs woman was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio today to 46 months in prison and ordered to pay $501,709.54 in restitution for defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) of more than $500,000.

According to court documents, Josephine Casandra Perez-Gorda, 40, defrauded the VA and SSA by overstating the severity and extent of her spouse’s disability from October 2011 through August 2017.  Mr. Perez-Gorda, now deceased, was an Army veteran who participated in the fraud. The couple claimed Mr. Perez-Gorda was paralyzed from the waist down from an injury he suffered while on active duty.  The ruse included applying for and receiving a specially equipped vehicle, a specially adapted home and additional compensation based on his disability rating.

The investigation began after San Antonio news station, KENS5, aired a story titled, “Homes for Our Troops Questions Veteran’s Paralysis after Video.”  The story involved a specially adapted house in Dripping Springs that was gifted to the Perez-Gordas in December 2013 by the non-profit foundation Homes for Our Troops.  Although Mrs. Perez-Gorda claimed her husband was “paralyzed from the belly button down,” Mr. Perez-Gorda was seen walking around the neighborhood and playing basketball.  VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) agents videotaped Mr. Perez-Gorda walking around without assistance.  Mrs. Perez-Gorda furthered the scheme by completing all the VA and SSA paperwork claiming Mr. Perez-Gorda was paralyzed in both legs. 

On Sept. 27, 2022, Mrs. Perez-Gorda was found guilty of 11 counts of wire fraud; one count of mail fraud; one count of health care fraud; three counts of false statements related to a health care matter; one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud; and one count of theft of government funds.  In addition to the imprisonment and restitution, Perez-Gorda is responsible for a $100 special assessment on each of the 18 counts and $100,000 for trial expenses.

“As the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we will pursue individuals that defraud and steal from integral benefit programs like those designed by the Veteran’s Administration and the Social Security Administration,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “These programs are crucial to our disabled veterans and other disabled Americans who truly depend on their assistance, and they must be protected.”

“Fraudulently obtaining benefits from VA diverts valuable resources intended for the care of deserving veterans,” said Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Carl Scott of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Office of Investigations.  “The VA OIG is grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Social Security Administration OIG for their efforts in this joint investigation.”

“A jury found Josephine Perez-Gorda guilty as a co-conspirator in a scheme that defrauded the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Veterans Administration of more than $500,000 and services intended to assist persons with disabilities. This sentence now holds her accountable for her criminal actions,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the SSA. “I appreciate the VA Office of the Inspector General for their work in this joint investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecuting this case.”

The VA-OIG and SSA-OIG investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Surovic and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Miller prosecuted the case.

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DEL RIO, Texas – A Mexican national pleaded guilty in federal court in Del Rio on Monday to smuggling firearms and ammunition into Mexico from the United States.

According to court documents, Jose Jesus Hernandez-Valle, 54, conspired with others to smuggle a 9mm pistol, a .40 caliber pistol, and more than 200 rounds of ammunition and other related firearm accessories into Mexico.  The firearms were discovered and seized by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Del Rio International Port of Entry on Nov. 2, 2022.

Hernandez-Valle pleaded guilty to smuggling of goods from the United States.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 25, 2023 before Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio Division made the announcement.

HSI and CBP are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Bird and Alex Brown are prosecuting the case.

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SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man and woman were sentenced Wednesday in a federal court in San Antonio for their roles in a SIM card swapping fraud scheme.

According to court documents, Zena Elisa Dounson, 24, and Andrew Percy Trujillo, 22, conspired to access and transfer assets from victims’ cryptocurrency accounts via SIM swapping.  A mobile phone uses a SIM card to store information that identifies and authenticates the subscriber to that cellular phone.  A SIM swapping scheme allows a person to use other phones or devices as though they were the authorized subscriber.  In November 2021, Dounson, an employee at the AT&T store at Ingram Park Mall, assisted Trujillo in adding himself as an authorized user to the accounts of multiple victims.  Using his access as an apparent authorized user, Trujillo would add multiple devices to the accounts. Dounson would then transfer the victims’ SIM card credentials to the fraudulent SIM cards in Trujillo’s phones.  When the victims’ original devices were locked due to suspected fraud, Trujillo accessed and transferred at least $250,000 worth of cryptocurrency from the victims’ investment accounts to his own account.  Both defendants pleaded guilty in August 2022 to one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse and wire fraud.

At the hearing, Trujillo was sentenced to 33 months in prison plus three years of supervised release.  Additionally, he was ordered to pay approximately $282,000 in restitution.  Dounson received a split sentence of two months in prison and five years of probation.  She was also ordered to pay $282,000 in restitution.

“SIM Swapping is a rapidly growing type of fraud scheme that everyone should be aware of,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “It’s particularly dangerous because it abuses access to two-factor authentication systems which are intended to provide additional security.  Anyone who uses two-factor authentication should be mindful that it is not foolproof, and to still be on the lookout for any suspicious activity involving their phones.”

“The defendants in this case callously devised a scheme to transfer more than $250,000 of cryptocurrency from multiple victims for their own personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. of the FBI San Antonio Division.  “This sentencing brings a measure of justice to victims and holds the defendants accountable for their actions."

The FBI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Galdo and Justin Chung prosecuted the case.

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The U.S. Department of Justice yesterday announced the first ever extraditions from Guatemala to the United States on charges of human smuggling resulting in death, and the first Guatemalan human smuggling extraditions to the United States of any kind in nearly five years.

This announcement was made at a meeting of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) in El Paso, Texas. This meeting was convened by Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department's Criminal Division to bring together law enforcement leaders to discuss disrupting and dismantling human smuggling networks operating along the Southwest Border.

JTFA was created by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021, in partnership with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas, to strengthen the department’s overall efforts to combat these crimes based on the rise in prolific and dangerous smuggling emanating from Central America and impacting our border communities. JTFA’s goal is to disrupt and dismantle those human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, with a focus on networks that endanger, abuse, or exploit migrants, present national security risks, or engage in other types of transnational organized crime.

Since its creation, JTFA has successfully increased coordination and collaboration between the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and other interagency law enforcement participants, and with foreign law enforcement partners, including El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico; targeted organizations that have the most impact on the United States, and coordinated significant smuggling indictments and extradition efforts in U.S. Attorneys’ offices across the country. To date, JTFA’s work with its partners has resulted in criminal charges and over 183 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers and significant facilitators of human smuggling activities, several dozen convictions, significant prison sentences, seizure of drugs, firearms, ammunition and vehicles, and substantial asset forfeiture.

“This case demonstrates the deadly threat that human smuggling groups pose to the migrants they endanger and exploit,” said Attorney General Garland. “It also demonstrates that Joint Task Force Alpha and the entire Justice Department are doubling down on our efforts to disrupt and dismantle dangerous human smuggling operations and to find and bring to justice the perpetrators – no matter where they are.”

“JTFA was created to investigate and prosecute the international networks responsible for human smuggling activities that exploit and victimize migrants,” said Assistant Attorney General Polite. “The extradition of four prolific smugglers from Guatemala – in addition to the other cases and investigations we highlighted during this summit – demonstrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to holding accountable criminal organizations that prey upon the vulnerable for profit. Through JTFA, our message to human smugglers is clear: using the combined might of U.S. law enforcement and its international partners, we will continue to aggressively target you and your illegal operations both within the United States and south of the border, using every tool, technique, and resource at our disposal.”

As announced last year, extensive coordination and cooperation between U.S. and Guatemalan law enforcement authorities led to the indictment and arrest of the four leaders, as well as the apprehension of 15 additional targets in Guatemala, in August 2022. Pursuant to an extradition request, Guatemalan authorities ordered the extradition of the leaders to the United States to face charges for their alleged roles in the offense.

