Western District of Texas

In the Waco area today, federal and state authorities arrested 21 Aryan Brotherhood (AB) members and associates, including ranking AB members 54–year-old Wayne Huisinger of Belton, TX, and  39–year-old Robert Eaton of Kempner, Texas, for their roles in a methamphetamine distribution operation announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Christopher H. Combs, San Antonio Division, and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division. 

A federal grand jury indictment, unsealed this afternoon, charges 20 of the 21 arrested, as well as four others who were already in custody prior to today, with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.  Robert Helms, age 29, of Temple, TX, who was also arrested this morning, was charged today by a federal criminal complaint with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  Helms faces up to 20 years in federal prison upon conviction.  A list of the defendants is below. 

The indictment alleges that since November 2013, the defendants conspired to distribute various amounts of methamphetamine.  During this 10-month-long operation, investigators conducted several controlled methamphetamine purchases.  To date, authorities have seized approximately nine pounds of “crystal” methamphetamine, 15 firearms, over $9,000 in U.S. Currency and other assets in connection with this investigation.

“These charges resulted from unprecedented collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement targeting a large-scale prison gang involved in violent organized crime over three counties in Central Texas,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs.  “This effort not only exemplifies our commitment to prevent gang violence and criminal activity from poisoning our communities, but it also sends a clear message that we will relentlessly pursue and prosecute the leaders and members of these violent criminal enterprises regardless of where they lay their heads.”

“Operation ‘La Flama Blanca’ has inflicted a debilitating blow to the network of shadow and often violent facilitators of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas,” said Joseph M. Arabit, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration--Houston Field Division.  “This operation highlights a deliberate and strategic effort to cut off and shut down the supply of methamphetamine trafficked by the Aryan Brotherhood and the corresponding impact that this horrific drug inflicts on our communities.”

Upon conviction, the defendants face a statutory penalty of between ten years and life imprisonment for distributing more than 500 grams; between five and 40 years imprisonment for distributing between 50 grams and 500 grams; or, up to 20 years imprisonment for distributing less than 50 grams. 

These charges and arrests resulted from a joint investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration together with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Temple Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of Criminal Justice-Office of Inspector General, McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, Coryell County Sheriff’s Office, Bell County Sheriff’s Office, Gatesville Police Department, Lampasas Police Department, Killeen Police Department and the Austin Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Frazier and Stephanie Smith-Burris are 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.

ARRESTED TODAY (21)

ROBERT EATON aka “Compound Rob”     39        Kempner, TX              > 500 grams     10 years to life
AMANDA PETRIE                                                34        Temple, TX                 > 500 grams     10 years to life
SYLVIA O’NEAL                                                     41        Temple                          > 50 grams          5 to 40 years
DAVID AGUILAR                                                  34        Belton, TX                   > 50 grams          5 to 40 years
ROBERT MORGAN aka “Hopper”                 44        Temple                         > 500 grams     10 years to life
WAYNE MARTIN HUISINGER                     54        Belton                           > 50 grams          5 to 40 years
LOREN SWANSON                                               39        Belton                           > 50 grams          5 to 40 years
ERIC GANOS                                                           39        Temple                         > 500 grams     10 years to life
DERRICK COOPER aka “Red”                        34        Temple                         > 50 grams          5 to 40 years
KIRT EASTER                                                       48        Belton                           > 50 grams           5 to 40 years
COLBY WARREN                                                 40        Gatesville, TX           > 50 grams           5 to 40 years   
NICOLE MARSHALL                                          34        Gatesville                    > 50 grams           5 to 40 years
CHRISTOPHER BRECKENRIDGE              39        Gatesville                    > 50 grams           5 to 40 years
ROBERT BLAKE DOTY                                    31        Temple                         < 50 grams          up to 20 years
SONYA WHITENBURG                                   22        Flat, TX                        > 50 grams           5 to 40 years
FARRON RUSSELL                                            33        Belton                            < 50 grams          up to 20 years
VICKI KAY LEVY                                               51        Belton                            < 50 grams           up to 20 years
RONNIE KNEPLER                                           53        Belton                            > 50 grams           5 to 40 years
RICKY LEVY                                                        53        Nolanville, TX           < 50 grams           up to 20 years
MICHELLE JOHNSON                                    46        Belton                            < 50 grams           up to 20 years
**ROBERT HELMS                                           29        Temple                          < 50 grams           up to 20 years

ALREADY IN CUSTODY PRIOR TO TODAY (4)

NAME                                                      AGE   RESIDENCE      AMOUNT      STAT. PENALTY

HENRY DAVID WALKER aka “Stalker”       52        Temple                     > 500 grams      10 years to life
JOHN MCLAUGHLIN                                           33        Temple                      > 50 grams            5 to 40 years
JAMES MALADY                                                     27        Belton                       < 50 grams          up to 20 years
OSCAR WALKER aka “Country”                      29        Temple                     > 500 grams       10 years to life

** Charged by criminal complaint.

The owner and managing partner of HipDingo stores in San Antonio, Boerne and Fredericksburg and former marketing director for a land development company, Rinco of Texas, Inc. (Rinco), and Rockin’ J Ranch (Rockin’ J) faces up to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to orchestrating an estimated $1.6 million wire fraud scheme announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher H. Combs.

Appearing before United States Magistrate Judge John Primomo this afternoon in San Antonio, 47–year-old Boerne, TX, resident Lea Ann Blystone pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and agreed to forfeit to the government any and all HipDingo inventory, assets and equipment; five real estate properties in Kendall County (TX); and, three vehicles.  By pleading guilty, Blystone admitted that from January 2009 until August 2011, she devised and implemented a scheme to defraud Rinco and Rockin’ J to obtain money and other property by means of false and fraudulent pretenses. 

As marketing director for Rinco and Rockin’ J, Blystone coordinated staffing and vendor payments for promotional booths or display space at shows, malls, sporting and other events.  Blystone caused Rinco and Rockin’ J to fraudulently pay her ex-husband and Rockin’ J contractor, 49-year-old Michael J. Webb of San Antonio; 48-year-old Rockin’ J contractor Karen Lindsay of Boerne; and 56-year-old Boerne resident and Rockin’ J contractor Cheryl E. Hartsfield for staffing the promotional displays.  In some instances, Rinco and Rockin’ J paid for services when no promotion had been done at all at a stated location, or for work performed for the benefit of Blystone at HipDingo.

Webb, Lindsay and Hartsfield have each pleaded guilty to wire fraud and are currently awaiting sentencing.  Defendants still facing charges in connection with this investigation include: 47-year-old Boerne resident and Rockin’ J contractor Roy E. Pokrant, Jr.; 47-year-old Boerne resident and Rockin’ J contractor Thomas J. Worsham; and, 48–year-old Rinco employee and HipDingo co-owner Manson Porter of Boerne.  Porter is charged by indictment with three counts of wire fraud and two counts of witness tampering.  Pokrant and Worsham are each charged with three counts of wire fraud.  Jury selection is scheduled for October 27, 2014.  Upon conviction, each wire fraud and witness tampering charge call for up to 20 years in federal prison; each forged endorsement charge, up to ten years in federal prison.

The Government is also seeking a monetary judgment in this case in the amount of $1,597,708 representing the amount of proceeds traceable to the above mentioned scheme.

This case was investigated by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney William R. Harris is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.

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

In San Antonio today, 42-year-old Jacob Robert Holguin (aka “Friend of Grimm”) was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for distribution of child pornography announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs.

On November 30, 2012, federal authorities executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence.  A forensics examination of computer related equipment revealed the presence of more than 2,400 images and approximately 500 videos depicting child pornography some of which the defendant shared with others, including an undercover officer, via the Internet.  On June 5, 2013, Holguin pleaded guilty to the distribution charge. 

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Wannarka and Tracy Thompson prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.

The owner and office manager of Shorts Electric, an Odessa company the provided oilfield and residential electric services, are in federal custody charged in connection with an estimated $400,000 bank fraud scheme announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Special Agent in Charge Laurie L. Younger, FDIC Office of Inspector General, Dallas Region, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist, El Paso Division. 

A federal grand jury indictment unsealed yesterday charges 44-year-old Shorts Electric owner Lanny Wayne McDorman and 46–year-old Justine Jane Woods with one count of bank fraud. The indictment alleges that from June 2012 until March 2014, the defendants knowingly defrauded Commercial State Bank (CSB).  According to the indictment, Shorts Electric had a Business Manager Reserve Account (BMRA) in which CSB would purchase, at a discount, Shorts Electric accounts receivable and transfer the purchase money into the BMRA, thereby allowing Shorts Electric immediate access to operating funds without having to wait for customers invoices to be paid.  Full payment on the purchased Shorts Electric invoices would then be obligated to CSB. The indictment alleges that the defendants created and submitted to CSB numerous fraudulent invoices knowing that those invoices would be uncollectable because they did not represent actual money owed to Shorts Electric.

McDorman and Woods face up to 30 years in federal prison and a maximum $1 million fine upon conviction.

“Working alongside our law enforcement partners, we will continue to focus on finding, stopping, and punishing those who commit fraud schemes that impact our financial institutions,” stated FDIC-OIG Special Agent in Charge Laurie L. Younger.

“Bank fraud has the potential to cause immeasurable damage to our community and the FBI will continue to rigorously investigate these allegations with our law enforcement partners.  The arrests of these individuals will send notice that the FBI will continue to protect the community from schemes to defraud financial institutions insured by the FDIC,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist.

The defendants, who were arrested by FDIC-OIG and FBI agents yesterday, remain in federal custody awaiting an arraignment and detention hearing scheduled for 3:00pm on September 9, 2014, before United States Magistrate Judge David Counts in Midland.

Assistant United States Attorney John Klassen 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 the Austin area today, federal and state authorities arrested 22 individuals, including ringleaders 54–year-old Timothy John Bruner of Leander, Texas, and 23-year-old Ryan Robert Rowland of Round Rock, Texas, in connection with a steroid distribution operation announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division. 

Six of those arrested were charged by federal criminal complaints unsealed today; the remaining 16 individuals face state charges.  In addition to Bruner and Rowland, those charged by federal criminal complaint include: 42-year-old Ronald Marion Butsch of Austin; 47-year-old Dan Lee of Austin; 49-year-old Timothy John Moore of Austin; and, 58-year-old Don Glen Zachary of Austin. 

Each is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.  The criminal complaints allege that since January 2014, the defendants conspired to distribute more than 1,000 dosage units of steroids in tablet form (Anavar and Winstrol) and over 200 10cc vials of steroids in liquid form (Testosterone, Deca Durabolin and Trenbolone).

“The success of Operation Blue Juice exemplifies the outstanding cooperation and coordination among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. DEA has worked closely with our law enforcement partners in the state of Texas and around the country in order to enhance the impact on this drug trafficking organization while increasing the quality of life in the surrounding communities of Austin,” said Joseph M. Arabit, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration-Houston Field Division.

Upon conviction, the defendants face up to 20 in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine. 

During this eight-month-long operation, investigators conducted several controlled purchases of steroids from Bruner and Rowland. To date, authorities have seized significant amounts of steroids, $300,000 in U.S. Currency and other assets in connection with this investigation.

These charges and arrests resulted from an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety, Cedar Park Police Department, Austin Police Department, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and the Williamson County Constable’s Office—Pct. 2.  Assistant United States Attorney Mark Marshall is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government. 

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.

