Western District of Texas

In Austin this week, a federal magistrate judge unsealed a four-count indictment against a 22-year-old Houston man for a carjacking in Southwest Austin in January 2020, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Fred Milanowski, Houston Division.   

The federal grand jury indictment, returned in Austin on March 3, 2020, charges Darrell Morgan Watts, Jr., with one count of carjacking, one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, one count of discharging a firearm with a silencer during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of possession of an unregistered silencer.

The indictment alleges that in Austin on January 30, 2020, Watts fired shots from a .22 caliber pistol with a silencer in an effort to steal a Ford Mustang from its owner.  As for his convicted felon status, Watts was convicted of felony theft in Harris County, TX, in 2016, for which he received a three-year-prison sentence.

Upon convictions, Watts faces up to 15 years in federal prison for the carjacking charge; up to ten years in federal prison for the felon-in-possession charge; up to ten years in federal prison for possession of an unregistered silencer; and, a minimum of 30 years in federal prison for using and carrying a firearm with a silencer during and in relation to a federal crime of violence.

Watts, who was arrested in San Antonio on February 5, 2020, remains in federal custody.

The ATF and the Austin Police Department investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan M. Buie is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.

An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

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

In Del Rio today, 20-year-old Uvalde, Texas, resident Pedro Gonzalez, Jr., pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, San Antonio Division; and, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Appearing before U.S Magistrate Judge Victor Garcia, Gonzalez pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.  According to court records, on August 22, 2019, authorities executed a federal search warrant at the defendant’s residence.  During the search, authorities seized a computer hard drive belonging to the defendant.  A subsequent search of the computer hard drive revealed the presence of numerous images of child pornography.

Gonzalez faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each charge.  Sentencing, before U.S. District Judge Alia Moses in Del Rio, has yet to be scheduled.   

The investigation was initiated by a lead from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children concerning the uploading of possible child pornography. The Cyber Crimes Unit of the Texas Attorney General’s Office and HSI investigated this case.  The Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the execution of the search warrant.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Spears is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.projectsafechildhood.gov. 

On Saturday, 38-year-old Merdad Ansari who is an Iranian citizen and a resident of the United Arab Emirates was extradited from Georgia and arrived Saturday evening in San Antonio to face federal charges in connection with a scheme to obtain military sensitive parts for Iran in violation of the Iranian Trade Embargo, announced Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers,  U.S. Attorney John F. Bash for the Western District of Texas; FBI San Antonio Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio Office Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden; Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southwest Field Office Special Agent in Charge Michael Mentalvos; and, Special Agent in Charge Tracy Martin, U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security's Office of Export Enforcement, Dallas Field Office.

These parts had dual-use military and civilian capability and could be used in such systems as: nuclear weapons, missile guidance and development, secure tactical radio communications, offensive electronic warfare, military electronic countermeasures (radio jamming), and radar warning and surveillance systems.

“As alleged, the defendant helped Iran to develop its weapons programs by obtaining military parts in violation of the Iranian Trade Embargo,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “We are grateful for the work our partners have done to ensure Ansari can be brought to justice.” 

“I am pleased that Mr. Ansari will face justice in an American courtroom.  I am grateful to the many law-enforcement partners who worked so diligently to make that happen,” stated U. S. Attorney John F. Bash for the Western District of Texas. 

“The FBI greatly appreciates the collaborative efforts and unwavering support from the Georgian Government and our federal partners. Together, over several years, we relentlessly pursued every lead to ensure that Ansari would eventually face the charges detailed in the indictment,” stated FBI San Antonio Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs. “Investigating criminal violations of U.S. trade embargoes is one of the FBI's highest priorities since this criminal activity affects the national security of the United States and our allies, especially the security of our troops abroad.”

“HSI will use all resources at its disposal to prevent sensitive technology from being illegally exported from the United States,” said Shane Folden, Special Agent in Charge, HSI San Antonio. “HSI commends all the agencies involved in this effort, their dedication and perseverance has brought this individual before the court to face justice.” 

Ansari, and his co-defendant Mehrdad Foomanie (aka Frank Foomanie) of Iran, are charged in a federal grand jury indictment returned in June 2012 with conspiracy to violate the Iranian Transactions Regulations (ITR), conspiracy to launder money and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  Foomanie remains a fugitive in this case.  In October 2012, a third co-defendant, Susan Yip (aka Susan Yeh), a citizen of Taiwan, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to violate the ITR by acting as a broker and conduit for Foomanie to buy items in the U.S. and have them unlawfully shipped to Iran. 

According to the indictment, Foomanie also bought or attempted to buy items in the U.S. and arranged to have them unlawfully shipped to Iran through his companies in Iran (Morvarid Shargh Co. Ltd.); in Hong Kong (Panda Semiconductor and Foang Tech Inc., aka Ofogh Electronics Co.); and, in China (Ninehead Bird Semiconductor). The indictment also alleges that Ansari attempted to transship and transshipped cargo obtained from the U.S. by Yip and Foomanie using Ansari’s company, Gulf Gate Sea Cargo L.L.C., located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In her guilty plea, Yip admitted to primarily using her companies in Taiwan (Hivocal Technology Company, Ltd.; Enrich Ever Technologies Co., Ltd.; and, Kuang-Su Corporation) and in Hong Kong (Infinity Wise Technology; Well Smart (HK) Technology; Pinky Trading Co., Ltd.; and, Wise Smart (HK) Electronics Limited) to carry out the fraudulent scheme.

From Oct. 9, 2007, to June 15, 2011, the defendants obtained or attempted to obtain from companies worldwide over 105,000 parts valued at approximately $2,630,800 involving more than 1,250 transactions. The defendants conducted 599 transactions with 63 different U.S. companies where they obtained or attempted to obtain parts from U.S. companies without notifying the U.S. companies these parts were being shipped to Iran or getting the required U.S. Government license to ship these parts to Iran.

At no time did Yip, Foomanie, or Ansari, individually or through any of their companies, ever apply for or receive either a required U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) license or Department of Commerce export license to ship any item listed in this Indictment to the Republic of Iran.

The Iranian Transactions Regulations, renamed the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations in October 2012, prohibit, among other things, the exportation, re-exportation, sale or supply, directly or indirectly, to Iran or the Government of Iran, of any goods, technology or services from the U.S. or by a U.S. person. The embargo also prohibits any transaction by any U.S. person or within the U.S. that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, any prohibition set forth in the Executive Orders.

Upon conviction, Foomanie and Ansari faces up to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to violate the ITR, up to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to launder money and up to five years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The extradition occurred with substantial assistance from the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs and the Government of Georgia. 

On Saturday, 38-year-old Merdad Ansari who is an Iranian citizen and a resident of the United Arab Emirates was extradited from Georgia and arrived Saturday evening in San Antonio to face federal charges in connection with a scheme to obtain military sensitive parts for Iran in violation of the Iranian Trade Embargo, announced Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers,  U.S. Attorney John F. Bash for the Western District of Texas; FBI San Antonio Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio Office Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden; Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Southwest Field Office Special Agent in Charge Michael Mentalvos; and, Special Agent in Charge Tracy Martin, U.S. Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security's Office of Export Enforcement, Dallas Field Office.

These parts had dual-use military and civilian capability and could be used in such systems as: nuclear weapons, missile guidance and development, secure tactical radio communications, offensive electronic warfare, military electronic countermeasures (radio jamming), and radar warning and surveillance systems.

“As alleged, the defendant helped Iran to develop its weapons programs by obtaining military parts in violation of the Iranian Trade Embargo,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “We are grateful for the work our partners have done to ensure Ansari can be brought to justice.” 

“I am pleased that Mr. Ansari will face justice in an American courtroom.  I am grateful to the many law-enforcement partners who worked so diligently to make that happen,” stated U. S. Attorney John F. Bash for the Western District of Texas. 

“The FBI greatly appreciates the collaborative efforts and unwavering support from the Georgian Government and our federal partners. Together, over several years, we relentlessly pursued every lead to ensure that Ansari would eventually face the charges detailed in the indictment,” stated FBI San Antonio Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs. “Investigating criminal violations of U.S. trade embargoes is one of the FBI's highest priorities since this criminal activity affects the national security of the United States and our allies, especially the security of our troops abroad.”

“HSI will use all resources at its disposal to prevent sensitive technology from being illegally exported from the United States,” said Shane Folden, Special Agent in Charge, HSI San Antonio. “HSI commends all the agencies involved in this effort, their dedication and perseverance has brought this individual before the court to face justice.” 

Ansari, and his co-defendant Mehrdad Foomanie (aka Frank Foomanie) of Iran, are charged in a federal grand jury indictment returned in June 2012 with conspiracy to violate the Iranian Transactions Regulations (ITR), conspiracy to launder money and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  Foomanie remains a fugitive in this case.  In October 2012, a third co-defendant, Susan Yip (aka Susan Yeh), a citizen of Taiwan, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to violate the ITR by acting as a broker and conduit for Foomanie to buy items in the U.S. and have them unlawfully shipped to Iran. 

According to the indictment, Foomanie also bought or attempted to buy items in the U.S. and arranged to have them unlawfully shipped to Iran through his companies in Iran (Morvarid Shargh Co. Ltd.); in Hong Kong (Panda Semiconductor and Foang Tech Inc., aka Ofogh Electronics Co.); and, in China (Ninehead Bird Semiconductor). The indictment also alleges that Ansari attempted to transship and transshipped cargo obtained from the U.S. by Yip and Foomanie using Ansari’s company, Gulf Gate Sea Cargo L.L.C., located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In her guilty plea, Yip admitted to primarily using her companies in Taiwan (Hivocal Technology Company, Ltd.; Enrich Ever Technologies Co., Ltd.; and, Kuang-Su Corporation) and in Hong Kong (Infinity Wise Technology; Well Smart (HK) Technology; Pinky Trading Co., Ltd.; and, Wise Smart (HK) Electronics Limited) to carry out the fraudulent scheme.

From Oct. 9, 2007, to June 15, 2011, the defendants obtained or attempted to obtain from companies worldwide over 105,000 parts valued at approximately $2,630,800 involving more than 1,250 transactions. The defendants conducted 599 transactions with 63 different U.S. companies where they obtained or attempted to obtain parts from U.S. companies without notifying the U.S. companies these parts were being shipped to Iran or getting the required U.S. Government license to ship these parts to Iran.

At no time did Yip, Foomanie, or Ansari, individually or through any of their companies, ever apply for or receive either a required U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) license or Department of Commerce export license to ship any item listed in this Indictment to the Republic of Iran.

The Iranian Transactions Regulations, renamed the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations in October 2012, prohibit, among other things, the exportation, re-exportation, sale or supply, directly or indirectly, to Iran or the Government of Iran, of any goods, technology or services from the U.S. or by a U.S. person. The embargo also prohibits any transaction by any U.S. person or within the U.S. that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, any prohibition set forth in the Executive Orders.

Upon conviction, Foomanie and Ansari faces up to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to violate the ITR, up to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to launder money and up to five years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The extradition occurred with substantial assistance from the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs and the Government of Georgia. 

In San Antonio today, a federal judge sentenced a San Antonio man to 108 months in federal prison for possessing over 2,500 images and 112 videos depicting child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, San Antonio Division.

In addition to the prison term, Senior U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra ordered that 44-year-old Jeffrey Clinton Michalik pay $68,000 in restitution to eight known victims, pay a $5,000 assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act and be placed on supervised release for a period of ten years after completing his prison term.

“As this sentence makes clear, those who exploit innocent children will face serious consequences,” stated HSI Special Agent in Charge Folden. “Targeting these crimes against children is a top priority for HSI. We will continue to dedicate law enforcement resources to identify and bring to justice child predators who traumatize and victimize children.”