According to court documents, Guatemalan nationals Felipe Diego Alonzo, aka Siete, 39; Nesly Norberto Martinez Gomez, aka Canche, 38; Lopez Mateo Mateo, aka Bud Light, 43; and Juan Gutierrez Castro, aka Andres, 46, allegedly conspired with other smugglers to facilitate the travel of large numbers of migrants from Guatemala through Mexico, and ultimately, into the United States, charging the migrants and their families approximately $10,000 to $12,000 for the perilous journey. The defendants are also alleged to be responsible for the death of a young indigenous Guatemalan woman, who died in Texas in May 2021.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas is fully committed to working with our international and federal law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle transnational human smuggling organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Through our combined efforts we will hold accountable human smugglers who callously disregard the safety of the people they transport. We are dedicated to ensuring that all victims of these groups receive justice.”

The victim’s family paid the defendants approximately $10,000 for the journey to the United States. As alleged in the indictment, the defendants and their co-conspirators guided her for several days through the desert to Odessa, Texas, where she ultimately died. Upon learning of her death, the defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly disposed of her body on the side of a road in Crane County, Texas. The defendants and their co-conspirators then allegedly arranged for payment to the victim’s family.

“These extraditions speak to the collaboration in this Administration across the federal government and with our partners throughout the hemisphere,” said Deputy Secretary John K. Tien of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “From the frontline efforts of our workforce at Customs and Border Protection, to the investigative capabilities we leverage at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the seamless coordination with our partners at the Justice Department, we are unwavering in our commitment to holding transnational criminal networks accountable for human smuggling and their abuse of migrants.”

The indictments and extraditions against Diego Alonzo, Martinez Gomez, Mateo Mateo, and Gutierrez Castro, as well as the assistance provided by U.S. authorities to Guatemalan law enforcement, were coordinated under JTFA.

JTFA is comprised of detailees from southwest border U.S. Attorney’s Offices, including the Southern District of Texas, the Western District of Texas, the District of New Mexico, the District of Arizona, and the Southern District of California. Dedicated support for the program is also provided by numerous components of the Criminal Division that are part of JTFA – led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP), and supported by the Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT), the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS), the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), the Office of Enforcement Operations (OEO), the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), and the Organized Crime and Gang Section (OCGS). JTFA is made possible by substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other partners.

HSI Midland led U.S. investigative efforts in this case, working in concert with HSI Guatemala and the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. HSI received substantial assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO); U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) National Targeting Center/Operation Sentinel; U.S. Border Patrol (USBP); the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS); the Odessa and Midland Police Departments; the Texas Department of Public Safety; and the Ector County, Midland County, and Crane County Sherriff’s Offices. OIA and OPDAT provided significant assistance in this matter. The Department of Justice thanks Guatemalan law enforcement, who were instrumental in furthering this investigation.

JTFA Co-Director James Hepburn of HRSP, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Luis Acosta for the Western District of Texas and JTFA, and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Fedock for the Western District of Texas handled the case, with substantial assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian Gallegos for the Western District of Texas and HRSP Historian/Latin America Specialist Joanna Crandall.

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

SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man pleaded guilty in federal court in San Antonio Wednesday to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death.

According to court documents, Patrick James Hall, 28, is charged with distribution of fentanyl resulting in the death of a 20-year-old woman.  The two met on Oct. 28, 2020, in a hotel room where he had been selling the drug in the form of a small round blue pill disguised as oxycodone.  Phone records indicate that the victim had been unconscious in Hall’s hotel room for an extended period before Hall returned a missed call to the victim’s friend using her cell phone. Hall notified the friend that she needed to pick up the victim from the hotel because she had overdosed.  He then left the location without calling for emergency services.  The victim’s friend, however, did alert emergency services and, upon their arrival, the victim was pronounced dead, noting she had been deceased for some time.  A toxicology report showed that the victim had an amount of fentanyl in her blood that exceeded 24 times a fatal dose. 

Hall was arrested on Nov. 19, 2020.  Text messages sent from his phone confirmed that he had been selling the pills to multiple individuals at the time of the victim’s death, and that he himself had overdosed on the pills one week prior to this instance.

Hall is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15 and faces a penalty of 20 years to life in prison. A Federal District Court Judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux of the Drug Enforcement Administration Houston Field Office made the announcement.

The DEA and SAPD are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Hail is prosecuting the case.

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DEL RIO, Texas – An Ecuadorian national was sentenced in federal court in Del Rio Wednesday to 84 months in prison and five years of supervised release for possession of child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, Ramiro Heliberto Cuenca-Campos, 27, of Cuenca Provincia, Azuay, Ecuador was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol agents near Brackettville during a failed human smuggling attempt.  A forensic analysis of his cell phone revealed more than 2,000 images containing child sexual abuse material.

Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses found Cuenca-Campos guilty after a bench trial on July 27, 2021.  He has remained in federal custody since his arrest on March 10, 2020.  In addition to the prison sentence, Cuenca-Campos was ordered to pay $18,000 in restitution to the victims and $200 in special assessments.  Chief Judge Moses also ordered forfeiture of his phone.

“This defendant traveled from Ecuador and crossed the border into our country with a sickening amount of child sexual abuse material on his cell phone,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “Thankfully, our federal law enforcement partners at the border disrupted a human smuggling operation and conducted their routine procedures, searching this individual and his phone when they detained him.  This case reinforces the fact that, much like our policies against the drugs and firearms that noncitizens occasionally try to bring into the U.S., we will not tolerate anyone bringing in material that sexually exploits and harms children.”

“Individuals who receive and possess child pornography participate in the victimization of children whose innocence can never be restored,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig S. Larrabee for the Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Division. “These criminals also represent a public safety threat to our communities. For those reasons, child exploitation cases are a top priority for HSI, and we will continue to work closely with our federal partners to ensure they are arrested, prosecuted, and ultimately removed from the United States.”

HSI and USBP investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rex Beasley prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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MIDLAND, Texas – A Midland man was sentenced last week to 360 months in prison for possessing approximately 1,000 grams of methamphetamine and possessing a handgun in furtherance to a drug activity.

According to court documents, on September 23, 2022, Midland Police officers found that Fabian Hernandez, 33, was a guest at a downtown hotel.  In a search of his room, officers found over two pounds of methamphetamine and a 9mm Rock Island Armory handgun.

On December 15, 2022, Hernandez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 50 grams of Methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking activity.  Hernandez has remained in federal custody since his arrest on September 23, 2022.

“The court imposed a substantial sentence in this case.  This should be a clear message to drug traffickers that dealing drugs while possessing a firearm is a serious crime that will result in serious punishment,”  said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “We are grateful for the collaboration between the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Midland Police Department that resulted in the removal of another dealer from the streets.”

“Illicit synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl continue to drive addiction and fatal poisonings in our country,” said Greg Millard, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s El Paso Division. “It is the top priority of the men and women of DEA to relentlessly pursue those manufacturing and distributing these poisons in our communities.” 

The DEA’s Midland Resident Office and the Midland Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Lopez prosecuted the case.

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DEL RIO, Texas – A San Antonio man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio today to 78 months in prison for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury or placing lives in jeopardy.