In El Paso, 29-year-old Rigoberto Ruiz-Alatorre, an admitted drug trafficker and former bodyguard for Sinaloa narcotrafficker Gabino Salas-Valenciano (aka “El Ingeniero”), was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison and fined $5,000 for  murdering a member of his drug trafficking organization announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Will Glaspy, El Paso Division, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist, El Paso Division.

On May 16, 2014, the third day of his trial on federal drug and firearms charges, Ruiz-Alatorre pleaded guilty to one count of murder resulting from the use or carrying of firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.  By pleading guilty, Ruiz admitted to trafficking over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana in both the Western District of Texas and the District of New Mexico from 2002 to 2006; and, while in Albuquerque, NM, in July 2006, he shot and killed Roswell, NM, resident Fermin Rodriguez-Gonzalez to facilitate his narcotics trafficking operation and to prevent Rodriguez-Gonzalez from providing law enforcement with details of Ruiz’ narcotics trafficking activities.

In Waco today, 34-year-old Cory Cole of Itasca, TX, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for embezzling money from the Citizens State Bank (CSB) announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman.

In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Walter S. Smith, Jr. ordered that Cole pay a $50,000 fine and be placed under supervised release for a period of five years after completing his prison term.  Yesterday, Cole paid $175,000 restitution to the bank.

On July 3, 2014, Cole pleaded guilty to one count of theft or embezzlement by a bank employee.  By pleading guilty, Cole admitted that beginning in January 2013, while serving as a CSB vice president, he stole bank funds by approving more than 20 loans based on fraudulent documentation he created.

Cole remains on bond pending notification of Bureau of Prisons facility designation.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Texas Department of Public Safety.  Assistant United States Attorney Gregg Gloff prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.

In El Paso today, 54-year-old Charles Marquez was sentenced to life in federal prison and fined $10,000 for his role in a prostitution scheme involving a minor announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Dennis A. Ulrich.

On November 21, 2013, a federal jury convicted Marquez of one count each of sex trafficking of a minor; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; transporting for prostitution; conspiracy to coerce or entice a minor to engage in sexually explicit activity; coercion or enticement; and, importation of an undocumented alien for immoral purpose.

Testimony during trial revealed that from August 2007 through February 2012, Marquez conspired with 41-year-old Martha Jimenez Sanchez of Juarez, Mexico, to recruit women in Mexico for their prostitution scheme by placing advertisements in a Ciudad Juarez newspaper offering jobs in the United States.  Once recruited, the defendants arranged to transport the females to El Paso, harbor them in local motels and force them to commit prostitution for the financial benefit of the defendants.
“The sentencing of Marquez is an affirmation of the dedication, commitment, and  hard work of the FBI, HSI, and our state and local partners to work diligently in keeping the El Paso Community safe. Collectively, we will continue to seek out, investigate and prosecute those individuals and criminal enterprises that target the underprivileged and children for Human Trafficking,” stated FBI SAC Douglas E. Lindquist, El Paso Division.

“HSI is relentless in its investigations of transnational criminal organizations that exploit immigrants and children for their own financial gain,” said HSI SAC Dennis A. Ulrich, El Paso Division.  “HSI  will continue to work effectively with our other federal partners as well as our international counterparts to identify and dismantle human trafficking rings.”

Sanchez faces up to ten years in federal prison after pleading guilty on November 26, 2012, to one count of transportation for prostitution.  Sanchez, who was released on bond after pleading guilty, is a fugitive.

This case was investigated by the FBI together with HSI as part of the nationwide Operation Cross Country which focuses on child prostitution.  Assistant United States Attorney Rifian Newaz and Steve Spitzer are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

In Waco today, 31-year-old Rodney Davis of Cincinnati, OH, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison  followed by five years of supervised release and fined $3,000 for his role in a drug distribution operation announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw.

On June 26, 2014, U.S. District Judge Walter S. Smith convicted Davis of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm during the commission of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  Testimony during the bench trial revealed that on August 6, 2013, Davis was stopped by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper just outside of Centerville in Leon County.  A search was conducted after a canine unit alerted on Davis’ vehicle.  During the search, the trooper discovered approximately six kilograms of cocaine and a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson semi-automatic firearm.  Davis’ criminal history includes a 2001 robbery conviction in Hamilton County, Ohio.

This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division.  Assistant United States Attorney Mary Kucera prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.

In San Antonio, 37-year-old Jesus Carmona of San Antonio received 101 months in federal prison for his role in a drug distribution and firearms smuggling operation announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Robert Elder, Houston Division, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala, San Antonio Division and San Antonio Police Chief William McManus.

During yesterday’s sentencing hearing, United States District Judge Xavier Rodriguez sentenced Carmona to 41 months incarceration for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and 60 months incarceration for possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. 

Charges against Carmona and nine other individuals stem from parallel investigations by ATF, HSI and SAPD which focused on firearms straw purchasing, violent gang activity and drug trafficking by members and associates of the Duffle Bag Mafia in San Antonio. 

On September 26, 2013, Carmona pleaded guilty to the charges, admitting that he supplied co-defendants marijuana and cocaine in exchange for firearms.  According to court records, one of those firearms, an AK-47 assault rifle, was previously used by 25-year-old Arnoldo Lopez (a.k.a. “Looney”), a member of the Duffle Bag Mafia, in a drive-by shooting on April 1, 2012, that resulted in the death of Joshua Arturo Pagan and Anthony Guevarro.  That firearm was subsequently smuggled to the Los Zetas cartel in Mexico.

Last month, Lopez was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for various drug and firearms offenses.  On September 5, 2013, Lopez pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute “crack” cocaine, possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime and six counts of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.  According to court records, on October 4, 2012, Lopez and others were apprehended by the San Antonio Police Department Gang Unit while in possession of distributable quantities of “crack” cocaine as well as four firearms including one assault rifle, two shotguns and a semi-automatic pistol.  Prior to his arrest, HSI agents were investigating a firearms straw purchasing operation wherein Lopez directed other individuals to purchase dozens of firearms under false pretenses.  The weapons purchased included AK-47 and AR-15 type assault rifles which were destined for the Los Zetas cartel.

On August 7, 2014, 33-year-old Yolanda Hernandez was sentenced to 75 months incarceration after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute “crack” cocaine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

On February 26, 2014, 31-year-old Michael Gutierrez was sentenced to 248 months in federal prison for his role in the drug distribution scheme.  Six co-defendants in the firearms straw purchasing scheme have been sentenced to terms ranging from three years probation to 57 months in federal prison.

“This investigation is an outstanding example of where cooperative efforts of ATF, HSI, and the San Antonio Police Department can lead.  Anytime we get criminals of this magnitude off the streets is a good day for our citizens,” stated ATF SAC Robert Elder.

“Those who engage in and/or facilitate the straw purchasing and smuggling of weaponry, and related items, will face serious consequences.  HSI, ATF, and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to making communities safer by bringing violent criminals to justice and preventing or seizing firearms before they fall into the hands of transnational criminal organizations who pose a threat to public safety both here and abroad,” stated HSI SAC Janice Ayala.

“The best police work in the world is all for naught without a successful prosecution.  We thank all of our law enforcement partners for the teamwork, and we thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their guidance and hard work.  This criminal organization repeatedly demonstrated their total disregard for the law and we are proud to be part of the effort to dismantle them and bring them to justice,” stated San Antonio Police Chief William McManus.

Assistant United States Attorneys Russell Leachman and Bettina Richardson prosecuted these cases on behalf of the Government.

In San Antonio today, U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia sentenced Daniel Isiah Thody to 90 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $162,857.00 restitution to the Internal Revenue Service announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Internal Revenue Service--Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Steven McCollough and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs.

On November 8, 2013, a jury convicted Thody on five counts of tax evasion.  The jury found that Thody willfully evaded and failed to file income tax returns for calendar years 2006 through 2010.  According to evidence presented at trial, Thody intentionally tried to conceal from the IRS his true income by using another individual’s bank account as well as the name of a nominee company--WET Publishing—a company created by his father to produce anti-government publications.  During trial, Thody claimed that the IRS had no authority to tax him.

“Hard working taxpayers should not have to shoulder the burden for those such as Mr. Thody who willfully and deliberately neglect to meet their tax obligations as citizens of this great nation.  Today’s sentencing should give pause to those that may be attracted to the illusive claim that there is no legal requirement to pay federal income tax,” stated IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Steven McCollough. “The law is crystal clear on this matter, there is no gray area and the courts have consistently upheld the tax law.  IRS Criminal Investigation continues its commitment to aggressively identify and pursue those taxpayers who willfully fail to file their tax returns.”

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Roomberg and William R. Harris prosecuted this case for the government.

In San Antonio today, former Watermark Group comptroller Monica R. Richardson, age 39, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release in connection with an embezzlement scheme underlying her failure to remit company withholding taxes announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Internal Revenue Service--Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Steven McCollough.

In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Orlando Garcia ordered that Richardson pay $65,551.34 restitution to the Internal Revenue Service—the amount of personal tax due based on her embezzled income.  Judge Garcia also ordered Richardson to report to federal authorities on or before October 15, 2014, to begin serving her prison term.

In July 2013, Richardson pleaded guilty to one count of failure to account for and pay payroll taxes.  By pleading guilty, Richardson admitted that she stole over $287,000 from Watermark and caused Watermark to fail to account for and pay the Internal Revenue Service payroll taxes due. 

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William R. Harris.

In San Antonio today, a federal jury convicted 38–year-old Marcus Deshawn Wright for his role in prostituting two minor females last year announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs of the FBI’s San Antonio Division and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.

The jury convicted Wright of two counts of sex trafficking of minors and one count of production of child pornography.  Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Wright and his codefendants, 22-year-old Malcolm Deandre Copeland and 20-year-old Amber Doak, both of San Antonio, were involved in a scheme beginning in August 2013 to entice and encourage minors into engaging in sexual acts for money.  Wright recruited two minor females to engage in commercial sex in San Antonio and Corpus Christi for his financial gain.  Wright also produced multiple videos which depicted sexual activity involving a minor.

Wright, who remains in federal custody, faces between ten years and life in federal prison for sex trafficking of minors and between 15 and 30 years in federal prison for production of child pornography.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 16, 2015.

On July 23, 2014, a federal jury convicted Copeland of two counts of sex trafficking of minors. Doak pleaded guilty in March 2014 to one count of sex trafficking of minors.  Each faces between ten years and life in federal prison.  Sentencing for Copeland and Doak is scheduled for December 4, 2014, and September 12, 2014, respectively.

The remaining co-defendant—41–year-old New Hampshire resident Raymond Valas—awaits jury selection and trial scheduled for November 17, 2014, before U.S. Chief District Judge Fred Biery.  Valas is charged with one count of sex trafficking of a minor.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) together with the San Antonio Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Bettina Richardson and Special Assistant United States Attorney Geoff Barr from the Texas Attorney General’s Office are prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.

Law Enforcement testimony revealed the defendant possessed 1,000 videos and 100 images depicting child pornography

In Del Rio today, a former teacher at Calderon Elementary in the San Felipe Independent School District was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for possession and distribution of child pornography announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala.

In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Alia Moses ordered that 40-year-old Ruben A. Vazquez pay a $ 5,000 fine and be placed under supervised release for ten years after completing his prison term.

On August 22, 2013, a jury convicted Vazquez of one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of access with the intent to view child pornography. Evidence presented during trial revealed that Vazquez was using peer to peer file sharing programs to access, receive and distribute videos of child pornography. During trial, law enforcement officers testified that Vazquez admitted to them that he had over 1,000 images and over 100 videos of child pornography.