On September 4, 2019, a jury convicted Michalik on one count of possession of child pornography.  Evidence presented at trial revealed that five images of child pornography were downloaded from a website in Switzerland using the defendant’s secure IP address assigned to his house.  HSI agents executed a federal search warrant for child pornography at the defendant’s house.  The defendant admitted viewing child pornography on a laptop computer and provided agents with consent to search that computer.  The laptop computer contained over 2,500 images and 112 videos depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  The majority of the child pornography files depicted children under the age of 12, including children as young as three.

HSI agents investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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

Federal, state, and local authorities have arrested more than 20 individuals—over the past two days—charged in narcotics trafficking schemes with ties to the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). These arrests are a result of a Drug Enforcement Administration operation, Project Python, intent upon targeting CJNG.  

AUSTIN   A federal grand jury in Austin has charged 18 individuals with conspiring to distribute cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and other narcotics in the Austin area since April 2017.  The defendants include: Maria Benitez-Ugarte (29) of Dale, TX; Rogelio Arias-Cruz (36) of Dale, TX; Linde DiGregorio (47) of Marble Falls, TX; Amanda Sales (34) of Manor, TX; Vicente Rodriguez (35) of Austin; Jordan Salas (27) of Houston; Perla Cruz (28) of Austin; Blanca Ruiz-Garcia (42) of Kyle, TX; Shadrick Croxton (38) of Marble Falls, TX; Brandon Grigsby (24) of Lago Vista, TX; Antoinne Banks (43) of Austin; Matt Kite of Humble, TX; David Steinbach (35) of San Angelo, TX; Charlie Jones (25) of Austin; Cory Patton (27) of Austin; Guillermo Alvarez-Ramirez (35) of Austin; Ricardo Hernandez (30) of Austin; and, Aaron Chavez (31) of Austin.

To date, in connection with this investigation, law enforcement officers have seized 33 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of heroin, 250 grams of cocaine and $13,000 in assets.

This South Texas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Cedar Park Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Austin Police Department, Hays County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO). 

SAN ANTONIO   A federal grand jury in San Antonio has charged multiple individuals with conspiring to distribute cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and other narcotics in the San Antonio area since March 2019.  The defendants arrested include:  Johnathan Andrew Chapa (33); Roger Diaz (34); John David Medrano (24); Julian Jimmy Gonzalez (34); Deandra Lee Garcia (30); and Ashley Lorraine Ruiz (26), all from the San Antonio area.

“The arrests made in Austin and San Antonio were part of a coordinated nationwide enforcement operation undertaken by the Department of Justice and DEA targeting elements of the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) in the United States.  The CJNG is a violent drug trafficking organization responsible for the importation of ton quantities of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine across the United States,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple.

All of the defendants arrested are to be presented to a U. S. Magistrate Judge who will determine their pre-trial detention status.  Each defendant faces punishment of either five to forty years, or ten years to life, in federal prison upon conviction.  Detention hearings are expected to occur over the next two weeks in U.S. Magistrate Court in Austin and San Antonio.

U.S. Attorney John F. Bash, DEA Houston Division Special Agent in Charge Whipple, U.S. Marshal Susan Pamerleau, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw, Cedar Park Police Acting Chief Michael Harmon, Hays County Sheriff Gary Cutler, and Austin Police Chief Brian Manley joined in making the announcement.

More information on Project Python can be found at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/dea-led-operation-nets-more-600-arrests-targeting-c-rtel-jalisco-nueva-generaci-n

It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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

In Austin today, a federal judge sentenced 21-year-old Candido Rodriguez, III, to 92 months in federal prison for assaulting a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security officer last year, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel ordered that Rodriguez be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term. 

“I am pleased with the sentence in this case.  We won’t tolerate violence against law-enforcement officers in Texas,” stated U.S. Attorney Bash.

On November 5, 2019, the victim was driving to work at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport and stopped at a traffic light just before the airport entrance.  According to the factual basis filed in this case, to which Rodriguez admitted in court, Rodriguez approached the victim, who was behind the wheel of the vehicle with the driver’s side window open several inches.  The victim was wearing an official TSA uniform with TSA insignia plainly visible.  Rodriguez engaged in a brief verbal exchange with the victim, during which he referred to the victim being an “officer.”  The victim responded by stating that the victim was employed as a security officer at the airport.  Rodriguez then forcibly opened the driver’s side door of the vehicle and began striking, scratching and cutting the victim’s head, face and right hand with a piece of broken glass or other sharp object.

The victim ultimately escaped from Rodriguez by accelerating through the intersection and onto airport property.  A number of stitches were necessary to close cuts on the victim’s face and right hand.

On December 18, 2019, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting a federal officer. 

The FBI conducted this investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan M. Buie prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office appreciates the contributions of the Austin Police Department and the Travis County Sheriff’s Office.

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In Austin today, a federal judge sentenced 55-year-old Akintola Akinmadeyemi to 120 months imprisonment for his role in an estimated $340 million intended-loss fraudulent “sweepstakes” scheme, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash; Special Agent in Charge Richard D. Goss, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Houston Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), San Antonio; and, Inspector in Charge Adrian Gonzalez, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Houston Division.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel ordered that Akinmadeyemi pay $111,870.25 in restitution and be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.

On May 17, 2019, Akinmadeyemi pleaded guilty to one count of attempt and conspiracy to commit mail fraud.  In addition to Akinmadeyemi, seven other defendants were charged in the scheme:  Austin residents Joel Calvin, age 32, and Clarence Barefield (aka CJ), age 41, Mesquite, TX, resident Donna Lundy, age 55; Nigerian citizens and Canadian residents Harry Cole (aka Akintomide Ayoola Bolu, aka John King, aka Big Bro, aka Egbon), age 49; Emmanuel Olawle Ajayi (aka Wale, aka Walata), age 42; Tony Dada Akinbobola (aka Lawrence D Awoniyi, aka Boss Tony, aka Toyin), age 48; and Bolaji Akinwunmi Oyewole (aka BJ, aka Beejay), age 32.  Calvin and Barefield previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering; Lundy pleaded guilty to wire fraud. All three remain pending sentencing.

The remaining defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud (Sweepstakes) and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.  Emmanuel Ajayi also faces a second conspiracy-to-commit-wire-fraud charge (Stolen Identity Refund Fraud or SIRF) and an aggravated identity theft charge.  Lundy also faces one substantive count of wire fraud. 

According to the indictment, the defendants carried out their sweepstakes scheme from 2012 to 2016.  Charging $1 per name, Lundy collected over $700,000 by selling lists of elderly potential victims and their addresses to Cole in Canada.  Cole and other conspirators based in the Toronto, Ontario Canada metropolitan area sent packages containing fraudulent sweepstakes information to conspirators residing in the U.S.  The packages contained thousands of mailers, which U.S.-based conspirators sent to victims notifying them that they had won a sweepstakes.  Each mailer included a fraudulent check issued in 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, immediately withdraw between $5,000 and $7,000 dollars in cash or money orders and send the money to a “sweepstakes representative” to facilitate the victim collecting his or her prize. By the time the victim was notified by the bank that the deposited check was fraudulent, the cash or money order had been sent by the victim and received by the defendants or conspirators.  The intended loss from this scheme was in excess of $250 million, with an actual loss of more than $900,000.

The indictment also alleges that from June 2015 through June 2016, Emmanuel Ajayi led a SIRF scheme in which over 1,200 fraudulent Income Tax Returns were filed using stolen Personal Identifying Information (PII) requesting $25 million in tax refunds.  Ajayi used bank accounts involved in the sweepstakes scheme to receive refunds and funnel the money to conspirators in the U.S.  An IRS analysis determined that this scheme resulted in the actual loss of approximately $3.4 million paid from the U.S. Treasury.

In order to acquire the money generated by the Sweepstakes and SIRF schemes, the conspirators operated a money laundering conspiracy in the U.S. That conspiracy employed knowing and unknowing participants to conduct financial transactions with the goals of moving the proceeds from both fraudulent schemes outside of the U.S. without detection by law enforcement.

Aggravated identity theft calls for a mandatory two years imprisonment upon conviction.  Each of the remaining charges call for up to 20 years in federal prison upon conviction.

Defendants Cole and Akinbobola were arrested on September 25, 2018, in Canada and are awaiting extradition to the U.S.  The whereabouts of Defendants Ajayi and Oyewole are unknown and they are considered fugitives.  Barefield is scheduled for sentencing May 5, 2020. Defendants Calvin and Lundy are scheduled for sentencing on September 9, 2020.

Akinmadeyemi has remained in federal custody since his arrest on September 26, 2018.  Today he was remanded into U. S. Marshal custody to begin serving his sentence.

This case is being investigated by IRS-CI, HSI, and USPIS.  Assistant United States Attorneys Michael C. Galdo and Neeraj Gupta are prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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In Waco this morning, a federal judge sentenced 51–year–old Shozo “Sho” Tanaka to 40 years in federal prison for producing and possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash, FBI San Antonio Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs and Temple Police Chief Jim Tobin.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Alan Albright ordered that Tanaka pay a $10,000 assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act and be placed on supervised release for the remainder of his life after completing his prison term.

“The 40-year sentence imposed in this case is a just punishment for the unconscionable abuse of a child. Our office does nothing more important than prosecuting predators to make sure they can never hurt children again,” stated U.S. Attorney Bash.

On August 6, 2019, Tanaka pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography and one count possession of child pornography.  According to court records, from August 2014 to June 2018, Tanaka coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual images of such activity.  On November 19, 2018, officers with the Temple Police Department executed a search warrant at the defendant’s address.  At that location, authorities seized numerous electronic items and storage devices.  A subsequent forensics review of the seized materials revealed numerous videos that contained video footage of the minor victim being sexually assaulted by the defendant.  Tanaka has remained in custody since November 19, 2018.

The FBI and Temple Police Department investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Gloff prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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

In San Antonio today, 46-year-old San Antonio resident Zachary F. Walter pleaded guilty to stealing over $135,000 in spent brass from Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA), announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash.

Appearing before Senior U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth, Walter pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement of government property.  By pleading guilty, Walter admitted that from October 2015 to August 2017, he contracted with Joint Base San Antonio to take some 102,000 pounds of spent yellow brass ammunition casings and remit payment to JBSA.  Walter, admittedly, sold the brass for approximately $135,164, wrote a check to JBSA, but later went to his bank and stopped payment on the check.  JBSA was never paid for the spent brass.  

Walter faces up to ten years in federal prison.  Sentencing is scheduled for 3:30pm on May 4, 2020.   

The Air Force Office of Special Investigations investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Blackwell is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

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

In San Antonio today, 52-year-old Scherry Lynn Moses pleaded guilty federal charges in connection with a scheme that fraudulently billed Medicaid for services not rendered and for stealing benefits from Social Security recipients, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash.

Appearing before Senior U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth, Moses pleaded guilty to one count of Health Care Fraud, one count of wire fraud and one count of theft of government funds.  By pleading guilty, Moses admitted that while operating two Scherry’s Adult Day Activity Centers in San Antonio, she fraudulently billed the Medicaid Managed Care Organizations known as Amerigroup of Texas, Inc., Molina Healthcare of Texas, Inc. and Superior Health Plan, Inc., for adult day care services that were never rendered to Medicaid recipients. 

Moses also admitted that as a designated representative payee for Social Security benefits, she failed to use the funds for the benefit of the Social Security recipients but instead, used the monies for her own personal benefit. 