According to court documents, Enrique Rodriguez, 21, fled in a pickup truck during an attempted traffic stop by a Dimmit County Sheriff’s deputy.  Driving north on U.S. Highway 83 at speeds over 100 mph, Rodriguez narrowly avoided multiple collisions, including with oncoming law enforcement vehicles, and drove head-on into a guardrail.  The occupants of the vehicle, including six undocumented noncitizens riding in the bed of the truck, were ejected as the truck rolled over.  The responding deputy and U.S. Border Patrol agents observed that the vehicle occupants suffered serious injuries, including likely head trauma, broken legs, severe neck injuries, loss of upward mobility and loss of consciousness. Four of the six undocumented individuals required emergency room treatment.

Rodriguez has remained in federal custody since his arrest on May 19, 2020.  He pleaded guilty on Oct. 20, 2020.  In addition to his prison sentence, Rodriguez was ordered to pay $205,827.97 in restitution.

“This defendant failed to yield for a traffic stop and his numerous reckless decisions that followed resulted in a violent crash,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “His smuggling victims are very fortunate they survived.  These smuggling attempts pose a very serious threat, not only to those directly involved, but to innocent civilians and our partners as well.”

“Targeting smugglers who prey on human beings is a top priority for HSI," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of the Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Division. "Human smugglers show a callous disregard for the value of life.  Because of this, we will continue to aggressively pursue these human smugglers who put the lives of others in jeopardy for financial gain."

HSI, USBP, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Dimmit County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Banister prosecuted the case.

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DEL RIO, Texas – A Perryton man was sentenced today in Federal court in Del Rio to 41 months in prison for one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in serious bodily injury or placing lives in jeopardy.

According to court documents, Caleb Hernandez, 21, led a U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agent and Kinney County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) deputies on a high-speed chase on Highway 90 near Brackettville, allowing multiple suspected undocumented individuals out of the vehicle at various locations.  At one point during the pursuit, Hernandez drove into opposite lanes of traffic and onto the shoulder.  He eventually lost control of the vehicle, rolling over and landing upside down.  Hernandez and four undocumented noncitizens were removed from the vehicle.

Hernandez has remained in custody since March 13, 2021.  He pleaded guilty on July 19, 2021.  In addition to his prison term, Hernandez was ordered to serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration.  He was also ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.

“This defendant put untold lives at risk by evading law enforcement the way he did,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “Offenders who illegally smuggle undocumented individuals into the U.S. and across this district must never doubt that they will be caught, and that our justice system will see that they are prosecuted.”

“Human smugglers have no respect for human life, as demonstrated by this defendant,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of the Western District of Texas.  “Those responsible for illegally moving people into and through our country place their personal profit above everything else. They are driven by greed with little regard for the health and well-being of their passengers. HSI is committed to investigating smugglers and holding them accountable for their actions.”

HSI, USBP and the KCSO investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rex Beasley prosecuted the case.

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EL PASO, Texas – A U.S. citizen living in Mexico was sentenced Thursday to 51 months in prison for conspiracy to import a controlled substance.

According to court documents, Eduardo Aletse Herrera, 20, of Cuidad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico attempted to enter the U.S. at the Ysleta Port of Entry on July 28, 2022.  During a vehicle inspection, Customs and Border Protection Officers discovered nine bundles hidden throughout the car.  Five of the bundles tested positive for 5.84 kilograms of cocaine, while the remaining four bundles tested positive for 4.46 kilograms of fentanyl.  Herrera pleaded guilty to one count in the eight-count indictment Nov. 30, 2022.

“The defendant in this case attempted to smuggle a very large amount of lethal narcotics into our country,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “We can thank our partner agents at the border for detecting the drugs and thwarting Herrera’s efforts.”

“This sentence sends a warning to drug smugglers that HSI special agents along with our law enforcement and judicial partners will work tirelessly to bring to justice those who supply our communities with fentanyl and other deadly drugs, contributing to an already-devastating national opioid epidemic.” said Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of the Homeland Security Investigations El Paso Division.

HSI and CBP investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Susanna Martinez prosecuted the case.

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SAN ANTONIO – A Kingwood man was sentenced in federal court in San Antonio Tuesday to five years of probation for mail fraud and misrepresentation of Indian Goods under the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.

According to court documents, Kevin Charles Kowalis, 60, fraudulently marketed and sold jewelry online that he described as “Native American Indian Handmade,” “genuine Indian handcrafted,” “Zuni,” and “Navajo.”  He had received the counterfeit jewelry from a manufacturer in the Philippines unaffiliated with any federally recognized Native American tribe.  Kowalis fulfilled an order of the jewelry to a San Antonio-based customer, mailing several packages through the U.S. Postal Service.  In addition to the five-year probation sentence, Kowalis was ordered to forfeit his inventory and pay restitution to a victimized artist.

“Fraud can come in many forms but always carries the intent to deceive a victim,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “Offenders like this defendant victimize both our cherished Native American community and consumers who believe they’re collecting authentic pieces of Native American culture.  We will not stand idle while someone takes advantage of our citizens and our federal resources.”

“This sentencing is important in the fight to end this type of fraud. Our dedicated team of special agents works on behalf of the Department of the Interior and the Indian Arts and Crafts Board to protect American Indian and Alaska Native artists and the consumers who purchase authentic Native American art and craftwork,” said Assistant Director Edward J. Grace of the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement. "We thank our partners at the U.S. Department of Justice for their assistance with this investigation."

“For those selling counterfeit Indian art and craftwork it is important to know that wherever you are we will diligently work to find and prosecute you under the Indian Arts and Crafts Act,” said Director Meridith Stanton of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Indian Arts and Crafts Board.  “This case provides a vivid demonstration of that commitment.”

The USFWS Office of Law Enforcement investigated the case with the assistance of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Indian Arts and Crafts Board.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William Calve prosecuted the case.

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SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio woman was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in San Antonio to 100 months in prison for possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Karen Lastiri, 32, consented to a vehicle search during a 2021 traffic stop.  During the search, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office deputies found 52.38 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride.  Lastiri, traveling from Houston to San Antonio with two children in the vehicle, was arrested by agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration.  She was later released on a $50,000 unsecured bond.

“Lastiri worked as a driver for a Drug Trafficking Organization and put her children’s lives at risk by bringing them on this job,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “I appreciate the cooperation between BCSO and the DEA, leading to this successful prosecution and the disruption of drug trafficking operations.”

"Drug Trafficking Organizations will stop at nothing. This case demonstrates the length these organizations go to disguise illicit drug activities by putting children in harm's way," said Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the DEA Houston Division. "Lastiri was transporting a significant amount of methamphetamine hydrochloride from Houston to San Antonio with two children in the vehicle. DEA will continue to relentlessly pursue anyone using our communities to traffic drugs while attempting to harm the innocent along the way." 

The DEA investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Spears prosecuted the case.

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MIDLAND, Texas – A Mexican national was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Midland to 294 months in prison for distributing methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Julio Cesar Banuelas-Gutierrez, 47, of Camargo, Chihuahua distributed one to one and a half pounds of methamphetamine every two weeks in the Midland-Odessa area, totaling at least 12 pounds of the drug.  Investigators also found that on at least one occasion, Banuelas-Gutierrez had exchanged firearms for methamphetamine.

“The substantial sentence imposed in this case reflects our unwavering commitment to protect our communities and bring drug traffickers to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “My appreciation goes out to all the law enforcement officers involved, who made it possible for us to prosecute and put an end to this dealer’s activities.”

The Odessa and Midland Police Department Joint Task Force investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joe Mahoney and Monica Daniels prosecuted the case.

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SAN ANTONIO – A Mexican national was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in San Antonio to 25 years in prison for his involvement in a criminal organization.