On June 21, 2012, HSI special agents executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence and seized several computers and related equipment. According to court records, a forensics evaluation of the seized items revealed the presence of child pornography videos that depict minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct along with evidence of child pornography files that had previously resided on the computer.

“The prevention and investigation of the exploitation of minors is a priority for HSI,” said Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala, HSI San Antonio. “These investigations are pursued by dedicated special agents who not only work with the United States Attorney's Office to bring predators to justice, but work tirelessly to prevent these crimes through extensive outreach and education.”

This case was investigated by HSI agents together with the investigators from the Beaumont Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Meghan McCalla, Ralph Paradiso and Matthew Watters prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.  

In Del Rio today, 23-year-old Jesus Cardenas of New Braunfels, TX, was sentenced to six years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay a $4,000 fine for smuggling ammunition from the United States announced U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala.

In February, a federal jury convicted the defendant and his 34-year-old brother, Luis Cardenas, of two counts of smuggling ammunition from the United States.  The jury also convicted Jesus Cardenas of two counts of smuggling ammunition and magazines from the United States. 

Evidence presented during the three-day-trial showed that on two separate occasions between November 2011 and January 2012, Jesus Cardenas purchased, on behalf of an individual in Piedras Negras, Mexico, a total of more than 15,000 rounds of ammunition and 400 assault rifle magazines intended for export to Mexico.   Furthermore, Luis Cardenas was paid to transfer the ammunition to 31-year-old San Antonio Jason Vega who then transported it to Del Rio. 

On December 1, 2011, United States Border Patrol agents seized part of the ammunition along with 23 assault rifles within yards of the Rio Grande River outside Del Rio.  Special Agents with Homeland Security Investigations seized additional ammunition and magazines in January 2012.

Luis Cardenas is scheduled to be sentenced on February 9, 2015, before U.S. District Judge Alia Moses in Del Rio.  On May 27, 2014, Judge Moses sentenced Vega to 54 months in federal prison and ordered him to pay a $1,500 fine.  Prior to trial, Vega pleaded guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of approximately 4,300 rounds ammunition on November 17, 2011. 

“HSI is committed to preventing weapons and ammunition from reaching the hands of transnational criminal enterprises that pose a threat to public safety in the United States and abroad,” said Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala, HSI San Antonio. “HSI special agents will continue working jointly with our law enforcement partners and utilize our expertise in export enforcement to keep our citizens safe and secure.”

El Paso resident Don Ray Dorsett, age 28, faces up to five years in federal prison after a jury convicted him of pointing a laser at an aircraft flying overhead announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist, El Paso Division.

In February 2012, President Barrack Obama signed the “FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012” and added a new provision that makes it a federal crime to aim a laser pointer at an aircraft.  Yesterday afternoon, jurors convicted Dorsett of violating that provision (Title 18 United States Code Section 39A—Aiming a Laser Pointer at an Aircraft).   Evidence presented during trial revealed that on January 4, 2014, Dorsett knowingly aimed the beam of a laser pointer at a helicopter flying overhead.  The aircraft belonged to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 2, 2014, before United States District Judge David C. Guaderrama in El Paso.

This indictment resulted from an investigation conducted by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the El Paso Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Stanley Serwatka is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government

Reported incidents of laser strikes are on the rise. Since the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began tracking laser strikes in 2005, statistics reflect a more than 1,100% increase in the deliberate targeting of aircraft by people with handheld lasers. In 2013, there were a total of 3,960 laser strikes reported – an average of almost 11 incidents per day.

Earlier this year, the FBI announced the inception of the Laser Threat Awareness Campaign, a nationwide effort led by the FBI in collaboration with the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) and the FAA to raise awareness of aircraft laser illumination threats.  If you have information about a lasing incident, contact the El Paso FBI at 915-832-5000.  If you see someone pointing a laser at an aircraft, call the nearest local law enforcement agency immediately by dialing 911. Tips can also be submitted online at https://tips.fbi.gov.

In Del Rio, 34-year-old John Andrew Cardenas of Uvalde, TX, was sentenced to three years in federal prison followed by one year of supervised release and ordered to pay $97,445.95 restitution to the IRS after pleading guilty to preparing fraudulent Income Tax Returns announced U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Steven McCollough.

Cardenas is the owner and operator of Cardenas Income Tax Service with offices in Uvalde, Crystal City, Kingsville and Corpus Christi.  On August 29, 2013, Cardenas pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the preparation of a false and fraudulent tax return.  By pleading guilty, Cardenas admitted that he knowingly and intentionally prepared tax returns for calendar years 2007, 2008 and 2009 which fraudulently claimed that the taxpayers operated fictitious businesses in order to generate larger tax refunds for the taxpayers. 

In addition to the prison term and restitution, Cardenas has expressly consented to a permanent injunction barring him from preparing, filing, or assisting in the preparation of, income tax returns in the future.

“IRS-Criminal Investigation will continue to vigorously pursue unscrupulous return preparers, such as Mr. Cardenas, who abuse their position of trust and prepare fraudulent tax returns.  These criminal actions are effectively stealing from hard-working, honest taxpayers who pay their fair share. Taxpayers expect that individuals who present themselves as qualified return preparers will prepare their tax returns accurately and with integrity,” stated IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge McCollough.

Assistant United States Attorneys Bryan N. Reeves and Jay Hulings prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.

In San Antonio today, a federal jury convicted 22–year-old Malcolm Deandre Copeland for his role in prostituting two minor females last year announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs of the FBI’s San Antonio Division and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott.

The jury convicted Copeland of two counts of sex trafficking of minors.  Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Copeland and others were involved in a scheme to entice and encourage minors into engaging in sexual acts for money.  Specifically, jurors found that Copeland, in August and September of 2013, knowingly placed photos of two minors on an Internet website which advertised prostitution services under the pretext of “escorts.” Jurors also found that Copeland transported the minors to multiple locations in San Antonio as well as Corpus Christi to engage in commercial sex.

Copeland, who remains in federal custody, faces between ten years and life in federal prison when he is sentenced on December 4, 2014.

One of Copeland’s co-defendants, 20-year-old Amber Doak of San Antonio, pleaded guilty in March 2014 to one count of sex trafficking of minors and is currently awaiting sentencing scheduled for September 12, 2014.  She faces between ten years and life in federal prison. 

Two remaining co-defendants—38-year-old San Antonio resident Marcus Deshawn Wright and 41–year-old New Hampshire resident Raymond Valas—await jury selection and trial scheduled for August 18, 2014, and November 17, 2014, respectively, before U.S. Chief District Judge Fred Biery.  Wright is charged with two counts of sex trafficking of minors and one count of production of child pornography.  Valas is charged with one count of sex trafficking of a minor.

In Austin, 26–year-old Francisco Agustin Colorado Cebado (aka “Panchito”) and 52–year-old Ramon Segura Flores were each sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine for attempting to bribe a federal judge announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Steve McCollough.

On March 12, 2004, the defendants, along with Francisco’s father, 53-year-old Veracruz, Mexico businessman Francisco Antonio Colorado Cessa (aka “Pancho”), pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to bribe a federal judge.  All three admitted to conspiring last year to pay a $1.2 million bribe to a federal judge in order to secure a reduced sentence for Colorado-Cessa in a related court case.  According to court records, at no time before or during this investigation was the judge involved in the alleged criminal activity. 

Colorado Cebado and Segura Flores have remained in federal custody since their arrest on September 5, 2013.  Both face deportation proceedings upon completion of their respective sentences.

Sentencing for Colorado Cessa, who faces up to five years in federal prison on the attempted bribery charge, is scheduled for October 20, 2014.  Colorado Cessa is currently serving a 20-year federal prison term for his role in a complex scheme to launder millions of dollars in illicit Los Zetas drug trafficking proceeds to purchase, train, breed, and race American quarter horses in the United States. 

This case was investigated by the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigation.  

More than 2,000 individuals victimized as a result of the defendants' scheme

In Waco, two individuals await sentencing after pleading guilty to federal charges in connection with a postal theft scheme involving more than 50,000 pieces of mail and over $500,000 in other U.S. Government property from U.S. Post Offices in approximately 80 cities and towns across Texas announced U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Inspector in Charge Robert Weymss, Houston Division.

Appearing this afternoon before United States District Judge Walter S. Smith, Jr., 39-year-old Charles Hattenbach of Temple, TX, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to steal mail, one count of bank fraud, one count of theft of Government property and three counts of aggravated identity theft.  Last month, Hattenbach’s co-defendant, 28-year-old Kathryn Hubbert of Temple, TX, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to steal mail, one count of bank fraud, one count of theft of Government property and two counts of aggravated identity theft. 

According to court records, from December 2013 until March 2014, the defendants conspired to steal U.S. mail and other Government property by breaking into U.S. Post Offices and blue mail receptacle boxes located outside of post offices in an area stretching from Midland to College Station and from Dallas to San Antonio.  The defendants stole credit cards, personal checks, business checks, money orders, postage, W-2s, tax returns, items which contained personal identifying information, cash, gift cards and other items belonging to more than 2,000 victims. 

The defendants also devised a scheme to defraud several financial institutions, including Extraco Bank in Round Rock, TX, by endorsing and depositing stolen money orders and checks.  The defendants subsequently withdrew the deposits causing the financial institutions to lose more than $80,000.  The defendants also activated numerous credit cards using victims’ personal identifying information, including names, social security numbers and driver’s license numbers and dates of birth, which they had previously stolen from the mail.

“We take very seriously the integrity of the U.S. mail and will continue to work with the Postal Inspection Service and our law enforcement partners to apprehend and prosecute people who, like the defendants in this case, target the mail to facilitate their criminal enterprises,” stated United States Attorney Robert Pitman.

The defendants targeted United States Post Offices, collection boxes, parcel lockers and post office boxes in the following cities and towns:  Alvarado, Austin (Balcones, Bluebonnet, Main, McNeil, Mockingbird, Northcross, South Campus, Southeast, and Town North branches), Bangs, Belton, Blanket, Brenham, Bryan, Buchanan Dam, Buckholts, Burton, Cameron, Campbellton, Carmine, Cedar Park, Chapel Hill, Clifton, Coleman, College Station, Colorado City, Copperas Cove, Corpus Christi (Gulfway branch), Dripping Springs, Early, Elgin, Florence, Gause, Georgetown, Gustine, Harker Heights, Hearne, Heidenheimer, Hewitt, Hillsboro, Holland, Hutto, Jerrell, Jonesboro, Kemper, Killeen, Lampasas, Lawn, Leander, Ledbetter, Liberty Hill, Lockhart, Loraine, Lorena, May, McDade, Meridian, Merkel, Midland, Milano, Millican, Mound, Navasota, Nolanville, Novice, Paige, Pendleton, Pflugerville, Red Oak, Rising Star, Roby, Rockport, Rogers, Rosebud, Round Rock, Salado, San Angelo, San Marcos, Santa Anna, Sinton, Sterling City, Sweetwater, Taylor, Temple, Thorndale, Treat, Troy, Tye, Valley Mills, Waco (Highlander and Woodway branches), Walnut Springs, Washington and Weir.