The exact amount of money she collected as a result of her fraudulent scheme has yet to be determined. According to the indictment, her scheme occurred between 2008 and 2016.  Moses admitted that she sent false and fraudulent bills in addition to those in the two fraud counts to which she pleaded guilty. Moses has agreed to provide full restitution on all of the charges against her in the indictment.  A request was made for the Court to set a separate hearing at a late date to determine the total amount of the fraud and losses caused by Moses.

Moses faces up to ten years in federal prison for Health Care Fraud; up to 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud; and, up to ten years in federal prison for theft of government funds.  Sentencing is scheduled for 4:00pm on May 4, 2020, before Judge Lamberth.

The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the Texas Attorneys General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fidel Esparza, III, and Rex Beasley are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

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

In San Antonio, a 34-year-old Schertz, TX, resident waived his arraignment, thus pleading not guilty to charge involving kidnapping and child exploitation, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

Yesterday, Kraig David Van Winkle filed a waiver of arraignment with the Court.  In response, the Court filed an automatic plea of not guilty on behalf of the defendant to charges contained in a federal grand jury indictment returned on February 5, 2020, namely one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and one count of interstate kidnapping of a minor.

According to court documents filed in this case, two weeks after meeting a 13-year-old child online, Van Winkle allegedly left Schertz on January 8, 2020, and traveled out of state to meet the child. He then kidnapped and transported the child back to his residence in Schertz with the intent of engaging in sexual activity. After the child was reported missing, tips from the public lead authorities to Van Winkle.

FBI personnel arrested Van Winkle at his residence on January 11, 2020, and rescued the child victim.

Upon conviction, Van Winkle faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the kidnapping charge and a minimum of ten years to life imprisonment for the transportation with intent to engage in sexual activity charge.  Van Winkle remains in federal custody.

The San Antonio FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the San Antonio Police Department and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, investigated this case with assistance from FBI Little Rock and the Springdale Police Department in Springdale, Arkansas. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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

In El Paso today, federal authorities filed a criminal complaint against 27-year-old Gregory Keith Robinson, and 26-year-old Jaquan Bray for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Kyle W. Williamson, El Paso Division, and U.S. Border Patrol Chief Patrol Agent Matthew J. Hudak, Big Bend Sector.

The criminal complaint charges the defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.  According to the federal criminal complaint, on Monday evening, the defendants approached the Sierra Blanca Checkpoint Station, where a U.S. Border Patrol canine unit alerted on their vehicle.  Agents asked the driver (Bray) to park the vehicle in the secondary inspection area for further investigation.  A subsequent inspection of the vehicle by agents revealed the presence of approximately 157 pounds of marijuana inside several large duffle bags in the rear cargo area.

The complaint affidavit further states that Robinson rented the vehicle in Los Angeles on Sunday and had arranged for a third individual in the vehicle, an Uber driver he had met in 2018, to drive him and Bray to Louisiana.  When the trio reached El Paso, Robinson instructed Bray to begin driving.  According to the complaint, when they approached secondary inspection at the Sierra Blanca checkpoint, Robinson asked the third individual to claim the marijuana and that Robinson said he would pay the third individual to do so.  The third individual refused and told Robinson he/she would not have driven him had he/she known there were drugs in the vehicle.

Upon conviction, the defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison.  

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Border Patrol are investigating this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Williams is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

It is important to note that a criminal complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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

Eboni Siamone McMurray, age 23 of Killeen, stands charged with allegedly robbing the First National Bank Texas branch in Killeen on Wednesday, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash, FBI San Antonio Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs and Killeen Police Chief Charles F. Kimble.

A federal criminal complaint unsealed today in Waco charges McMurray with one count of bank robbery.  The complaint alleges that on the afternoon of February 12, 2020, McMurray entered the bank located in the 4300 of East Central Texas Expressway.  She approached a teller and demanded that the teller “fill the bag.”  The complaint further states that McMurray then pointed a firearm directly at the teller, told the teller she had five seconds to comply, and began counting down from five.  The teller filled the bag with money as instructed.  McMurray exited the bank with approximately $2,500. 

Based on video surveillance from the scene, investigators were able to identify and subsequently locate McMurray’s vehicle.  FBI agents and Killeen Police officers, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested McMurray at her residence without incident yesterday. 

McMurray faces up to 25 years in federal prison upon conviction. She remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Tuesday at 9:00am before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Manske in Waco.  

The FBI and Killeen Police Department are investigating this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Gloff is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

It is important to note that a criminal complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

In San Antonio today, a federal jury convicted 50-year-old Brian Alfaro, owner of Primera Energy, LLC, of scheming to defraud investors in his company, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash; FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division; and, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge Richard D. Goss, Houston Field Office.

Following an eight-day trial, jurors convicted Alfaro of seven counts of mail fraud.  Evidence presented during trial revealed that from January 2012 to June 2015, Alfaro offered individuals the opportunity to invest in numerous oil and gas prospects, including the Screaming Eagle 4H Prospect in Gonzales County, Screaming Eagle 6H Prospect also in Gonzales County, and Black Hawk Horizontal Buda #1 Prospect.  Investors mailed investment checks to Primera in San Antonio.  Alfaro told investors their monies would be used for expenses related to operation of the prospects, however, Alfaro used investor funds to support his extravagant lifestyle. 

Alfaro, who was remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following today’s verdict, faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each mail fraud charge.  Sentencing is scheduled for June 22, 2020, in front of U.S. District Judge Fred Biery.   

The FBI and IRS-CI investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory J. Surovic and Robert Almonte are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

In Austin today, a federal judge sentenced 49-year-old Charles McAllister, CEO and owner of Bullion Direct, Inc. (BDI), to ten years in federal prison for money laundering and scheming to defraud customers out of millions of dollars, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash; FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division; IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Richard D. Goss, Houston Field Office; and, Texas State Securities Board Commissioner Travis J. Iles.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel ordered McAllister to pay restitution in the amount of $16,186,212.56 to over 5,800 victims of the defendant’s scheme.  Judge Yeakel also ordered that McAllister be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term. 

“I am pleased that this scammer was brought to justice.  We won’t tolerate such brazen frauds in Texas,” stated U.S. Attorney Bash.

On October 4, 2019, a jury convicted McAllister of two counts of wire fraud and one count of engaging in a monetary transaction with criminally derived property. 

According to evidence presented during the five-day trial, from at least January 2009 through July 2015, McAllister perpetrated a scheme that falsely represented that funds obtained from individual customers would be used to purchase precious metals on behalf of the customer and either shipped directly to the customer or stored in BDI’s vault.  Instead of buying the precious metals with the customer’s funds and storing customer metals, McAllister spent customer property on BDI corporate expenses, on other investment activities, and for his own personal use and benefit.

“Today’s sentence should send a clear message to those who seek to lie, cheat and steal from others for their own financial gain,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Combs.  “The victims in this case trusted the defendant but he took their money and used it fraudulently and for his own personal financial gain. The FBI will vigorously pursue those who carry out these deceitful and fraudulent schemes without regard to their victims.”

“Today's sentencing of Charles McAllister demonstrates how federal law enforcement will band together to help put an end to the criminal behavior of those who prey on investors for their personal financial gain,” stated IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Goss.  “Investment schemes can thrive for a time on false claims about how the money is being invested and where the returns are coming from. But that time is gone, and as this sentencing shows, it's time for those responsible to face judgment.”

Agents with the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation and the Texas State Securities Board conducted this investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Guess and Keith Henneke prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. 

In Austin this afternoon, a federal judge sentenced a Nigerian National formerly residing in Houston to 135 months in federal prison for his role in laundering millions derived from Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash; Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), San Antonio; and, Inspector in Charge Adrian Gonzalez, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Houston Division.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ordered that 32-year-old Bameyi Kelvin Omale pay $5,378,292.03 in restitution. 

“At DOJ we take cyber-theft extremely seriously, and we work tirelessly to protect our economy from sophisticated criminal schemes that target American businesses and consumers,” stated U.S. Attorney Bash.

“Today’s sentencing highlights HSI’s commitment to imposing consequences on cybercriminals, no matter who they are or where they are,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Folden.  “The vast scope of this criminal scheme had a devastating effect on businesses, consumers and financial institutions.  HSI is uniquely positioned to investigate and mitigate weaknesses within the U.S. financial, trade, and transportation sector that can be exploited by transnational criminal networks.”

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to defending the nation’s mail system from illegal use,” stated USPIS Inspector in Charge Gonzalez.  “The sentence handed down today will send a clear message to those criminals who decide to use the U.S. mail in furtherance of their deceptive schemes.  Postal Inspectors will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and bring them to justice.”

On September 24, 2019, Omale pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.  Prior to Omale, three of his four co-defendants–Chinonso Agbaji, a 30-year-old resident of Houston; Igho Calaba, a 26-year-old resident of Austin; and Chibuzor Stanley Uba, a 31-year-old resident of San Antonio–also pleaded guilty to the same charge.  Last month, Judge Pitman sentenced: Agbaji to 78 months in federal prison; Uba to 36 months in federal prison; and, Calaba to 30 months in federal prison.

The fourth co-defendant, Nnamdi Nwosu, a 33-year-old resident of Houston, is charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to launder money instruments and one count of passport fraud in furtherance of the money laundering conspiracy.  Nwosu remains a fugitive in this case.

Two other defendants involved in this scheme have also pleaded guilty to federal charges and have been sentenced.  In December, Judge Pitman sentenced Joseph Odibobhahemen, a 29-year-old resident of Austin who pleaded guilty to the same money laundering conspiracy charge, to 78 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay $1,639,419.57 in restitution.  Judge Pitman is scheduled to sentence the final defendant, Nosa Onaghise, next week.  In December 2018, the 33-year-old resident of Austin, pleaded guilty to one count of passport fraud in furtherance of the money laundering conspiracy. As alleged in court documents, they were acting as part of the same scheme to launder funds from BEC fraud. 

According court records, the funds were largely derived from BEC schemes perpetrated against U.S. and foreign victims. Over $10 million was allegedly sent by victims to accounts controlled by the defendants, who were able to take in excess of $3 million before law enforcement or financial institutions stopped the fraudulent transfers.  In a BEC scheme, scammers target businesses and individuals making wire transfer payments, often targeting employees with access to company finances. The scammers trick the employees into making wire transfer payments to bank accounts thought to belong to trusted partners—except the money ends up in accounts controlled by the fraudsters. Sometimes the scammers use computer intrusion techniques to alter legitimate payment request emails, changing the recipient bank accounts. Sometimes they send spoofed emails from email addresses similar to trusted partners.

Whatever the BEC method used, the scammers need bank accounts controlled by coconspirators to collect the stolen money. The indictment alleges that the conspirators acquired or controlled dozens of bank accounts opened in the U.S., including in Austin, TX, utilizing fraudulent identification documents, including fraudulent foreign passports in fake names.  The indictment alleges that once the funds were fraudulently procured and deposited into these bogus accounts, the defendants worked quickly to withdraw or transfer the funds.

The indictment further alleges that some of the conspirators also received funds sent by the victims of romance fraud.

This indictment resulted from a continuing investigation by HSI and USPIS.  The FBI also assisted in the investigation as did the California Highway Patrol. The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Texas and the Southern District of New York also provided assistance.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Galdo and Keith Henneke are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Nnamdi Nwosu is asked to contact U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  ICE encourages the public to report any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196.