According to court documents, Jose Miguel Sandoval-Pineda aka “Primo,” aka “Chavalon,” 22, of Michoacan, Mexico, was the leader, organizer and recruiter for a criminal organization heavily involved in human smuggling, firearms trafficking and narcotics trafficking in the San Antonio area in 2019 and early 2020.  Sandoval-Pineda and his organization are also tied to numerous shootings and arsons, including two homicides, mostly in the San Antonio area.  Sandoval-Pineda was arrested on Jan. 17, 2020 in West Columbia, Texas and is currently serving a 10-year federal sentence for the illegal possession of a machine gun. On Nov. 4, 2021, Sandoval-Pineda pleaded guilty to four additional counts: conspiracy to transport illegal aliens; conspiracy to commit money laundering; conspiracy to commit arson; and use of fire or explosives to commit a federal felony.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez sentenced Sandoval-Pineda to 10 years for one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens; 15 years for one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering; and 15 years for one count of conspiracy to commit arson, which will run concurrent with each other. Judge Rodriguez also sentenced Sandoval-Pineda to a consecutive 10 years in prison for one count of the use of fire or explosives to commit a federal felony.  Sandoval-Pineda will serve his 25-year federal prison sentence at the conclusion of his current 10-year sentence.

“This defendant, who was already serving 10 years in federal prison, will now remain locked up for more than two more long decades,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “That is thanks to the dedication of our skilled prosecutors and our law enforcement partners at the local and federal levels.  Without them, this criminal organization would likely still be out there terrorizing our communities and putting innocent lives at risk.”

“Yesterday’s sentence is an example of Homeland Security Investigation’s commitment to seeking justice on individuals responsible for violent crimes and wreaking havoc in our neighborhoods as this defendant did,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of the HSI San Antonio Division.  “The successful outcome of this case is a direct result of the steadfast efforts of HSI and our law enforcement partners in combating violent crime, human smuggling and firearms trafficking.”

“As this case demonstrates, ATF is uniquely positioned to investigate and bring to justice those that use gun violence and fire to hurt and intimidate others,” said Special Agent in Charge Fred J. Milanowski of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Houston Field Division.  “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable those who commit violent crimes in our community.”

Of the 11 defendants in this case, six have been sentenced.  On Aug. 26, 2021, co-defendant Jose Victor Calleja-Velasquez aka “Kory,” 32, of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico was sentenced to 240 months for one count of illegal alien in possession of a firearm and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  A second co-defendant Jorge Rodriguez, 27, of Austin was sentenced on Nov. 30, 2021, to concurrent sentences of 27 months for one count of conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.  On Oct. 19, 2022, a third co-defendant Samuel Lee Jones, 33, of San Antonio was sentenced to time already served with three years of supervised release for one count of illegal possession of a machine gun.  A fourth co-defendant, Emmanuel Valdovinos aka “Manny,” 22, of San Antonio was sentenced on Dec. 5, 2022 to concurrent sentences of 78 months for one count of conspiracy to commit arson and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. On Dec. 14, 2022, Jose Efrain Ovalle-Alvarado, 24, of San Antonio was sentenced to 33 months in prison for one count of illegal possession of a machine gun.

Four defendants are in federal custody as they await their sentencing hearings:  Eduardo Angel Viera aka “Lalo,” 26, of San Antonio; Javier Duenas aka “Puppet,” 22, of San Antonio; Jahannatan Pachecano Andrade, 23, of San Antonio; and Daniel Boanerges Orellana-Cano, 23, of La Ceiba, Atlantida, Honduras. The eleventh defendant, Jose Carlos Martinez, 22, of San Antonio is pending trial.         

The ATF, HSI and San Antonio Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Nowinski prosecuted the case.

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EL PASO, Texas – A Seminole man was arrested Thursday in El Paso on criminal charges related to his alleged bribery of a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent.

According to the criminal complaint, Pedro Thiessen, 70, failed to declare more than $10,000 when entering the United States at the Ysleta Port of Entry in October 2022.  Thiessen filed a petition to recover the funds and was interviewed by an HSI agent in January 2023 regarding the petition.  An affidavit attached to the complaint alleges that Thiessen offered to pay the agent an unknown amount of money if the agent assisted with the recovery.  The agent reported the offer to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).

The affidavit alleges that Thiessen again proposed a monetary offer to the agent during a phone call on Feb. 6.  On Feb. 15, the agent arranged a meeting with Thiessen for the following day.  According to the court documents, Thiessen presented the agent with $1,000 at that meeting and was immediately arrested.

Thiessen is charged with bribery of public officials. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of the HSI El Paso Division made the announcement.

HSI and ICE OPR are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Osterberg is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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EL PASO, Texas – A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court in El Paso Wednesday to 144 months in prison, along with an El Paso man who was sentenced to 200 months in prison, for violation of federal law concerning hostage taking.

According to court documents, Carlos Villa-Miranda aka “Negro,” 42 of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and Enrique Quiroz Jr. aka “Kike,” 50 of El Paso were co-conspirators in a human smuggling organization through which they demanded money from the families of the undocumented individuals they were trafficking.  Quiroz threatened to kill the trafficking victims if they were to speak to the police and urged the victims to tell their families to pay the ransoms.  Villa-Miranda also made threats toward the undocumented individuals, on at least one occasion brandishing a butcher-style knife.

In December 2020, Villa-Miranda was arrested after he fled a secondary inspection at the Las Cruces U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoint on Interstate-10, and Quiroz was taken into custody during a search of his apartment.

“These human smuggling organizations are incredibly dangerous and prove that they value their pursuit of money and power through unlawful means far more than the lives of their trafficking victims,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “The agents with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) did an outstanding job tracking down these two criminals and putting a stop to their roles as human smugglers.”

“These sentences show the grave consequences human smugglers face when they exploit people in such a ruthless way,” said Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of the HSI El Paso Division.  “HSI is vehemently committed to using its ample authority to identify, investigate and arrest criminals who prey on the vulnerabilities of their human cargo with threats and acts of violence.”

HSI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Hines and Sarah Valenzuela prosecuted the case, along with former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Herbert Bunton and Spencer Kiggins.

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MIDLAND, Texas – A San Antonio man was sentenced in federal court in Midland today to 181 months in prison for his role in a methamphetamine distribution ring in Midland.

According to court documents, Jimmy Dwayne Smith, 42, and a co-conspirator, Vanessa Elfreda Flores, 40, had been distributing methamphetamine in the Midland area in June 2022.  Detectives conducted several controlled purchases of the drug from both Smith and Flores and, in July 2022, obtained search warrants for Smith’s motel room and Flores’s apartment.  Through those warrants, the detectives recovered six firearms, including several loaded with extended magazines; thousands of dollars; methamphetamine; and other drug paraphernalia.  Smith was arrested on July 21, 2022 and has remained in federal custody since the arrest.

Smith and Flores each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.  Smith also pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Flores was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison on Dec. 7, 2022.  A third defendant, Brook Clayton Aslin, 40, of Midland, whom Flores had supplied with methamphetamine and who had distributed more than one kilogram of methamphetamine from January to June 2022, was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison on Jan. 5, 2023.

“Methamphetamine is an extremely dangerous drug that continues to plague our Texas communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “Our office makes it a priority to disrupt the operations of those who traffic in this poison, and I thank our local law enforcement partners for also prioritizing anti-drug trafficking, helping us bring violators to justice.”

The Midland Police Department Narcotics Unit investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Mahoney prosecuted the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Tindall handling the forfeiture component.