Hattenbach, who remains in federal custody, is scheduled to be sentenced at 1:00pm on September 10, 2014, before Judge Smith.  Sentencing for Hubbert, who is currently on bond, is scheduled for 1:00pm on August 20, 2014, before Judge Smith.  Hattenbach and Hubbert face up to five years in federal prison for conspiracy to steal U.S. Mail; up to 30 years in federal prison for bank fraud; up to ten years in federal prison for theft of Government property; and, consecutive two-year federal prison terms for each aggravated identity theft charge.  A restitution amount, consisting of stolen funds, proceeds derived from the scheme, losses incurred by victims and property damage among other things, will be determined at sentencing.

“The Postal Inspection Service has sought those who steal mail for hundreds of years. The ability to use the mail in a safe and secure manner is at the core of the Postal Inspection Service's mission,” stated USPIS Inspector in Charge Robert Weymss.

This case resulted from an investigation conducted by USPIS and the Bell County Organized Crime Task Force (BCOTF).  The BCOTF is comprised of investigators from the United States Marshals Service, Bell County Sheriff’s Office and police departments from Temple, Belton, Killeen, Copperas Cove and Harker Heights. Assistant United States Attorney Greg Gloff is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.

In El Paso today, 48-year-old Tomas Steven Quinones was sentenced to 225 months in federal prison followed by ten years of supervised release for production of child pornography announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Dennis Ulrich.

On August 29, 2013, HSI agents executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence and seized over 90 assorted computers, accessories and other miscellaneous items including laptop computers, desktop computers, computer hard drives, thumb drives, memory sticks, flash drives, CDs, DVDs and VHS tapes. A subsequent forensics examination of the seized items revealed the presence of approximately 25,000 images of child pornography. 

On May 7, 2014, Quinones pleaded guilty to production of child pornography.  By pleading guilty, Quinones admitted to producing a video in December 2010 in which he knowingly persuaded and enticed two minors to take part in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a video depiction of such conduct.  Quinones is seen and heard throughout the video instructing the children on how to have sex. 

“This 18-year sentence sends a clear message that those who exploit children in any way will face serious consequences,” said Special Agent in Charge, Dennis Ulrich, HSI El Paso. “Preventing and investigating crimes against children is a high priority for HSI. We will continue to dedicate law enforcement resources to identify and bring to justice child predators who traumatize and victimize children.”

Assistant United States Attorney Rifian Newaz prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.

In San Antonio today, 25-year-old Arnoldo Lopez (a.k.a. “Looney”), a member of the Duffle Bag Mafia in San Antonio, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for various drug and firearms offenses announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Robert Elder, Houston Division and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala, San Antonio Division.

United States District Judge Xavier Rodriguez sentenced Lopez to 35 years in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute “crack” cocaine plus five additional years imprisonment for possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. In a separate, but related case, Judge Rodriguez sentenced Lopez to five years in prison on six separate charges of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. Judge Rodriguez ordered the prison terms assessed for each of the false statement charges to run concurrent with the drug and firearm prison terms.

On September 5, 2013, Lopez pleaded guilty to the above-mentioned charges. According to court records, on October 4, 2012, Lopez and others were apprehended by the San Antonio Police Department Gang Unit while in possession of distributable quantities of “crack” cocaine as well as four firearms including one assault rifle, two shotguns and a semi-automatic pistol. Prior to his arrest, HSI agents were investigating a firearms straw purchasing operation wherein Lopez directed other individuals to purchase dozens of firearms under false pretenses. The weapons purchased included AK-47 and AR-15 type assault rifles which were destined for the Los Zetas Cartel.

SAC Elder stated: “This investigation is an outstanding example of where cooperative efforts of ATF, HSI, and the San Antonio Police Department can lead. Anytime we get a criminal of this magnitude off the streets is a good day for our citizens.”

SAC Ayala stated: “Today's sentencing of Arnoldo Lopez sends a clear message that those who engage in and/or facilitate the straw purchasing and smuggling of weaponry, and related items, will face serious consequences. HSI, ATF, and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to making communities safer by bringing violent criminals to justice and preventing or seizing firearms before they fall into the hands of transnational criminal organizations who pose a threat to public safety both here and abroad.”

On February 26, 2014, Lopez’ co-defendant, 31-year-old Michael Gutierrez, was sentenced to 248 months in federal prison for his role in the drug distribution scheme. Two other co-defendants in the drug distribution scheme are awaiting sentencing. Six co-defendants in the firearms straw purchasing scheme have been sentenced to terms ranging from three years probation to 57 months in federal prison.

These charges resulted from investigations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations and the San Antonio Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Russell Leachman and Bettina Richardson prosecuted these cases on behalf of the Government.

In Austin today, 25–year-old Gabriel Soza Ruedas, Jr., pled guilty to pointing a laser at an aircraft flying overhead announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.  Ruedas faces up to five years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine for the offense.

Appearing before United States Magistrate Judge Andrew W. Austin, Ruedas admitted that on February 15, 2014, he knowingly aimed the beam of a laser pointer at an Austin Police Department helicopter (Air1) that was on approach to land at Austin Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA). All of this occurred after Air1 had been cleared by air traffic control to land.  Air1 delayed its landing to investigate the source of the laser.  Austin Air Traffic Control issued a general warning to all pilots in the area where the laser incident occurred, which was the flight path of arriving aircraft on short final approach to ABIA.

The laser Ruedas used was strong enough to reflect inside the cockpit of Air1 causing the pilot to turn his head and avert his eyes from the laser, distracting him from normal flight operations.

The crew of Air1 communicated to ground units from the Austin Police Department (APD) information about the source of the laser strikes, enabling APD units to identify and apprehend Ruedas.  Ruedas was found with the laser pointer in his sweatshirt pocket.

Ruedas remains in custody pending sentencing before United States District Judge Lee Yeakel.

This case resulted from an investigation conducted by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with the Austin Police Department and the Texas Attorney General’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Gregg Sofer 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 Pecos this morning, 49-year-old JUDITH MARIA BROUGHTON, a Terlingua Ranch resident, pleaded guilty to stealing Social Security benefits payable to her dead father, Luther D. Broughton, announced Robert Pitman, United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas, and Robert Feldt, Special Agent in Charge, Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG) in Dallas. She faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the offense.

Appearing before United States Magistrate Judge B. Dwight Goains, Broughton admitted that between June 1990 and August 2011, she stole Social Security Retirement Insurance benefits made payable to her father in the amount of $245,226.00.

During the plea hearing Broughton acknowledged that on or about June 5, 1990, her father died and after his death, she leased a storage unit in his name at Econo Self Storage in Lexington, Kentucky. Broughton continued to make monthly payments on the storage unit in her father’s name from June 1990 through March 2014. When officers searched the storage unit on January 8, 2014, the mummified remains of Luther D. Broughton were discovered.

Broughton also acknowledged she obtained a joint checking account in her father’s name and had his Social Security benefits electronically deposited into the account. When SSA-OIG sought written verification that Broughton’s father was still living, she responded with false statements that he was still alive. Broughton admitted that by taking the monthly Social Security payments intended for her father from July 1990 until August 2011, she stole money totaling $245,226.00 from the United States and converted those funds to her own use.

Prior to Defendant Broughton’s arrest, she had been residing with her mother, Mary Elizabeth Broughton, in Brewster County, Texas. Mary Elizabeth Broughton also was a beneficiary of Social Security payments and those benefits were deposited in a joint account with the Defendant through the Fort Davis State Bank. After Defendant’s arrest, a safety check for Mary Elizabeth Broughton was conducted and her whereabouts could not be determined at that time. Mary Elizabeth Broughton remains missing.

Defendant remains in custody pending sentencing before United States District Judge Robert Junell in Pecos. No sentencing date has been scheduled.

This case resulted from an investigation by the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General in El Paso and Lexington, Kentucky, with the assistance of the U. S. Marshal Service, the Brewster County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lexington, Kentucky Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney James J. Miller, Jr., 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 this morning, 23-year-old Rahatul Ashikim Khan (a.k.a. “Rahat Khan,” “Authentic Tauheed 19,” and “AT19”) pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support and resources to terrorists, announced Robert Pitman, United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Christopher Combs, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division, and John Carlin, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. He faces up to 15 years in federal prison for the offense.
Appearing before United States Magistrate Judge Mark Lane, Khan admitted that from March 2011 to January 2012, he conspired to provide material support to terrorists.

During the plea hearing Khan acknowledged that he intended to provide to a co-conspirator a confidential human source (CHS), whom Khan believed to be a person interested in participating in violent jihad overseas. The co-conspirator told Khan about a contact who could facilitate travel to Somalia, where persons would then engage in violent jihad. The co-conspirator asked Khan to identify individuals who would be good candidates to travel to Somalia to participate in violent jihad. Khan identified the CHS as a worthy candidate for violent jihad in Somalia and communicated this information and the CHS’s identity to the co-conspirator. The coconspirator subsequently contacted the CHS and further assessed the CHS’s suitability to fight overseas. The co-conspirator informed the CHS that he trusted the CHS because of Khan’s recommendation. After determining that the CHS was a good candidate for fighting in Somalia, the co-conspirator passed the CHS to a contact in Africa who then communicated with the CHS about the logistics of traveling to Africa in support of violent jihad.

“Rahatul Khan’s admissions during this morning’s guilty plea should serve as a sobering reminder that we need to remain vigilant in our efforts to detect and root out terrorism, even in our own back yard,” stated United States Attorney Robert Pitman. “Great credit is due to the dedicated law enforcement professionals whose tireless efforts contributed to the apprehension of Khan and Michael Wolfe, who pled last week in a separate case to similar charges. National security is, and will remain, the first priority of this office and our law enforcement partners.”

Khan remains in federal custody pending sentencing before United States District Judge Sam Sparks in Austin. No sentencing date has been scheduled.

This case resulted from a Central Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, United States Army Intelligence, Austin Police Department, Round Rock Police Department, Killeen Police Department, University of Texas Police Department, Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Office of the Texas Attorney General and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

Assistant United States Attorneys Gregg N. Sofer and Michael Galdo, together with Department of Justice
National Security Division trial attorneys Josh Parecki and Michael Dittoe, are 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 Del Rio today, a federal grand jury indicted CARL WAYNE WILEY for attempted murder of a federal agent, announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Rodolfo Karisch, Del Rio Sector Chief Patrol Agent, U.S. Border Patrol, and Christopher Combs, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division.

The four-count indictment alleges that on June 30, 2014, 48-year-old Carl Wayne Wiley of Midland, TX, attempted to kill one or more United States Border Patrol Agents who were engaged in the performance of their official duties. The indictment further charges that the defendant, using a .45 caliber Ruger revolver, forcibly assaulted and interfered with one or more United States Border Patrol Agents. Defendant also was charged with two counts of carrying and discharging a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.

Upon conviction, the defendant faces up to 20 years imprisonment each for the attempted murder charge and the assault charge. He faces up to 10 years for the use of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. The defendant remains in state custody pending an initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge in Del Rio.

Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Blanton and Ralph Paradiso are 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 this morning, 23-year-old Michael Wolfe (a.k.a. “Faruq”) pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization, announced Robert Pitman, United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Christopher Combs, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division, and John Carlin, Assistant Attorney General for National Security.  He faces up to 15 years in federal prison for the offense.

Appearing before United States Magistrate Judge Mark Lane, Wolfe admitted that from August 2013 to June 17, 2014, he planned to travel to the Middle East to provide his services to a foreign terrorist organization, namely, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham/Syria (ISIS) and to engage in violent jihad in Syria.