Money laundering conspiracy calls for up to 20 years in federal prison upon conviction; passport fraud calls for up to 10 years in federal prison upon conviction.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  Nwosu is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

A judge in Del Rio sentenced a Mexican national to 30 years in federal prison for his role in various smuggling schemes involving drugs, firearms and humans out of Piedras Negras, Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney John Bash and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, San Antonio Division. 

During yesterday’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Alia Moses ordered that Pedro Gama-Alvarez (aka “Guero,” “El Lobo”), a 40–year-old resident of Mexico City, Mexico, be immediately placed in deportation proceedings and under non-reporting supervised release for a period of five years after completing his term.

On February 27, 2019, Gama-Alvarez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana.  By pleading guilty, Gama-Alvarez admitted that from February 2011 to September 2012, he was responsible for the smuggling of more than 16 kilograms of cocaine and over 2,600 kilograms of marijuana into the U.S.

“This sentence represents the seriousness of these crimes and serves as an appropriate punishment for Pedro Gama Alvarez for his role in a major drug trafficking organization that had a damaging impact in our communities,” said HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Folden. “HSI will continue to utilize its broad authorities to dismantle criminal organizations who blatantly ignore the laws of this nation.”

Gama-Alvarez has remained in federal custody since authorities arrested him on September 1, 2018, near Eagle Pass, Texas, nearly six years after a federal grand jury in Del Rio indicted him.

HSI agents conducted this investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Spears and Amy Hail prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

In San Antonio today, a federal judge sentenced a Carrizo Springs man to 200 months in federal prison for setting up a hidden camera in his bathroom to video minor females over a four-year period beginning in August 2012, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.   

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez ordered that 44–year-old Ruben Gallegos Loera pay a $10,000 assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA) and be placed on supervised release for a period of five years after completing his prison term.

On October 28, 2019, Loera pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.  According to court records, on April 6, 2019, Dimmit County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call from someone at the defendant’s residence concerning images of child pornography discovered on the defendant’s computer.  A subsequent forensics review of the seized computer revealed the presence of approximately 200 videos depicting the sexual exploitation of children.

“The reprehensible conduct in this case is yet another example of the child exploitation and abuse occurring all over this country.  We will keep fighting for children.  But this issue must be a priority for leaders everywhere,” stated U.S. Attorney Bash.

Loera has remained in federal custody since his arrest on April 18, 2019.

The FBI’s San Antonio Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Texas Rangers, with the assistance of the Dimmit County Sheriff’s Office, investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.

In San Antonio this morning, a federal jury convicted 47-year-old State of Texas inmate Scott Coalwell of mailing threatening communications including threats to injure his former defense attorney, a probation officer and the U.S. District Clerk for the Western District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and U.S. Marshal Susan Pamerleau.

Jurors convicted Coalwell on three counts of mailing threatening communications.  Evidence presented at trial revealed that while incarcerated in Texas Department of Criminal Justice—Dominguez Unit in San Antonio,  Coalwell mailed threatening letters to his defense attorney, probation officer and the sitting judge in his McLennan County case; his defense attorney in his Bexar County case; and the U.S. District Clerk for the Western District of Texas in San Antonio.  When questioned by investigators, Coalwell identified these individuals as being “on the top of his enemy list” and that he intended to “lock and load and go through my enemy list.” 

Coalwell faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the threat to the U.S. District Clerk and up to five years in federal prison for each of the remaining two counts.  He remains in custody pending sentencing, which is  scheduled for June 15, 2020 before Senior U. S. District Judge David A. Ezra.

The U.S. Marshals Service, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice—Office of Inspector General and Bexar County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Bettina Richardson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

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

In Del Rio on Wednesday, February 5, 2020, a federal judge sentenced 40-year-old Bryan Torres, aka “Doughboy,” of Houston to 20 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple, Houston Division, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, San Antonio Division, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Alia Moses ordered that Torres pay a $3,000 fine.

On March 23, 2017, a federal jury convicted Torres of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  Evidence presented during trial revealed that during 2012 through 2015, Torres supplied methamphetamine to other Latin King gang members in Uvalde and San Antonio. 

Co-defendants Omar Barajas, Miguel Flores, Albert Guadalupe Mendoza, Jr., Andrew Hernandez, Nathan Wayne Ornelas, Ian Jon Gernandt, Samantha Nicole Houston Goodale, Matthew James Eldred, and Angelica Inguanzo all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  Barajas is from Houston, Mendoza is from Austin, and the remaining co-defendants are from San Antonio.  Penalties for the co-defendants ranged up to 216 months in federal prison.

This case resulted from an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Uvalde Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Hail and Justin Chung prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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

Today, a federal grand jury in El Paso, Texas, indicted Patrick Wood Crusius, 21, of Allen, Texas, on hate crimes and firearm charges in connection with the murder of 22 people and attempted murder of 23 others at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, on August 3, 2019.  The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General Eric S. Dreiband of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas John F. Bash, and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s El Paso Field Office Luis M. Quesada.

The indictment alleges that on August 3, 2019, Crusius opened fire with an assault rifle and shot multiple individuals in and around the Walmart Supercenter in El Paso, leading to the death of 22 individuals and injuring many more.  The indictment further alleges that, on the same date as the shooting, Crusius uploaded to the internet a document he had drafted entitled “The Inconvenient Truth.”  The document opened by stating, “This attack is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas. They are the instigators, not me.  I am simply defending my country from cultural and ethnic replacement brought on by the invasion.”  The indictment charges that Crusius willfully caused bodily injury to the victims because of the actual and perceived national origin of any person.

In total, the ninety-count indictment charges Crusius with 22 counts of hate crimes resulting in death, 23 hate crimes involving an attempt to kill, and 45 counts of discharging a firearm in relation to the hate crimes.

Upon conviction, the charges in the indictment call for the death penalty or life imprisonment.    The Attorney General will decide whether to seek the death penalty at a later time.  Should the Attorney General determine that the circumstances of the offense are such that a sentence of death is justified, the law requires that notice be filed with the court at a reasonable time before trial.  Crusius is currently in state custody pending state criminal charges.  

The FBI, with the support of the El Paso Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, El Paso County Office of the Medical Examiner, Allen Police Department and Dallas Police Department, conducted this investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ian Hanna and Greg McDonald of the Western District of Texas, and U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorneys Tim Visser and Michael Warbel. 

It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  The defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

Today, a federal grand jury in El Paso, Texas, indicted Patrick Wood Crusius, 21, of Allen, Texas, on hate crimes and firearm charges in connection with the murder of 22 people and attempted murder of 23 others at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, on Aug. 3, 2019. The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas John F. Bash, and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s El Paso Field Office Luis M. Quesada.

The indictment alleges that on Aug. 3, 2019, Crusius opened fire with an assault rifle and shot multiple individuals in and around the Walmart Supercenter in El Paso, leading to the death of 22 individuals and injuring many more. The indictment further alleges that, on the same date as the shooting, Crusius uploaded to the internet a document he had drafted entitled “The Inconvenient Truth.”  The document opened by stating, “This attack is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas. They are the instigators, not me. I am simply defending my country from cultural and ethnic replacement brought on by the invasion.” The indictment charges that Crusius willfully caused bodily injury to the victims because of the actual and perceived national origin of any person.

In total, the 90-count indictment charges Crusius with 22 counts of hate crimes resulting in death, 23 hate crimes involving an attempt to kill, and 45 counts of discharging a firearm in relation to the hate crimes.

Upon conviction, the charges in the indictment carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment or the death penalty. The Attorney General will decide whether to seek the death penalty at a later time. Should the Attorney General determine that the circumstances of the offense are such that a sentence of death is justified, the law requires that notice be filed with the court at a reasonable time before trial. Crusius is currently in state custody pending state criminal charges.  

The FBI with the support of the El Paso Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Texas Department of Public Safety, El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, El Paso County Office of the Medical Examiner, Allen Police Department and Dallas Police Department, conducted this investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ian Hanna and Greg McDonald of the Western District of Texas, and U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorneys Tim Visser and Michael Warbel. 

It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt The defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.  

More information about the Department’s hate crimes efforts, including facts and statistics, case examples, and a searchable collection of the Department’s resources for law enforcement, community groups, researchers and others, are available at www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.

Un gran jurado federal en El Paso, Tejas, acusó formalmente hoy a Patrick Wood Crusius, 21, de Allen, Tejas, de delitos de odio y otros relacionados con armas de fuego en conexión con el asesinato de 22 personas y el intento de asesinato de 23 personas adicionales en un Walmart en El Paso, Tejas, el 3 de agosto del 2019. Así declararon Eric Dreiband, Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia, John F. Bash, Fiscal Federal para el Distrito Occidental de Tejas y Luis M. Quesada, Agente Especial Encargado de la Oficina Local de la FBI en El Paso.

La acusación formal alega que el 3 de agosto del 2019, Crusius abrió fuego con un rifle de asalto y disparó a múltiples individuos en un Walmart Supercenter y sus alrededores en El Paso, Tejas, lo que llevó a la muerte de 22 personas y la lesión de otras muchas más. Más aún, la acusación alega que en la misma fecha en que sucedió el tiroteo, Crusius subió un documento a Internet que él había redactado titulado «Una verdad incómoda». El documento comienza declarando lo siguiente: «Este ataque es una respuesta a la invasión hispana de Tejas. No soy yo sino ellos los instigadores. Yo sencillamente estoy defendiendo a mi país del reemplazo cultural y étnico producido por la invasión». La acusación formal acusa a Crusius de haber causado lesiones corporales deliberadamente a las víctimas por razón del origen nacional real o percibido de ellas.

En total, la acusación formal de 90 cargos acusa a Crusius de 22 cargos de delitos de odio que resultaron en la muerte, 23 delitos de odio por intento de asesinato y 45 cargos de descarga de arma de fuego en relación a los delitos de odio.

Una vez condenado, los cargos en la acusación formal acarrean una pena máxima de cadena perpetua o la pena de muerte. El Fiscal General decidirá posteriormente si se solicitará la pena de muerte. En el caso de que el Fiscal General determine que las circunstancias del delito justificarían la pena de muerte, la ley requiere que se presente una notificación ante el tribunal dentro de un plazo de tiempo razonable antes del juicio. Crusius se encuentra actualmente bajo custodia estatal con cargos penales pendientes.

La FBI —con el apoyo del Departamento de Policía de El Paso, la Agencia de Control de Bebidas Alcohólicas, Tabaco, Armas de Fuego y Explosivos (ATF, por sus siglas en inglés), el Departamento de Seguridad Pública de Tejas, la Oficina del Sheriff del Condado de El Paso, la Oficina del Condado de El Paso para la Medicina Forense, el Departamento de Policía de Allen y el Departamento de Policía de Dallas— llevó a cabo la investigación. El caso está siendo procesado por los Fiscales Federales Auxiliares Ian Hanna y Greg McDonald del Distrito Occidental de Tejas y los abogados de litigios del Departamento de Justicia de los EE. UU. Tim Visser y Michael Warbel.

Cabe destacar que una acusación formal es simplemente eso, una acusación, y no se debe considerar como prueba de culpabilidad. El acusado se considera inocente mientras no se pruebe su culpabilidad ante un tribunal de justicia.

Para más información sobre los esfuerzos del Departamento por combatir los delitos de odio, incluyendo hechos y estadística, ejemplos de casos y una colección de los recursos del Departamento para la aplicación de la ley, grupos comunitarios, investigadores y otros se encuentra en www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.

Acusación Formal (en Inglés)

In San Antonio today, 41-year-old Karen Mgerian admitted to conspiring to launder millions of dollars of purported drug proceeds through a scheme that included the sale of luxury cars, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash, Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge Richard D. Goss, Houston Field Office and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple, Houston Division.