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WACO, Texas – ELPSS Career Institute LLC, a career school located in Killeen, and its director, Ricky J. Daniels, Jr., were ordered in federal court in Waco on Wednesday, to pay $9,024,886.99 in damages and civil penalties to the United States under the False Claims Act for defrauding the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides financial support to members of the military, veterans, and eligible dependents who enroll in certain education programs. A non-accredited career school such as ELPSS Career Institute must operate for at least two years before it may enroll students receiving Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. This requirement is intended to limit the payment of veterans’ benefits to established courses offered at a reasonable cost by seasoned institutions.

In October 2020, the United States filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas alleging that Daniels had falsely certified to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) that ELPSS Career Institute had been in operation for more than two years in order to obtain approval to enroll Post-9/11 GI Bill students. The United States alleged that Daniels formed ELPSS Career Institute less than a year before applying for approval. According to the United States, Daniels provided student files from an unaffiliated school in El Paso to the TVC when it conducted a site visit to verify the school’s dates of operation.

Following discovery, the United States moved for summary judgment under the False Claims Act, which allows the government to recover three times the amount of funds fraudulently obtained plus a civil penalty for each false claim. A magistrate judge concluded that the undisputed evidence showed that Daniels knowingly made a false certification regarding ELPSS Career Institute’s compliance with the two-year requirement; that the false certification was material to the VA’s decision to allow ELPSS Career Institute to receive tuition reimbursement for veterans receiving Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits; and that the false certification caused the VA to disburse more than $2.3 million to the school. U.S. District Judge Alan D. Albright adopted the magistrate judge’s report and recommendation, granting the government’s motion and awarding it $9,024,886.99.

“Fraud on the Post-9/11 GI Bill threatens the integrity of education benefits provided to military veterans and their families,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “This office is committed to holding accountable anyone who undermines the critical benefit programs that assist those who serve our country.”

“Safeguarding Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefit funds reserved for deserving veterans remains a priority,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Patrick Roche of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s South Central Field Office. “This judgment is a testament to the VA OIG’s commitment to working with the United States Attorney’s Office to hold accountable anyone who would defraud VA’s benefits programs.”

The VA Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Parnham represented the United States in the lawsuit, which is captioned United States v. Daniels et al., Civil Action No. 6:20-CV-00986-ADA.

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

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DEL RIO, Texas – An Eagle Pass man was sentenced last week in federal court in Del Rio to 20 years in prison for causing serious bodily injury to a baby.

According to court documents, Connor Flores Jimenez, 28, of the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Reservation near Eagle Pass severely injured his two-month-old baby in April 2019.  Medical experts determined the infant sustained two fractures to the skull; brain swelling; fractures in both femurs; and a broken rib.  Jimenez also choked his wife, rendering her unconscious for more than two hours.  Jimenez pleaded guilty on Feb. 8, 2021.  He’s remained in federal custody since being arrested in May 2019.

“This horrific crime of assaulting and causing serious harm to an innocent, young child—along with the defendant’s actions toward his spouse—is very obviously deserving of a lengthy sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “Thank you to our partners at the federal, local and tribal levels who helped investigate and put this defendant somewhere where he can’t cause further harm.  I also thank the medical personnel for their response and a job well done.”

“The FBI condemns violence of all kinds, including terrible acts of domestic violence that ravages our communities behind closed doors,” said Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. of the FBI San Antonio Division.  “This sentence sends a strong message that violence of this sort will not be tolerated. We would like to thank the FBI agents, victim specialists and our partners from the U.S. Marshals Service, Maverick County Sheriff’s Office and the Kickapoo Tribal Police for their assistance this case.”

The FBI; U.S. Marshals Service; Maverick County Sheriff’s Office; Kickapoo Tribal Police; and Indian Child Welfare Services investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rex Beasley and Ben Tonkin prosecuted the case.

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SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was arrested in San Antonio on Monday on federal criminal charges related to his alleged robbery of six national chain stores around San Antonio between Jan. 28 and 31, 2023.

Court documents allege that James Anthony Kirkwood, 68, is responsible for the robberies of two Dollar General stores; two Dollar Trees; a PetSmart; and a Big Lots, over a three-day period. He was arrested on February 6 and had remained in custody at the Bexar County Jail before the arrest on federal charges.

Kirkwood is charged with robbery interfering with interstate commerce. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Fred J. Milanowski of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Houston Field Division made the announcement.

The ATF and San Antonio Police Department are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William Calve is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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ALPINE, Texas – A Presidio County woman was indicted in federal court in Alpine Thursday on charges related to importing and possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl with intent to distribute.

Court documents allege that Cherakee Lee Perez, 32, provided a negative declaration during a Customs and Border Patrol vehicle inspection at the Presidio Port of Entry from Mexico into the U.S.  A narcotic detection canine discovered more than three dozen packages hidden in the vehicle.  29 of packages contained approximately 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, while the other 13 contained seven kilograms of fentanyl. 

Perez is charged with one count of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and fentanyl and one count of importation of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The defendant made her initial court appearance January 17 before U.S. Magistrate Judge David B. Fannin of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of the Homeland Security Investigations El Paso Division made the announcement.

HSI is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Greenbaum is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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AUSTIN, Texas – A dual Nigerian and Canadian citizen was sentenced today in federal court in Austin to 87 months imprisonment, ordered to pay more than $1.67 million in restitution, and forfeited a $2 million money judgment for his role in a conspiracy to commit fraud.

According to court documents, Ejiro Efevwerha aka Festus Akpobonme, 47, facilitated laundering the proceeds of fraud by connecting launderers in the U.S. to fraudsters located overseas.  The conspiracy used a network of individuals in the U.S. to receive victim money in U.S. bank accounts, often opened under fraudulent names, and transferred those funds to co-conspirators inside and outside of the U.S.

The types of fraud used against the victims over more than three years included grandchildren-in-jail scams, romance scams, inheritance scams, lottery scams and investment scams, among others.  Investigators identified a total victim loss of more than $3.9 million in fraud proceeds from hundreds of victims laundered by the conspiracy.  Efevwerha was extradited from Canada to the Western District of Texas in July 2021.  He pleaded guilty on Oct. 19, 2022.

“This case is another example of our dedication to bring fraudsters to justice, whether they are inside the United States or attempting to hide overseas,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “The scams perpetrated and facilitated by this conspiracy prey on our most vulnerable citizens.  I commend the work of our law enforcement partners who help hold accountable both those who commit fraud and those that help fraudsters hide their profits.”

“This judgment shows HSI’s success in protecting our nation’s seniors and communities from fraud by malicious actors overseas,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of the Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Division.  “Fraudulent schemes of any kind are disgraceful, especially when they target vulnerable populations. HSI will continue to work with our international partners and other law enforcement agencies to put an end to these transnational criminal organizations.”

“Efevwerha provided a pivotal role in facilitating the movement of victim funds from the U.S. to other countries. The scheme targeted innocent people, many elderly, for millions of dollars. These are kind hearted people, but now they will never forget how their kindness was taken advantage of,” said Special Agent in Charge Ramsey E. Covington of IRS Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) sHouston Field Office.  “We can’t heal the damage he and the other criminals did to the victims and their families, but we helped bring justice, and hopefully some peace of mind. This is what our special agents and the prosecutors they partner with do, and I hope it sends a message to anyone thinking about committing fraud in the future.”

Co-defendant Ochuko Sylvester Eruotor pleaded guilty after being extradited to the Western District of Texas from Germany and was sentenced in July 2018 to 168 months in federal prison for his role in the multi-million-dollar fraud and money laundering schemes. The other seven co-defendants sentenced received a combined 446 months in prison and were ordered to pay restitution.

Law enforcement is continuing its search for a co-conspirator who remains a fugitive of this case.  If you know the whereabouts of Ejovwoke Mark Egorho, please contact the HSI Tip Line at 866-347-2423.