During the plea hearing Wolfe acknowledged that he applied for and acquired a United States passport, participated in physical fitness training, practiced military maneuvers and made efforts to conceal his communications about his plans to travel overseas to engage in violent jihad.  Wolfe also purchased airline tickets so that he could travel to Europe to meet an FBI undercover employee, whom the defendant then believed would facilitate travel to Syria through Turkey.  In furtherance of his attempt to provide material support to ISIS, Wolfe travelled to Houston and was apprehended on June 17, 2014, on the jet-way, as he attempted to board flight #8112 to Toronto, Canada.  His ticketed itinerary had him traveling through Iceland and arriving in Copenhagen, Denmark on June 18, 2014.  He then planned to make his way to Syria to join with ISIS and engage in the armed conflict.

Wolfe remains in federal custody pending sentencing before United States District Judge Sam Sparks in Austin.  No sentencing date has been scheduled.

This case resulted from a Central Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, United States Army Intelligence, Austin Police Department, Round Rock Police Department, Killeen Police Department, University of Texas Police Department, Travis County Sheriff's Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Office of the Texas Attorney General and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. 

In Del Rio this afternoon, 60-year-old Abel De Leon of Asherton, TX, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for receiving child pornography announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala.

Court records reflect that HSI agents who were conducting an investigation into on-line exploitation of minors executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in November 2012 and seized several DVDs, a computer and related equipment. A subsequent forensics examination of the seized items revealed the presence of over 100 videos and images depicting sexual exploitation of pre-pubescent children.

On June 5, 2013, De Leon pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography.  By pleading guilty, De Leon admitted to receiving child pornography since approximately 2012, including 48 videos via the Internet.

“This 20-year sentence sends a clear message that those who exploit children in any way will face serious consequences,” said Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala, HSI San Antonio. “Preventing and investigating crimes against children is a high priority for HSI. We will continue to dedicate law enforcement resources to identify and bring to justice child predators who traumatize and victimize children.”

This case was investigated by special agents with HSI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew H. Watters, Katherine Nielsen, and Meghan McCalla.

Patty E. Smith, age 58, of Lohn, TX, faces up to 15 years in federal prison and full restitution for embezzling more than $500,000 from the Lohn Independent School District (LISD) announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge R. Damon Rowe, Dallas Division.

Appearing before United States Magistrate Judge Mark Lane in Austin on Friday, Smith pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion and one count of theft from an organization receiving federal funds.  By pleading guilty, Smith admitted that between September 2006 and September 2012, she stole LISD funds totaling $507,528.82 and used it for her personal benefit.  She also admitted to evading paying taxes on the embezzled funds, which constituted taxable income, by not disclosing it to the IRS on her yearly Income Tax returns. 

According to the factual basis filed in this case, Smith did not have signature authority over any LISD financial accounts, however, she had sufficiently gained the trust of the person with signature authority to the point that that person signed blank checks for funds that Smith would subsequently complete and make payable to either “cash” or fictitious payees.  Smith concealed her activities by recording false check amounts in the check register.  For years 2007 through 2011, Smith’s willful evasion of taxes on the funds she stole from LISD resulted in the underpayment of income tax in the amount of approximately $129,400.

Smith is on bond pending sentencing.  Sentencing is scheduled for August 11, 2014, before United States District Judge Lee Yeakel.

Two senior members of the Los Zetas Cartel operating in Piedras Negras, Mexico, face up to life in federal prison after a jury convicted them of smuggling thousands of kilograms of marijuana and hundreds of assault rifles announced Robert Pitman, United States Attorney; Janice Ayala, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division; Robert Elder, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Division; and, Christopher Combs, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division.

On Friday afternoon, jurors convicted 29–year-old Emilio Villalobos-Alcala (aka “La Tripa”), and 27–year-old Jose Eluid Lugo-Lopez (aka “Cochi Loco”) of one count of conspiracy to import marijuana; one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and, two counts of smuggling goods from the United States.

According to courtroom testimony, Villalobos-Alcala, a purported leader of the Los Zetas Cartel activities in Piedras Negras and fellow senior level member Lugo-Lopez were involved in a large-scale marijuana and firearms smuggling scheme from July 2011 until February 2013. Assault weapons, other firearms, magazines and ammunition purchased in San Antonio were transported inside hidden compartments in cars and trucks and smuggled through Eagle Pass, Texas, to Piedras Negras.  Bundles of marijuana, smuggled across the river into Quemado, Texas, were transported to stash houses in Eagle Pass.  From there, the marijuana was transported to stash houses in San Antonio and ultimately to distributors in Dallas and Houston. 

Evidence presented during the trial included multiple threats made by Villalobos-Alcala and Lugo-Lopez that they would kill people involved in the smuggling conspiracy or their family members if they did not pay money for drugs or weapons seized by law enforcement or agree to move drugs or weapons on behalf of the cartel. 

In February 2013, Villalobos was arrested at the Port of Entry in Eagle Pass.  Lugo-Lopez was arrested in Eagle Pass in November 2012 after crossing into the country illegally.  Villalobos-Alcala and Lugo-Lopez remain in federal custody pending sentencing.  Sentencing is scheduled for December 15, 2014, in Del Rio.

This case was investigated by special agents with HSI, ATF, FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration together with the U.S. Border Patrol, Texas Department of Public Safety and the Zavala County Sheriff’s Office.

In Del Rio this afternoon, United States District Judge Alia Moses sentenced 41-year-old CARLO LEE REYES (aka “El Raton”) to 240 months in federal prison, and 39-year-old ALICIA CASTANEDA (aka “Alicia Palomo”) to 33 months in federal prison announced Robert Pitman, United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent Robert Elder, Houston Division.
A jury in Del Rio convicted Reyes on October 3, 2013, of aiding the attempted exportation of firearms from the United States and being a felon in possession of an assault rifle-style firearm. In addition to the prison term, Judge Moses ordered that Carlo Lee Reyes pay a $5,000 fine and be placed under supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term. Castaneda pled guilty to aiding the attempted exportation of firearms from the U.S. Judge Moses imposed a supervised release period of three years on Castaneda.
Reyes, who was found guilty for his role in acquiring, paying for, storing, and transporting weapons, is the last defendant to be sentenced as part of Operation Iron Justice, a wide-ranging investigation led by HSI into the exportation of firearms from the United States into Mexico. Reyes would enlist others to locate firearms in San Antonio, and then coordinate through intermediaries to pick up the firearms and move them to a stash house. From there, others would arrange to pick up the firearms and transport them to Eagle Pass, for ultimate export to the traffickers in Mexico.
Operation Iron Justice, initiated by HSI Eagle Pass in early 2011, targeted several weapons trafficking organizations believed to be acquiring firearms for the “Los Zetas” drug trafficking organization. The firearms, including weapons, ammunition, and assault rifle magazines, were to be smuggled to the Zetas operating in the Piedras Negras, Mexico, area, for protection against rival cartels, the Mexican military, and law enforcement.
The investigation identified several smuggling cells operating in the U.S. Using a number of investigative techniques, agents obtained evidence of the firearm trafficking, including the identification of various individuals involved in the trafficking, the interdiction and seizure of large numbers of firearms, rounds of ammunition, and currency, as well as quantities of cocaine and marijuana. The investigation included the seizure of 15 assault rifles and 518 rifle magazines in September 2011; the seizure of 11 assault rifles and 15 magazines in October 2011; the seizure of $109,545.00 in U.S. currency near Falfurrias, Texas, in October 2011; and the arrest of Richard Hesles, Jr., and his brother, Damian Hesles, owners of Hesles Gun and Knife Store in Eagle Pass, who were responsible for aiding and abetting or attempting the exportation of .50 caliber firearms, ammunition, magazines, and firearm sights to Mexico. All told, Operation Iron Justice resulted in over 50 arrests from indictments brought in the Western District of Texas, the seizure of 63,742 rounds of ammunition, 4,031 magazines, 220 assault rifles, $1,079,834.95 U.S. currency, 35 pounds of cocaine, 173 pounds of marijuana, and 18 vehicles.
The defendants convicted and sentenced in connection with Operation Iron Justice are as follows:

DEFENDANT

PLEA or FOUND GUILTY  at TRIAL DATE

SENTENCING DATE/
SENTENCE

1.   Evelyn GUJARDO‐Campos

10/07/2010

07/3/2012: 26 months

12/02/2010

02/7/2010: 63 months

3.   Michael Jonathan ROGERS

03/23/2011

11/28/2011: 30 months

4.   Robert Lee PEREZ

08/25/2011

05/16/2012: 30 months

5.   Armando LOPEZ

08/25/2011

02/15/2012: 63 months

6.   Luis Alfredo SALINAS

12/21/2011

06/26/2012: 72 months

7.   Rogelio Velarde MARTINEZ III

11/16/2011

11/05/2012: 48 months

8.   Alfredo SALAZAR

12/21/2011

01/09/2013: 36 months

9.   Shane Vernon STULL

09/22/2011

02/17/2012: 13 months

10. Janie LUNA

11/22/2011

04/23/2012: 24 months

11. Shiloh Nathaniel MORENO

11/03/2011

04/09/2012: 18 months

12. Mayra GARCIA‐Gonzalez

03/07/2012

06/04/2012: 46 months

13. Guadalupe Catalina VASQUEZ

03/28/2012

11/06/2012: 63 months

14. Enrique DELARA

03/08/2012

08/28/2012: 100 months

15. Vanessa MEDINA‐Velasco

04/24/2012

08/27/2012: 70 months

16. Victor CASTRO

01/19/2012

06/11/2012: 48 months

17. Jimena Prisilla GUERRERO

04/19/2012

02/04/2013: 37 months

18. Luis Bernardo ALBA

02/08/2012

06/26/2012: 37 months

19. Lisa Marie OLIVAREZ‐Vasquez

09/27/2012

02/04/2014: 52 months

20. Jose Angel MARTINEZ

06/28/2012

02/05/2013: 51 months

21. Roberto Frederico ESQUIVEL

03/28/2012

10/19/2012: 84 months

22. William TORRES‐Cordoba

04/19/2012

10/10/2012: 84 months

23. Sergio GUTIERREZ‐Vasquez

06/28/2012

02/06/2014: 48 months

24. Jose Roberto HERNANDEZ

03/08/2012

04/09/2014: 30 months

25. Salvador MONTENEGRO

09/27/2012

08/07/2013: 71 months

26. Jose NEGRETE‐Rodriguez

06/07/2012

10/25/2012: 46 months

27. Raul MONTENEGRO

05/03/2012

12/12/2012: 24 months

28. Favian RAMIREZ

03/28/2012

08/27/2012: 24 months

29. Francisco Chavarria TAMAYO

07/05/2012

07/25/2013: 12 months

30. Santiago Aurelio MARTINEZ

07/12/2012

12/17/2012: 46 months

31. Arturo CASTILLO‐Martinez

05/24/2012

10/25/2012: 36 months

32. Raul VASQUEZ‐Hinojosa

05/22/2012

10/15/2012: 33 months

33. Ramona ORTIZ

05/22/2012

10/15/2012: 30 months

34. Henris Osmar MERCADO

06/28/2012

11/26/2012: 63 months

35. Rene LARA

05/24/2012

09/26/2012: 96 months

36. Juan LOPEZ Jr.

09/06/2012

02/12/2014: 46 months

37. Hugo RAMIREZ‐Zapata

07/19/2012

07/29/2013: 57 months

38. Johnnie SANTOS

10/17/2012

04/09/2014: 33 months

39. Araceli TREVINO‐Rodriguez

07/05/2012

02/14/2013: 60 months

40. Damien HESLES

10/25/2012

01/28/2014: 110 months

41. Richard HESLES Jr.

10/25/2012

01/28/2014: 120 months

42. Carlo Lee REYES

10/03/2013

06/30/2014: 240 months

43. Alicia CASTANEDA

09/17/2012

06/30/2014: 33 months

44. Ismael HERNANDEZ‐Reyes

10/17/2012

04/24/2013: 37 months

45. Rolando TAMAYO

At‐Large, Failed To Appear

Fugitive

46. Erik Alan GARZA

04/25/2013

01/17/2014: 44 months

“HSI is committed to working with our state and federal law enforcement partners to dismantle and disrupt any illicit scheme involving the illegal exportation of firearms,” said Janice Ayala, Special Agent-in-Charge, HSI San Antonio. “Keeping these items out of the hands of violent cartels is a top priority for HSI.”
This case was investigated by agents with Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Customs and Border Protection, Texas Department of Public Safety, Bexar County Sheriff’s Department, Maverick County Sheriff’s Department, and the San Antonio Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Galdo and Bryan N. Reeves prosecuted 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.