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth S. Chestney, Mgerian pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.  Mgerian, who has remained in federal custody since his arrest on January 31, 2019, faces up to 20 years in federal prison.  Sentencing, before U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez, has yet to be scheduled.

By pleading guilty, Mgerian admitted that beginning in 2017 he and a co-conspirator carried out a money laundering scheme for undercover agents using government directed funds.  The defendants would, generally, provide the laundering services for a 10-20% fee of the total amount of proceeds to be laundered.  Moreover, Mgerian sought to sell his luxury car dealership, MGM Auto, to agents, proposing that he would buy it back from the agents at a reduced price, i.e., less his money-laundering fee.

Mgerian has six indicted co-defendants. Jose Luis Magallon, Jr., age 29 of San Antonio, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and seven substantive counts of money laundering.   Jose Antonio Rodriguez-Hernandez, age 39, and Luis Emilio Mireles-Morales, age 26, are both charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and two substantive counts of money laundering.  Carlos Menendez-Stanziola, age 42, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one substantive counts of money laundering.

Upon conviction of each charge, Mgerian’s co-defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison.  Jury selection is scheduled for 9:30am on May 11, 2019, before Judge Rodriguez in San Antonio.

The IRS-CI, DEA and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office are investigating this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas Gardner, Gabriel Cohen and Daniel Castillo are prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  Magallon, Rodriguez-Hernandez, Mireles-Morales and Menendez-Stanziola are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

In San Antonio this afternoon, former Castroville Animal Control Officer Ambrose Rymers admitted his role in a fraudulent insurance claim scheme involving 54-year-old former Castroville Police Chief Chris Filline and a third individual, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth S. Chestney, Rymers pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy.  By pleading guilty, Rymers admitted to assisting Filline and a third individual in a fraudulent scheme to collect insurance proceeds.  Rymers, who faces up to five years in federal prison, is scheduled for sentencing at 1:30pm on April 29, 2020, before U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez.

A one-count federal grand jury indictment--unsealed on Monday following Filline’s arrest—alleges that between June 2016 and December 2016, Filline schemed to defraud Farmers Insurance Group regarding his 2007 Lincoln Navigator.  According to court records, Filline conspired with Rymers and a third individual, to destroy the vehicle in order to collect insurance proceeds.  Rymers admitted to following the third individual, who was allegedly driving Filline’s SUV, to a location in Bexar County on July 15, 2016.  According to the indictment, the third individual doused the SUV with an accelerant and lit it on fire.  The indictment further alleges that on July 18, 2016, Filline went to the Lytle Police Department and reported that his SUV had been stolen.  Three days later, Filline electronically submitted an insurance claim to Farmers Insurance Group.  That filing resulted in the processing and payment of a fraudulent claim for $14,388.25 to Filline.

The indictment charges Filline and the third individual with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  Upon conviction, Filline and the third individual face up to 20 years in federal prison.  Filline is on bond pending trial scheduled for 9:30am on March 30, 2020, before U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez in San Antonio.  The third individual is not in custody at this time.

The FBI, together with the Bexar County Fire Marshal’s Office, investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Surovic is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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

In San Antonio this afternoon, a federal jury convicted 53–year-old Elton Vallare of San Antonio of distribution, receipt and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

Jurors convicted Vallare of two counts of distribution of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography.  On June 14, 2017, FBI agents arrested Vallare following the execution of a search warrant at his residence.  During the search warrant, investigators recovered two laptop computers and various computer related equipment.  A forensics review of the seized items revealed the presence of numerous video and image files depicting child pornography which the defendant downloaded and distributed via the internet.

Vallare faces between five years and 20 years in federal prison for each distribution and receipt charge.  He also faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each possession charge.  Vallare remains in federal custody.  Sentencing has yet to be scheduled. 

The FBI’s San Antonio Child Exploitation Task Force investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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

In Del Rio yesterday afternoon, a federal judge sentenced 21–year-old Mary Ann Lara and her sister, 24-year-old Melissa Janet Lara, both of San Antonio, to 24 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for their scheme to smuggle methamphetamine into the U.S. from Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, San Antonio Division.

In addition to the prison terms, U.S. District Judge Alia Moses ordered that Mary Ann pay a $6,000 fine; Melissa, a $4,500 fine. 

On July 17, 2019, a federal jury convicted the sisters of importation of methamphetamine; conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  Jurors also convicted Mary Ann of conspiracy to import methamphetamine.  Evidence presented during trial revealed that on April 1, 2018, the defendants were attempting to enter the U.S. at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry.  Customs agents sent the sisters to secondary inspection where investigators discovered approximately 38 kilograms of methamphetamine in non-factory compartments attached to the vehicle’s wheels.

“The sentence imposed on the Lara sisters sends a clear message that there are serious consequences to trafficking controlled substances,” said HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Folden. “HSI along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to seek out and bring to justice those involved in the illicit drug trade.”

HSI, along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Marie Hail prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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

In San Antonio this afternoon, a federal jury convicted 49–year-old Luis Valencia of San Antonio, and his nephew, 34-year-old Mauricio Valencia of San Antonio, for their scheme to steal oil from oil companies and oilfield service companies operating in the South Texas’ Eagle Ford Shale, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

Jurors convicted Luis Valencia of ten counts of theft from interstate shipments, ten counts of wire fraud, ten counts of money laundering and four counts of transportation of stolen goods.  Jurors convicted Mauricio Valencia of ten counts of theft from interstate shipments, one count of wire fraud and four counts of transportation of stolen goods.  Evidence presented during trial revealed that from September 2013 through February 2016, the defendants engaged in a scheme with others to steal approximately 33,000 barrels of crude oil valued in excess of $1.8 million.  In 2013, Luis Valencia and others began using Houston-based Andra Energy, LLC, to serve as a collection point in Cotulla, TX, for oil stolen from nearby oil storage facilities.  To conceal their criminal actions, the defendants filed false documents with the Texas Railroad Commission to make it appear that the stolen oil was derived from legitimate transactions.

Following the verdict, Senior U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth remanded both defendants to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.  Theft of interstate shipment calls for up to ten years in federal prison.  Wire fraud calls for up to 20 years in federal prison.  Money laundering calls for up to ten years in federal prison.  Transportation of stolen goods call for up to ten years in federal prison.  Sentencing has yet to be scheduled.

The FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation and Texas Attorney General’s Office investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Lewis, Jr., is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

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

In San Antonio this morning, a federal judge sentenced a former Del Rio Sector U.S. Border Patrol agent assigned to the Uvalde Station to 50 years in federal prison for producing and possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.   

In addition to the prison term, Chief U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia ordered that 37-year-old Vernon Lee Millican of Leakey, TX, pay a $10,000 special assessment under the Joint Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA) and be placed on supervised release for a period of 20 years after completing his prison term.

On October 17, 2019, Millican pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.  By pleading guilty, Millican admitted that between April 2015 and June 2018, he used multiple devices to produce and possess images and videos of himself sexually assaulting a prepubescent minor; and, depicting the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct.  According to the victim, Millican began to sexually abuse her when she was six years old.

“Today we put behind bars a brutal sexual predator who is a disgrace to the Border Patrol and the United States.  His punishment is richly deserved,” stated U.S. Attorney Bash.

Millican was arrested on January 31, 2019, after a federal search warrant was executed at his home.  He has since remained in federal custody.    

“A heartbreaking reality of the world we’re living in is the hidden abuse of children,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Combs. “They’re suffering in silence every day, both in our community and around the world, as we go about our daily lives. The FBI will relentlessly pursue every lead to rescue children who are being victimized, and bring their perpetrators to justice. We strongly urge members of the public to help us in our fight to protect children, as they are some of the most vulnerable in our community.”

FBI agents, together with the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon, investigated this case with assistance from the Real County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Thompson prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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

In Waco this afternoon, a federal jury convicted 27–year-old Francisco Resendez Martinez of Gonzales, CA, for attempting to deliver approximately 21 pounds of methamphetamine from California to Waco, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven S. Whipple, Houston Field Division.

Jurors convicted Martinez of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  Evidence presented during trial revealed that for more than a year and a half, DEA agents were investigating a drug trafficking operation led by 38-year-old Waco resident Johnny Casillas.  On February 26, 2018, California Highway Patrol deputies stopped a vehicle on I-40 in San Bernardino, CA, being driven by the defendant.  Upon searching the vehicle, authorities discovered the methamphetamine contained in 23 packages inside a suitcase.

Following the verdict, Judge Albright remanded Martinez to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.  Martinez faces between ten years and life in federal prison.  Sentencing is scheduled for May in front of U.S. District Judge Alan D. Albright in Waco.

Jurors today acquitted Martinez’s co-defendant, 55-year-old Los Angeles area resident Patricia Ferrer, of the drug conspiracy charge.  Casillas and another co-defendant, 42-year-old Veronica Real of Hesperia, CA, are awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to the drug conspiracy charge—Casillas, on May 8, 2018, and Real, on December 18, 2018.  Sentencing for Casillas and Real is scheduled for 9:30am on February 25, 2020, before Judge Albright.  Like Martinez, Casillas and Real face between ten years and life in federal prison.

The DEA, together with the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Riverside County (CA) Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, and U.S. Border Patrol investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Smith-Burris is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

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

In Del Rio last night, a federal jury convicted 49–year-old Honduran National Leivin Pineda for illegal re-entry into the U.S. and assaulting a U.S. Border Patrol agent near Eagle Pass, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

Evidence presented during trial revealed that on September 2, 2018, U.S. Border Patrol agents observed the defendant, who they believed to be an illegal alien, walking along FM 1907 in Maverick County.  The agents attempted to approach Pineda, but he fled on foot into the brush.  At several points during the foot chase, Pineda threw softball-sized rocks at a high velocity towards the agents’ heads.  During the pursuit, the agents repeatedly gave verbal commands to stop, but Pineda refused.  Due to Pineda’s actions and that the rocks thrown at the agents could cause serious physical injury or death, a pursuing agent drew his firearm and shot Pineda in the upper chest/left upper arm area in order to neutralize the threat.

Testimony also revealed that Pineda had illegally entered the U.S. on three previous occasions.  He was last removed from the U.S. on July 13, 2018, in Alexandria, LA.

Following the incident, Pineda received medical treatment and was released from the hospital.  Pineda has since remained in federal custody.  

Pineda faces up to 20 years in federal prison on the assault charge and up to two years in federal prison for illegal re-entry.  Sentencing is scheduled for later this year in front of U.S. District Judge Alia Moses in Del Rio.

The FBI, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility (CBP OPR) investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney John Kennedy and Joshua Banister are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

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

In San Antonio this morning, a federal judge sentenced 46-year-old former pharmaceutical sales representative Holly Blakely, of San Antonio, TX, to 30 months in federal prison for a Bribery/Health Care Fraud scheme that netted her over $1 million, announced U.S. Attorney John Bash, FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.

In addition to the prison term, Senior U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ordered that Blakely pay $ 1,746,222 in restitution and be placed on supervised release for a period of 3 years after completing her prison term.  Federal authorities had previously forfeited approximately $88,800 in proceeds from the sale of Blakely’s house. Judge Biery also ordered Blakely, who remains on bond, to surrender to the U.S. Marshals Service by June 15, 2020, in order to begin her prison term.

On February 21, 2019, Blakely pleaded guilty to one conspiracy count that involved wire fraud, Health Care Fraud, violating the Texas Commercial Bribery statute, and paying and receiving illegal kickbacks.  