HSI and IRS-CI investigated the case with the help of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Toronto Police Service and Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Galdo prosecuted the case.

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ALPINE, Texas – A Seminole, Texas man pleaded guilty Thursday to transporting undocumented noncitizens causing serious bodily injury.

According to court documents, Tobias Penner Peters, 46, piloted an aircraft carrying five undocumented noncitizens on Dec. 30, 2021 and crashed shortly after taking off from the Presidio Airport.  U.S. Border Patrol agents responded to the crash, finding the five injured undocumented individuals.  Peters had already fled the crash site on his way to Mexico.  He turned himself in at the Presidio Port of Entry three months later.  One of the undocumented individuals injured in the crash suffered a back injury, was life-flighted to an El Paso hospital and remains in a wheelchair today.

Peters pleaded guilty to one count of transportation of illegal aliens causing serious bodily injury. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 25, 2023 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of the Homeland Security Investigations El Paso Division made the announcement.

HSI, the U.S. Border Patrol and the Presidio County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Greenbaum is prosecuting the case.

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EL PASO, Texas – A former Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer stationed in El Paso was sentenced Monday to eight months in jail plus three years of supervised release for receiving a bribe by a public official.

According to court documents, Roberto Padilla, 51, was persuaded to reveal law enforcement sensitive information in exchange for a $500 payment to satisfy his drug debt.  Padilla was arrested Aug. 6, 2021 and released on bond Aug. 13, 2021.  He was immediately placed on administrative leave by ICE following his arrest and eventually relieved of employment entirely on Aug. 23, 2021.  Padilla pleaded guilty to the charge Nov. 10, 2022.

“This former agent jeopardized his law enforcement career, his life and the reputation of his agency,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “We will always vigorously prosecute public officials who abuse their authority, especially law enforcement officers who corruptly sell access to sensitive law enforcement databases.”

“Roberto Padilla engaged in conduct that betrayed the oath he took to faithfully serve the citizens of the United States of America,” said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey R. Downey of the FBI El Paso Field Office. “His behavior should not take away from the outstanding work done each day by the vast majority of law enforcement professionals at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The FBI encourages the public to continue to support our active and ongoing efforts to root out public corruption by reporting corrupt activity to the FBI El Paso Field Office at (915) 832-5000.”

The FBI, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Professional Responsibility investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Osterberg prosecuted the case.

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AUSTIN, Texas – A federal grand jury in Austin recently returned an indictment charging a local man and two women with five counts related to fentanyl distribution resulting in death and serious bodily injury.

Court documents allege that David Lee Jr., 45, and Virginia Zepeda, 43, of Austin, along with Jackie Lynne Chester, 36, of Taylor, possessed and sold counterfeit oxycodone and other fake prescription pills containing traceable amounts of fentanyl, leading to the death of at least one person.

The defendants have each made their initial court appearances.  Lee is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, one count of distribution of fentanyl causing death and serious bodily injury, and three counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl.  If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy charge, 20 years to life imprisonment on the distribution causing death charge and 40 years imprisonment on each of the three possession charges.  Lee pleaded not guilty to all charges on Jan. 11, 2023.

Zepeda and Chester are each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.  If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Drug Enforcement Administration Houston Division made the announcement.

The DEA, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Marshall is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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AUSTIN, Texas – A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court in Austin last week to 14 years in prison for his role in a narcotics distribution network that spanned the U.S.

According to court documents, Victor Penaloza-Calderon, aka Cuñado, 37, of Michoacan, Mexico was the source of supply for hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine that was routed to Austin for distribution in and around the city, as well as in states as far away as Wisconsin and North Carolina.  An operation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration has resulted in the arrests and convictions of 29 conspiracy members and, in the process, has dismantled the distribution organization. 

The leader of the distribution organization, Karl Beck, was sentenced to 20 years in prison.  There have been 29 defendants sentenced from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force’s (OCDETF) Operation Glass Joe.  Two additional defendants have been indicted and await trial.

“Proving how critical our law enforcement partnerships are, this multi-agency operation has completely dismantled an organization responsible for distributing narcotics in communities across the nation,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “As of today, the defendants in this conspiracy have been sentenced to a total of 2,907 months in federal prison.  That’s your justice system at work.”

“This Drug Trafficking Organization embedded itself in communities across the nation, including Texas, through distribution cells,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the DEA Houston Division.  “The number of arrests and drug seizures in this case exemplifies DEA’s continued effort to bring those who attempt to profit from our communities to justice.”

“This federal prison sentence sends a clear message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work diligently to hold criminals who are bringing methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs into our communities accountable for their actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr of the FBI San Antonio Division.

This case was investigated by the DEA; FBI; Austin Police Department; Texas Department of Public Safety; Cedar Park Police Department; Pflugerville Police Department; Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office; and Travis County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Guess prosecuted the case.

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AUSTIN, Texas – A Fort Worth man was sentenced in federal court in Austin today to 60 months in prison for attempting to damage or destroy a portion of the Permian Highway Pipeline in Hays County.

According to court documents, Ryan Blake McKinney, 22, attempted to detonate a device near a section of the Permian Highway Pipeline on Jan. 26, 2022.  He had conducted extensive planning for the attack and deliberately chose the Permian Highway Pipeline as part of his ideological fight against capitalism and climate change.  McKinney intended to weaken Texas energy independence and ensure significant economic consequences.  He turned himself in after his device failed to damage the pipeline due to a design flaw.

“Despite this defendant’s failed attempt to cause destruction, his intent, as shown in his thorough planning, posed an irresponsible and very dangerous risk,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “Our prosecution and the sentencing in this case make it clear that attacks on our nation’s critical infrastructure are unacceptable and will be met with the full force of the law.”

“This sentencing demonstrates the FBI's and our Joint Terrorism Task Force partners' commitment to protecting our communities from violent extremists who seek to advance their ideology through acts of terrorism,” said Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. of the FBI San Antonio Division. “We would like to thank the Austin Police Department and the Hays County Sheriff's Office for their assistance on this case.”

The FBI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys G. Karthik Srinivasan and Michael C. Galdo prosecuted the case.

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ALPINE, Texas – A Valentine, Texas man was sentenced in federal court in Alpine last week to 20 years in prison and 15 years of supervised release for distributing child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, Albert Douglas Ackley, 60, uploaded and shared ten files containing child sexual abuse material over a mobile messaging app.  The files were flagged by the app and sent to the Internet Crimes Against Children database for law enforcement investigation.  Agents executed a search warrant at Ackley’s residence, where they found multiple devices containing prepubescent child sexual abuse material.  At the time of the investigation, Ackley had been teaching math to grades seven through 12 at a local public school.

Ackley was arrested March 15, 2022 and has remained in federal custody.  He pleaded guilty on Aug. 12, 2022 to one count of distribution of child pornography.

“We will continue to vigorously prosecute those who distribute or create an illegal market for child pornography as they violate the sanctity and innocence of our children,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “We are grateful for our law enforcement partners, and to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, as we work together to protect our kids and hold these offenders accountable for the harm they cause in society.”

“This sentence shows that HSI special agents are laser focused on doing our part to bring to justice those who victimize children,” said Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of the Homeland Security Investigations El Paso Division.  “HSI is most appreciative of the collaborative partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety that is a force multiplier to combat this horrific crime of child exploitation.”

HSI and the Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Ellis prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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AUSTIN, Texas – A Nigerian national residing in Canada and a Dallas woman operating a marketing leads business were sentenced in Austin on Thursday for their roles in a fraudulent “sweepstakes” scheme that sent more than $250 million in counterfeit checks with fraudulent lottery award letters to elderly U.S. victims.