'A federal grand jury in the Western District of Texas returned separate indictments Wednesday charging
Rahatul Khan and Michael Wolfe with attempting to provide material support to terrorists announced Robert Pitman, United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Christopher Combs, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division, and John Carlin, Assistant Attorney General for National Security.

Khan (a.k.a. “Rahat Khan,” “AuthenticTauheed19,” and “AT19”), age 23 of Round Rock, TX, is charged with conspiring to provide material support to terrorists in violation of Title 18 USC Section 2339A. From March 2011 to January 2012, Khan allegedly conspired with others to recruit persons to travel overseas to support terrorist activities including committing violent jihad.

Wolfe (a.k.a. “Faruq”), age 23 of Austin, TX, is charged with attempting to provide material support to terrorists. Wolfe allegedly planned to travel to the Middle East to provide his services to radical groups engaged in armed conflict in Syria.

A detention hearing for Defendant Khan, originally scheduled for today, has been reset to June 30 at 2:30 p.m., before U. S. Magistrate Judge Mark Lane in Austin. Defendant Wolfe waived hearing on the Government’s motion to detain him and will remain in custody. Both defendants have waived formal arraignment and have entered not guilty pleas to the charges against them. Khan and Wolfe face up to 15 years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine upon conviction.

Both indictments resulted from a Central Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, United States Army Intelligence, Austin Police Department, Round Rock Police Department, Killeen Police Department, University of Texas Police Department, Travis County Sheriff's Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Office of the Texas Attorney General and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

Assistant United States Attorneys Gregg N. Sofer and Michael Galdo, together with the Department of Justice’s National Security Division Counterterrorism section trial attorneys Josh Parecki and Michael Dittoe, are 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, 64-year-old Lakeway resident Ricky Lynn Richardson was sentenced to five years in federal prison for stealing millions from pension plans announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Federal Bureau of Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Sam Sparks ordered that Richardson pay approximately $ 4,362,813.59 restitution and be placed under supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.

On March 18, 2014, Richardson pleaded guilty to a one-count Information charging him with theft and embezzlement from an employee benefit plan. According to authorities, from 1998 to 2013, Richardson stole money from four separate pension plans for which he provided administrative services, namely approximately $941,234 from the Texas Dental Association in Austin, approximately $2,504,258 from D.W.D. Engineering in the Houston area, approximately $687,520 from Green Leaflet, Inc., in Austin and approximately $229,800 from Albert T. Gross, M.D. in Austin. During the scheme, Richardson, doing business as Benefit Consultants, Inc., in Spicewood, TX, secretly misdirected or misappropriated money that belonged to the plans and provided customers with false statements, leading them to believe they still had the retirement money.

This investigation was conducted by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Employees
Benefits Security Administration of the Department of Labor. Assistant United States Attorney Alan M. Buie prosecuted 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.

Authorities with the Central Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force arrested two Austin area residents for alleged offenses involving providing material support to terrorists announced Robert Pitman, United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Christopher Combs, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division, and John Carlin, Assistant Attorney General for National Security.

Rahatul Ashikim Khan (a.k.a. “Rahat Khan,” “AuthenticTauheed19,” and “AT19”), age 23, was arrested yesterday afternoon at his home in Round Rock, TX.  Khan is charged in a federal criminal complaint unsealed in Austin today with conspiring to provide material support to terrorists in violation of Title 18 USC Section 2339A.  According to the complaint, from early 2011 to January 2012, he conspired with others to recruit persons to travel overseas to support terrorist activities including committing violent jihad. 

Michael Todd Wolfe (a.k.a. “Faruq”), age 23, of Austin, was arrested yesterday at the George H.W. Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport, before boarding a flight to Europe.  Wolfe is charged in a separate federal criminal complaint filed in Austin this morning with attempting to provide material support to terrorists in violation of Title 18 USC Section 2339A.  According to the complaint, Wolfe planned to travel to the Middle East to provide his services to radical groups engaged in armed conflict in Syria.

“This case is the culmination of a long-term investigation by the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force made up of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in Central Texas.  It’s a textbook example of how well law enforcement agencies in this area work together,” stated United States Attorney Robert Pitman.  “Protecting the citizens of this community from the threat of harm both from within the United States and abroad is our highest priority, and we will continue to work with our partners to detect, investigate and prosecute those who seek to advance their ideology through acts of terrorism.”

Khan and Wolfe face up to 15 years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine upon conviction.  Both remain in federal custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Friday at 2:30pm before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Lane in Austin.

Both criminal complaints resulted from a Central Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, United States Army Intelligence, Austin Police Department, Round Rock Police Department, Killeen Police Department, University of Texas Police Department, Travis County Sheriff's Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Office of the Texas Attorney General and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. 

Assistant United States Attorneys Gregg N. Sofer and Michael Galdo, together with DOJ Counterterrorism section trial attorneys Josh Parecki and Michael Dittoe, 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 defendants are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Defendant intimidated witness in trial of Killeen brothers convicted of distributing close to 30 kilograms of cocaine

In Waco, 33-year-old Carrick Mondale Mango of Killeen, TX, faces up to ten years in federal prison after pleading guilty this afternoon to an obstruction of justice charge, namely witness tampering, announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and United States Marshal Robert Almonte.

According to court records, on March 6, 2014, during the trial of U.S. v. Cornelius Tywarren Wilson, et al. (W-13-CR-138) in federal court in Waco, Mango approached a trial witness and instructed the witness not to testify against defendant Christopher Wilson.  The witness told deputy U.S. Marshals that Mango gave the witness an intimidating look, which made the witness feel threatened and uncomfortable.  The witness took the stand during trial and testified but failed to identify Christopher Wilson, even though they were neighbors.

Mango’s intimidation tactics also included accosting the prosecutor trying the case and intentionally following another government witness to the lobby of the United States Attorney’s Office.

Mango remains in federal custody pending sentencing.  Sentencing is scheduled for August 6, 2014, before United States District Judge Walter S. Smith, Jr.

On March 10, 2014, the jury found Christopher and his brother, Cornelius Wilson, guilty of multiple drug charges in connection with their cocaine distribution operation based in Killeen.  On April 30, 2014, Christopher and Cornelius Wilson were sentenced to 35 years and 30 years in federal prison, respectively.

Federal, state and local authorities have arrested 29 individuals--24 who face federal and five who face state charges--in connection with an Odessa-based methamphetamine distribution operation announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Will Glaspy and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist.  Authorities are still searching for nine defendants charged in connection with this methamphetamine distribution operation.  A list of federal defendants is below.

On May 28, 2014, a federal grand jury in Midland returned 14 sealed indictments charging 22 of those arrested with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  Seven of the indicted defendants--Fuller, Rendon, Harless, Crosson, Merritt, Powell and Daniels--are also charged with one substantive count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  Those indictments were unsealed earlier today.  In addition, defendants Smith, Simes and Tolbert, who were already in custody prior to today, were indicted by the federal grand jury prior to last month for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

Authorities allege that under the direction of ringleader 41–year-old Shawn Allen Niece of Odessa, the defendants participated in a methamphetamine distribution scheme since September 2013 that included the supply of methamphetamine from San Diego, CA; Las Vegas, NV; and, Dallas, TX, to Niece and others in Odessa for distribution throughout the Permian Basin.

In addition to the indicted defendants, authorities arrested six other individuals this morning—one charged by a federal criminal complaint for possession with intent to distribute “crack” cocaine; the other five were arrested based on state parole violations or outstanding warrants.

During this investigation, authorities seized over eleven pounds of methamphetamine, several firearms, over $62,000 in United States Currency and other assets.

“Methamphetamine is a destructive poison that has horrific consequences to the quality of life in any community,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Will Glaspy.  “Together with our local and federal law enforcement partners, DEA is holding meth traffickers accountable. We are seizing their profits, shutting down their distribution networks, and putting these dealers where they belong, behind bars.”

Upon conviction, the defendants face between ten years and life in federal prison; between five and 40 years in federal prison; or, up to 20 years in federal prison.

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

This case resulted from a joint Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Marshals Service together with the Ector County Sheriff’s Office, Midland County Sheriff’s Office, Midland Police Department, Odessa Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.  Assistant United States Attorney V. LaTawn Warsaw is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.

DEFENDANTS ARRESTED TODAY (16)

NAME                                                 AGE       RESIDENCE          STATUTORY PENALTY
Jonathan Leelind Hensley (aka GG)        26               Las Vegas, NV            10 years to life imprisonment
Shawn Allen Niece                                          41               Odessa, TX                  10 years to life imprisonment
Shonda Tennille Crosson                             37               Odessa, TX                  From 5 to 40 years in prison
Christina Gayle Collier                                  26               Odessa, TX                  From 5 to 40 years in prison
Jarrett Tate Fuller                                          34               Amarillo, TX               Up to 20 years imprisonment
Jason Mac Rendon                                         37               Amarillo, TX               Up to 20 years imprisonment
David Lane McGill (aka Doughboy)       31                Odessa, TX                   Up to 20 years imprisonment
Dustin Alan Richey                                        23               Odessa, TX                   Up to 20 years imprisonment
Sean David Luna                                             34               Odessa, TX                   10 years to life imprisonment
Gabriel Coca                                                     22               Odessa, TX                   10 years to life imprisonment 
Annette Jessica Brown                                 31               Odessa, TX                   10 years to life imprisonment
Manuel Urbina                                                 35              Odessa, TX                   From 5 to 40 years in prison
Cristopher Jedidiah Perdue                       29              Odessa, TX                   From 5 to 40 years in prison   
Erica Marie Mitchell                                     33               Odessa, TX                   From 5 to 40 years in prison
Brandy Leeann Zaliauskas                          39               Midland, TX                Up to 20 years imprisonment
(aka Brandy Leeann Carson)
** Charles Eugene Anderson, Jr.            30                Odessa, TX                  Up to 20 years imprisonment

ALREADY IN CUSTODY PRIOR TO TODAY (8)

NAME                                               AGE         RESIDENCE            STATUTORY PENALTY
Michael James Brewer (aka Levi)           43                    Odessa, TX                  10 years to life imprisonment
Phillip Ray Powell                                         24                    Odessa, TX                  From 5 to 40 years in prison
Joseph Ray Collier                                        33                    Odessa, TX                  Up to 20 years imprisonment
Trey Matthew Lopez                                    23                    Odessa, TX                  10 years to life imprisonment
Raymond Earl Mims                                    43                    Odessa, TX                  Up to 20 years imprisonment
Clyde Smith, Jr.                                             54                    Odessa, TX                  From 5 to 40 years in prison
Walter Simes                                                   31                    Odessa, TX                  From 5 to 40 years in prison
Cheryl Tolbert                                               34                    Odessa, TX                  From 5 to 40 years in prison

FUGITIVES  (9)

NAME                                             AGE            RESIDENCE           STATUTORY PENALTY
***J. Weslee Dan Harless                         36                    Odessa, TX                  Up to 20 years imprisonment
***Joshua Lynn Merritt                            32                    Odessa, TX                  From 5 to 40 years in prison
***Angelee Danielle Daniels                    32                    Odessa, TX                  From 5 to 40 years in prison
***Dylan James Holloway                        22                    Odessa, TX                  Up to 20 years imprisonment
***Kaycie Ray Lewis                                   27                    Odessa, TX                  Up to 20 years imprisonment
Omar Addimm Hensley                             23                    Las Vegas, NV             10 years to life imprisonment
James Louis Crutcher (aka Seven)       28                    San Diego, CA             10 years to life imprisonment
Abrea Ebony Ponce                                    20                    San Diego, CA             10 years to life imprisonment
Dionna Nadine Horton                              23                    San Diego, CA             10 years to life imprisonment

Charles Anderson was arrested this morning and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute “crack” cocaine.