According to court records, from February 2013 through December 2014, Blakely and others submitted numerous fraudulent prescriptions on behalf of unsuspecting individuals to two different pharmacies for compounding medications.  Numerous prescriptions were for patients who never sought treatment from the medical professional who wrote, or whose name was used to obtain, the prescription.

Blakely received commissions from pharmacies based on the amount of money the pharmacies received from private and government health care insurers for prescriptions submitted by conspirators and filled by the pharmacies.  Blakely, in turn, paid kickbacks to medical professionals to induce them into writing prescriptions for insured patients.

The total loss amount due to the defendant’s scheme was approximately $8,846,972.

The FBI, together with investigators from DEA Diversion, the Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Texas Department of Public Safety; Office of Professional Management – Office of the Inspector General (OPM - OIG); Defense Criminal Investigation Service (DCIS) and Air Force Office of Investigations (AFOSI) investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Chung and Antonio Franco, Jr. are prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government, with assistance from Steven Seward of the Financial Litigation Unit. 

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

In Austin today, a federal jury convicted an Austin man for his commission of multiple Austin-area armed bank robberies that occurred in 2018, stated U.S. Attorney John F. Bash, FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division, Austin Police Chief Brian Manley and San Marcos Interim Police Chief Bob Klett.

The jury convicted 59-year-old Rodney Glenn Green (aka “Rodney Glen Fayson”) of five counts of bank robbery, five counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

U.S. Attorney Bash said in response to the verdict:  “I am pleased that an Austin jury today returned a verdict of guilty on all counts against a man who committed multiple armed bank robberies in our community.  Our federal prosecutors and agents are working hard to keep our cities safe and to protect our financial system.” 

Evidence presented during trial revealed that Green committed the following armed bank robberies:

• January 24, 2018 – Chase Bank in Austin – Green stole approximately $4,000;
• February 8, 2018 – BBVA Compass Bank in Austin – Green stole approximately $3,337;
• February 24, 2018 – BBVA Compass Bank in Austin – Green stole approximately $11,939;
• April 7, 2018 – BB&T Bank in Austin – Green stole approximately $5,495; and
• April 28, 2018 – Bank of America in San Marcos – Green stole approximately $10,841.

Evidence introduced at trial revealed that Green committed all five bank robberies in a similar manner.  He wore gloves, a mask, and a black hooded sweatshirt or jacket, and brandished a small semi-automatic handgun while demanding money from bank tellers.  Approximately a day after the last of the five robberies, federal agents and police officers apprehended Green and searched his hotel room, vehicle, and storage unit pursuant to search warrants.  In addition to finding currency still wrapped in bank straps that Green had in a bag on his person, law enforcement discovered a number of distinctive items in Green’s possession that were visible on surveillance images of the robberies.  The police recovered from the storage unit a black hooded sweatshirt that appeared to match the one worn by the robber during the last four robberies.  They also found a small semi-automatic handgun with Green’s fingerprint on the magazine, as well as two pairs of work gloves that were recognizable from the surveillance images because of brand names and logos printed on the backs of the gloves.  One pair of gloves, recovered from Green’s vehicle, was stained with pink dye, apparently from a dye pack that was among the bills that Green took from one of the robberies.  While reviewing some of the physical evidence, the police subsequently recovered a distinctive home-made mask that appeared to match the mask that the robber wore during the last two robberies.  The mask was located inside of a sleeve of the sweatshirt recovered from Green’s storage unit.

The bank robbery crimes of which Green was convicted carry a maximum sentence of up to twenty years in federal prison.  The brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence crimes of which Green was convicted carry a minimum sentence of seven years in federal prison, with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.  The felon in possession crime of which Green was convicted carries a maximum sentence of up to ten years in federal prison.  Green remains in federal custody.  Sentencing will occur before U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman in Austin at a date to be determined by the Court. 

The FBI; Central Texas Violent Crimes Task Force; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Austin Police Department and San Marcos Police Department investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Harding, Gabriel Cohen, Alan Buie, and Robert Almonte are prosecuting this case for the government.

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

In San Antonio today, a federal judge unsealed a grand jury indictment charging a software engineering company called Quantadyn Corporation (Quantadyn); one of its owners, 59-year-old Herndon, VA, resident David Joseph Bolduc, Jr.; 53-year-old San Antonio resident Keith Alan Seguin, and 70-year-old Atlanta, GA, area resident Rubens Wilson Fiuza Lima for their roles in a bribery and government contract fraud scheme that spanned more than a decade and impacted contract awards worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

That announcement was made today by U.S. Attorney John F. Bash; Special Agent in Charge Jamie Willemin of the Government Services Administration—Office of the Inspector General (GSA-OIG), Greater Southwest and Rocky Mountain Investigations Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Ruben Rosalez of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Houston Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Michael Mentavlos of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southwest Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Ray Rayos of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, Southwestern Fraud Field Office (USACID); and, Special Agent in Charge Blair Holmstrand of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), Procurement Fraud Detachment 3 in San Antonio.

The indictment alleges the defendants carried out their contract fraud scheme from 2006 to 2018.  Specifically, Bolduc and Quantadyn paid more than $2.3 million in bribes to Seguin, a civilian employee of the 502 Trainer Development Squadron at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, who was intimately involved in the government contract process.  In return, Seguin used his position to steer lucrative government contracts and sub-contracts to Quantadyn for aircraft and close-air-support training simulators.  The indictment further alleges that a portion of the bribe money paid to Seguin was laundered through Fiuza Lima’s business, Impex, Inc., for a ten percent fee. 

The three-count indictment charges Bolduc, Quantadyn, Seguin and Fiuza Lima with one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S., one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.  Upon conviction, Bolduc, Seguin and Fiuza Lima would face terms of imprisonment up to five years for conspiracy to defraud the U.S., up to 20 years for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and up to 20 years for conspiracy to commit money laundering.  They would also face up to $1,000,000 in fines, and Quantadyn would face up to $1,500,000 in fines.  All of the defendants, would be ordered to pay restitution if convicted. 

“Allegations related to the exploitation of major federal procurement vehicles will always be an investigative priority.  The General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General, with our law enforcement partners, will continue to work diligently to protect the integrity of federal acquisitions, and other critical GSA programs that are designed to benefit its customers, including the warfighter,” stated GSA-OIG Special Agent in Charge Willemin, Greater Southwest and Rocky Mountain Investigations Division.

“Government contracts are designed to support the missions of the United States armed forces and are vital to our people. It is not a slush fund for thieves and fraudsters,” said IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge Rosalez. “Those who illegally target our nation’s tax dollars for personal financial gain, as in this case, will be prosecuted and face the consequences of their actions.”

“DCIS, the Pentagon's investigative arm, will aggressively pursue allegations of fraud and corruption impacting the Department of Defense (DoD)," stated Michael Mentavlos, Special Agent in Charge, Southwest Field Office.  "Along with our Law Enforcement partners, DCIS is committed to safeguarding the integrity of taxpayer resources and will exhaust all appropriate criminal, civil, and administrative actions against those individuals that choose to defraud the government, DoD, and ultimately the taxpayer.”

“The collaboration between GSA-OIG, DCIS, U.S. Army CID, IRS-CI, AFOSI, and the U. S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Texas, has been significant and we are looking forward to seeing the final results of the hard work put forth by all agencies involved,” said AFOSI Special Agent in Charge Holmstrand.

Initial appearances are expected to occur this week before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in San Antonio (Seguin), Alexandria, VA (Bolduc), and Atlanta (Fiuza Lima).

The GSA-OIG, IRS-CI, DCIS, USACID, and AFOSI continue to investigate this case.  Individuals who may have information about this scheme or these defendants are asked to call the GSA-OIG fraud reporting hot line at (800) 424-5210, send an email to Fraudnet@gsaig.gov, or go online to www.gsaig.gov and click on the “report FRAUD” link.  U. S. Attorney John Bash extends his appreciation to the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Eastern District of Virginia, Southern District of Ohio, and Northern District of Georgia for their valuable assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Lewis, Jr., Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Porier, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Buie are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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

“Today is Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. I am profoundly grateful for the service that our law enforcement officers render to our community and our Nation. They risk their lives and wellbeing every day to protect us. They are often overworked and underpaid. Yet with no hesitation, they run toward danger. They place the needs of others above their own. They are the backbone of our community. Our way of life is not possible without the rule of law and the protection of the vulnerable from violence and exploitation. Without them, our society simply would not work.

In 2019, eleven law-enforcement officers in the Western District of Texas died in the line of duty. Just this week I attended the funeral of Detective Cliff Martinez of the San Antonio Independent School District Police Department. Detective Martinez was killed last month while protecting others. I was deeply moved to hear about his devotion to the community and his decades-long service as a police officer. As his father said: ‘He was a protector.’ The same could be said of all our fallen brothers and sisters in blue.

Today, and every day, my hope is that our law-enforcement officers understand that the vast majority of their fellow citizens see them as the heroes they are. It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your United States Attorney.”

In San Antonio, a federal grand jury indicted 46–year-old licensed Physician’s Assistant Christopher Felix Montoya and 40–year-old Nancy Almaguer for their roles in a Health Care Fraud, bribery and kickback scheme, announced U.S. Attorney John Bash, FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. 

The indictment, returned Wednesday and unsealed today, charges Montoya, the owner and operator of TPC Family Medicine and Urgent Care Clinics in San Antonio and Laredo (TPC), and TPC Chief Operating Officer Almaguer with one count of conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks and three counts of soliciting and receiving illegal health care kickbacks.  Each count calls for up to five years in federal prison upon conviction.

The indictment alleges that from September 2018 to June 2019, the defendants schemed to enrich themselves by receiving kickbacks and bribes in exchange for sending patient nasal swabs to a specific laboratory (lab) for testing.  The lab would perform the testing, receive reimbursement from Medicare and other insurance programs.  The lab, through a 3rd party, would pay kickbacks to Montoya and Almaguer.

FBI agents arrested both defendants yesterday afternoon without incident.  During an initial appearance today in San Antonio, U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth S. Chestney set $50,000 bonds for both Montoya and Almaguer. 

The FBI, Texas Attorney General’s Office, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Office of Professional Management—Office of Inspector General investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Chung is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

In Austin today, a federal judge sentenced a Nigerian National residing in Austin to 78 months in federal prison for laundering more than $1.7 Million in Business Email Compromise (BEC) scam proceeds stolen from multiple companies, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash; Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), San Antonio; and, Inspector in Charge Adrian Gonzalez, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Houston Division

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ordered that 28-year-old Joseph Odibobhahemen pay $1,639,419.57 in restitution; pay a $1.5 million money judgment; and, be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.

In a BEC scheme, scammers target businesses and individuals making wire transfer payments, often targeting employees with access to company finances. The scammers trick the employees into making wire transfer payments to bank accounts thought to belong to trusted partners—except the money ends up in accounts controlled by the fraudsters. Sometimes the scammers use computer intrusion techniques to alter legitimate payment request emails, changing the recipient bank accounts. Sometimes they send spoofed emails from email addresses similar to the real email accounts used by trusted partners.

On February 7, 2019, Odibobhahemen pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.  Odibobhahemen’s co-defendant in this indictment, Nosa Onaghise, pleaded guilty to one count of passport fraud on December 28, 2018.  Onaghise, another Nigerian citizen residing in Austin, admitted to attempting to use a false, forged or counterfeit passport to open several bank accounts in the U.S. in April 2018.  Onaghise faces up to ten years in federal prison.  He remains in federal custody pending sentencing scheduled for 10:00am on February 19, 2020, before Judge Pitman.