Tony Akinbobola, 52, of Toronto, Ontario, was sentenced to 78 months in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering.  According to court documents, Akinbobola laundered money for the scheme beginning in 2015, receiving fraudulently obtained funds by way of wire transfers and money orders from the U.S., which he would deposit into a Canadian bank account in the name of his business.  Investigators have identified at least 300 victims, all over the age of 60, sustaining a total of more than $1 million in actual losses with intended losses of more than $9.5 million.  Akinbobola was arrested in Canada on Jan. 20, 2022 and was transferred to federal custody on Feb. 11, 2022, where he has remained since.  He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering on Sept. 30, 2022.   In addition to spending more than six years in federal prison, Akinbobola was ordered to pay $111,870.25 in restitution. 

Donna Lundy, 64, of Dallas, was sentenced to 30 months and ordered to pay $111,870.25 in restitution for wire fraud.  Lundy owned and operated a lead broker business near Dallas, through which she purchased people’s names and contact information to sell to customers.  Lundy sold and emailed numerous lists containing Personal Identifiable Information (PII) of elderly people to the scheming organization’s leader, Harry Cole, making more than $700,000 from him between 2007 and 2016.  She pleaded guilty to the charge in January 2019.  Cole was sentenced to nearly 14 years in prison in February 2022.  Another co-defendant, Joel Calvin, was sentenced to three years in December 2022.

The scheme ran from 2012 to 2016 and involved purchasing lists of potential elderly victims and their mailing addresses.  Organization members based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada sent packages containing fraudulent sweepstakes information to conspirators residing in the U.S.  The packages contained thousands of mailers to be mailed to victims notifying them that they had won a sweepstakes.  Each mailer included a fraudulent check issued to the name of the victim, usually in the amount of $8,000, and a pre-addressed envelope.

Victims were instructed to deposit the check into their bank account, then immediately withdraw between $5,000 and $7,000 in cash or money orders and send the money to a “sweepstakes representative” to facilitate the collection of the prize.  By the time the bank notified the victim that the deposited check was fraudulent, the victim would have already sent the cash or money order to the defendants or conspirators.

“I applaud the hard work of the investigating agencies in bringing these defendants to justice—and thank Canadian authorities and the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs for their help in the extradition of Akinbobola,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “This case demonstrates my office's commitment to hold all those responsible for defrauding our senior citizens. Whether supplying the personal information and addresses of elderly citizens or assisting the scam by laundering funds in Canada, our office will pursue all of those that enable these vicious scams to steal from our seniors.”

“This sentence reaffirms HSI’s commitment to working with global law enforcement partners to disrupt transnational financial fraud syndicates,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio Division.  “HSI is uniquely positioned to combat criminal organizations that exploit the U.S. financial networks by utilizing our expansive criminal and administrative authorities.”

“Tony Akinbobola and his co-conspirators devised a scheme that targeted and took advantage of one of our country’s most vulnerable populations, senior citizens,” said Inspector in Charge Scott Fix of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Houston Division.  “The USPIS remains resolute in our mission to bring to justice those who fraudulently use the U.S. Mail in the furtherance of their deceptive schemes.  Postal Inspectors will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners, including HSI and IRS-CI, to ensure these individuals are held accountable.”

“Lundy and Akinbobola were part of a criminal enterprise that operated both within and outside the U.S. while preying on innocent victims located here.  Now the two will pay for their crimes serving time in a U.S. prison,” said Special Agent in Charge Ramsey E. Covington of IRS Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) Houston Field Office.  “This investigation shows our special agents will continue to fight for justice to be served for victims of fraud and other financial crimes, and the criminals who orchestrate such crimes, even internationally, are not out of our reach.”

HSI, the USPIS and IRS-CI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Galdo and Keith Henneke prosecuted the case. Attorneys with the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs assisted with extraditions from Canada.

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AUSTIN, Texas – A former Lakeway resident was sentenced in federal court in Austin on Thursday to 15 years in prison with an additional 15 years of supervised release for producing child sexual exploitation material.

According to court documents, Thomas Owen Norvell, 38, persuaded a minor to record a sexually explicit video on his cell phone.  Live Oak Police Department launched an investigation and requested the help of the FBI San Antonio Division after a relative of the victim reported awareness of the abuse.  Norvell had been living in Fairbanks, Alaska when FBI agents arrested him on Nov. 30, 2021.  He was later transferred to Austin, where he remained in custody and awaited sentencing.  Norvell pleaded guilty to the charge in October 2022.

“It took a lot of courage for the victim in this case to speak up and for their relative to report the abuse that had taken place,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “I commend our law enforcement partners here in Texas and in Alaska for investigating and arresting this predator, leading to this lengthy sentence.”

“This sentencing sends a message to those who exploit innocent children that we will aggressively pursue you and ensure you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," said Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. of the FBI San Antonio Division.  “I would like to thank the Live Oak Police Department and FBI Anchorage for their assistance and partnership on this case.”

The FBI and LOPD investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Henneke prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso woman was arrested Monday in El Paso on criminal charges related to her alleged wire fraud and impersonation of a federal employee.

According to court documents, Ana Maria Hernandez, 53, portrayed herself to be a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) employee and defrauded more than 20 victims by providing them the false pretext that she would process their immigration applications for a substantial fee.  Hernandez’s victims provided her with the documentation required to file and adjust their immigration status.  Investigators revealed that Hernandez had amassed more than $400,000 of unexplained wealth within the 18 months coinciding with her fraudulent activity.

An indictment returned by an El Paso grand jury charges Hernandez with 10 counts of wire fraud and one count of impersonating an employee of the United States. The maximum penalty is 20 years imprisonment on each wire fraud count and three years on the impersonation count.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso Division made the announcement.

HSI El Paso is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Aguayo is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Update: On August 19, 2024, a federal jury acquitted Kuba Zarobkiewicz and Anthony Fermin of all charges alleged in the indictment described in the press release below. Farrukh Mirza has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing.

SAN ANTONIO – A federal grand jury in San Antonio recently returned an indictment charging a group of three defendants with 22 counts related to healthcare fraud, identity theft and kickbacks.

According to court documents, Kuba Zarobkiewicz, 35, of San Antonio, and Anthony Fermin, 32, of Boca Raton, Florida, own various medical equipment companies and pharmacies involved in a scheme to defraud Medicare by paying kickbacks to telemarketing firms owned and operated by Farrukh Mirza, 39, of Richmond, Texas, in exchange for signed doctor’s orders issued for unnecessary hip, knee and back braces.

Zarobkiewicz, Fermin and Mirza were charged in December 2022 with one count of conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks; one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud; six counts of healthcare fraud; and six counts of aggravated identity theft and aiding and abetting.  Additionally, Zarobkiewicz and Fermin are charged with four counts of payment of illegal healthcare kickbacks, while Mirza is charged with four counts of receipt of illegal healthcare kickbacks.

All three defendants are currently released on bond while they await trial.  If convicted, they each face maximum penalty of five years in prison on the count of conspiracy to pay and receive healthcare kickbacks, 10 years in prison on the respective counts pertaining to healthcare fraud, plus a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence if convicted on the aggravated identity theft counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. of the FBI San Antonio Division made the announcement.

The FBI, Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, and Medicaid Fraud Control Unit are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Chung is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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AUSTIN, Texas – A Canadian national was sentenced in federal court here Friday to serve 30 months in prison and pay $1,771,011.67 in restitution for making false statements on income tax returns.