*** Defendants have since been apprehended and are no longer considered fugitives.

Federal, state and local law enforcement and medical authorities in the Permian Basin, led by United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Midland County District Attorney Teresa Clingman and Ector County District Attorney Bobby Bland are getting the word out about the dangers associated with synthetic cannabinoids, also known as “synthetic marijuana” and synthetic cathinones, sometimes called “bath salts.”    

These synthetic drugs, often referred to as designer drugs, are novel psychoactive substances clandestinely produced to mimic the effects of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, and MDMA. There is no industrial or medical use for these substances. Clandestine chemists duplicate the technical sophistication used by the legitimate drug research community to manufacture new substances which are increasingly popular among recreational drug users.  The manufacturers and sellers of synthetic drugs often attempt to mislead users about the legality of the drugs and market the drugs to young people. 

Synthetic cannabinoids, also known as synthetic marijuana, “Spice,” “K2,” or “Kush,” comprise a large family of chemically unrelated structures functionally similar to THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in organic marijuana.  When ingested, synthetic cannabinoids may produce less, equivalent or more psychoactive activity than THC, but often with pronounced and dangerous side-effects.  Synthetic cannabinoid products consist of plant matter that is sprayed with a mixture of acetone and synthetic cannabinoid chemical compounds.  These chemicals are unregulated, often produced in China, and imported to the United States where they are then applied to plant matter to render them ingestible.  Generally, the product is packaged in foil baggies which falsely state that the product is “herbal incense” and “not for human consumption” in an attempt to avoid prosecution.   The product may be sold in brick and mortar “smoke shops,” convenience stores, adult book stores, as well as, over the Internet.  Synthetic cannabinoid products are marketed under many different names, including “Scooby Snax,” “Hysteria,” “Mad Monkey,” “Sexy Monkey,” and “Devil Eye.”    

Texas poison centers report that between January 2012 and April 2014, there were 2,179 exposures to synthetic cannabinoids. The Texas Poison Center Network warns that the alarming health effects from using these drugs include severe agitation and anxiety; racing heartbeats and high blood pressure; nausea and vomiting; muscle spasm, seizure, and tremors; intense hallucinations and psychotic episodes and suicidal and other harmful thoughts and/or actions.

“Let me be clear about this.  This is not marijuana.  These are chemical substances that are, to the user, completely unknown and that pose potentially serious health risks.  There have been reports in our own community of people, especially young people, who have had potentially serious health effects from their use,” stated U.S. Attorney Pitman.  He added, “To the owners and operators of convenience stores and smoke shops who sell illegal designer drugs, we are here to tell you that this is just the beginning of our effort to enforce the law with respect to the sale of these potentially dangerous substances.  To people in the community who think that designer drugs are a safe and legal option, we hope that this will provoke an understanding not just that they are illegal, but that you are playing a game of Russian roulette when you put these unregulated and unknown chemicals into your body.”

Last week, Jared William Roach, a 29-year-old former Odessa retailer, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a synthetic cannabinoid with intent to distribute.  By pleading guilty, Roach admitted to possessing “Hysteria Black” in his store, Smoke Alley, in May of last year.  The contents of “Hysteria Black” included both a controlled substance as well as a controlled substance analog.  Roach faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

Kelly Jay Duarte, the 22-year-old former proprietor of Urban City, a retail business in Odessa, faces up to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty last month to one count of possession of a synthetic cannabinoid with intent to distribute.  By pleading guilty, Duarte admitted that in May 2013, synthetic cannabinoids packaged under the names of “Diablo,” “KMA,” “Mad Hatter,” and “Hypnotic Haze” were knowingly sold to customers at his business in violation of federal law. Duarte is scheduled to be sentenced on August 14, 2014, before United States District Judge Robert A. Junell in Midland.

Synthetic cathinones, which are structurally and pharmacologically similar to amphetamine, MDMA, and other related substances, are central nervous system stimulants and are sold in retail stores, on the internet, and in head shops as “bath salts,” “plant food,” or “jewelry cleaner.” Synthetic cathinone users report symptoms of increased heart rate, agitation, hypertension and hallucinations.  Like the cannabinoids, the ingredients are not disclosed, the production is unregulated and there are significant batch to batch variances.

The United States Attorney’s Office prosecuted and convicted Jimmy Wright, the former owner of B & L adult bookstore in Odessa, of the federal felony criminal offense of possession with intent to distribute the synthetic cathinone, MDVP.  Wright was sentenced to a 20-month term of imprisonment.  He recently died in prison.  

In Del Rio, a federal grand jury has indicted two Carrizo Springs, TX, residents for their roles in an undocumented immigrant smuggling scheme in which the victims suffered serious bodily injury announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala, San Antonio Division.
The seven–count indictment, returned yesterday, alleges that between May 1, 2014 and May 4, 2014, the defendants, 32–year-old Atanacio Daniel Castro and 22–year-old Eduardo Rocha, Jr., of Carrizo Springs, TX, knowingly conspired to transport and harbor undocumented aliens and while doing so, caused serious bodily injury to those individuals. The indictment further charges that the defendants threatened to kill, injure or further detain individuals whom they held hostage, in order to compel others to pay ransom money for their release.
According to court records, Castro allegedly struck the hands of two adult male hostages with a hammer and demanded additional payment while the victims were on the phone with family members discussing payment of smuggling fees. Court records also allege that Castro, on multiple occasions, sexually assaulted a smuggled female undocumented alien.
Upon conviction, the defendants face up to life in federal prison for conspiracy to commit hostage taking. Each remaining charge calls for up to 20 years in federal prison upon conviction. Both defendants remain in federal custody pending trial. No trial date has been scheduled.
This indictment resulted from an investigation conducted by HSI agents together with the Dimmit County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew H. Watters and Patrick Burke are 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, FBI agents arrested 25–year-old Gabriel Soza Ruedas, Jr., for allegedly pointing a laser at an aircraft flying overhead announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

In February 2012, President Barrack Obama signed the “FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012” and added a new provision that makes it a federal crime to aim a laser pointer at an aircraft.  Yesterday, federal authorities filed a criminal complaint charging Ruedas with violating that provision (Title 18 United States Code Section 39A—Aiming a Laser Pointer at an Aircraft).  The complaint alleges that on February 15, 2014, Ruedas knowingly aimed the beam of a laser pointer multiple times at an Austin Police Department helicopter that was on approach to land at Austin Bergstrom International Airport.

“Laser strikes can pose serious risks to flight crews, passengers, and even individuals on the ground.  They are a serious public safety hazard and will be treated as such by law enforcement officials,” stated United States Attorney Robert Pitman. 

Upon conviction, the defendant faces up to five years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine. 

“Shining a laser at aircraft can temporarily blind a pilot which could result in the loss of aircraft control and human life.  This case should serve as a warning to others who engage in this dangerous criminal activity.   The FBI will continue to investigate and pursue prosecution of offenders who threaten aviation safety,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs.

This indictment resulted from an investigation conducted by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with the Austin Police Department and the Texas Attorney General’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Gregg Sofer 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.

Reported incidents of laser strikes are on the rise. Since the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began tracking laser strikes in 2005, statistics reflect a more than 1,100% increase in the deliberate targeting of aircraft by people with handheld lasers. In 2013, there were a total of 3,960 laser strikes reported – an average of almost 11 incidents per day.

Earlier this year, the FBI announced the inception of the Laser Threat Awareness Campaign, a nationwide effort led by the FBI in collaboration with the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) and the FAA to raise awareness of aircraft laser illumination threats.  If you have information about a lasing incident, contact the San Antonio Division of the FBI at 210-225-6741.  If you see someone pointing a laser at an aircraft, call the nearest local law enforcement agency immediately by dialing 911. Tips can also be submitted online at https://tips.fbi.gov.

Fourteen Texas Mexican Mafia (TMM) members, including leader Jesus Lopez (aka “Worst Ever”), are in custody today charged with violating the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act to include alleged acts of murder, extortion and drug trafficking in the Eagle Pass area.  Five members also face charges under the Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering (VICAR) statute.   A list of the indicted defendants is below. 

That announcement was made earlier today by United States Attorney Robert Pitman; Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division; Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw; Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph A. Arabit, Houston Division; Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala; and, Chief Patrol Agent Rodolfo Karisch, U.S. Border Patrol, Del Rio Sector. 

A five-count federal grand jury indictment, returned on Wednesday and unsealed today, charges all 14 defendants with one count of conspiracy violate the RICO Act.  Jesus Lopez, Anselmo Flores, Francisco Hernandez, Hector Martinez and Esteban Munoz are also charged with two counts of Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering.  Raul Herrera and Reynaldo Vivian are each charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

The indictment alleges that Flores, under the direction of Lopez and others, stabbed and murdered Eagle Pass resident Angel Cantu on January 22, 2011, while other TMM members stood guard with weapons.  Furthermore, TMM members provided Flores with money to leave town after the murder to deflect law enforcement attention from the criminal enterprise.  At the time of Cantu’s murder, the indictment alleges that Hernandez, aided and abetted by Lopez, Flores, Martinez and Munoz, assaulted another individual with a dangerous weapon.

The indictment further alleges that all 14 defendants conspired in the distribution of narcotics as well as the extortion of cocaine distributors in Eagle Pass since 2009.  According to the indictment, proceeds from the distribution and extortion were transferred to the San Antonio branch of the TMM. 

The indictment also alleges that around early December 2010, Lopez ordered Martinez, Hernandez, Flores and others to retrieve and destroy firearms, which they did, that were used during the attempted murder of an individual who provided information about the TMM to law enforcement.

Hernandez, Lopez, Flores, Martinez and Munoz face a mandatory life in prison sentence upon conviction of violent crime in aid of racketeering.  Those five defendants, along with Herrera, face up to life in federal prison upon conviction of the RICO Conspiracy charge. The other eight defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison upon conviction of the RICO Conspiracy charge.  Herrera faces between 5 and 40 years in federal on the drug conspiracy charge; Vivian, up to 20 years in federal prison on the drug conspiracy charge.

Beginning last night and continuing this morning, federal, state and local authorities arrested Michael Eric Cantu, Esteban Munoz, and Reynaldo Vivian in Eagle Pass; Claudio Salinas in Del Rio; and, Anselmo Flores near Bismarck, ND.  The remaining defendants were already in custody prior to today.