Court records in this indictment (A18cr358), and the indictment also returned in Austin against four other coconspirators (A19cr78), show that between November 2016 and April 2019, over $10 million was allegedly sent by victims to accounts controlled by the conspirators, who were able to take in excess of $6 million before law enforcement or financial institutions stopped the fraudulent transfers. Odibobhahemen and the others acquired or controlled dozens of bank accounts opened in the U.S., including in Austin, utilizing fraudulent identification documents, including fraudulent foreign passports in fake names.  Once the funds were fraudulently procured and deposited into these bogus accounts, the defendants worked quickly to withdraw or transfer the funds.

The four additional co-conspirators—Bameyi Omale, Chinonso Agbaji, Igho Calaba and Chibuzor Uba—have all pleaded guilty and await sentencing on January 30, 2020.

“This sentencing serves as a real warning to those who use deception to victimize our citizens while defrauding the financial system for personal gain,” said Shane Folden, special agent in charge for HSI San Antonio. “HSI is committed to pursuing thieves such as Mr. Odibobhahemen who brazenly enrich themselves through fraud. HSI will continue to utilize its broad investigative authorities to dismantle transnational criminal organizations who blatantly ignore the laws of this nation.”

Special agents with HSI and USPIS investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Galdo and Keith Henneke are prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.

In Waco today, a federal judge sentenced 26-year-old Riheem Rexdual Robinson (aka “Phat”) to 260 months in federal prison for sex trafficking two minors, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division, and Interim Temple Police Chief Jim Tobin.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Alan Albright ordered that Robinson pay a $2,000 fine and be placed on supervised release for a period of ten years after completing his prison term.

On August 6, 2019, Robinson pleaded guilty to two counts of sex trafficking of children.  By pleading guilty, Robinson admitted that in April 2012, he recruited, enticed, harbored and transported a minor and caused that minor to engage in a commercial sex act for which Robinson profited financially.  Robinson also admitted to committing the same acts with a second minor in October 2016.    

“Our children are our nation’s most precious resource,” said FBI San Antonio Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs. “Those who would recruit and exploit them for the purpose of underage prostitution will have to answer for their despicable crimes, and that’s the strong message that was sent in today’s sentencing.”

The FBI and the Temple Police Department investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Kucera and Greg Gloff prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.

In San Antonio today, 46-year-old Christopher Zamarripa was sentenced to 460 months in federal prison for cyberstalking and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery also ordered that Zamarripa be placed on supervised release for the remainder of his life after completing his prison term. 

On August 15, 2019, Zamarripa pleaded guilty to ten counts of cyberstalking and one count of possession of child pornography.  According to court records, Zamarripa caused substantial emotional distress to his victims by altering photographs of their faces he downloaded from the Internet and placing them onto photographs of bodies engaged in explicit sexual activities, which he then uploaded to online pornographic websites.  Zamarripa also uploaded to the same online pornographic websites unaltered images of two child victims. 

On August 22, 2017, Kerr County sheriff’s deputies seized Zamarripa’s laptop computer.  A subsequent forensics analysis of the laptop revealed the presence of child pornography. 

Zamarripa has remained in custody since his arrest by FBI agents on May 20, 2019.  

This investigation was conducted by the FBI in San Antonio and the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Bettina Richardson prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

In Austin today, a federal judge sentenced 35-year-old Lukman Shina Aminu of Manchester, NH, to 51 months in federal prison today for his alleged scheme to launder over a million dollars from multiple fraudulent schemes, including thousands stolen from former Texas state employees retirement plans, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash, FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division, IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Richard D. Goss, Houston Field Office, and Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ordered that Aminu pay $1,158,285.14 in restitution and be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.

On January 2, 2019, Aminu pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.  By pleading guilty, Aminu admitted that beginning in June 2017, he used personally identifiable information (PII) from state employees to make changes to their accounts in the Employees Retirement System of Texas internet portal.   Bank deposit information on file in the system was changed which re-routed retirement payments to debit cards Aminu controlled.  Aminu then used the debit cards for cash withdrawals and to purchase money orders which were used for personal expenses and to purchase used vehicles to be shipped overseas to Nigeria and Benin for resale.  Aminu also admitted to receiving multiple transfers from victims of other schemes on other debit cards that had been opened using their PII.  This scheme also involved using car purchases and shipments to send money back to Nigeria (in the value of the shipped car), while simultaneously laundering the funds or “cleaning the money” to make the money appear as legitimate income.

“Today’s sentencing is a message to all who seek to deceitfully defraud others for personal gain,” said FBI San Antonio Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs. “In this case, the defendant’s actions robbed former Texas public servants of their retirement payments. These selfish actions harmed countless families as the defendant then used the money to purchase used vehicles and ship them to be sold overseas. The FBI will not rest until those who perpetrate these crimes are brought to justice.”

The FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Texas Department of Public Safety – Public Integrity Unit investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Galdo prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

In San Antonio today, a federal judge ordered 48-year-old Bradley Lane Croft, owner of Universal K-9, Inc., to forfeit over one million dollars in assets derived from his scheme to defraud the federal government with respect to the use of GI Bill benefits to train service canines and their handlers, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash; FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge Richard D. Goss, Houston Field Office; and, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) Criminal Investigations Division Special Agent in Charge James Ross, South Central Field Office.

Senior U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra ordered that Croft forfeit to the government his assets including: his San Antonio business property (15000 block of Tradesman); $138,415.64 in U.S. Currency seized from his bank account; $4,300 in U.S. Currency seized on site at Universal K-9; a 2017 American Eagle 45T Motorhome (valued at over $450,000); a 2018 Ford F-150 King Ranch Lariat; a 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie; a 2016 Yamaha Superjet Ski; a 2008 Yamaha Waverunner Jetski; and, a 2012 Rocket International Trailer.  Judge Ezra also granted the government’s motion for a money judgment in the amount of $1.3 million.

On November 6, 2019, Judge Ezra convicted Croft of eight counts of wire fraud, four counts of aggravated identity theft, two counts of money laundering and two counts of making a false tax return.  Testimony provided at trial revealed that beginning in 2013, Croft provided false information in applications to the Texas Veterans Commission, including instructors’ names, certifications and training documents indicating that certain individuals would be instructors at the school, to receive GI Bill educational benefit payments.  Croft and others solicited veterans as students indicating that they could use their GI Bill benefits to pay for a dog handler’s course that cost from $6,500.00 for the K-9 Handler dual-purpose detection program to $12,000.00 for the K-9 trainer/instructor program.   Since 2016, Universal K-9 filed approximately 185 claims relating to the education of approximately 132 veterans and totaling over $1,260,000.00.  Testimony also revealed that Croft submitted fraudulent income tax returns showing his 2016 reported income as $2,000 and his reported income as $2,000 for 2017.  Evidence showed that Croft actually received substantially more income than what he reported to the IRS in 2016 and 2017.

Croft, who remains in federal custody, faces up to 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud, up to 20 years in federal prison for money laundering and up to two years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft.  Sentencing is scheduled for 1:30pm on February 24, 2020, in San Antonio before Judge Ezra.   

The FBI, IRS-CI, and the VA-OIG investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory J. Surovic and Fidel Esparza, III, are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. 

A federal grand jury in Austin indicted a Nigerian citizen for masquerading as a representative of the Texas State Securities Board to steal money from victims of a previous fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash, Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs of the FBI’s San Antonio Division, and Texas State Securities Board Commissioner Travis J. Iles.

The grand jury indictment, returned yesterday, charges 27–year-old Ekeoma Jerry Onyeukwu (aka “Jerry Ekeoma Onyeukwu”) with two counts of wire fraud. 

The Texas State Securities Board (TSSB) is a state agency whose mission is to protect Texas investors, including by regulating securities and enforcing the Texas Securities Act.  In early 2018, an England-based cryptocurrency exchange called BitConnect shut down following a cease and desist order from the TSSB.  According to the indictment, from November 2018 through April 2019, fictitious websites similar to that of TSSB including “ssb-texas.us” and “ssb-tesax.us” were created to falsely claim that TSSB controlled BitConnect and that TSSB was going to return a portion of the losses incurred by BitConnect victims and encouraged them to sign up.  Onyeukwu, subsequently, sent emails to Texas residents falsely presenting himself as a TSSB representative who could provide clients with refunds of 35% of money invested in BitConnect in exchange for a $300 “consent fee.”  Onyeukwu led investors to believe that their $300 fee was going to TSSB, but in reality, Onyeukwu was pocketing the cash.

The FBI together with the TSSB are investigating this case.  An arrest warrant has been issued for Onyeukwu.  Upon conviction, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud.   Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj Gupta is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

In Austin today, 21-year-old Candido Rodriguez, III, admitted to assaulting a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security officer last month, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs.

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting a federal officer.  Rodriguez, who faces up to 20 years in federal prison, remains in federal custody pending sentencing.  No sentencing date has been scheduled.

On November 5, 2019, the victim was driving to work at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport and stopped at a traffic light just before the airport entrance.  According to the factual basis filed in this case, to which Rodriguez admitted in court, Rodriguez approached the victim, who was behind the wheel of the vehicle the driver’s side window open several inches.  The victim was wearing an official TSA uniform with TSA insignia plainly visible.  Rodriguez engaged in a brief verbal exchange with the victim, during which he referred to the victim being an “officer.”  The victim responded by stating that the victim was employed as a security officer at the airport.  Rodriguez then forcibly opened the driver’s side door of the vehicle and began striking, scratching and cutting the victim’s head, face and right hand with a piece of broken glass or other sharp object.

The victim ultimately escaped from Rodriguez by accelerating through the intersection and onto airport property.  A number of stitches were necessary to close cuts on the victim’s face and right hand.

The FBI conducted this investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Buie is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office appreciates the contributions of the Austin Police Department and the Travis County Sheriff’s Office.

In El Paso, a federal judge sentenced 32–year-old James Alger of Waxahachie, TX, to four years in federal prison for his scheme to extort females into sending him sexually explicit photos and videos, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Luis Quesada, El Paso Division.   

On December 6, 2019, Senior U.S. District Judge David Briones sentenced Alger to two years imprisonment for wire fraud, cyberstalking, and interstate communications with intent to extort followed by two years imprisonment for aggravated identity theft.  Judge Briones also ordered that Alger be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term. 

On April 2, 2019, Alger pleaded guilty to all four charges.  By pleading guilty, Alger admitted that from 2016 to 2018, he messaged over 1,000 women he found through social media in an effort to obtain sexually explicit videos and pictures of them.  Alger admitted that he would pretend to be one of several wealthy, famous individuals who would then offer to pay a large sum of money to have sex with the women he targeted.  He managed to convince over 100 women to send him nude photos and videos, then subsequently demanded his victims continue sending him more sexually explicit videos and photos or he would release the explicit material in his possession to the victim’s friends and family. 

The FBI conducted this investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian Hanna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

In Austin this afternoon, federal authorities filed a criminal complaint charging 33–year-old Timothy Maurice Selmon with being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash, Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs of the FBI’s San Antonio Division, Austin Police Chief Brian Manley and Special Agent in Charge Fred Milanowski of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive’s (ATF) Houston Division.

According to the criminal complaint, Austin Police (APD) officers earlier today responded to a local retail outlet after receiving a report of a man in the store restroom who was in possession of a pipe and several shotgun shells and appeared to be attempting to construct a pipe bomb.  When store security officers confronted Selmon, he left the store and proceeded to a nearby bus stop.   APD officers found Selmon on a transit bus at the bus stop.  While taking him into custody, APD officers discovered two PVC pipes capped with duct tape underneath the seat occupied by the defendant and numerous shotgun shells inside his jacket pocket.  An APD Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit conducting a protective sweep of the store bathroom recovered a single matching shotgun shell and a butane bottle inside the bathroom stall.