According to court documents, William Henry Woo, 67, of Toronto submitted duplicate and inflated refund requests to the IRS Service Center in Austin as a Canadian citizen seeking automatically withheld gambling winnings.  In doing so, he defrauded the U.S. Department of Treasury of nearly $1.8 million in tax refund money from 2006 to 2010. Woo pleaded guilty to two counts of the nine-count indictment brought against him in October 2022.

“Mr. Woo, who admitted his addiction to gambling, lost his biggest bet,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “He got caught on his gamble that he could cheat the U.S. government on his taxes.  I appreciate the work of IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) to investigate Mr. Woo’s deceitful conduct, allowing our system to deliver justice.”

“Fraud schemes against the IRS will not be tolerated, as stealing from the Nation’s treasury is stealing from every American, and Woo’s sentencing today concretely shows the severity of his crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Ramsey E. Covington of IRS CI’s Houston Field Office.  “As the 2023 filing season begins, IRS-CI Special Agents remain committed to investigating, quickly stopping, and recommending for criminal prosecution all frauds against the IRS including abusive tax schemes, return preparer fraud, and stolen identity refund fraud.”

IRS CI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Castillo prosecuted the case.

CI’s Houston Field Office encompasses the U.S. District Court’s Southern and Western districts of Texas. CI special agents work a variety of cases, emphasizing traditional tax-related crimes such as employment tax, corporate fraud, identity theft, unscrupulous return preparers and general fraud. The Houston Field Office also provides crucial support to task forces involving counterterrorism, public corruption, human trafficking, drugs and complex money laundering violations. Report tax fraud and learn more about CI by visiting https://www.irs.gov/criminalinvestigation

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EL PASO, Texas– An El Paso man was sentenced in federal court here Thursday to 160 months in prison for receipt and distribution of a visual depiction involving the sexual exploitation of a minor.

According to court documents, Javier Alejandro Parada, 36, used a fake social media account to share nearly 35 files containing Child Sexual Exploitation Material (CSEM) in a group chat between Dec. 31, 2020, and Jan. 2, 2021.  After locating Parada’s residence investigators identified additional online accounts on which he kept files containing CSEM, some of which had been sent to him from other contacts.

“We remain committed to prosecuting these types of heinous offenses against children and will always follow up on any leads of child sexual abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  "Just as important as the result of this case, Parada’s arrest led to the arrest of another child predator in Las Cruces and the rescue of that defendant’s victim. Our partners did an amazing job throughout this investigation."

“Predators contemplating to exploit children should heed this Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigation and the sentence handed down,” said Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola of HSI El Paso.  “HSI and our law enforcement partners continue to work tirelessly to protect our greatest asset—our children—and focus on arresting and prosecuting those who seek to victimize them.”

HSI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Valenzuela prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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AUSTIN, Texas – A Florence, Texas man was sentenced Friday to 15 years in federal prison followed by 15 years of supervised release for the sexual exploitation of a child and production of child pornography.

According to court documents, Joseph Leslie Reichard, 23, used his cell phone to produce three images of child sexual abuse material depicting a minor between the ages of one and three years old.  Reichard sent the images via a messaging app to a person in Pennsylvania.  He pleaded guilty in October 2022 and has remained in federal custody since his arrest in March 2022.  

“This defendant used his cell phone to photograph and distribute despicable acts of sexual abuse against defenseless children,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “Limiting the availability of child sexual abuse begins with cracking down directly on offenders like Reichard, who can expect to face the harshest penalties under federal law.”

"The FBI continues its steadfast commitment to rescue children from those who commit these abhorrent crimes," said Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. of the FBI San Antonio Division. "Today's sentencing is the result of the FBI and our task force partners' relentless effort to hold child predators accountable for their reprehensible acts."

The FBI San Antonio Division investigated the case with the help of the FBI Pittsburgh Division.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Devlin prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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AUSTIN, Texas – An Amarillo man was sentenced in federal court here on Thursday to serve eight years in prison and pay $30,000 in restitution for transportation for illegal sexual activity.

According to court documents, Jeremy Walton Hibbler, 37, transported a victim from Texas to Florida and back with the intent that she engage in illegal sexual activity.  In addition to his prison sentence, Hibbler was sentenced to five years of supervised release.  U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ordered Hibbler remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals immediately after imposing his sentence.

“We, along with our law enforcement partners at all levels, remain focused in doing everything within our power to prosecute these predators and obtain justice for their victims,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “In addition to the Austin Police Department, I thank Austin’s SAFE Alliance and their SAFE CARES service, as well as New Friends New Life in the Dallas area, for providing invaluable support to the survivors of this man’s horrendous crime.”

The Austin Police Department Human Trafficking Unit investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Grant Sparks prosecuted the case.

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SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in federal court last week to 17 years in prison for cyberstalking, extortion and distribution of child pornography.

According to court documents, Jaycob Andrew Bustamante, 21, had distributed sexually explicit images of a minor.  Between January 2021 and September 2021, he created multiple social media accounts posing as the victim, through which he posted the sexually explicit images and sent the child pornography to her friends and family. Over the course of Bustamante’s constant harassment, he repeatedly threatened and stalked the victim through social media, placing her and her family in fear of violence, while demanding more sexually explicit images.

“The defendant in this case extorted and harassed a victim to the point she genuinely felt her life was threatened,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas.  “Cyberstalking and online extortion of children and adults is one of the fastest growing crimes.  We and our partners are committed to holding accountable anyone who uses the internet and social media to terrorize, extort and stalk their victims.”

“The significant sentence imposed on Jaycob Andrew Bustamante sends a clear message that there are serious consequences for those who exploit children.  Bustamante will serve the next 17 years in federal prison for his incomprehensible acts,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of the HSI San Antonio Division.  “We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who victimize the most vulnerable members of our society, our children.” 

HSI and the Texas Office of Attorney General investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bettina Richardson prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

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DEL RIO, Texas – A federal grand jury in Del Rio returned an indictment last week charging a Kansas man with smuggling firearms, ammunition and other firearm accessories from the United States into Mexico.

According to court documents, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers conducting outbound inspections at the Eagle Pass Camino Real Bridge II on Dec. 16, 2022, searched a pickup and utility trailer operated by Jose Guadalupe Martinez-Ortiz, 28, of Garden City, Kansas.  CBP officers found three handguns, four magazines, three gun scopes, and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition. Martinez-Ortiz appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Victor R. Garcia of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas on Dec. 19, 2022.

The one-count indictment charges Martinez-Ortiz with smuggling goods from the United States. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio Division made the announcement.

HSI and CBP are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Brown is prosecuting it.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso man pleaded guilty in federal court here last week to five counts of wire fraud.

According to court documents, Abner Tinoco, 27, operated a Ponzi scheme through his business by soliciting millions of dollars of investments from clients and claiming he would invest their money into funds dealing with cryptocurrency and foreign exchange markets.  Out of approximately $9 million worth of investments deposited into his business accounts, Tinoco spent more than half on personal expenses to include luxury cars, private jets, real estate and jewelry.  Tinoco furthered the deception by providing some of the misappropriated funds as profits to his clients.

Tinoco faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison plus restitution and a maximum fine of $250,000 on each count.  A sentencing date has not yet been decided.  A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

In a separate civil case stemming from the above scheme, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) secured a civil consent decree against Tinoco and his business, imposing a ban relating to trading activities.  The Department of Justice will work to achieve restitution for any additional victims of Tinoco’s scheme.

U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey R. Downey of the FBI El Paso Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shane Romero and Chris Skillern are prosecuting the case.

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