This case resulted from a joint investigation by the FBI, Texas Rangers, Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division, DEA, HSI and Border Patrol. 

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.

Name                                                                                       Age            Residence
**JESUS LOPEZ, aka “Jessie,” aka “Worst Ever”                               35                    Eagle Pass
**GERARDO CASTILLO, aka “Jerry,” aka “Chingo Bling”             32                    Eagle Pass
**SALOMON MARTINEZ, aka “Salo”                                                     39                    Eagle Pass
**IVAN VELASQUEZ, aka “Pipi”                                                              35*                  Eagle Pass
**JOSE ALEJANDRO MALDONADO, aka “Chivia”                          34                    Eagle Pass
CLAUDIO SALINAS, aka “Conejo”                                                           34                    Del Rio
**JUAN CARLOS LEDEZMA, aka “Yogi”                                              31                    Eagle Pass
MICHAEL ERIC CANTU, aka “Miklo”                                                    28                    Eagle Pass
ANSELMO FLORES, aka “Chemo”                                                            26                    formerly of Eagle Pass
**FRANCISCO JAVIER HERNANDEZ, aka “Coco”                         35                    Eagle Pass
**HECTOR ANGEL MARTINEZ, aka “Tonka”                                   35                    Eagle Pass
**RAUL ADRIAN HERRERA, aka “Nano”                                           35                    Eagle Pass
ESTEBAN MUNOZ, aka “Rock”                                                                31                    Eagle Pass
REYNALDO VIVIAN, aka “Rey”                                                              35                    Eagle Pass

** Were already in custody prior to today’s arrests

In San Antonio this morning, 45-year-old Malcolm David Brooks was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for escaping from a half-way house and robbing a San Antonio bank in 2012 announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, United States Marshal Robert Almonte and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

On February 21, 2014, Brooks pleaded guilty to one count of escape and one count of unarmed bank robbery.  By pleading guilty, Brooks admitted that in early February 2012, he escaped from custody in a half-way house in San Antonio.  Brooks was serving the remainder of a 140-month federal prison sentence imposed in El Paso in 2002 for committing seven 2001 bank robberies in Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado and Texas.  On February 13, 2012, approximately one week after his escape, Brooks stole approximately $1,200 from a Wells Fargo branch in San Antonio.  San Antonio Police officers were able to apprehend Brooks after he barricaded himself inside a restroom of a nearby restaurant.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service together with the San Antonio Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hardy prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.

Earlier today, federal agents arrested 20-year-old Michael Keich, of D’Hanis, TX, for manufacturing an unregistered weapon and manufacture of an explosive without a license announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division.

While executing a search warrant at the defendant’s residence this morning, FBI and ATF special agents recovered a pipe bomb as well as materials used in the production of  explosive devices.  According to the criminal complaint filed in this case, Keich admitted that he manufactured pipe bombs despite knowing that such activity was illegal.

Upon conviction, Keich faces up to ten years in federal prison.  He remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing later this week.

This investigation is being conducted by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office, and the Medina County Sheriff’s Office.  Bombs squads from the FBI and San Antonio Police Department rendered the suspected device safe outside the defendant’s residence.  Special Assistant United States Attorney Carah Helwig is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.

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 El Paso, 32-year-old Rigoberto Ruiz-Alatorre, a Mexican citizen living in Denver, CO, faces a maximum of 28 years in federal prison after pleading guilty this afternoon to murdering a member of his drug trafficking organization announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott, El Paso Division, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist, El Paso Division.

On the third day of his trial on federal drug and firearms charges, Ruiz-Alatorre, an admitted drug trafficker and former bodyguard for Sinaloa narcotrafficker Gabino Salas-Valenciano (aka “El Ingeniero”), pleaded guilty to one count of murder resulting from the use or carrying of firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.  By pleading guilty, Ruiz admitted to trafficking over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana in both the Western District of Texas and the District of New Mexico from 2002 to 2006; and, while in Albuquerque, NM, in July 2006, he shot and killed Roswell, NM, resident Fermin Rodriguez-Gonzalez to facilitate his narcotics trafficking operation and to prevent Rodriguez-Gonzalez from providing law enforcement with details of Ruiz’ narcotics trafficking activities.

Ruiz remains in federal custody pending sentencing.  Sentencing is scheduled for September 3, 2014, before United States District Judge Frank Montalvo.

This joint investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation together with the United States Border Patrol and the Bernalillo County (NM) Sheriff’s Office. 

In San Antonio, 32-year-old Jorge Pena, Jr., was sentenced to 150 months in federal prison followed by 25 years of supervised release for distributing child pornography announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala.

Court records reflect that HSI agents who were conducting an investigation into on-line exploitation of minors executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in February 2012 and seized several computers and related equipment. A subsequent forensics examination of the seized items revealed the presence of hundreds of videos and images depicting sexual exploitation of pre-pubescent children.

On March 12, 2014, Pena pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography.  By pleading guilty, Pena admitted to viewing child pornography since approximately 2005 and knowingly distributing at least 19 files which contained child pornography to other individuals via the Internet.

“By conducting these types of investigations, HSI is taking child predators off the Internet, off the streets, and putting them behind bars,” said Special Agent in Charge, Janice Ayala, HSI San Antonio. “Targeting these crimes against children is a high priority for HSI. We will continue to dedicate law enforcement resources to identify and bring to justice child predators that traumatize and victimize children.”

This case was investigated by special agents with HSI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tracy Thompson.

Marvis Charles Box, age 67, of Converse, TX, stands charged with stealing an estimated $478,000 of United States Postal Service equipment announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector in Charge Robert Wemyss, Houston Division.

A federal grand jury indictment, returned on May 7, 2014, and unsealed following Box’s arrest on Tuesday, charges the defendant with three counts of theft of Government property.  Upon conviction, Box faces up to ten years in federal prison per count.

As a U.S. Postal Service contract employee, Box was responsible for transporting mail to and from the Canyon Lake Post Office.  The indictment specifically alleges that on three separate occasions—November 25, 2013; November 30, 2013; and, December 4, 2013—Box stole U.S. Postal Service mail transportation equipment and sold it for personal financial gain.  The indictment also includes a demand for forfeiture wherein the Government is seeking a monetary judgment in the amount of $478,169.75.  That figure represents the total amount of proceeds allegedly derived from the defendant’s overall mail equipment theft scheme.

Box remains in federal custody pending the outcome of a detention hearing scheduled for 10:00am on May 27, 2014, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Bemporad.

This case was investigated by inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Hardy 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.

In Waco, 61-year-old Gary Joe Smith of Morgan, TX, was sentenced to six years in federal prison for possession of child pornography announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala.

During the sentencing hearing held yesterday afternoon, United States District Judge Walter S. Smith, Jr., also ordered that Smith pay a $2,500 fine and be placed under supervised release for a period of five years after completing his prison term.  Smith remains on bond pending Bureau of Prisons facility designation.

According to court records, HSI agents who were conducting an investigation into on-line exploitation of minors executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence on April 23, 2013, and seized his home computer.  A subsequent forensics examination of the defendant’s computer revealed the presence of over 600 images depicting child pornography.  On March 6, 2014, Smith pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.

“This sentence sends a clear message that those who exploit children in any way will face serious consequences,” said Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala, HSI San Antonio.  “Preventing and investigating crimes against children is a high priority for HSI. We will continue to dedicate law enforcement resources to identify and bring to justice child predators that traumatize and victimize children.”

Kelly Jay Duarte, the 22-year-old former proprietor of Urban City, a retail business in Odessa, faces up to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty earlier today to one count of possession of a synthetic cannabinoid with intent to distribute announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist, El Paso Division.

By pleading guilty, Duarte admitted that in May 2013, synthetic cannabinoids packaged under the names of “Diablo,” “KMA,” “Mad Hatter,” and “Hypnotic Haze” were knowingly sold to customers at his business in violation of federal law.

Duarte remains on bond pending sentencing.  A sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.

In El Paso, 48-year-old Tomas Steven Quinones faces between 15 and 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty earlier today to one count of production of child pornography announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Dennis Ulrich.

On August 29, 2013, HSI agents executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence and seized over 90 assorted computers, accessories and other miscellaneous items including laptop computers, desktop computers, computer hard drives, thumb drives, memory sticks, flash drives, CDs, DVDs and VHS tapes. During an on-site forensics examination of the seized items, authorities discovered hundreds of image files and video files which are indicative of child pornography.  By pleading guilty, Quinones admitted to producing a video in December 2010 which contained child pornography.  Specifically, Quinones admitted to knowingly persuading and enticing two minors to take part in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a video depiction of such conduct.  Quinones is seen and heard throughout the video instructing the children on how to have sex.

Quinones remains in federal custody pending sentencing.  No sentencing date has been scheduled.

Assistant United States Attorney Rifian Newaz is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.

In Waco, 30-year-old Christopher Andrew and 32–year-old Cornelius Tywarren Wilson were sentenced to 35 years and 30 years in federal prison, respectively, for their roles in a cocaine distribution operation based in Killeen, Texas, announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Christopher H. Combs, San Antonio Division and Killeen Police Chief Dennis M. Baldwin.

In addition to the prison terms, United States District Judge Walter S. Smith, Jr. ordered that the brothers pay a fine—Chris, $2000; Cornelius, $1,500—and be placed under supervised release for a period of ten years after completing their respective prison terms.

On March 10, 2014, a federal jury in Waco found Christopher Wilson, Cornelius Wilson and 29–year-old Bryant Keith Pressley guilty of multiple drug charges.  The jury also found Cornelius Wilson guilty of possession of a Ruger handgun during a drug trafficking crime on May 14, 2013.  Presley is scheduled to be sentenced on May 28, 2014.

Evidence presented during trial revealed that from April 2011 to May 2013, the organization led by the Wilson brothers was responsible for the distribution of close to 30 kilograms of cocaine and “crack” cocaine in Killeen and the surrounding area.

The Wilson brothers and Presley were among eight Killeen residents indicted and convicted of federal drug charges in connection with this cocaine distribution operation.  The other five defendants--39-year-old Jamel Azar Singleton, 31–year-old Jason Eugene Jackson, 31-year-old Katrie Deshone Simpson, 39–year-old Michael Anthony Mango and 34–year-old Kevin Elthonda Lee--entered guilty pleas prior to jury selection and received federal prison sentences ranging from 18 months to 151 months.  

This case resulted from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) together with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Killeen Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Mark Frazier and former Assistant United States Attorney Sean Condron are prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government. 

This afternoon, 32-year-old Ivan Gonzales of San Antonio was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for his role in a sex trafficking scheme involving a minor announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Christopher H. Combs, San Antonio Division.

On October 2, 2013, Gonzales pleaded guilty to one count of sex trafficking of a minor.  By pleading guilty, Gonzales admitted that in December 2012, he recruited and enticed a minor female to engage in sexual activity for financial gain.  According to court records, Gonzales and his girlfriend, 19–year-old Ashley Nicole Gonzales of San Antonio, posted advertisements to promote the minor, explained prostitution terminology to her, told her how to conduct business, and transported her to locations where she would meet clients and perform sexual activity.  Court records also revealed that Ivan Gonzales and Ashley Gonzales took all of the proceeds from the scheme.

On January 7, 2014, U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez sentenced Ashley Gonzales to three years in federal prison followed by one year of supervised release for her role in the scheme.

This investigation was conducted by the agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Bettina Richardson prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.