This investigation continues.  No one was injured during this incident.  Individuals inside both the bus and the store were evacuated as a precaution. 

According to the criminal complaint, Selmon’s criminal history includes two felony burglary convictions—one in August 2014, and one in October 2008—and one felony conviction for manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance in October 2008.

Upon conviction of the felon-in-possession charge, Selmon faces up to ten years in federal prison.  He remains in custody.  Selmon’s initial appearance in Austin before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower is expected to occur tomorrow.

The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), Austin Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are investigating this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Karthik Srinivasan and Michael Galdo are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

It is important to note that a criminal complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

In San Antonio, 32-year-old Trorice Crawford of San Diego, California, admitted his role in an identity-theft and fraud scheme that victimized thousands of U.S. servicemembers and veterans, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash, Deputy Assistant Attorney General David Morrell, and Director Gustav Eyler of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch.

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Farrer yesterday afternoon, Crawford pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.  By pleading guilty, Crawford admitted that from May 2017 to July 2019, he conspired with Robert Wayne Boling, Jr. (a U.S. citizen), and others to steal money belonging to U.S. Servicemembers and veterans.  By pleading guilty, Crawford admitted to recruiting at least 30 individuals (aka “money mules”) who provided their bank account information to receive funds stolen from military affiliated individuals.  On average, each unauthorized transfer from a victim’s accounts ranged from between $8,000 to $13,000.  Crawford kept a percentage of the withdrawn funds for himself and oversaw the transmission of the remaining amounts by means of international money remittance services to Boling and others in the Philippines.

Crawford faces up to 20 years in federal prison.  He remains in federal custody awaiting sentencing scheduled for 10:30am on March 5, 2020, before Chief U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia in San Antonio. 

In October, co-defendant Frederick Brown, age 38 of Las Vegas, NV, pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with this scheme.  Brown, a former civilian medical records administrator for the U.S. Army at the 65th Medical Brigade, Yongsan Garrison, South Korea, admitted that while logged into the Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application, he illegally captured on his cell phone personal identifying information (PII) of thousands of military members, including names, social security numbers, DOD ID numbers, dates of birth, and contact information.  Brown further admitted that he subsequently provided that stolen data to Boling so that Boling and others could exploit the information in various ways to access Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs benefits sites and steal millions of dollars. 

As asserted in the federal grand jury indictment, Boling, together with his Philippines-based co-defendants Allan Albert Kerr (Australian citizen) and Jongmin Seok (South Korean citizen), specifically used the stolen information to compromise a Department of Defense portal designed to enable military members to access benefits information online. Once through the portal, the defendants are alleged to have accessed benefits information.  Access to these detailed records enabled the defendants to steal or attempt to steal millions of dollars from military members’ bank accounts. The defendants also stole veterans’ benefits payments. Evidence of the defendants’ scheme was detected earlier this year, advancing the investigation that led to the indictment.

The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are coordinating with the Department of Justice to notify and provide resources to the thousands of identified victims. Announcements also will follow regarding steps taken to secure military members’ information and benefits from theft and fraud.

Boling, Kerr and Seok are charged with multiple counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.  Boling, Kerr and Seok are in custody in the Philippines awaiting transfer to the Western District of Texas.  Brown remains in federal custody awaiting sentencing scheduled for 10:30am on February 6, 2020, before Chief U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia in San Antonio. 

It is important to note that an indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The United States is represented by Trial Attorneys Ehren Reynolds and Yolanda McCray Jones of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Blackwell of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. The matter was investigated by agents of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and counsel Matthew Freund, along with substantial investigative support from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, and the Veterans Benefits Administration’s Benefits Protection and Remediation Division. The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Philippine law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Nevada, the Southern District of California, and the Eastern District of Virginia also provided assistance. Resources from the Department of Justice’s Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative and its Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force aided in the matter’s investigation and prosecution.

Since President Trump signed the bipartisan Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA) into law, the Department of Justice has participated in hundreds of enforcement actions in criminal and civil cases that targeted or disproportionately affected seniors. In particular, this past March, the Department announced the largest elder fraud enforcement action in American history, charging more than 260 defendants in a nationwide elder fraud sweep.  The Department has likewise conducted hundreds of trainings and outreach sessions across the country since the passage of the Act.  

Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.  For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtx. Information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice; information on the Servicemember and Veterans Initiative is at https://www.justice.gov/servicemembers.

The Department of Justice announced today that Trorice Crawford, 32, of San Diego, California, admitted his role in an identity-theft and fraud scheme that victimized thousands of U.S. servicemembers and veterans.

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Farrer yesterday afternoon, Crawford pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.  By pleading guilty, Crawford admitted that from May 2017 to July 2019, he conspired with Robert Wayne Boling Jr. (a U.S. citizen), and others to steal money belonging to U.S. Servicemembers and veterans.  By pleading guilty, Crawford admitted to recruiting at least 30 individuals (aka money mules) who provided their bank account information to receive funds stolen from military affiliated individuals.  On average, each unauthorized transfer from a victim’s accounts ranged from between $8,000 to $13,000.  Crawford kept a percentage of the withdrawn funds for himself and oversaw the transmission of the remaining amounts by means of international money remittance services to Boling and others in the Philippines.

Crawford faces up to 20 years in federal prison.  He remains in federal custody awaiting sentencing scheduled for 10:30am on March 5, 2020, before Chief U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia in San Antonio. 

In October, co-defendant Frederick Brown, age 38 of Las Vegas, Nevada, pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with this scheme.  Brown, a former civilian medical records administrator for the U.S. Army at the 65th Medical Brigade, Yongsan Garrison, South Korea, admitted that while logged into the Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application, he illegally captured on his cell phone personal identifying information (PII) of thousands of military members, including names, social security numbers, DOD ID numbers, dates of birth, and contact information.  Brown further admitted that he subsequently provided that stolen data to Boling so that Boling and others could exploit the information in various ways to access Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs benefits sites and steal millions of dollars. 

As asserted in the federal grand jury indictment, Boling, together with his Philippines-based co-defendants Allan Albert Kerr (Australian citizen) and Jongmin Seok (South Korean citizen), specifically used the stolen information to compromise a Department of Defense portal designed to enable military members to access benefits information online. Once through the portal, the defendants are alleged to have accessed benefits information.  Access to these detailed records enabled the defendants to steal or attempt to steal millions of dollars from military members’ bank accounts. The defendants also stole veterans’ benefits payments. Evidence of the defendants’ scheme was detected earlier this year, advancing the investigation that led to the indictment.

Boling, Kerr and Seok are charged with multiple counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.  Boling, Kerr and Seok are in custody in the Philippines awaiting transfer to the Western District of Texas.  Brown remains in federal custody awaiting sentencing scheduled for Feb. 6, 2020, before Chief U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia in San Antonio. 

It is important to note that an indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are coordinating with the Department of Justice to notify and provide resources to the thousands of identified victims. Announcements also will follow regarding steps taken to secure military members’ information and benefits from theft and fraud.

The United States is represented by Trial Attorneys Ehren Reynolds and Yolanda McCray Jones of the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Blackwell of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. The matter was investigated by agents of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and counsel Matthew Freund, along with substantial investigative support from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, and the Veterans Benefits Administration’s Benefits Protection and Remediation Division. The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Philippine law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of Nevada, the Southern District of California, and the Eastern District of Virginia also provided assistance. Resources from the Department of Justice’s Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative and its Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force aided in the matter’s investigation and prosecution.

Since President Trump signed the bipartisan Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA) into law, the Department of Justice has participated in hundreds of enforcement actions in criminal and civil cases that targeted or disproportionately affected seniors.  In particular, this past March the Department announced the largest elder fraud enforcement action in American history, charging more than 260 defendants in a nationwide elder fraud sweep.  The Department has likewise conducted hundreds of trainings and outreach sessions across the country since the passage of the Act.  More information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice.

Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.  For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtx. Information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice; information on the Servicemember and Veterans Initiative is at https://www.justice.gov/servicemembers.

In San Antonio this afternoon, a federal judge sentenced 51-year-old Texas Mexican Mafia member Robert Eugene Hernandez (aka “Gino”) to 35 years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to extort money from drug traffickers operating in their territory without permission, announced U.S. Attorney John Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez ordered that Hernandez pay a $5,000 fine and be placed on supervised release for a period of five years after completing his prison term.

On July 2, 2019, a federal jury convicted Hernandez of one count of interference with Commerce by threats or extortion, one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, one count of conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one substantive count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. 

According to court records, Hernandez, a San Antonio Eastside Lieutenant, carried out his duties under the direction of Raul Ramos, Texas Mexican Mafia (TMM) Free World General based in San Antonio.   The TMM leadership controls and directs collection of the drug tax.  All members who participate in the collection of the tax, and the leaders who direct them, understand and agree that drug dealers are not permitted to sell drugs without paying the tax.  Dealers have no choice; payment of the tax is mandatory and this rule is enforced through violence.

Once a drug dealer is identified, this information is passed up to the leadership.  The leadership will make an effort to confirm this information, usually through a purchase from the drug dealer.  If the information is confirmed, TMM soldiers are instructed to visit the drug dealer.  If the dealer denies dealing in TMM territory without permission he is ordered to pay more.  If the dealer refuses, he usually is robbed and beaten immediately. If the first visit does not convince the dealer to comply, the second visit will be a “door kick.”  The front door is kicked in, armed gang members storm the home, all occupants are beaten and sometimes tied up, and anything of value is taken such as narcotics, jewelry, electronics, guns, and automobiles.  After a “door kick,” all dealers begin paying the tax.

This prosecution has resulted in 37 convictions of members and associates of the Texas Mexican Mafia; 27 of which have resulted in sentences ranging from 63 months to life in federal prison.  Ten defendants are awaiting sentencing.

This federal prosecution stems from an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation conducted by the FBI, New Braunfels Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety and the San Antonio Police Department.  Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) assisted in this investigation.

The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking operations, weapons trafficking operations, money laundering operations, violent street gangs and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply.

In Midland today, a federal judge sentenced 37-year-old Midland resident Cole S. Crocker to 20 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor into sexual activity, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw and FBI Special Agent in Charge Luis Quesada, El Paso Division.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge David Counts ordered that Cole pay a $50,000 fine, pay a $5,000 special assessment under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA), and be placed on supervised release for a period of ten years after completing his prison term.

“The defendant in this case attempted to have sex with an eight-year-old girl—eight years old.  I would say that parents can rest easy with this man in federal prison, but there are so many more predators like him. We remain committed to the fight against child abuse,” stated U.S. Attorney Bash.

On September 4, 2019, a jury convicted Crocker of one count of attempted online enticement of a minor.  Evidence presented at trial revealed that on March 22, 2019, Crocker responded to an online advertisement uploaded by an FBI undercover agent.  Crocker began chatting with the undercover agent via messaging applications, and the conversation quickly turned graphic and sexual in nature.  The undercover agent represented to Crocker that he had access to an eight-year-old girl for sex, and Crocker expressed interest.  As the chats progressed, Crocker also engaged in several recorded phone conversations with the undercover agent where they discussed the logistics of a meet-up to have sex with the eight-year-old girl.  Crocker was arrested later that evening when he arrived at the purported meeting location in Midland.

This investigation and arrest was the result of a joint operation between the Texas Department of Public Safety and the FBI.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane A. Chriesman is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.